hola again! i just wanted to add a little more as we ran out of time on our last blog. First of all we are having a great time! What we love the most is meeting people from all over. We bunked in orisson with two women our age from Australia and 2 french canadians. At dinner that night we sat next to a french couple and a german couple. Tonight in Zubiri we ate with our Australian friends again and 2 irish men. Everyone is so nice. nothing could have prepared us for what we have faced these past three days. It is hard, lots of ups but we think the steep downs are the hardest. We have a few aching bones and of course some blisters but hopefully we can get those under control. our flight over was perfect and our day in st. jean was wonderful, such a beautiful little town. our weather was gorgeous today, beautiful blue skies. we look forward to what tomorrow will bring. we love and miss you all....susu and gene

From orisson to zubiri

hola, we see that our first post didn´t work so we are trying again. so much to say and not enough time. our first day to orisson was really tough even tho it only covered 5 miles. it was all very uphill , steep, and half way up it started to rain and the fog set in so we were glad we were staying in orisson the first now. we arrived wet but met lots of great people and had a wonderful pilgrims meal with them that night. left the next morning about 7 and luckily the clouds broke and we could see the mountains. it turned out to be a beautiful day...cold and windy at the top of our hike , 6 plus hours, getting to Roncesvalles. Again, it was tough and slow going at time but the views were spectacular , glad we started from St.jean. Roncesvalles is such a cute place. stayed in a monastery with 120 plus other people. gene was my bottom bunk mate thank goodness. a nice young man was 3 feet away on my right. it was interesting watching everyone going to bed and getting up in the morning. not as noisy as we expected. went to a pilgrims mass that night , very beautiful and emotionsl when all the pilgrims were invited to the altar for a special blessing, given in several different languages. A pilgrims dinner followed at a local restaurant. lights out in the dorm at 10 and lights on a 6 the next morning. A real toughy today. no way walking thru vanstory hills or the cape fear trail had us prepared for this. lots of up and then lots of steep down on lots of rocks and stones but again pretty as we went through forests most of the way and cute small towns. we stopped for resfreshments a two of them. We are now in Zubiri after about 12 miles of walking, 7 hours. our accomodations tonight are also in a municipal refuge , top bunk , no rail but luckily we are still bunkmates. hopefully off to pamplona tomorrow. long day. hasta from gene and susu

One week from today, Gene and I will begin our journey. We leave Wed, August 26th. I have talked to friends who have walked the Camino and I have read many, many articles, blogs, etc., yet it's still hard for me to imagine what's ahead. I do know that it will be a real physical, emotional, and mental challenge. Nine years ago, I went to Santiago with my sister so I do know what is at the end of the journey. When I left Santiago, I knew that one day I wanted to return as a pilgrim, a "peregrina" and I am so excited that it is really happening. I look forward to all this journey will bring and I thank all of my family and friends for their encourgement and support. Gene and I will keep you "posted". susu 8/19/09

History of the Camino

El Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James) is a walkway that has been traveled for more than 2000 years and has been a Christian route for nearly 1300 years. It is said that Santiago de Compostela is the burial place of the apostle, James the Greater. In the Christian world, Santiago is one of the three main sites for pilgimages along with Jerusalem and Rome.

When the apostles spread out across the known world to preach the gospel, tradition has it that James came to Galicia, Spain. In 44AD, he returned to Jerusalem, where he was beheaded by King Herod, becoming the first of the apostles to be martyred. St James' followers were said to have placed James' head and body in a ship to Galicia and his remains were buried inland. Years later, legend states that a hermit saw stars above a field ("compo" meaning field and "stela" meaning star) where St. James' bones were uncovered. A cathedral was built on this spot and today, below the altar in a crypt, a silver box is said to hold the remains of St. James.

The first pilgrimages began in the 9th century. By the 12th and 13th centuries, half a million pilgrims traveled across northern Spain each year. Along the way, hostels, bridges, hospitals, etc. were built to accommodate them. The Knights Templar patrolled the Camino, providing protection. With the coming of the Protestant Reformation, the Enlightenment, and wars, the Camino lost favor but was never abandoned. Today, once again, it is "alive" with pilgrims from all over the world who undertake this journey, not only for religious reasons, but for many other reasons as well. The Camino winds through mountains, vineyards, fields, small towns, and cities. Pilgrims follow yellow arrows and scallop shells, the symbols of the Camino.

There are several routes to Santiago. The one Gene and I are following is the French Route. We will start in St. Jean Pied de Port, France. Our first day will take us over the Pyrenees and into Spain. Approximately 500 miles later, our journey will end in Santiago de Compostela.

Posted by Susu, August 12, 2009