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Very clever!While walking the Vía de la Plata last fall, in one of the albergues we met a professor from Germany. He was an amusing person to get to know. After the usual introductions, we were asked, "Where are you from?" I laughingly said, we are "gringos." Everybody at the table laughed. It seems that most people across the world now know Americans as gringos. The professor, very seriously looked at us and said, "Ahh, then you are not peregrinos, but you are peregringos!" We laughed even harder and for a long while over this one, and were soon known in our Camino "family" as the peregringos. Ha ha ha.
Found out later it is from a (corrected) Bosch painting ..Hieronymus Bosch shop window ?
This is from March 2008 on the Arles route. I looked down and there were all these caterpillars marching down the lane head to tail. Never had seen anything like it, and have not seen anything like it since.Just wondering if anyone has a funny Camino story, experience or picture to share? Try to keep it brief. Just looking for some Camino humour and laughs to fill the day. Thanks.
This is from March 2008 on the Arles route. I looked down and there were all these caterpillars marching down the lane head to tail. Never had seen anything like it, and have not seen anything like it since.
I came across these processionary caterpillars as well. I did not know until afterwards, they can pose a serious health risk, especially to animals.This is from March 2008 on the Arles route. I looked down and there were all these caterpillars marching down the lane head to tail. Never had seen anything like it, and have not seen anything like it since.
Wow. Do the caterpillars bite/sting? How do they pose a health risk? Very interesting. Thanks.I came across these processionary caterpillars as well. I did not know until afterwards, they can pose a serious health risk, especially to animals.
Ah, now I understand. I didn't see this response before I asked Gerard about it. Thanks. I am glad I didn't disturb them. But where to they go on their pilgrimage?They are processionary caterpillars and they are dangerous little chaps. They are covered in microscopic hairs which, if in the skin can be extremely irritating. Inquisitive dogs are especially vulnerable when they literally stick their noses into the procession. On the walk these caterpillars live in those 'candy floss' type nests that you see in the conifer trees. The caterpillars drop out of the trees when the time is right and go on the march..
I love serendipity moments ❤!One stormy night late January 2009 in Trinidad de Arre at the Marist fathers' albergue I was writing in the common room a blog post on happenstance, chance encounter and camino serendipity.
At the very moment that I defined the word 'serendipity' another pilgrim knocked at the door. Happily speaking Italian he was welcomed by two Spanish pilgrims. The Italian entered the common room, turned to say 'buona sera' to me and then enthusiastically shouted 'Margaret'! Imagine my delight upon realizing that he was Mario whom I had last seen during breakfast at Burguete the year before in 2008!! Another fortuitous chance encounter indeed.
We and a French pilgrim, Polo, had met on the little train going to St Jean Pied de Port and together walked up the Valcarlos route to Roncesvalles. As Mario and I nostalgically recollected those 'good old times' we tentatively promised to meet again "next year on the camino". ...Although our paths have never re-crossed, one never knows !
He is the colors of the camino!This is what one looks like in isolation.
I think this one was doing his own Camino.
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While it may seem surrealistic, it isn't Dali. If you read the Wikipedia article you linked to, you find that:Found out later it is from a Dali painting ..
My badWhile it may seem surrealistic, it isn't Dali. If you read the Wikipedia article you linked to, you find that:
The Garden of Earthly Delights is the modern title[a] given to a triptych oil painting on oak panel painted by the Early Netherlandish master Hieronymus Bosch, between 1490 and 1510, when Bosch was between 40 and 60 years old.[1] It has been housed in the Museo del Prado in Madrid since the year 1939.
Hence Stivandrer's comment #13,
My apologies you were indeed correct thanks to @David Tallan for painting out my mistake.Hieronymus Bosch shop window ?
Lovely blue color!This is what one looks like in isolation.
I think this one was doing his own Camino.
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Nice grey!
What a lovely man to have acknowledged his delight at your achievement. Maybe we all should pat each other on the back more often. I have done the same to a stranger, I think it's a win-win situation“Madam! Well done!” with a thumbs up sign. The cafe was silenced and everyone looked in my direction. However, I was far more delighted at his reaction than I was embarrassed. It remains one of my favourite memories.
I agree, they look lovely, how they move along in a long line. It's the 'oak processionary caterpillar'. They don't turn into colourful butterflies, but into moths (that have a beauty of their own!!). However, they produce a large amount of very tiny hairs that can cause a severe itch. Read more about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oak_processionaryI looked down and there were all these caterpillars marching down the lane head to tail.
Not JUST doing a conga, they are also out to kill you too.Andre, I just thought that line of caterpillars were just doing a conga line dance.
You are correct! They definately add a new dimension to the processions in Santiago. I'll be giving them a miss if I ever get let out of US travel jail.Not JUST doing a conga, they are also out to kill you too.
