from Santiago to Madrid

We stayed in Santiago for 3 days, one day we went to the "finnisterre", meaning the end of the earth...and reached the 0.0 km of the Camino...the Atlantic Ocean is of course magnificient...it's nothing to compare when you see the ocean in this way! Seems the camino has a good ending with this and of course the botafumerio.  We saw it 3 times, how lucky...and also a blessing.  Joseph had a faint in the Mass but got well soon.  EVeryone in the church was helpful anf the father came to greet him after the Mass.  On june 6, we took the night train and arrived Madrid early in the morning of june 7, we wrnt to visit the plaza m as or, the palace and the cathedral, as every tourist do...in the cathedral, we managed to attend the Mass at noon, a children choir was there to sing the songs...they always sounds like angels!

arrived Santiago on june 4th...pray for China!

Sorry I didn't keep the blog updated...but today we arrived the cathedral and got the certificates, met many pilgrims we walked across with in the camino...everyone congratulated to each other...the feeling was really warm and blessed.  The even better part is that after having a confession and blessed sacrament adoration,  we can see the "botafumerio" (big swing) which according to the tourism office, will only happen every friday evening,  it is because there was a group of congressmen were there so they have it this evening.., the coming days we will be travellers to tour around Spain...but the experience of the camino for sure is wonderful enough to keep in my memories!

10th-13th days

A few days not able to get to the internet, sometimes it, s because the server is too slow, sometimes simply because too tired, or wanted to spend more time to do othrrs than to do internet...walking continued and the weather getting warmer and warmer, sometimes to walk under the sun is already a challenge...and I always felt the last 2-3 km of each day is the hardest part..as the backpack is too heavy and the feeling is always just wanted to finish but the road seems never ending...the photo I put in facebook may sound scary but that was just my allergy...nothing serious at all.  Tomorrow we will reach santiago, just about 15 km to walk... sounds like a dream almost achieved.  Can, t wait!

8th and 9th day

Am I too lazy to write blog bidaily?  8th day was whole day rainning fatigue, and tired, we reaced Samos and took lodging at a former monestry...it, s by donation and the facilities were minimal.  We went to have dinner with Monica, a friend we met in the Camino.

9th day was much better, the weather was fine and we only walked 14 km to reach Serria, thats a big city, and we visited the monestry and attended a Mass in the evening,  we found a lovely albergue, bought some for tomorrow's breakfast, we will have 24k then!

7th day

Today we walked about 19 km, but we had to climb the steepest slopes so far...that took time...anyway, now I know what are mountains and valleys...high and low need to have comparison to tell the difference! The morning was rainy, that made the trails all muddy, but the creeks and the sound of water flows and the breeze just like the Holy Spirit was with us.  Later the sun came out for awhile, and the mountains in front of us were just like a bride with veil...foggy and misty, and drizzles keep falling...I think I had a very natural facile treatment.
We met people from many countries, but we met many Germans these days...a woman walked to memorize her late husband, that's an inspring story.

I really wanted to write in chinese, but the input method that Phil, my volunteer set for me, was somehow gone... so I will write a book in Chinese later regarding this journey.LOL!!!

5th and 6th day

5th day, the longest and hardest so far. 32 km...but seems like it is over 40 km...as we were in the midst of mountains, roads were long and winding, and felt like no hope that we can see the destination.  However, with all the grapes vine farms all over the mountain, and with no fence, and cherry trees were all carrying fruits, even not yet totally riped, that, s amazing.  And my niece met a German lady, Elizabeth, they spoke in German for some time, and she, s happy that she could practise her German.

6th day, thought that we could not move, but we walked 2 more km and arrived in an albergue around 3 pm...after laundry, we went out for a leisure walk, even the town is small Ruitlan, the creeks and the tiny park were good for me to draw a picture.

My sister in law got a fell and hurt the head, thank God nothing was serious!

Buen camino!

3rd and 4th days

EACH day basically 26 km...walking around flowers and fields, snow mountains in front or on the side...many pilgrims are on their own and we are the biggest group so far I can see, everytime people asked us if we are Koreans as Chinese seldom walk this camino. Went to Mass sunday evening and fell asleep during homily as we are so tired and we dont knoe spanish. 3rd night, s alberge was the most traditional one so far as we lived in a farm with cocks, cows, sheeps, dogd...all around...and the host philip is such a wondergul Italian volunteer there..talkative!