CSJ of SA - News

Camino Workshops 2010

noreply@blogger.com (The Webmaster) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:17:00 +0000

Cape Town:

The 2010 Cape Town Camino Workshop will be held on Saturday morning, 6th March at the St. Oswalds Church in Milnerton. The workshop will start at 10:00 and finish at approx 13:00.
It is essential to reserve your place so that we have some idea on how many sets of notes to print. There will be a cover charge of R10 per person to for tea, cookies and notes.
Reservations can be made with:
Andrée Lombard on 021 552 2525 or email her at andreelombard@absamail.co.za
Elmara Willis on 021 554 1786 or email her at elmara@telkomsa.net
Directions to the hall of St Oswalds church, cnr of Park avenue and Jansens road, Milnerton. Turn into Jansens from Koeberg rd, south of Centre Point. Near Jansens hall and tennis courts.

Durban:

The 2010 Camino workshop will be held on 27th February at the BERGTHIEL MUSEUM in Westville from 08:00 to 11:45.
A Hospitalero training course approved by the Spanish Federation of Hospitaleros will be held at Silvia Nilsen’s house on the 27th & 28th February, and on 6th & 7th March commencing at 13:00.
For more information you can contact Silvia Nilsen on 031 267 2059 or 083 474 8086 or email on Nilsens@mweb.co.za.

Gauteng:

The 2010 Camino workshop will be held at the botanical gardens on the 13th and 14th March. A Hospitalero training course, approved by the Spanish Federation of Hospitaleros is being planned fore the same weekend. If you are interested and needing directions you can contact Sean Stephan at Sean.Stephan@fnb.co.za or 082 4184488 and Marita Nortje: at mapano50@hotmail.com or 072 507 5188

Garden Route:

Knysna:
The 2010 Camino workshop in Knysna will be held on 4 February. For more details, please contact Denise Craine on 082 884 8555 or email her at knysnabookexch@telkomsa.net.
George:
The 2010 Camino Workshop for George, Oudshoorn and Mossel Bay area will be held by Philda Benkenstein on the 4 February. There will be a morning session at 10:00 and an evening session at 18:30 for 19:00. There will be an introductory lesson on Spanish for the pilgrims and an opportunity to sign up for more lessons... It is essential that you RSVP so that we can prepare enough bocadillos & tortillas españolas!
Cost: R15- per person.
Venue: 36 Stander Street, Bergsig, George
Reservations can be made with Philda Benkenstein on 044 874 7999 or 0822269466 or email her at benkenstein@mweb.co.za

Our first "Camino 2010" desk Calendar

noreply@blogger.com (The Webmaster) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:56:00 +0000

A preview of our first "Camino 2010" desk Calendar, produced by the "Confraternity of St. James of South Africa" has JUST ARRIVED!

This is The Best Christmas Present for friends, family, fellow pilgrims, colleagues and neighbours.

Please place your orders now so that we can get your calendars to you before Christmas. We have only ordered a certain amount to be printed, so to prevent disappointment and having to wait for a reprint, let us have your order forms and payments ASAP. Click here to download the order form.

Specifications:
Measurements: (landscape orientation) – height = 15cm and width = 21cm (A5)
Paper: printed on off-white (bone coloured) high quality paper
Colour: full colour photographs throughout
Photographs: All of the pictures in this calendar were taken by members of the Confraternity of St. James of South Africa during their own pilgrimages to Santiago and reflect their experiences and sights along the Camino. The thirteen photographs in this calendar were selected as the winning entries of our first “Camino 2010” desk calendar competition.
Base/stand: thick cardboard triangle
Binding: metal spiral at the top
Sale price: R56.00 (inclusive of postage, to destinations inside South Africa)
Shipping to all destinations in: 1st week December 2009

Kind Regards
Fran Parsons

News Update

noreply@blogger.com (The Webmaster) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:27:00 +0000

Dear Members,

Thank you for the wonderful response and support we had with our first Photographic Competition. All entries received were truly fantastic and of a very high standard. The competition was judged by an independent panel of judges in Cape Town on Saturday 24th October 2009.

