Happy 19th Birthday to the Forum!

[sillydoll]

The forum turns 19 this month!
Congratulations Ivar and thank you for this powerful site, which has helped hundreds of thousands of pilgrims over the years. I joined in November 2004 when the site was focussed more on Santiago de Compostella itself but soon evolved into a Camino related forum.

 

[ivar]

It has been an amazing ride. Thank you to all that has formed part of this community since it started.

 

[Theatregal]

This forum has been a tremendous help to me over the past years. Thank you Ivar and with gratitude to all who assist in keeping this remarkable international community ticking along in an ordered, respectful, humorous, supportive way.

 

[Sherpa47]

The forum turns 19 this month!
Congratulations Ivar and thank you for this powerful site, which has helped hundreds of thousands of pilgrims over the years. I joined in November 2004 when the site was focussed more on Santiago de Compostella itself but soon evolved into a Camino related forum.

Many congratulations Ivar! Your forum is an inspiration to so many people around the world. I thank you for the continuing closeness it gives me to my beloved city of Santiago de Compostela. Having been a pilgrim on two Caminos I hope and pray that I can return to celebrate my 80th birthday in four years time.

 

[NicP]

Yes- thank you indeed! More than being a fabulous place for information on the various caminos and the places along them, it’s a fantastic way to stay connected to the “camino family” in its largest sense. Thank you so much for this irreplaceable gem!

 

[Luka]

I just checked and I joined the forum 13 years ago. All those years I have been impressed by the positive and welcoming vibe here. Thanks to Ivar, the moderators and lots of contributors! I consider this forum as my virtual Camino family.

 

[ivar]

The moderators are the real heroes here... they are doing an amazing job.

 

[trecile]

I'm so glad that I found this forum and walked my first Camino before I knew anything about the plethora of Camino YouTube videos and Facebook groups.

I learned 99% if what I needed to prepare for my first Camino here from this wonderful community

I met my first local Camino friend via the forum, and have met many others virtually and in person since then - including the man himself!

 

[HappyValerie]

 Muchas Gracias, Ivar, moderators & contributors. I mostly connect with you all in bed......The forum is my go-to when I wake up & my check-in before sleep, almost every day. I enjoy seeing now familiar names, & getting to have a hint of personalities & senses of humour. Of course there's all the wisdom & advice, too. It's hard to believe that I have actually not met any of you .... I was going to say 'real life' but thought that might open a debate about whether or not the Camino is Real Life.
Bless you all, mi familiar.

 

[Saint Mike II]

Hola Ivar, I join those offering our continued thanks for all your efforts to keep this incredible service to the Camino and Pilgrims alike operating. Buen Camino my amigo!

 

[Robo]

What an amazing Forum you have created @ivar
I hope you realise that if you ever decide to retire, members will require:

1. 12 months notice of retirement.
2. A clear succession plan.

Or I can see banner carrying Pilgrims protesting outside Casa Ivar

Thank You for all you do for this community.

 

[jungleboy]

For the 20th anniversary next year, @ivar should walk his first camino! I’ve heard the last 100km from Sarria are peaceful, and you can use a tour company to arrange everything for you for only a few thousand euros!

 

[Hilary Van Norstrand]

The forum turns 19 this month!
Congratulations Ivar and thank you for this powerful site, which has helped hundreds of thousands of pilgrims over the years. I joined in November 2004 when the site was focussed more on Santiago de Compostella itself but soon evolved into a Camino related forum.

THANK YOU IVAR! And all who help with the forum. Absolutely invaluable to all us Camino addicts as well as the soon to be addicts. En route to Santiago as we speak, and will be volunteering at Pilgrim House for the next 8 days. Then off to Ferrol to walk the Ingles back to Santiago! I have been watching the weather a bit but all good. As my husband asks me each morning on the Camino, “Hilary, what do you want to do today?” I tell him, “just walk! In any weather!!

 

[henrythedog]

including the man himself!

El queso grande? Perfectly decent man, and welcoming on my barely-announced visit.

Good to see the recognition of moderators, (past and present, I assume), there is a long list of those who have been part of the forum’s evolution.

 

[C clearly]

The moderators are the real heroes here...

all us Camino addicts

We pretend we are long-suffering heroes, but in fact we are the worst cases of all.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I concur with every sentiment written above!
I will add "this" to the mix for one and all.

 

[Sue127]

As all comments above, many thanks to Ivar for the forum. It has been invaluable for finding answers to questions, however bizarre, for walking in the footsteps of others, via their daily posts and for keeping dreams alive.