hello from Costa Rica

[annakappa]

Hello! I'm new to the Forum. My name is Anne Kreupeling, British and married to Adriaan who is Dutch.We live in Cerntral America, in beautiful Costa Rica. In mid-May to mid-June 2008 we completed our walk, from Nájera to Santiago having walked the first part Roncevalles to Nájera in June 2007. We loved the experience so much that this September we are going to repeat the Camino, hopefully all the way from Roncevalles. We have given ourselves 6 weeks to do this, as we are getting on in years (67 and 71)! Then in September 2010 we are already "registered" as wardens at Guacelmo. Hasta lluego! Anne

 

[Deirdre]

Welcome Anne and Adriaane,

How fortunate for us to be joined by two more "experienced" pilgrims! No doubt you will have much to share.

And your home of Costa Rica - what a beautiful country! I was there in 2005 and enjoyed every minute of my visit. The climate, the scenery, the people ... all wonderful! I overcame all my fears in Costa Rica: fear of heights - ziplining in the canopy; fear of deep water - zipping around the Pacific on a bananaboat; arachniphobia - I blithely peered into an open treetrunk on a night hike with the guide... only to be greeted by a very large, furry tarantula. :shock: When I sank to my knees with tears streaming down my face, my students panicked - they had NO idea what could possibly be wrong with me! I had to swear them to secrecy - can you imagine what would happen in an all boys high school if they had any clue that I was afraid of spiders?????? I cringe to even think!!! :!: Fortunately there are no taranatulas in northern Spain.....

Buen Camino,

 

[brendan nolan]

Hi Anne & Adriaane and welcome to the Forum ,
We meet here but just missed you in 2008 since Anne and I were hospitalero/a at Gaucelmo in the 2nd half of June. We are also 'pencilled in' as hospitaleros/as for October 2010 :!: To be able to stop in one place on the Camino and put something back into it by welcoming pilgrims is a wonderfully rewarding experience and I'm sure you will really enjoy it as you become part of the Rabanal village community.
Enjoy your pilgrimage this year and,
Buen Camino

Brendan

 

[annakappa]

Hello Brendan,
We stopped at Guacelmo on 1st June, when Graham and crew were "on duty". When we returned home I wrote to volunteer, only to find that 2009 was already booked out, so we are now booked in for the last two weeks of September 2010, so maybe you will be taking over from us in October? I loved the atmosphere at Guacelmo, apart from the care that has been out into converting this old house, it was one of the very few places where we found what I had immagined to be the Pilgrim spirit.I'm looking forward to the experience. So... what to do in 2009? Since we are both in the "over 65" category, but still feel fit, we think that we should "strike while the iron is hot" and hopefully do the whole walk from Roncevalles, starting most probably on 16th September.
Thanks for making contact!
Anne