One morning, I was sitting at the cafe outside the entrance to the Municipal albergue in Burgos, having my morning coffee, when an English-speaking woman was standing in the middle of the road, yelling "But where is the Camino???!"I started my journey in Pamplona . I googled the most expensive hotel I could find and had a couple of nights rest prior . I was 54 at the time and whilst I have travelled a lot it was the first time on my own in 30 years and 2 of my sons had passed in the previous years so it was pretty traumatic period ( still is ) > I researched and researched everything over and over again so I was quitley confident that I would be fine. I even had dry run on how to start from my hotel front door ! . Anyway in the morning at 6.00am I came bouncing towards the front desk all decked out in my packpack etc and the guy at reception got the shock of his life and said " Georgina , what are you doing " I said the Camino and he replied " why are you doing that it is very dangerous ? " He just floored me . I had researched this and this was not the case according to the data . Anyway I went on my way , it was pitch black and misty and I started to cry thinking what have I done , why are you doing this , you can go anywhere blah blah . I kept going and I got to a highway and there was not one yellow arrow .Nobody is around its just me about to quit . A couple of cars flew buy and I thought stuff this and then I saw a taxi so I just walked out into the middle of the traffic and flagged him down ( even though he had a passenger ) . He pulled over and I jogged across , snapped off my backpack, tossed it in the pack , slammed the door shut and said " Camino " , total silence again I repeated & he throws his hands up and then the little old man in the front muttered something under the breath and the taxi driver said in perfect English " are you walking the Camino ? " I said yes , yes , with that he uses his electronic window lock , winds down my window and points to the great big yellow arrow ! We laughed our heads off & it kept me going for ages . I still tell all my friends and they all laugh as that is so my , zero patience , never got lost again , ha
And to get to the pharmacy you better know how to pronounce that too. Far-may-si-a gets you nowhere, far-mah-si-a gets you pointed in the right direction.An oldie…. How to pronounce diarrhea in Spain
So close, and yet so far.And to get to the pharmacy you better know how to pronounce that too. Far-may-si-a gets you nowhere, far-mah-si-a gets you pointed in the right direction.
I fully feel for you. Diarrhea is truly sh*t.An oldie…. How to pronounce diarrhea in Spain… sorry kinda long and recycled….
Ok, this is meant to be sort of funny, but also practical.
On about 1/3 of my Caminos at some point, along the journey, I have suffered with diarrhea. It's not fun.
I have no clue what caused it, but I have noticed that in my latest Caminos I have not experienced it as much. I think it may be because I am more discerning with my water sources, choosing to fill up reused bottles from regular tap water devices (faucets) rather than some random fountain in a cow pasture, and regularly purchasing new bottles as well. I know it sounds like common sense, but it took me a while to learn it.
Now, should the same discomfort befall you on your next spiritual journey, its important that you learn how to pronounce "diarrhea" in a Spanish pharmacy.
Spanish pharmacies are great. The workers take their jobs very seriously. Its not like in the US when you walk into a CVS and some dork behind the counter doesn't know much. I think the workers at Spanish pharmacies take actual classes and training (or it appears so because at least they wear white coats.) If you can accurately describe your symptom (diarrhea, knee pain, cellulite on your backside, etc.) they can often sell you the appropriate remedy.
Now, I was in Ponferrada, sick out of my mind, choosing to stay at a hotel rather than an alburgue because I knew I'd be spending some extended time on the toilet. After checking in and relieved with the recently unfamiliar privacy, I decided a pharmacy was in order. NOTE: Tiendas or SuperMercados do not have the goods required to cure this or other everyday medical issues, I think the pharmacies have a union or something, or its some government regulation.
I walked into a pharmacy nearby, and proceeded to have the following dialogue while very embarrased:
Me: Hola
Pharmacist (in fancy white coat): Hola
Me: Tiene algun para [Die-a-re-ah]? (Do you have something for diarrhea?)
Pharmacist: Puzzled look.
Me: [Die-a-re-ah]
Pharmacist: Same puzzled look.
Me: (totally embarrased that this exchange has taken 2 requests but practicing Spanish) Mi mierda es como agua. (My bowel movements are like water.)
Pharmacist: Ahhhh [dee-a-ray-ah]!
Problem solved. Pills handed over. Discomfort ended.
Perhaps you should have chosen separate beds? Six would be a little crowdedWe got to Airexe in Galicia pretty late, so we checked out the Municipal Albergue. Each one of us (six in our Camino family from all over the world) got into the beds and found it to be crowded and cramped so one by one, we all headed towards the exit. On our way out, an old Ozzy Lady of Spanish-descent started blurting out - "Why? What happened? Why are you leaving? is there something you dont like inside? Is it us? Ohhh I know - you guys are just so PICKKYYY!" we didnt answer her. But we were all laughing so hard walking towards the next Albergue in the next town. This was one of our favorite moments of our Camino that we could not forget even if it happened 4 years ago.
I had to use a farmacia and took a pic before visiting. I showed the lovely senora and she was shocked! Possibly the worst blister she had seen! But she provided much good advice and products! I have a Compostela to prove it!I went to a pharmacy in Portugal and they had a computer with a swiveling screen. They swing it my way so I could type in English what I needed, then swung it back to them and it translated for them, back and forth we went...easy peasy.
I guess that is why they have paperOverheard in albergue when two peregrinos were preparing their beds:
English-speaking peregrino says, “I’m going to put a sheet on my bed first.” Sound of alarm and look of horror on face of English-not-as-a-first-language peregrino. Response from English-speaking peregrino. “What!? That’s a word.”
Reminds me of this old joke:Overheard in albergue when two peregrinos were preparing their beds:
English-speaking peregrino says, “I’m going to put a sheet on my bed first.” Sound of alarm and look of horror on face of English-not-as-a-first-language peregrino. Response from English-speaking peregrino. “What!? That’s a word.”
Shoe expenses must be huge...He is the colors of the camino!
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