ensuitepilgrim's Blog

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The weeks building up to departure, on Sunday 10 th July , have been a mixture of Looking after grandchildren, working on the allotment and back garden. Mixed in with visit from old college friends, two friends’ birthday celebrations  and receiving positive news  of a recent blood test. A purchase of an up to date Map of Spain and Portugal, together with a new camping guide, thereto. At different times, weather forecasts have been sought and a range of itineraries devised, depending on the weather, when we disembark at Santander. Hopefully as pictured.

It has become a tradition that I burn a cd for friends’ birthdays and I was pleased to be able to compile, Case, Lang and Viers , with Jeff Lynne – an unlikely amalgam.

Nothing I enjoy more than rhymes, stories and poems shared with the grandchildren , on the I-pad, or ” real books”,whether it’s Michael Rosen or The Runaway Train!

There have been practical matters to attend to,like taking out the portable bike from the ” bus” and reminding myself how it folds out…..and back.

A pleasant surprise, just the other day, when I received a donation of a£100.00 to the Cancer Relief Fund, from a former colleague; glad I hadn’t closed down the Just Giving account.

Health wise, I was pleased that a recent blood test was all clear, two years on and have never felt more that growing older is both a privilege and a bonus. Impetus given then to possible destinations in Spain; will it be Potes in the Picos de Europa , or the coast near A Coruna and most importantly that wherever we reach on Monday 11 th July, there is a good restaurant to celebrate Hannah’s birthday.

I have been enjoying two diaries of an ex-pat in Spain.” Spanish Journals, The Posthumous Diaries of an ExPat”, by A R Lowe . A genuine curmudgeon , often politically incorrect…but , at times, unknowingly funny and I mean laugh aloud funny! Especially, his attempts to give English lessons to the locals. His star pupil insists on learning the language through translations of his favourite, Country & Western Standards. A Bientot.

A consequence  of the Cancer Research Fund Raiser was the interest shown by my sister, Penny and latterly, my brother Matt, to walk a Camino. For a variety of reasons, work and family, it was to be a short walk. So, I devised a 101 Km promenade from Lugo to Santiago de Compostela. This would give us two stages on the Camino Primitivo , the remainder on the Camino Frances. Ensuring that we get two Sellos ( local stamps ) in our Pilgrim Passports, per day, would qualify us to receive a Compostela ( official certificate ) from the Pilgrims’ office in S de. C. We are walking this September.

The flights, transfers are booked. Penny & I down to Gatwick , by National Express and Matt flying to Santiago from Amsterdam; he resides in Holland. We then take a bus to Lugo, which looks like a really interesting place. All the accommodation is reserved , as usual. The only difference to my previous Caminos will be the use of the Spanish Correos’ luggage transfer system , devised for the Caminos. For the princely  sum of € 20.00 each, we get 5 transfers from lodging to lodging. This is necessitated for reasons  of dodgy shoulders and for myself, to avoid undue strain on my Stoma. So, in a sense, I shall still be carrying my bag ! We finish with a non walking day in Santiago, which should enable Penny and Matt to take in some of the sights  ( and bars ), especially the Museo das Peregrinacions  and the Pilgrims’ Mass in the cathedral.

There will doubtless be time to do a little shopping; me….pins and a T shirt. Notwithstanding the fact that I shall be wearing my E U pin, more proudly than ever, since the debacle of a referendum, we have  just suffered.

Now they have won and what Kipling said of the demagogues of his age applies to Michael Gove, Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage.

I could not dig; I dared not rob:
Therefore I lied to please the mob.
Now all my lies are proved untrue
And I must face the men I slew.
What tale shall serve me here among
Mine angry and defrauded young?

Taken from Nick Cohen’s  article , Observer, 26/06/2016

By the time we finish our mini Camino,we may not recognise what we had left behind,albeit, temporarily. Buen Camino?” Little England ” will need one….

Costa Daurada, literally, the Golden Coast, takes its name from the colour of its sand when the sun is shining. At such times, its beaches are reminiscent of gold.

There are clusters of palm trees,and alongside the river, nearby, Tamarisks and Holm Oak trees. The campsite is 2/3 full and the Dutch are in the ascendancy – find a good campsite and you will find the Cloggies! There  are far more Dutch motorhomers now, until recently, they were caravanners and campers. This is a very pleasant site; excellent for families, too, with a well designed pool area, supermarket and choice of two restaurants, one of which specialises in sea food – dining there tonight.

The area around the site, apart from the beach, is made up of quite classy villas and apartments, mainly Spanish owned; as in everywhere else on the Spanish Med, a good number of “en vende” signs. Cambrils is worth a day, harbour with a small fishing fleet and good, pedestrianised streets. It is well known for its cuisine, too.