Congratulations to our winners:

1st prize went to Joy Anderson from Glenmore Beach, KZN who won the 12Mp Canon
A2100 IS Digital Camera valued at R3, 500.00

2nd prize went to Elmara Willis from Table View who won a Magnum bottle of
Shiraz from Groot Constantia (c 1685) Wine Estate

The runners up:

3rd – Jan Randewijk from Kuils River
4th – Joy Anderson from Glenmore Beach
5th – Grant Bacon from Cape Town
6th – Ria Erasmus from Rivonia
7th – Gep Maritz from Somerset West
8th – Pascale Neuschäfer from Rondebosch
9th – Pat Foure from Strand
10th – Sylvia Nilsen from Durban
11th – Elamara Willis from Table View
12th – Elmara Willis from Table View
13th – Brenda Swart from Vleaberg

Right now the 13 digital photographs (cover & 12 months) are being assembled and will be taken to the printers by the end of this week. Our 2010 Camino Desk Calendar should be ready for distribution by late November ‘09. Christmas is just around the corner – we are convinced that our 2010 Camino Calendar will be a winner and will make wonderful gifts for family and friends - so please place your orders now so that we have some idea of how many to print.

Regards

Fran parsons
Vice Chairman

Camino Frances

noreply@blogger.com (The Webmaster) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 09:20:00 +0000

Click here to download the List of Albergues

SPANISH LESSONS

noreply@blogger.com (The Webmaster) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:07:00 +0000

Durban (Berea)
Beginners, Intermediate & Advance classes offered by qualified Spanish speaking tutor on the berea in Durban.
Spanish 101 - contact Waldir at 0820423706 or spanishlessons101@gmail.com

Cape Town (Gardens)
Going on the Camino? Come and learn Spanish from scratch. This 8-week language course is tailored for those pilgrims preparing for their Camino experience. Each participant receives a manual full of useful lesson topics for the road ahead. The emphasis of the course is on speaking through role plays and fun improvisations. Contact Claire Verstraete, 082 924 9459 or cjtvers@gmail.com Cost: R1100.

A new service

noreply@blogger.com (The Webmaster) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 07:32:00 +0000

A new service for pilgrims will soon be opening in Santiago. Ivar Revke - the webmaster of the popular forum Pilgrimage-to-Santiago.com, is setting up a Camino Travel Centre in the old city of Santiago. He will offer a welcome service to pilgrims arriving in Santiago, trips to Finisterre to see the sunset, storage facilities for pilgrims to send excess baggage to Santiago from the camino routes and many other services.

Camino Travel Center
Rua de San Pedro 33,
15703 Santiago de Compostela,
La CoruÃ±a, Spain

Website: www.CaminoTravelCenter.com

Phone us using any of these numbers:
Spain: +34 981 589 289
UK:+44 20 7193 8301
Australia: +61 2 8003 5247
USA: +1 408 627 7640

Skype name: Camino.Travel.Center

Camino Workshop in Gauteng

noreply@blogger.com (The Webmaster) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 07:30:00 +0000

Venue: Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens
When: 15th March 2009, 9.00 to 11.00 plus walk through gardens.
Further info: Marita Nortje' mapano50@hotmail.com

The South African Department of Foreign Affairs

noreply@blogger.com (The Webmaster) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 07:27:00 +0000

The South African Department of Foreign Affairs offers a voluntary registration service for South African citizens who are travelling abroad. This service is provided in the event that there is a need to contact South African travellers to offer urgent advice on a natural disaster, civil unrest or family emergencies. For more information and for registration, visit the following website: www.foreign.gov.za/TIBCO%20iProcess%20Client%20%28ASP%29/StaffDFA/Custom/ROSA/start.aspx

Get with the age of techno talk and join facebook

noreply@blogger.com (The Webmaster) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 07:22:00 +0000

There are many Camino Groups on facebook. It is useful to share experiences, photographs and connect with others while on Camino or afterwards. You sign up, create your profile and then join the groups. Here are some of the groups (you need to have joined facebook to see them):

Camino de Santiago
The Camino de Santiago
The Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela

Gordon Bell, who lives in Vilacha¡ near Portomarin, has also created a friends' group for his home Casa Banderas. See his photo album of the progress there.

