Which Way Will She Go?

I'm trying to decide now which route I will walk before picking up my group in Pamplona next spring.

I need to finish the last 3 stages of the Madrid Route.
I had to leave early last year to meet my group in Pamplona.
I'd love to walk the entire route again!

I need to finish the VDLP.
I could walk this year from Caceres to Salamanca or Zamora.

Patty and I are also talking about doing a winter Camino in 2016.
Wouldn't THAT be a kick?

Decisions, decisions…

I'm leaning toward the VDLP, mostly because I love the food in Southern Spain and I really REALLY want to get further up that route.

I'm hoping to leave soon after May 1.
I'd like to leave earlier but have family obligations - although I may weasel out of them.
I'd like to have 2-3 weeks to walk before May 15.

This year I'm going to make some changes to my pack.

I'm only carrying ONE Macabi skirt.
I'm considering leaving my jacket home - haven't worn it enough to carry it.
And.. ::gasp:: I need to find an alternative to New Balance Shoes.

I"ve loved them all these years, but apparently, they're now being manufactured in Vietnam, and the last two years, the quality took a huge dive. After just a few weeks walking, my shoes wore out. NOT acceptable after paying so much cash for them!

Anyway, those are my thoughts.
The choice where to walk is always difficult for me.
So many routes, so little time...

A VERY cool HAT!

Today I got a surprise in the mail!

One of my Anniewalkers, Barbara,
 sent me this AWESOME hat directly from China!

I had seen several Korean pilgrims wearing these 

and happened to say out loud, 

"That would be a great hat to wear on the Camino in the hot sun!"

Barbara took note, 

and I'll be darned if one didn't show up in today's mail.

I"m STOKED!
I LOVE IT!

Won't I be the height of fashion!

And… no sunburn!
The attached scarf completely shields the back of your neck
and the sides of your face,
places that got quite sunburned on my last walk!

This hat is definitely going on my next Camino!

(I probably won't wear the face mask, 

but it is very cool and you can see just fine through the screen.)

Thanks, Barbara!

Joe's 2014 Group

I didn't walk with Joe's group so really didn't get to know them.

But here they are, happy to have made it to Santiago!

And I believe they had a great Camino.

I did get a photo of Lee getting her Compostela.

Can you tell she was excited?

When we get settled in, I'll ask Joe to write a short post about his trip.

Annie's 2014 Group

I just wanted to say a few words about the group I escorted this Spring.

Four of them have known each other since childhood,

growing up on the Isle of Mauritious,

which I (embarrassingly) had never heard of!

This made for quick bonding, 

and those four generously

and lovingly pulled the others in,

making the walk a beautiful example

of community, and how it should work.

The first one to contact me was Paul.

Full of personality, I soon came to love his sense of humor,

and his quick wit!

Paul kept me in line.

He let me know when I made mistakes.

And I appreciated that!

His wife, Patricia,

a gentle beauty,

was spiritual, kind, and soft-spoken.

Jack showed a sensitive quiet strength.

He was even-keeled and when I needed a rock,

or advice,

Jack was there.

Oh, we loved Chantal!

She kept us laughing,

and kept us fed

with her great cooking skills.

She lost her glasses crossing the Pyrenees 

and had to wear sunglasses the rest of the trek.

 If I could describe Jan with one word,

I think it would be steadfast.

She was strong and good-hearted,

and kept us well entertained with poetry and prose.

Gary kept us fed 

at the finest restaurants along The Way.

He was another fairly quiet, but strong team member

who was always helpful.

And Barbara!

How we LOVE Barbara!

She was our navigator,

always finding the best directions

to the next hotel.

She also kept us in stitches 

with her AWESOME personality.

We had one other walker, who has requested his name and photos not be posted. 

He was a quiet, but friendly pilgrim,

who never met a stranger,

a speaker of many languages,

and an intellectual who always had a story to tell.

He was another well-loved member of our group.

What a wonderful experience this year's walk was!

Thank you all so very much!

And wherever life takes you,

may you walk a Buen Camino!

Love,

Annie

Santiago!

We made it!

I have spent the last hour trying to upload the last post of this trip. 

I think the photo heavy post is too much for San Marin Pinario's Internet. 

And so it will have to wait until I am in Madrid next week. 

Until then, know all pilgrims made it safe and sound. 

They kindly treated me to a fantastic seafood dinner upon arrival. 

This was a wonderful and unique group who bonded closely on the Camino

I will miss them. 

Pedrouzo

The walk to Pedrouzo is beautiful and easy.  Here are some photos. 

Pension Maribel

We love pension Maribel!  She has just remodeled the whole place and it is super nice. 

The rooms are clean, bright, cheerful, and affordable. There is a sweet yard and patio out back. 

I will post photos when I return to portland. They are in my dropbox and I cannot figure out how to get them onto my iphone. 

For dinner, Padrilla Boy can't be beat!  The food is home cooked and mouth watering!  To me it is more affordable and much better than Galaisco. 

Beef Churrasco

Lovely Casteneda

Oh!

I'm in love with Castaneda!

Seen in Melide

Still being used for laundry.

Barbara washing her clothes

Palas de Rei

The morning began with breakfast.
 I had Cola Cao and just look at Jack's cafe con leche!

We stayed at Apartamentos Guillermo and it was wonderful!

Barbara cooked a great tuna pasta dinner.
Chantal and Pat made salad and bought a cake.
Gary brought the wine.
We feasted!
 It was a great bonding time. 

The rooms there are quite nice.
Anniewalkers had been staying at Pension Palace
but I think this will change next year. 

We had two apartments which meant two kitchens and two living rooms! 

Jack used one for his Tai Chi. 

The bedrooms were bright and comfortable. 

Rates were reasonable. 

The manager, Luis, was very helpful!  He took me to pick up my bag at another hotel and then delivered Jack and I to the fisiotherapista for much needed massage. 

Th 'complete' massage for 36 euros was quite an experience.  It was a cold room. I was pretty much naked except for two towels I asked for to cover strategic places. And the receptionist kept just walking in and chatting as though I wasn't there. I guess if you've seen one butt you've seen them all!  

The massage was strong - on the edge of being painful. When I asked what type of massage it was, she said 'deportivo' or sports massage. I cried out a few times and nearly kicked her in the teeth twice. But it worked and I felt much better the next day!

If you are in Palas de Rei, try the massage!

No, really!

Love, Annie

To Portomarin

Just 4 days left to Santiago!

Here are some photos I took yesterday on the way to Portomarin. 

And of course I can't forget my bacalau dinner and the empanada Barbara bought for the group!

To O Cebreiro and Sarria

Photos from today's stop at O Cebreiro and our walk to Sarria.
I taxied that last 4 kilometers.

Hoping to be able to walk 23k tomorrow.

Santiago in O Cebreiro Chapel

Gary

Samos Monastery

View from my window in Sarria