This short break has been mainly for relaxing and in the evening, we have found a couple of super watering holes, for an evening aperitif.

One more, full day tomorrow, Saturday.Will walk into Cambrils, for the morning. A route back is planned to bypass Barcelona, by travelling across, via Zaragoza and Pamplona, to somewhere past Bayonne, hopefully. That will be on Sunday. It’s always more enjoyable to take a different route and given the flooding in the Paris region, we should have had to make a diversion, anyway. Having overcome the fuel problems, the uncertain weather, let us hope we can avoid floodwater and the possibility of Strikes!

“A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.” – John Steinbeck

Been flying the flag, whilst away ; not on a flagpole, but on the dashboard of the bus, whilst driving and on the table, when on site. Have been keeping up with the  Brexit misinformation machinations ; una cargo de mierda !

This was the scenario for the rest of the trip….weather forecasts….sorry to be so British and fixated about the weather , but they led us to believe that the Costa Brava was a done deal. Not so; sunny and warm till early afternoon, then cloud and rain.

Pity, because Sant Pere Pescador and this site, Camping Riu, together, make an excellent base.See above, because sometimes WordPress has a way of its own!

We bought a local walk guide and followed a couple of trails; one to the beach , the other alongside the River Fluvia. Flat …which was a bonus and well signposted.

Evenings and early mornings ( Hannah’s photos ) were worthy…..and the rainbows.

Although we were content with the town and the site , the weather forecasts, for once proving to be accurate and there was an unseemly amount of rain about…Beautuful mornings, then wet afternoons . Always able to BBQ in the evening, often in glorious sunshine.

Come Tuesday, we decided to have a trip , using local buses, to Girona; 20 plus years since we were there. Really lovely city, lots of student life, magnificent Cathedral and a friendly atmosphere. Sunny, too, making the walk along the city walls and views, even more memorable. ( Again, see right above )

Weather forecasts not good…never consistent; sometimes wonder if they are on the same planet. So, we are off to the Costa Dorada, tomorrow…Cambrils, where we have stayed before and at least ,most forecast sites were 🌞 It’ s just that I can sit in the bus, on my drive in dull, or wet weather ; I just want to be able to replicate my stance on the lounger, above. Book, magazine, coffee….simple stuff. Possibly a Tinto Verano, but only after 6 pm!🍷

So 153 miles South; wasn’t planned but, what’s a Motorhome for ?

” Bizarre travel plans are a dancing lesson from God ” Kurt Vonnegut.

The plan was use the Peage motorways( don’t usually )
Reasons of time
Scares about fuel strikes in France
Nearly Germany, but the bullet and stuck to our plans.
Bit the bullet – 2 20 L containers of diesel + 5
55mins late from Dover to Calais
Drove in misty conditions on Mway towards Paris .
Good progress. Early Paris rush hour Peripheral slow in places , kept moving
First stop South of Paris on A10; topped up fuel, no problem, no queues
Sausage/ eggs breakfast, coffee – a tradition!☕️
Moved on South of Orleans , next stop sleep + fuel

Eventually joined the A75 free motorway to Beziers
Brilliant Mway, Auvergne , Cantal depts – scenery , hills, causse,
and you had to drive it; ascents of 1100 metres, in places.
Great engineering.

Millau crossing ; lunch, with great views of hilltop town.
Four fillups in total – no queues, no limits, despite all the scare stories.
Eventually arrived at La Grangefort, near Issoire.
Quirky folly, Dutch owners for 31 years, improving
Meal on the terrace – earnt it!

Early start rural, then back on Mway

Peage re started at Beziers. Busy, trouble free across Pyrenees , into Spain
Followed campsite Riu directions thru San Pedro Pescador
Good job, Siesta time, as it was vet narrow, in places.
Crossed River Fluvia to the site . Spacious pitch. Entrance to riverside walk opposite

Walked to supermarket

Drink on terrace and BBQ

Glad we made it!

They say that Madrid is a city that never sleeps. As Mac & I made our way down the Calle Atocha, at 6 am, this morning, we witnessed hordes of young people, in all manner of states – euphoric, exhausted, noisy and boisterous – unthreatening. I was even more glad for the double strength windows in our hotel room, which overlooked this popular thoroughfare – didn’t hear a thing. A final glass of Pacharan , in the hotel bar ,may have helped. Less than 24 hours in this great, capital city, but time enough to enjoy the lively area around us, especially, Plaza Sta Ana. Returning , we came across a  dramatic sculpture, recognising the fate of 35 citizens, assassinated, during the civil war. A sobering sight. The journey home was smooth enough, having navigated  the Madrid Metro system, to reach Barajas Airport, in time for a final Desayuno.

