With my friends in Europe,
pilgrims I met along the Camino de Santiago,
these folks have changed my life forever
Papendrecht/Dordrecht
I have been in Europe one week now and every minute has been magical. Connie met me at Schiphol (Amsterdam Airport) and the adventure started. We relaxed Sunday allowing for my jet-lag. I also relaxed at Connie's home on Moday while she went to work.
Haarlem
Tuesday I set off on the train from Dordrecht to Haarlem where I was met by Paula (Katie and Chris' friend) who was the perfect hostess for the day. With Paula I cycled and walked around Haarlem seeing the city's places of interest, the cathedral, cloistered apartments, shops, and canals. We finished our day sitting on the terrace of a Pub near Paula's home and enjoyed our conversation, lunch, wine, then went to Paula's home for coffee.
Duisburg, Germany
With the rest of the week a vacation for Connie we headed off to Duisburg, Germany, to visit with Rolf and Christine. The weather has been delightful since I arrived and Wednesday was no exception. When we entered into Germany the speed of the cars in the fast lane was incredible, whoosh they past us and then were out of sight. Wolf came to visit and the six of us went sightseeing in Duisburg Center ending at a quiet restaurant down on the restored docks by the river. I had enjoyed Schnitzel at this restaurant in 2007 so had another Schnitzel this year, it was just as delicious. Wolf left on Thursday afternoon and the group went walking through a forest ending at another wonderful outdoor restaruant at the edge of the forest. It was a relaxing quiet wonderful time with friends but on Friday we needed to head back to Papendrecht.
Utrecht
Connie had a long arranged seminar to attend on Saturday so I arranged to meet with Kim and Bauke in Utrecht. I first met Kim and Bauke on my 2007 camino walk. We met again a few months later when I was on my way to London, UK, for Gwen and Dave's Golden anniversary. I went on a camino reunion (of sorts) through The Netherlands and Germany on my way to London. It was as if we had not been separated for two years - the three of us talked and reminisced while sharing an English High Tea at a local restaurant. It was delightful.
Moving on
I now go to Nijmegen (The Netherlands) by train where Kees and I will meet for our long camper van journey to Alicante, Spain. Along the way to Nijmegen the train stops in Utrecht so I will spend an hour with Kim at a coffee stop ....
Such wonderful friends, is it any wonder the camino is so magical for me and other pilgrims?
Till next time .....
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Friday, August 07, 2009
A camino of sorts ....
A new camino ....
I returned to Houston June 11, 2009 since then it has been hot here every day. The temperature has been in the 90's F. (30's C) for two months and it is getting hotter. Two days his week have been dangerously hot (99 F. with a Heat Index of 105 F.).
I am about to escape the heat ......
On August 15 I am on my way to Amsterdam. While in The Netherlands I will be staying with Connie in Papendrecht. During my visit with Con we plan on visiting Duisburg, Germany, on a mini vacation to see my dear friends, Christine and Rolf.
I have a meeting planned with Katie's friend, Paula, who lives in Haarlem. Paula has offered to show me around Haarlem on the day that we meet.
It happened again .....
Kees and Dorrith were to drive from Spain to The Netherlands in his new camper van after Dorrith's visit with Kees in Alicante. Then this week Kees wrote: "I don't know what it is with tripping over pebbles a few days before a holiday. Now it happened to Dorrith. Yesterday she tripped over a pebble of 5 cm. and dislocated a vertebra! She hardly can walk, lay down, or sit so she is absolutely unable to travel to Spain.".
When I received the above message I immediately thought, oh no, we MUST stop saying our camino continues. If you read my Blog then you know that my Via de la Plata camino was beset by injuries, one of them Kees.
Kees gave me some advice, "And Luiza....... don't you dare tripping over a little stone (or something else, a staircase or Twopence or Penny!!).".
I am joining Kees in The Netherlands for the return journey to Alicante. So Kees, I am being careful and hoping, with fingers crossed, for no accidents.
I look forward to seeing my camino friends again and will Blog when, or if, I get the chance.
Bye for now,
Luiza
I returned to Houston June 11, 2009 since then it has been hot here every day. The temperature has been in the 90's F. (30's C) for two months and it is getting hotter. Two days his week have been dangerously hot (99 F. with a Heat Index of 105 F.).
I am about to escape the heat ......
On August 15 I am on my way to Amsterdam. While in The Netherlands I will be staying with Connie in Papendrecht. During my visit with Con we plan on visiting Duisburg, Germany, on a mini vacation to see my dear friends, Christine and Rolf.
I have a meeting planned with Katie's friend, Paula, who lives in Haarlem. Paula has offered to show me around Haarlem on the day that we meet.
It happened again .....
Kees and Dorrith were to drive from Spain to The Netherlands in his new camper van after Dorrith's visit with Kees in Alicante. Then this week Kees wrote: "I don't know what it is with tripping over pebbles a few days before a holiday. Now it happened to Dorrith. Yesterday she tripped over a pebble of 5 cm. and dislocated a vertebra! She hardly can walk, lay down, or sit so she is absolutely unable to travel to Spain.".
When I received the above message I immediately thought, oh no, we MUST stop saying our camino continues. If you read my Blog then you know that my Via de la Plata camino was beset by injuries, one of them Kees.
Kees gave me some advice, "And Luiza....... don't you dare tripping over a little stone (or something else, a staircase or Twopence or Penny!!).".
I am joining Kees in The Netherlands for the return journey to Alicante. So Kees, I am being careful and hoping, with fingers crossed, for no accidents.
I look forward to seeing my camino friends again and will Blog when, or if, I get the chance.
Bye for now,
Luiza
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