New Visa Requirements

noreply@blogger.com (The Webmaster) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 07:20:00 +0000

A Visa Appointment system at the Consulate General of France in Johannesburg; with effect from 1st November 2008, every applicant (6-years old and above) who resides in the provinces of Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northwest and Free State is required to apply in person at the office of the Consulate General of France in Johannesburg. The Consulate Generalâ€™s address is: Standard Bank Building, 3rd Floor, 191 Jan Smuts avenue, Parktown North, Johannesburg Prior to applying in person at the office of the General Consulate of France, applicants are required to schedule an appointment. Applications will not be accepted without an appointment.Â Applicants wishing to apply for a Schengen visa to travel to France are required to submit their applications after taking a prior appointment online at http://fr.vfsglobal.za.com.Â The Internet facility is available 24/7. Applicants can call our helpline number at +27(0)82 234 4433; the phone-in facility is available 0800-1500, Monday â€“ Friday. Appointment can be scheduled online by the applicant only; it cannot be scheduled at the call centre. There will be an appointment scheduling service charge of R110.00 inclusive of VAT levied per application over and above the visa fees.Â The appointment scheduling service charge is payable by cash deposit in advance at any Nedbank branch.

The BRITISH GOVERNMENT have announced changes to the visa requirements for South African nationals who wish to visit or transit the United Kingdom. With effect from 3 March 2009, all South African nationals seeking to visit or transit the United Kingdom will need to obtain a visa before travelling.Â There will be a temporary exemption to this requirement for those who have previously travelled to the United Kingdom in their current passport. Travellers with no evidence of travel to the United Kingdom in their current passport (i.e. a UK arrival stamp) will need to apply for a visa. Not sure yet ofÂ procedures, costs and requirementsÂ but awaitingÂ official notification from the British High Commission.

Check with you local consulate for rules. ukinsouthafrica.fco.gov.uk/en/visas-for-the-uk/

PILGRIM STATS - 2008

noreply@blogger.com (The Webmaster) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 07:18:00 +0000

(2007 in brackets)

January (350) 306;
February (666) 703;
March (1,680) 5328;
April (8,112) 5,655;
May (12,898) 15,988;
June (15,157) 15,860;
July (20,108) 20,989;
August (27,140) 29,747;
September (15,1898) 17,298;
October (9,434) 9,881;
November (2,496) 2,301;
December (796) 1,085;

TOTAL: (114,026) 125,141

International Santiago Congress in Belgium in 2010

noreply@blogger.com (The Webmaster) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:13:00 +0000

December 1st, 2008

The Flemish Confraternity of Santiago de Compostela will soon be celebrating its 25th anniversary. To celebrate the occasion, it will organise an international Santiago Congress on Saturday and Sunday, 30th and 31st of October, 2010.

The programme and the international speakers’ subjects will be based on the following elements:

the historical meaning of the cultus of St. James and the pilgrimage to Santiago
the re-discovery of the roads of St. James in the 20th century
the development of new St. James’ roads in Europe
the roads of St. James as a source for a new spirituality.

The members of the Flemish confraternity invite all foreign St. James Confraternities, but the event is open to all other interested parties.
Simultaneous translation to and from these languages will be provided:
Dutch, Spanish, English, German and French.

For more information please contact:
congres.2010@compostelagenootschap.be

Newsletter 18, October 2008

noreply@blogger.com (The Webmaster) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 06:20:00 +0000

Hola Pereginos e Peregrinas

In this, the final issue of 2008, we have two “journal” extracts from pilgrims who went on Camino earlier this year. First Catherine Martin and Jane McNally who cycled the Camino Frances from Burgos in May, then the inimitable Father Frank de Gouveia who walked the Northern Route or Ruta de la Costa. Not many have taken that route so I have included an extensive but edited version of his emails back home. It is written with such warmth and joy that I thought I must share as much of it as possible. It will be in two parts (part two in Feb 2009). I hope you enjoy it.
The Feast of St James Day was a rainy and wet event but warm with fellowship and sharing. In Cape Town parish priest Father John Baird told of how St James Church and the area got its name. About 200 years ago a Filipino ship was wrecked in False Bay. It had been returning to the Philippines from Spain and the seven sailors who survived built a little church in gratitude. They named it after their patron saint, Santiago, who was also the patron saint of Spain. They loved the bay in which they had found themselves and so decided to stay. Descendants of these seven still visit the church today.
You will also see photographs from Franklin and Pam Stern who used the garbage bags we now distribute with all new pilgrim credentials.
The scallop shell is used to mark the way to Santiago. In medieval times wearing a scallop or having one in your coat-of-arms marked you as a pilgrim. You will see some photographs of scallops I found here in Cape Town after the storms of August.
Please note the times and dates for the end of the year meetings and lunch.
Buen Camino!
Christine