I was relieved to finish this section of the Camino, mainly because a lot of family and friends had been so generous with their sponsorship.Muchas Gracias. This section of the Via de la Plata, from Caceres to Zamora ( particularly after wet weather ) , is challenging in different ways – long stretches without any place of refreshment. Few places to sit down and take a break; except for the ground, and after entering Castille y Leon, wide ranges of monotonous landscape – mainly cereals and grazing. Even the snow- capped mountains were soon left behind. Apart from the many Spings and stretches of floodwater, the surfaces were good to the feet ( fine grit & sand ) and the Camino, well signposted. Of course, my view could have been clouded by the days of miserable weather . However, I should not recommend it for first-timers. Compensations came by way of the companionship of other pilgrims and the gracious, friendly welcome received in bars, cafes and places we stayed.

The Via de la Plata has brought some investment and revitalisation, to some of these lonely Pueblos , with locals offering accommodation in restored houses and farms – highly recommended as essential alternatives ( for me ), to Albergues, which can be found there , too.

The government, with EU help, has improved the road infrastructure and high speed train lines are bring built.These are breathtaking constructions .

The history of the Camino and the dedicated sites, especial to St James and his devoted Pelegrinos, are well represented along the way and in different forms.

“Walking the Camino you can make yourself miserable or strong. But the amount of walking will be still the same.” That was a quotation, I found, somewhere and was very appropriate for this Camino. There is also another, Spanish ,saying, which goes some way to describing the attitude of pilgrims, both to those who look after them, feed and direct them… and to each other :-

– “El peregrino no exige , agradece. ”

There are moments and times when I should have reminded myself of that and what a privilege it was, nevertheless , to walk this Way.

Translation – A pilgrim doesn´t demand , he´s grateful.

Amen to that !

🎇🕯🎇

The end of this stage. A city I have never visited before, too tired to do it much justice, this evening, but look forward to visiting it again. As you walk in to the city, as we did, from the South, there was a pleasant walk alongsidecan extremely full and fast flowing River Duero ( Zamora was flooded last week ). The cathedral, set against the sky, above the cliffs and walls, gives an impregnable impression ; entrance into the old town is made across a Roman bridge.( PS It is “Romanic”, not Romantic )

I shall write this retrospectively and seek to enliven what is actually a great deal of monotonous walking – fields of cereals and grazing land stretching way across to the horizon; with  an occasional vineyard .Castille Y Leon is fairly daunting , in that there is nowhere on the Camino to sit and rest…except the floor!

Having to stop and apply some  ” Voltaren Emugel”, to a troublesome calf, I had to recourse to the Armco Barriers ( thank you Mac, for pointing that out )…Excuse my back!

That embrocation was most effective ; apply three times a day. No problems with feet or boots.I underestimated the unseasonable weather, but the Poncho was a boon on the cold, wet stretch from Cubo de la Tierra del Vino  to Villenueva de Campean. There were very few cafes on any of the stages,but when we did find one, the welcome was always warm. This little place, newly established and not yet in any of the guide books, was a case in point. Tea and cakes , in a beautiful setting.

We had a conversation via Siri, Google Translate – Mac, much amused.

Our final stop before Caceres, was in La Posada del Buen Camino; an authentically restored house, in this small Pueblo. Home cooked dinner, which we shared with three other Pelegrinos and wonderful Zamora d o c vino tinto.

As always, it was heartwarming to get Hannah’s photos of three of the grandchildren, just to remind me what I ‘m missing….

Now for a short stroll around Zamora, aperitifs and dinner. It has been a tough Camino, at times, but we have met some very interesting people and with Mac’s unfailing sense of humour, managed to leave most places and people with a smile on both theirs and our faces.

World Heritage Site; the City of Salamanca has a horde of archeological, historical & cultural sites. The Peggy Sue restaurant is not one of them, but as a lifelong Buddy Holly fan, a photo was irresistible! We did not eat there, but wanting a change from Menu del Dia, we chose a Persian restaurant, and were not disappointed. However,there are new styles of eating, apart from the traditional. We tried JarraMania, opposite our hotel entrance, where you write your order on a list, from a selection of countless Montaditos. We tried two each and a Jarra of Tinto Verano, for € 3.00 . Inexpensive and a third of what you would pay on the adjacent Plaza Mayor. That’s not to say we didn’t succumb to the charms of that wonderful square, especially as our hotel room balcony overlooked it.Still, I am getting ahead of myself.We arrived here, yesterday, after a 25 KM walk from San Pedro de Rozados, across Castillian meadows mainly, until we reached the city outskirts, where we came across a huge cross and a notice board commemorating the battle of Arapiles, July 22nd, 1812,where Wellington inflicted a defeat on the French forces. The cross is not linked to the battle, it pays tribute to all Pelegrinos.

