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Recent content by tomfriesen

  1. tomfriesen

    Camino pilgrims prepare with shell ceremony

    We have been holding Shell ceremonies for almost 15 years in London, Ontario and in other Canadian chapters. This was really the concept of one of our chapter founders, Wanda Sawicki, who felt that receiving a shell prior to departure was important. (I felt that the idea of picking the shell at...
  2. tomfriesen

    Fall Camino - Festivals & Holidays

    A festival that I have participated in three times (while hospitaleroing in Nàjera on the Camino Frances) takes place on November 15 and 16. There may be other activities in normal times but the fun part for pilgrims staying in the large municipal albergue, was the evening parade. Donning the...
  3. tomfriesen

    LIVE from the Camino Calling all CURRENT hospitaleros!! (Nov 2021)

    I am currently serving in Grañòn for the last half of November with my Italian partner Angelo. We have opened the albergue (San Juan Bautista) behind the church and up the bell tower stairs for the first time in 20 months. (The Rioja was hit hard by Covid and the majority of the 300 townsfolk...
  4. tomfriesen

    LIVE from the Camino Update from the Nájera municipal albergue

    I was lucky enough to be hosted by Bruce and John when I checked into Nàjera on my way to walk to open Grañòn to reopen it for the first time in 20 months. They were doing a great job and I appreciated that they let pilgrims staying with them know that the parochial albergue here in Grañòn is...
  5. tomfriesen

    My packing list -- is it good? Would love feedback!

    I would focus more on supplies for the prevention side of blisters than the treatment. By that I mean bring vaseline to put on your feet before walking (or lamb's wool or foot glide, etc.). Spain is a modern country and the pharmacies are well stocked. They have a great blister bandage called...
  6. tomfriesen

    Donativo: A Dead Idea?

    I have served as a hospitalero voluntario paying my own way to get to Spain and often for my food while I am on station for a half month in an albergue. All but one of the ten postings I have worked in have been donativos. I treasure the system of openly giving hospitality to pilgrims without...
  7. tomfriesen

    Any one else from Toronto/the GTA?

    Julia, there is a very active group of pilgrims in the Toronto area. There will be a meeting for about 250 pilgrims on March 1. The information linked here is last year's but really everything but the date is the same. http://www.santiago.ca/toronto-meeting.html
  8. tomfriesen

    February Camino

    Be aware that the weather changes based on elevation as well. There are several sharp rises between Leon and Santiago and I would check with locals about conditions ahead at Rabanal (before the Cruz de Ferro) Villa Franca de Bierzo (before O Cebreiro), etc. I agree with the advice to layer up...
  9. tomfriesen

    Walking in winter

    My first camino commenced on Feb 22 and ended on March 21st in Santiago with three more days out to Finisterre. 2005 was the coldest winter in 60 years according to one tv report at the time. Layers were definitely necessary but as the weather warmed up, it was actually harder to walk. Walking...
  10. tomfriesen

    Camino April/May 2014 - where to be for Easter?

    Hello Marina, I have been lucky enough to spend three Easters in Spain. You should know that Holy Week is very special and very busy in Spain. The Spanish emphasize the agony of the crucifiction much more than the resurrection.They also emphasize their guilt and shame in Jesus' death so the...
  11. tomfriesen

    the hardest part

    The hardest part for me is getting on a plane and leaving Spain. The difficult stretches of the Camino I approach as poco a poco experiences that I will be dreaming about later. I swore that I would try to slow down (no more 40 km slogs to escape rocadores) and recently walking 18 to 25 kms with...
  12. tomfriesen

    bed bugs 2013

    I also became an expert on bedbug inspection, eradication and psychological counselling for the afflicted victims when I worked as a hospitalero in Zamora in November. I had worked in Granon in May and treated the albergue over 4 days as part of the SOP. I sprayed Biokill ( a relatively mild...
  13. tomfriesen

    Activities for Local Chapter events

    Local chapter activities vary with the location, facilities used to meet, talents and interests of the leaders and participants as well as local resources. Many of the leaders in my London Ontario group meet for coffee every Friday morning. This helps “keep the pot boiling “ with ideas...
  14. tomfriesen

    Canada's London

    Hello Beth, I am replying from Canada's London. We have a very active pilgrim group here. We will be holding a Camino information meeting on Saturday, April 6 at St John the Evangelist on St James Street at 10 a.m. There are other events such as a St James Day walk this summer in Bayfield and...
  15. tomfriesen

    Alan´s Winter Vdlp -- 2012

    Hello Alan, You are arriving in Zamora today which is where I just recently spent 17 days as a hospitalero. (We arrive one day early and remain one day after our half month to pass on information to our siguientes.) It is a really wonderful city to be in either as a hospitalero or as a pilgrim...
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