Madrid, Spain

I know there is an interest from Katie´s question in the comments section.  The answer is no.  Unfortunately the stick did not make it to Madrid. I did have an aircraft hardware change at Newark Liberty and as I thought could happen, must have, and the stick is waiting elsewhere.  It may show up one day as I had the Madrid address on a tag. 

To place a Comment on the Blog you must be logged into one of the optional accounts such as Google or Yahoo.  I do not have the box checked allowing me to approve the Comment before it is posted.  However, I will delete the Comment if it is SPAM, nasty, inappropriate, whatever!

Getting onto European time
Before walking a Camino I like to arrive in Europe a few days early to allow my system to adjust to the time change.  What better way to do this than spending time with friends.  I am in Madrid with Kees, Vicente, and Laura.  For those who do not know, I met Kees in 2007 on his first day walking El Camino de Santiago when we were at the Mirador between Hunto and Orrisson in the Pyrenees.  We helped each other put our ponchos on as it started to rain.  Kees walked on but ten minutes later I stopped at the bar/cafe in Orrisson to have a coffee and escape the rain and he was sitting at the only table with space for me.  We sat and talked for the longest time starting a friendship that would continue to bloom over the next 700 kms to Santiago.  We are now friends for life.  Vicente is his life partner and Laura their housekeeper.

...... and the survey says
This morning we went to the Rastros, the antiques area in Madrid, so that I could see their new Galleria (Art/Antique Gallery) that they hope to open by September 1st. There is a minor survey issue preventing them opening the Galleria as a business which has the building sitting 50cm onto the pavement.  So the problem is, the computer says no!  The building is 100 years old and the older survey papers have the building placed within the zoning.  The galleria La Vidriera de Verona has been beautifully renovated and their paintings and antiques are spectacular.

 The temporary shop sign

The offending corner.

 Kees y Vicente

Afterwards we went shopping along a street where each shop is a hiking/sporting goods shop.  At the first shop I found a fleece and walking stick.  Then to the Farmacia for foot cream and another toothpaste.  I am now ready to start Walking Home next week.

I am so happy to have the chance to place photographs before walking as I can see I need some camera adjustments for focusing.

Till next time .....

A lighter pack

Culling the backpack

It goes against my nature not taking all that I think I need but heck, I will be in Spain, they have pharmacies and supermarkets. When you carry everything on your back tough decisions must be made. I halved the shampoo, conditioner and vitamin count, took out the 4th pair of socks, one top, the extra pair of sunglasses (in case I lose the pair I wear), two packets of Fishermens Friends and one of gum and a few other little things ..... now the pack weighs 8.4 kilos, much better. 

On my way in two hours ..... it is a long journey as the Madrid flights starts in Houston but stops in Newark.  Since I think the plane is the same for both flights my new stick should be in Madrid waiting for me.

One sleep ......

Well, it is down to one sleep and then I leave Houston, Texas for Madrid, Spain.  I look at the previous sentence and tell myself that it should match .... city name, country .... and then I smiled and thought, well dang, ain't Texas a country?

I spent the early part of the morning with my backpack, it is ready but at 10 kilos (22 pounds) a little too heavy.  I would like it lighter, it should be 10% of body weight.  Tomorrow morning I will use my time working out what I can do without, surely there is something that can be left behind.

Our neighbor (Bill) came over this morning with three sticks and asked if I would like to select one, or not.  Mind you, my collapsible stick was already packed but to be gifted with a stick is pretty special.  My new stick (not being collapsible) will need to be checked separately.  Here's hoping it arrives in Madrid and will be at the Odd Size Luggage area waiting for me to find it. Dawnie always calls to wish me well and did so this afternoon.  Karen, Stephen, and Charlotte never fail to call and wished me Bon Voyage.  Katie sent a text and friends Kees, Andrée, Con, Bev, Kay, and Tan sent emails.  This afternoon Carol and Nancy came for a swim and to say farewell.  It was certainly hot enough at over 100 F. (37 C.) for the twenty-third consecutive day and thirty-fourth 100+ day since June.  The weather report was just shown and the temperature will remain at 100+ for the next seven days.  Lucky me! Garry and I went for a seafood dinner at Pappadeaux (Cajun restaurant) which as usual was great. It is comforting to have our friend Melinda looking after our home and cats while we are both traveling. thanks Mel.

I will spend five days in Madrid with Kees and Vicente before heading to Santiago de Compostela to start Walking Home.

Thank you all for the good wishes for another walk along the way.

WALKING HOME

In a week I leave for Spain.  Am I ready?  Yes.