Having found our hotel , despite the baffled reception we received; Sercotes Las Torres obviously does not get many pilgrims. We were eventually given the room I had booked, overlooking the Plaza Mayor. Mac thought it was a great deal and this was confirmed by the super breakfast we enjoyed, this morning ( included ) . There are so many beautiful buildings, it is beyond the purpose and capacity of this Blog, to do them justice. So just a few illustrative samples to follow:-

When you walk this stage of the Camino. You get tantalising glimpses of the city from as far away as Morille, on a hill,1160 metres high.

Pressing further on, ” Looking Back Over My Shoulder” ( MOR Classic song ), a long and winding road…….

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And in the far distance, the snow-topped peaks of the Bejar Mountain Range.

We have enjoyed two days’ sunshine, though we set off in a temperature of  3 degrees, yesterday. Salamanca looks it’s best in the sunlight and especially at twilight , where a pinkish glow appears. In case, you find the romanticism of this passage a little too twee….and you’d be right . Here is a photo that exemplifies the practical side of a sunny interlude, for a Pelegrino.

Whilst strolling through the city, today, we came upon lots of film props and settings, for a film of Romeo and Juliet, being made by an American company…English play, American filmmakers in Salamanca. Still, they made some memorable ” Spaghetti Westerns” in Spain , too. Shakespeare, for American TV? Flogging a dead horse?

Tomorrow, on to another surrealistic setting,El  Cubo de la Tierra del Vino; unfortunately, the Philoxera Plague of the nineteenth century, wiped out most of the vineyards.Hope they have sourced some wine elsewhere, if not locally. Now, some shots of a ” Turigrino”.

Hope we get to meet some more Pelegrinos tomorrow, old and new. From the most earnest , who walk every step with God, to those who walk every step and curse…

Utreia!

Looking down at St Pedro de Rozas, today, after our walk from Fuenterrobe. Cuckoos calling and the “odd” Sweet Pea to note. The breeze was still pretty cool and out of the sun, chilly. All of which is a massive improvement on Rain & grey skies.

This bridge , near a huge pig farm, is the halfway point from Seville to Santiago de Compostela, depending on which of the three possible ways you can take, from Zamora; but that’s a decision for the future. The stream, possibly a more auspicious sight than the ” cerdos negros”but I thought you might like to see them, anyway.

Our accommodation, VII, Carreras, is a focal, tourist point especially for Pelegrinos. They had an impressive array of Tapas, for lunch. Out of respect for the aforementioned swine, we passed on the pigs’ lips, a local delicacy, rather like pork scratchings.

Tomorrow, we have 25 KM to walk to Salamanca, where we have a rest day, till Tuesday.

Hope I am not as stiff as the ” Tin Man”; we haven’t met Dorothy or the Cowardly Lion……yet! Utreia.

“A deep, cold river, we can’t go over it, we can’t go under it….Oh no, we’ve hot to go through it !” ( From Michael Rosen’s Epic, ” We’re Going On a Bear Hunt ” )

From Banos, Roman Thermal Baths; quite touristy, we climbed out of the valley towards Bejar. Not as difficult as we thought and only light drizzle. Met a French couple, en route, and shared experiences; delightful  couple, great SOH. You would need it , listening to our French! Soon enough we made it to our Casa Rural, Calzada.

Renovated sympathetically , with some stonework going back to Roman times. Our host, Maria, epitomised the warm welcome Pelegrinos receive on the de la Plata. Warm fire and spacious rooms. We made our way to the only bar in this fascinating time warp of a village, along the Main Street, Via de la a Plata, with its overhanging balconies, some of which appeared to be on the point of imminent collapse. Encountering a Spanish-American couple, who made their way to the bar, with us. After a couple of beers and Tapas, it got lively and Darcy  demonstrated an amazing mixture of gymnastics and Pilates! On a full stomach, too. We were impressed…. Maria cooked us a great dinner, Norway, Spain and Holland, together; Maria , after much prompting, showed us a portfolio of her paintings of the locality – Naive Art, the unskewed eye; they were lovely and I would have bought one but for the impossibility of getting it back safely, in a rucksack.

Saturday dawned brightly for a welcome change and we made good progress until we met the river “Uh-uh”…..Divested of my shorts, socks and boots, I followed Mac across , in the freezing water, made up of snow melt from the nearby mountains ; he did a great impression of St Christopher and bravely made his way back across the submerged , stepping stones, to take my rucksack from me, thus allowing me to clamber across the last two stones and on to dry land. We laughed with relief and after 2 KM came across a bar, where we took coffee and got our socks and boots back on.

As if that was not enough, just before our next stop , we were caught in a hail storm – T G for Ponchos….As we entered Fuenterroble de Salvatierra, our host, Pacqui was waiting to usher us into his Casa Rural. Showered and warmed up we went down to Bar  Jorge and ……Today brought home to me the words of Albert Camus, when he wrote…..” Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend”.