smileymadd
Member
- Feb 28, 2011
- 28
- 4
- Time of past OR future Camino
- CF (2011) VdLP (2013) Camino Portuguese (2016) Camino Finisterre/Muxia (2016) Camino Ingles (2017)
Hi everyone, Sue here. Judi and I walked the Camino Frances mid May to late June and had the most amazing time. Our plan was to not have a plan, which was a truly liberating experience. We never made one reservation even in Santiago as we never knew exactly how far we would walk each day, but every afternoon there was always a place for us to sleep. I would lie in bed for a few minutes each morning and wonder what the day ahead would hold, every day was a surprise package. Some days we weren't even sure which day of the week it was. We rarely thought about actually reaching Santiago, we just lived for the moment, sounds corny I know, but absolutely true. We immersed ourselves in the wounderful sense of freedom.
We met (and are now in contact with) some pretty special people along the way. The food was always good (we must be the only pilgrims who never lost weight). The Spanish people were a delight, so warm and friendly and so receptive to our efforts to speak their language.
I have read on the forum how some pilgrims couldn't cope with siesta time when most things close down, it's only three hours, work around it. When you go to another country, is it not to experience the culture of that country? If you want everything to be the same you might at well stay home.
This pilgrimage was extremely demanding physcially but more than compensated by enriching our lives both personally and spiritaully.
OK, I know you are all thinking this sounds all too fantastic, well, we did have one incident, I like to refer to it as the 'Fromista blisters' incident. To cut a really long story really short, infected blisters on my heels, night time call out for the doctor from Frosmista to the albergue in Itero de la Vega, temp of 40 degrees, red line climbing up my leg, diagnoses of Septicaemia, Compeed torn from my heels (oh the pain), 'alleged' delirium, no walking for two days, had to buy walking sandals in Carrion. I owe my life literally to my sister-in-law Judi who insisted on the albergue owner calling for the doctor. Olga, Rosa and Camino, the wonderful doctor and nurses at the Medical Centre in Frosmita I will never be able to thank enough.
If you came across the both of us along the way, thanks for making 'our camino' so special.
We met (and are now in contact with) some pretty special people along the way. The food was always good (we must be the only pilgrims who never lost weight). The Spanish people were a delight, so warm and friendly and so receptive to our efforts to speak their language.
I have read on the forum how some pilgrims couldn't cope with siesta time when most things close down, it's only three hours, work around it. When you go to another country, is it not to experience the culture of that country? If you want everything to be the same you might at well stay home.
This pilgrimage was extremely demanding physcially but more than compensated by enriching our lives both personally and spiritaully.
OK, I know you are all thinking this sounds all too fantastic, well, we did have one incident, I like to refer to it as the 'Fromista blisters' incident. To cut a really long story really short, infected blisters on my heels, night time call out for the doctor from Frosmista to the albergue in Itero de la Vega, temp of 40 degrees, red line climbing up my leg, diagnoses of Septicaemia, Compeed torn from my heels (oh the pain), 'alleged' delirium, no walking for two days, had to buy walking sandals in Carrion. I owe my life literally to my sister-in-law Judi who insisted on the albergue owner calling for the doctor. Olga, Rosa and Camino, the wonderful doctor and nurses at the Medical Centre in Frosmita I will never be able to thank enough.
If you came across the both of us along the way, thanks for making 'our camino' so special.
