Who knows what ·

I am well. I am walking with a couple from Oregon. We are in Acerbo right now. This computer is crazy so I am sending this right now and hope you all can read it.ç Love you, Marie

#13 in Leon

I'm in Leon, everyone. I followed the gudebook and took the bus into the city to avoid the industrial area this morning. And I'll do the same leaving Leon tomorrow. It was so much easier. There's been a horrific heat wave here so all the pilgrims are walking earlier in the day and quitting their walks earlier to avoid the heat. Only 197.3 kilometers left. Not that I'm counting. Love you all Marie

#12 In Fromista, Spain

Hi everyone A lot has happened and then nothing much has happend. I am now on my 26th day of the Camino and I have still not made it halfway. That is 26 days of constantly walking everyday, even if it is just a few miles, without a day off. It is not easy and lots of "stuff" comes up. Three days ago I got a cough. It was a dry cough and it didn't concern me much. Then I woke up with no voice. And then I had a fever. That went away and a nurse I met thought I was going to get better but after a night of hacking away and starting to develope some mucous (couldn't spell phelgm) I went to a Farmacia and am now on an Antibiotic. Super powerful one for three days (one pill per day) and a homeopathic cough syrup taken 4 times a day. I can't remember the last time I took an antibiotic. It was pretty comical not being able to talk for 3 days. One Italian guy - who happens to be a priest - got a kick out of making fun of my squeeky whisper. So in two days I will have reached the halfway mark. That's approximately 247 miles. But I have learned it is not getting the compostella that matters, it is the experience of the Camino that matters. I highly recommend everyone and anyone to do it for even two weeks. The Europeans do this in short spurts. It may take them a few years that they may go from St. Jean Pied de Port to Burgos one year, and then from Burgos to Leon another year. It is such a rich experience. These last 3 days that I have been sick, I have stayed at the 3 Saints albergues - San Bol, San Anton, and San Nicholas. All three had no electricity. San Bol used a generator to cook food and heat our bath water but had a spring that supposedly had healing powers for people with foot problems. And last night St Nicholas is run by an Italian organization and the food was unbelievable, and they made it vegetarian for me! They also wash everone's feet as a reenactment of the last super. The last thing they do after pouring water on your foot, and drying it, is to lovingly kiss your foot. Very touching. So the European Soccer matches have been going on here. Tonight it is France against Sweden. I don't remember who Spain played against but all the bars have it on their TVs. That's where I am right now using their wifi. I must be feeling better, I wanted something to eat. It was the usual, Tortilla Espanol which is just potatoes and eggs. I'm so happy I was able to catch up with you all. A big day is coming up where there is nothing between the town and 17 kilometers to the next town. I have to do it so I'll make sure I'm well. Love you all. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Marie

#11 Doing well in Belorado, Spain

Hello everyone Tricia took off today at her own speed and I followed on my own speed with a Romanian woman less then half my age with more blisters than you can count. She is taking the bus tomorrow to Burgos but for today we walked around 15 kilometers together. Then we met a Lithuanian woman that I had met before at the Hostel in Belorado (I love it´s like beautiful Colorado in one word) and we had a great time, had dinner together, walked into town to go to the bank, bought an ankle brace so I´m all set, and some hot pads for my back if I need it. I think I´m doing fine again. It has also been really windy, cool and it sprinkled a little. I personally hope it gets warmer and sunnier. Lots of people come on and go off the Camino that it doesn´t have to be done in one shot. I would like to do it all at one time but done slow now - 15 kilometers a day would be fine with me, unless I feel like I could do more. I´ll say goodnight for now. Thanks for keeping up with me. BTW I met my first Mexican today, a woman traveling with a Spanish man. Love you all, Marie

#10 Going slowly and internet is a problem

Hi Everyone Sorry you are not hearing so much from me but internet is problematic, especially with the Nook. I´m almost tempted to mail it somewhere so I don´t have that added weight for the little it is doing me. My foot is getting better and I hope to buy a brace for it tomorrow since I think I may need it for a while. My back is getting better - I´m rubbing a heat ointment on it, had two massages, and I tie a piece of clothe around my waist as a support. It´s all helping. Today Tricia wanted to walk further than I could do so we decided to send my back pack ahead with a service and I would meet her there, and I was going to take a bus to a nearby town and walk the rest. The bus passed me right by after I waited 3 hours so I started walking to the next town, deciding to just spend the night there. When I registered at the hostel, the man was not happy I didn´t have a backpack, it was 13 Euros for the night and I decided to just take a taxi to the town to meet Tricia. So from now on, I am keeping my backpack with me, and if I can only walk 5 miles, that is where I will stay. Tricia will do her pace and if she can do 20 miles, she will do it. We are in Granon, Spain. Very nice. The only problem was the wind today - boy did it blow! Hope it´s nicer tomorrow. Like I said internet has been a problem so if you don´t hear from me, know that´s the reason. I am well, it´s a joy being here on the Camino. Love to you all. Marie

#9 Giving my foot a rest

Hi everyone, We're in Uterga, Spain. For those of you who saw the movie, The Way, we passed the metal sculptures with the wind generators today. It was great seeing it in person. Of course we took photos. We have still not even completed 100 kilometers yet. Moving very slowly but we are ok with this. My foot/ankle is swollen when we stop everyday and I am wrapping it for support every morning. We figure I'll have to do this for a few more days. At least the weather has been gorgeous. In case anyone needs to get in touch with me in an emergency, I have a Spanish cell phone that you can call or text me - Yes you read right, text me! I think the Spain Country code is 0034 and my number is 634877461. I got it for my banks to have a contact with me. Life does go on even if I'm off trying to ignore it. Love you all, Marie

#8 In Pamplona

Hello Everyone We're moving slow that my left foot did swell and I'm walking funny. So only 3 miles yesterday and today it will be around 2 miles. At this rate we'll get there in a couple of months! That is a joke that is not funny. I hope to be better by tomorrow. Anyway we are having a great time. The scenery is beautiful. Meeting lots of people met two men who have walked all the way from the Netherlands - 2000 kilometers and are heading to Santiago de Compotelo like us. The son will meet them and drive them home. Met Elliot from LA and Laya from NY. Got to go. I'll check in next time there is internet. Love Marie