LP and VQT

Posted by VQT At the end of our Camino we like to recap a few numbers.   Taxis - 13 Shuttle buses - 3 Planes - 3 Train - 1 Boat - 1 Coming from the US it takes 2 days to reach the starting city and 2 days to get back home.   Hotels - 16 Days Gone - 19 Miles Walked LP - 42 Miles Walked VQT - 170 Laundromat- 1 (🤭) Blisters - NONE Toenails lost - NONE We decided to spend our time in Santiago shopping and seeing people and not doing laundry so we are coming home with very dirty clothes.  But, we are both wearing a new Camino t-shirt.  

Posted by VQT Great day in Santiago.  Perfect weather - but maybe a little too hot?  There’s nothing worse than being here after completing a Camino and it’s raining.  So much of the post celebration is to sit outside at a cafe and see people you’ve met along the way or just others celebrating and if it’s raining you can’t be outside. So a little bit hot is much better than rain   We headed out this morning with a shopping list and we successfully purchased everything on it plus a few extra things.  I have a ceramic tile refrigerator magnet collection that I started in 2022.  This year I added substantially to it.  Our backpacks are stuffed to capacity- it’s a good thing we do not have to carry them very far to the train station.  Photo: 5 new magnet    Photo: 6 new magnets. Photo: LP, VQT and Shawna from Australia.  Shawna had a suitcase shipped to Santiago filled with glamorous clean clothes.  Photo: Anthony & Andrea from...

 Posted by LP This was not the Camino I anticipated - I am sad that I had to bow out, but I am still thrilled with the opportunity to even walk for part of the way, and proud that VQT is a bold and brave solo walker  My heartfelt thanks and appreciation to everyone who shared words of sympathy and support….you are very kind, especially when I needed to feel such kindness  Special recognition to GJA, the most supportive spouse in the world and VQT, the best Camino partner ever 💚 …..and now for the next installment of the green door adventure :) Photo - Santiago urban green door with graffiti  Photo - not a green door, but an arch in the old city limits of Santiago  Photo - impressive green door (to one of the University of Santiago buildings) Photo - green door (but it is open so you cannot see it) surrounded by impressive stonework  Photo - VQT and LP at lunch today (Monday) with Jayne and Arthur from Manchester, UK - VQT walked alongside Jayne and Arthur ...

 Posted by VQT It’s 63 degrees here.  Perfect for tea and pastries outside.  The Botafumeiro is not going to be used for several months while structural repairs are made to the Cathedral dome.   Here are some interesting facts: What speed does the Botafumeiro reach when in motion? The Botafumeiro can reach a speed of up to 68 km/h, rising to a height of 21 meters and drawing an arc of 65 meters. How many times has the Botafumeiro of the Santiago Cathedral flown off? The Botafumeiro has flown off 3 times throughout history: in 1499, 1622, and 1937. Because it swings from side to side of the Santiago Cathedral at high speed, it can reach great force, which on those occasions caused the rope to break, sending it flying. And if you are wondering how to pronounce Botafumeiro:  The  Botafumeiro  is a famous  thurible  used at the  Santiago de Compostela Cathedral , in  Spain . Its name comes from the  Galician language , where  ...

 Posted by LP Photo - vegan menu on the board at The Green Door (in English and Spanish) - we shared a little bit of everything (curries, stews, falafel…..all mildly spicy and very tasty) Photo - VQT and LP sitting at dinner with Micah and Brecken from Ohio and Alessandro from Turin, Italy Photo - Brecken, Micah, Alessandro, VQT and LP enjoying the perfect end to a very pleasant evening……Bico (local) ice cream 🍦 

 Posted by VQT I skipped day 12 which was Saturday’s boat pilgrimage.   What a day!!! Last night the local teenagers or college kids had an all night party in the courtyard outside our hotel.  Hotel was not air conditioned and was sweltering hot so we had the windows open.  They weren’t open for long.  Even closing the windows couldn’t block the noise.  I’m assuming Spain doesn’t have a noise ordinance??? So when the alarm rang at 6:15 am for me to get up and go walk 15 miles I didn’t exactly jump up.  But I was so outraged by the total lack of consideration of the partiers that I wanted away from there.   It was a cool morning and I hoped to get through many miles before the sun came out.   Photo.  Large graffiti of a Camino pilgrim and his trusty dog.   Photo.  Close up of the trusty dog.   Photo. A concrete dog dressed as a pilgrim at a dog daycare center.  When I left the horrible hotel it was dark.  Found a ...