Having walked (west) into Santiago de Compostela, Spain many times it is now my time to walk home (east).  When I started researching the Camino de Santiago in 1999 I first learned of the returning pilgrim.  I have wanted to walk east since 1999.  Some folks walk home after their arrival in Santiago or Finisterre.  However, for many pilgrims there is a time constraint and they can only allow for the four to six weeks walking west.  This is my case.   In the future I would love to walk west the 800 kms (500 miles) to Santiago de Compostela (SdC) from Saint-Jean-de-Port (SJPP), France then turn around and walk east the 800 kms to SJPP - but this would take ten-twelve weeks for me.

I followed my pilgrim friends Sue Kenney and Sarah Hoskin Clymer on their return journeys and all the time I was wishing that I could be with them.

Uploading photographs along the Way is not always available (or easy) so here are photographs from a previous walk.

Starting in Praza del Obradorio, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Hopefully I will finish in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France

HOUSTON, TEXAS and ENGLAND

Home again ... and now to prepare for my September 2011 Camino de Santiago journey.  This year I am 'Walking Home' or 'closing the circle'.  I am starting in Santiago de Compostela (SdC), Spain and hopefully finishing where my 2002, 2003 and 2007 pilgrimages started, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (SJPP), France.

HITCHIN LAVENDER
Tanya, Sophie, Garry and I visit Hitchin Lavender at Cadwell Farm and on the way passed this sign for a Guild of Master Sweeps meeting at the Marriott Hotel in Waltham Abbey.

It was a rainy day but not long before we arrived at Cadwell Farm the rain stopped and we had clear weather for our visit.  I was reminded of the Camino when mud collected on the bottom of my boots with each step down the hill.  There are different types and colors of lavender at the farm.

 

LONDON, ENGLAND

The lovely old Tudor building at the heart of Waltham Abbey, Essex where we stayed with our friends.

We visit London for a ride on the London Eye and a walk along the South Embankment.  It was a beautiful London day with mild temperatures and warm with scattered clouds.

First, the 4Dexperience where a seagull flew out from the screen in 3D and in 4D the floor rumbled, rain fell, a boy sprayed water at the viewers from his water-gun and snow fell on us.  Next, although it was a busy day we were quickly moved through the lines into a Pod on the Eye.  This is an amazing experience and scary for some but well worth waiting for. Then after the London Eye we walked along South Embankment watching the street entertainers and followed that with a drink before returning home.  

Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the clock.

Big Ben with the square tower of Westminster Abbey in the background.

Sophie Grace and Teddy were a little scared but able to smile.

Westminster Abbey the Tower, Big Ben ....

Blue Man not playing drums

'Michael Jackson' begging for money!

A little color in London.

Teddy and Sophie Grace help 'Captain Franko' perform.

Sophie Grace has fun on a carousel ride, not scared here.

BERLIN and KIEL CANAL, GERMANY

Berlin was a whirlwind tour for us as we had very little time with our feet on the ground.  The ship docked at Warnemünde, a three hour bus trip from Berlin.  We had six hours in Berlin (with one hour devoted to lunch).  We were kept busy and the tour company tried to show us much of the city.

The drive to and fro was interesting and I would love to return to tour independently, Andrée interested?  :)

Schloss Charlottenburg where we had fifteen minutes at the gate after our Berlin Tour Guide met us.

Siegessäeule, the victory column as seen from the bus.

Brandenburger Tor - Brandenburg Gate as seen from the bus.  We did not get to step out of the bus here, sad really.

Berliner Dom - the Berlin Cathedral, we were able to get out of the bus here for ten minutes.

Then we went on a boat tour on the River Spree.  This is the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (House of World Cultures) otherwise known as the pregnant oyster.

Fernsehturm Berlin - the tallest structure in Germany.  The television tower as seen from the bus.

Berlin's River Spree where we took a river cruise.

Statue of an American who walked the Berlin Wall daily as a protest to it being built.

Checkpoint Charlie - for tourists, not the real one of course, is in the Checkpoint Charlie area as seen from bus.

I have been to Berlin before and know there are far prettier sections of the Berlin Wall to see but this is what we were shown from the bus.

KaDeWe - Berlin's equivalent of London's Harrod's. The department store where I bought my Falke camino walking socks, the best!

KIEL CANAL

Leaving Berlin we cruised through the Kiel Canal towards Harwich, England.  When I woke at 0525 the weather was clear but by the time I was up on deck the mist arrived, it cleared later.  We had some beautiful views of Germany.  

I was on the top deck as the sun came up, oh it was so beautiful.

A fisherman, what a tranquil scene .....

Here comes a bridge, phew are we going to make it under the low bridge?

Maybe, maybe not .... it looks close.

Oops, I forgot about the funnel .... it went under the bridge easily.

The Netherlands is not the only country in Europe with old windmills, this looks such a lovely peaceful setting.

It is so green and beautiful here .....

This ship and the next shared the lock .... that is how big the locks are.

This ship shared the lock with M/V Discovery.  I enjoyed going through the Kiel Canal and now want to go along the Panama Canal.