Hola Pereginos e Peregrinas
This first edition of 2008 features labyrinths and a clean-up the Camino campaign. We meet some interesting peregrinas, members of our CSJ.
Firstly we meet Clare Wilson who builds labyrinths of reconciliation and who also facilitates a personal experience of the labyrinth. Labyrinths were used in medieval times as a virtual pilgrimage. When Clare first cycled the Camino with her husband Rory in 2006, starting near Limoges, France, she knew she was only going to do half the journey. They cycled over 1500km in all but recently they returned to Spain - to Santiago de Compostela - to do the return route. This edition explores the labyrinth, what it is and where to find them.
We also meet Margi Biggs who walked the Camino last June. Margi is a Cape Town business woman whose focus for her Camino was to raise awareness and funds for street children as well as for a charity organization StreetSmart. She returned fired with a vision of a clean-up for the Camino. With her dynamism she has already motivated an international cooperation for the clean-up! Finally we hear of Marietjie and Sue's enriching time on the Camino Portugués.
One of the pleasures of editing Amigos is meeting so many wonderful people. I was searching for an address to post a hard copy to a member when I noticed a name I recognised. It was an uncle I hadn't seen for years. I couldn't believe it. Had he walked the Camino too? I emailed him and soon received a wonderful phone call. Mac Vosloo first walked the Camino in his 70th year. He has since walked it many times and plans to do this again this year, walking from Switzerland down the Rhone valley to Spain to celebrate his 79th year! He came to Cape Town to visit me last week and we spent the afternoon under my grape vine chatting up a storm! We also realised that we each have a great-grandfather who were linked through Jan Smuts to the Boer War. I shared a book I'd written and he gave me a book on Smuts he had bought when visiting Die Hell. Yes this man gets around!
Please note the dates for the AGM and the Camino Workshop.
Buen Camino!
Christine
Travel Tips
Kim Smit found this site very useful in generating a realistic itinerary for her Camino Frances (for visa purposes) - actually also useful for planning the trip. She thought it might be useful to other pilgrims.
www.godesalco.com/plan/frances
Travel in Spain
Most travel agents have never heard of the Camino and often devise complicated, sometimes bizarre, itineraries for people wanting to reach their starting point. Last year a couple was sent from Johannesburg - London - Bordeaux - Biarritz in order to start their walk at St Jean Pied de Port. Others have been booked to fly to Madrid, find their own way to Roncesvalles and back to Madrid from Santiago de Compostela.
The easiest and often cheapest way to do it is to fly Iberia on an open-jaw ticket where you can fly into one city and out of another. You can save a lot of time and money by booking your own ticket online. If starting at Roncesvalles, fly from Johannesburg to Pamplona (with a change at Madrid). Get the evening bus or a taxi to Roncesvalles.
You can also get to St Jean this way by taking a taxi from Roncesvalles to St Jean.
You can then fly out of Santiago (change at Madrid) back home.
Or, for a start at St Jean, you could fly Johannesburg - San Sebastian and home from Santiago. (San Sebastian is only 30 km from Bayonne where you can get a train to St Jean.)
If starting in France, fly Johannesburg to any French destination and then out of Santiago to come home. One of the best websites with travel and transport resources is:
groups.msn.com/ElCaminoSantiago
| ISABEL FERNANDEZ LOPEZ |  |
Those of you who have spent a night at the Albergue Ferramenteiro in Portomarin will remember the cheerful young lady who was your hospitalerda for the night.
It is with deep regret that I inform you that she passed away tragically on the 16th December 2007. She was also a neighbour of ours and a loving mother to two young children. She will be sadly missed by all in our village.
Gordon Bell |
Camino Workshops
The Confraternity of St James of SA will be hosting a workshop for all persons planning to walk the Camino de Santiago Compostela in Spain this year. We will give practical advice, show you what to pack and what not to pack, how to prepare, and answer your questions: what it costs, what to budget for - flights, food & accommodation, equipment, what you need, where to stay Albergues / refugios, hostels, casas rural, getting the right pack, looking after your feet, Spanish lessons .Pilgrims who have walked the Camino before, are welcome to attend and share knowledge and advice. You can also get your Camino passport here and join the confraternity. Please reserve your place so we can print a set of notes for you too!!
| CAPE TOWN: |
| Venue: | 44 Beach Boulevard, Table View (on the beachfront next to Spectrum flats) |
| Date and time: | Saturday morning 8th March 2008 from 10:00 for 10.30 to about 13:00. Cost: R10 pp for tea, notes. |
| Reservations: | Andrée 021 552 2525 or E-mail or Elmara 021 554 786 or E-mail |
| |
| GAUTENG: |
| Venue: | Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens, Malcolm Road, Poortview, Roodepoort |
| Date and time: | 16th March 2008 at 9.00 Cost: R30 [R18 Gardens entrance; R12 to cover venue/ refreshments] |
| Programme: | Registration at Nestle Educational Centre (Membership & Credential available),9H00/9H30 a 8km hike around Gardens, 11H30 - 13H00 Presentation & discussion,13H00 - Bring own picnic lunch / can buy from Gardens cafeteria. |
| Contact: | Sean Stephan on 082 418 4488 or E-mail or Marita Nortje on 072 507 5188 or E-mail |
Labels: Camino, camino frances, Confraternity of Saint James of South Africa, el camino, Pilgrimage, Pilgrims
