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!

first two days

starting from Leon, weather was very mixed...windy, rainy, sunny, and then rainy and even frosty, and cloudy and rainy are the main theme...very muddy when walking but we turned out walked 26 km...the albergue that we lodged has no internet, but it does has all the necessities, except the ovens in the kitchen did not work well...anyway, a very nice experience...especially when we washed clothes and hung them up, lots of childhood memories!

may 23, the second day, almost whole day sunny, but it was only 1C when we started the day.  The way was too beautiful and we met many interesting people...even just say buen camino sounds good enough.  In the mountain top, three people were there to treat pilgrims drinks and snack...that really touched us!

tomorrw...

today still in Leon waiting for friends from Barcelona...we went to San arco monastry now ahigh class hotel Panado where Martin Sheen treated the other pilgrims in the movie "the way".  today's weather is cold, gloomy, windy, rainy, and sunny...very mixe however, we stil feel good and very looking forward for tomorrow's REal walk to start!

落葉滿空山，何處尋行踪。
I did try to upload a photo, but it just too slow...sorry!

黎明請你不要來

在Leon
Cherry 買了一件太有型的，太羡慕了。
From Madrid To leon, now I know how grand the sky is...cows and goats in the field, white clouds with blue sky...with seamless boundaries...how great Thy art ...

Leon is a tiny city but beautiful enough to scroll around.  We found a lovely family eatery called Acebo y Encina.  The girl is only 15 but very helpful.港孩們該慚愧吧。

Starting today we had the stamps to our passport...we had two today...how many can we get when we finish?

I should have remember to take photo with tablet so i can at least post some photos here

玉立水雲香，爾我相忘!

had a great time

In Segovia, what a beautiful city...the aquaduct, cathedral and the castle and the city itself...

in madrid

Arrived madrid this morning and settled in an appartment for the coming three days.we
 will head to Leon and meet friends fom hong kong on may 22. A nice leisure walk in the city this afternoon and then attended  Mass in Real Oratorio del Caballero de Gracia. Was thinking of attach a photo of the church but was too slow. may be next time絮飛留不得，隨風好去落誰家

Our Lady of Fatima feast day - May 13

Our Lady of Fatima...my friends Stella and Raymond, should be there now to celebrate their 30th anniversary...what a blessing!

This morning the homily, the priest reminded us about Jesus presented Our Lady as our mother when He's in the cross.

During lunch break, took some photos in St Felix Centre in Toronto:

what is "Word"?

When picked "light on my path" as the name of my blog, I was thinking of "Word"...this evening, attended a talk by Sr Ko Ha Fong, she was presenting about "Word" too...老子說道可道非常道...道又可翻譯成聖言, Word, Way...camino...maybe it's time to ponder what "Word" really means to me or to this journey!

the day before...and then the mother's day

yesterday...may 10 was the wedding of beautiful Patricia...she's my close friends' daughter...i have to say that the ceremony in the Church and the banquet both were sweet and tender...the father and daughter's dance, the mother and son's dance, and the sister's toast...all beautiful and touching...too many happy tears!

May God bless the new couple, and they live in God's love forever!

Mother's day is a beautiful day, how nice to start this day when my son called early from hong kong.
The evening, walked about 4 km to a friend's house for BBQ, lots of food as usual!

Still have no idea about the packing...my backpack seems too heavy!

count down - 1 week to go

This evening 6 km walk after dinner...with backpack and walking poles...light drizzle and cloudy but the colour of the dusk was still beautiful.  Just thinking that I may need a pair of cotton gloves when using the walking poles...to avoid blister.  Tomorrow will buy/get some souvenir for people who meet in camino...stickers probably the best choice, easy to carry!

post this photo again, learning to do my blog...

Count down - one week to go

Just can't believe it's one week we will have to start the camino...yet I have no idea what to pack...

Testing

testing again...beautiful nature!