Author Archives: Mike

Almost there! We hear these same words from everyone we talk to. We are all exhausted but still excited to get to the end. We’ve been on this journey since September 1. Our blisters have healed, and turned to calluses; our aches have increased or miraculously disappeared; our socks, pants, shorts and shirts are soiledContinue reading “Almost There!”

Since September 1 Carrie and I have been traveling the Camino our way, and the way many pilgrims do, starting in St. Jean Pied de Port, France, getting our compostelas (credentials that prove we have been traveling the Camino) stamped at least once a day, and moving on down the road to the next townContinue reading “Sarria And On”

We left Villafranca yesterday morning on a steady 12.5 mile uphill climb towards O’Cebreiro. Villafranca sits at about 1800 ft., just at the base of the mountain. It is a beautiful medieval city with the feel of an Alpine village. Although the path mostly followed along a highway, we were deep in a valley withContinue reading “Entering Galicia”

Interesting things happen when you least expect them. Every day we are surprised to learn something new about Spain, about the culture, food and history here. A recent dining experience left us perplexed: on a menu a restaurant offered ”cocido maragato”, which I had read is a hearty stew, filled with several kinds of meats,Continue reading “Notes From the Camino”

There are so many historical sites to visit in Leon, but you can’t see them all. A couple of our favorites were the Gaudi designed building called Botines, now a museum filled with art, and next door to it the Guzman Palace, noted for its stained glass courtyard windows. Both buildings were well worth visiting.Continue reading “From Leon to Astorga”

Leon is another large (about 200,00 people) metro area focused around the fabulous Leon Cathedral, roman ruins, an old town that exudes charm and the typical medieval narrow streets that we’ve become accustomed to seeing here in Spain. We found a great apartment to relax in for the three days we’ll be staying here. However,Continue reading “Leon”

Continuing across the farm belt that is the Meseta, we pass golden fields of cereal crops that are in the middle of fall harvest. The terrain is mostly flat, with little of interest to break the monotony other than a random herd of sheep moving from one pasture to the next, or a grove ofContinue reading “Fromista, Carrion de los Condes and On to Moratinos”

We haven’t had a chance to post the last few days, so I’ll try to catch up now. After leaving Burgos we had a short walk to Rabe de las Calzadas, which was a good way to get our legs Camino ready again. However, the main reason for our stay here was that we hadContinue reading “After Burgos”

Burgos is a beautiful historic city dominated by the French inspired gothic Santa Maria Cathedral, the massive church built in the 13th century. It is renowned not only for its size and elegant spires but also for the treasures that lie within. Here, we enjoyed catching up with other pilgrims we have met along theContinue reading “A Rest in Burgos”

Its been a busy few days moving forward to our next big stop in Burgos. We’ve been hearing from many of our friends that are a day or two ahead of us. Several of them are having health issues ranging from blisters to twisted ankles, from bad knees to sciatica nerve pain. Several of thoseContinue reading “Najera to Santo Domingo to Belorado”