Leaving today! Thanks to everyone on this forum

[Covey]

Welcome back Freedom. I presume you have already started the planning for next year???????????????

[freedom13]

Haha, yeah Covey I sure will be back to do another piece of the camino, whether it will be next year or not I don't know yet, but one thing is for sure I will be back.
On a side note I sure was bewildered when I first set foot in the main Praza outside Santiago cathedral and saw loads of political activists camping out in the square , what a sight lol

[joe]

I walked 150km in 4 days on my way to Leon, I did a 41km and a 45km just before Leon, my feet were really sore (which was expected)... I didn´t plan on doing 40km but I just felt like walking and didn´t bother to stop in a couple of the bigger towns (Sahagun and Carrion de los Condes), I heard that someone got killed in Sahagun the day before i was there, in the bull ring, not sure if it was true or not.

That double bed was in the town just after Fromista, I think its called Poblacion. You have to check in the to hotel to get a bed in the albergue so I did, then the volunteer said I could have that room! I woke up at 9.30am without any interruptions or complaints, i could have stayed in bed until about 11am if i wanted haha. Breakfast is only 2.50 and the evening meal is 9.

Im now 22km out of Leon... to be honest, I didnt like Leon very much, it was too busy and hectic, and after you have walked peacefully for a few weeks its all a bit too much to handle. My next rest day won´t be in a big city, i prefer the little remote albergues like San Bol. San Bol is amazing, I recommend you stay there, it only fits 10 people in but you´ll get a place on the floor if the beds are full... the communal meal is really nice, its on a round table which is really cosy, you get to know everyone on the table... and the hospitalero was really friendly! The garden there is amazing too, the water fountain has a really nice story behind it (it heals aching feet lol).

[ClaireB]

Glad you're still enjoying it Joe! I arrived in Santiago two days ago and like freedom was a little puzzled by the activists, there were some in Leon also outside the Gaudi building but I don't know why they were there. Apparently the ones in Santiago are protesting the governtment, economy and there not being enough jobs or something.
One of the bull fighters was killed, it was on the news when I was in Melide. They showed footage, for some reason he was taunting the bull on his knees and it got him - why you would do that on your knees is beyond me but everyone is vey upset.

Catching the bus to finisterre today, my feet aren't up to more walking yet. When I got to my hotel in Santiago and took off my shoes I discovered one of my toes had doubled in size from a huge blister and I think I'll loose the nail! Poor feet! But they got me here and were planning our next trip already but it wont be for a few years as I will hopefully be an impoverished student soon!

[ClaireB]

Actually not sure how I managed to get so many blisters! I had inner socks, my pack was 8kg and I used the compede stick stuff when I didn't have tape so just lucky I guess! The blisters ended up forming under the tape!

[Covey]

It would not seem like a proper Camino without the odd toe nail falling off. Kind of a badge of honor!!

Congratulations on your arrival in Santiago!

Chalk one up for the Bulls.

[Lipka149]

San Bol is amazing... and the hospitalero was really friendly! The garden there is amazing too, the water fountain has a really nice story behind it (it heals aching feet lol).

Couldn't agree with you more, joe. When we were there, the hospitalero's name was Miguel and he wrote this next to the stamp in my Credencial ... "El que lo da todo tiene todo".

Spent the rest of the day (and quite some hours afterwards) thinking about that ...

Highly recommend at least a visit if you are walking by. I didn't have the nerve to soak my feet in the c-c-c-cold water of the fountain, but I filled my water bottle with it. Don't know if it was the H20 or the San Bol experience itself, but I remember feeling great that day. The memory has me feeling great almost two years later ! Thanks for bringing it up, joe !

[Lipka149]

It would not seem like a proper Camino without the odd toe nail falling off.

Ha ! Got a kick out of this one, Covey ! In my case, it was EVERY odd toenail !

[Covey]

One tends not to mention the missing toe nail syndrome in case it frights Da Ladies. Us males tend to view the presence of our toe nails as optional, but Da Ladies can get a bit stressed as bits start falling off!!!

It's the same about bed bugs!! The men seem to regard sundry insect bites as just one of those things, but Da Ladies tend to regard the uninvited guests in their sleeping bag with considerable horror.

[Covey]

Especially, when a bedbug, having feasted on a succulent Pilgrim, can last up to 12 months before setting forth for another meal!

[joe]

Miguel was the hospitelero there!! He is so friendly and also a great cook! I arrived late and there was no "free coffee" (donativo) left so he made me a cup and was surprised to see someone else who has coffee before bed time (he does too)!

One of my companions who i have met also has a toe nail falling off! She´s austrailian and is really angry now haha, my toe nails are fine so far

[grayland]

Joe...
When you finish your Camino, go back and read the many posts you made prior to starting out.
It would be very interesting to hear you comment on how the actual experience turned out in comparison to what you wrote in regard to your expectations.
Try to do it.

[unadara]

Gosh Joe you doing so well, no blisters ? no toe nails falling off ? loving all the alberques! I have lost many a toe nail Covey, last year was the worst, the toe nail just had to come off and I decided after a few weeks to do it myself! then I went running to doc who kinda laughed and said, oh yes that will heal up nicely now, 6 mths or so get a new one, one guy I know got one taken off optional to cure the athletes foot fungus! wont grow back he says?
de ladys ha, wonder does this foot spray hardener work ? does vaseline not make foot softer ? white spirit used to be reommended for tennis players ? lot of friction!
I hope to read all my posts later, I hope Joe posts his impressions of a young caminoeist (no insult Sandy).
Una

[joe]

Ah, yeah i´ll definitely read through my comments on this website again... i´ve literally just finished walking (its 7pm), i´m in Ponferrada and I walked around 45km (50km if you add the extra kms for going uphill), took me a whopping 12 hours - although 2 hours were spent resting in the villages

[Anso]

Well I start my trip in about 30 minutes, in true camino style as I'm walking to the airport. This camino thing is truly the maddest thing i've done in years, I must say the advice and support obtained from this site has been invaluable, you're all top boys and girls !
I'll drop in a say hi on route sometime, by the way I've also set up a twitter feed on my blog for daily updates.

Take care all, buen camino
Anso

[Deborah]

Buen Camino Anso .... I am just a little bit green. Hang on to the madness.
Deb

[Covey]

Buen Camino Anso!

[Anso]

Hi, well I´ve made it to Sarria, so last 100km ahead of me. Met some great people and seen some lovely countryside.