ON CAMINO:

On the 24th May, Catherine Martin and Janet McNally started their cycling pilgrimage on the Camino Frances in Burgos. These are a few edited extracts taken from emails they sent home.
31st May 2008:
We’ve completed about 250km of our journey. We spent last night in Leon and are now 30km away in a small village called Hospital de Orbigo (1329.8m). This is an uplifting experience: poppies, daisies, bluebells, and lavender – yellow, white, purple and blue spring flowers everywhere, birds chattering all day, shepherds herding their flock, grand cathedrals and ancient Romanesque churches. The down side is that we’ve squelched through kilometres of mud and have faced icy winds and serious downpours – not fun when you’re on a highway trying to figure out which way to turn. Tomorrow we attempt the Montes de Leon, the highest point of the Camino. We are nervous about the weather conditions, having been warned not to attempt the pass if it‘s raining. And it has rained nearly every day.
Monday 2nd June 2008
We left Orbigo in bleak conditions and wobbled up a couple of hills over fist-sized pebbles and through mud baths every 100 metres. After three hours of plodding, we arrived at the tiny village of San Justo de la Vega looking for cafe con leche as we were frozen. I then discovered that I had left my money belt under my pillow in Orbigo. It contained my money, passport, flight itinerary, and two credit cards. After having a fit, the bar owner assigned her son to drive me back to Orbigo where we were told that it had been sent ahead to Astorga. We trekked another 10 km to Astorga, where a very kind Felipe handed it to me. The driver refused to accept any money for his efforts. How blessed we are to experience these small miracles on the Camino.
The Montes de Leon are great big, menacing mountains, cold to freeze the blood. We left Rabanal in shrouds of mist, and immediately faced a steep ascent. We had to push the bikes. It was dead quiet and scary; we were alone on the road as the walkers’ trails are too difficult for bikers. We eventually reached the eerie village of Foncebadon and continued for an hour afraid that we would lose each other in the dense fog, and worried that we may miss the Cruz de Ferro. And then we noticed it on the right. As we entered the space I felt a pull to the mound of stones that pilgrims have left for centuries. I was immediately connected to all the pilgrims, past, present and future who had trodden and would continue to tread this path. I held my stone from home very tightly, warming it with the intentions of all those I know and love. I placed my stone next to Janet’s, and we had our picture taken. After 7 hours we made it into Ponferrada. Last night we had mass and chanting in Rabanal. Tonight we sleep at a German-run Albergue in Ponferrada, 202.5 km from Santiago.
Friday 6th June
The last three days have been the most taxing. We’ve been on the bike for nine hours every day, pushing up mountain peaks and treading in mud for dozens of km. In Ruitelan we shared a hearty supper with the French, Italian, Australian, German and Swiss guests: slept soundly in the attic and were woken up at 6 a.m. to the wafting sound of Schubert’s Ave Maria. We ate breakfast to piped classical music. The climb to O Cebreiro, from 600m to 1350m in eight km, took us three hours and then a spin down the mountain where we virtually dropped at the door of the Benedictine Monastery in Samos. We did a total of 42 km that day, in nine hours. We’ve had three punctures and are expert in appealing to the Catholic guilt of peregrinos to fix them ... Janet delegates while I look on helplessly.
After Samos on the way to Portomarin we’d heard a South African by the name of Gordon Bell had set up a pilgrim refuge. At Vilacha we noticed a South African flag draped over a door. Next to it was a table containing a cool box full of drinks and a plate, with a note to place 1 Euro on the plate if we want a drink. There were instructions in various languages, all very polite. Then we came to the instructions in Afrikaans, which said: "Kak en betaal – dis die wet van Transvaal. Ons sal jou bliksem as jy nie betaal nie. Moenie a skollie wees nie!"
13th June 2008 (from Durban)
We travelled 528km altogether (of which we may have pushed bikes for 40 km or more). We got to Santiago on Sunday half an hour before the Pilgrims' mass. We took trains back to Madrid where we were refused on both bus and metro because our bikes were not boxed. We only had three hours to check-in time so Janet asked a taxi driver to take us and our bikes to the airport. At first he was indignant but using his business acumen he agreed to do it for 40 Euros (the trip is probably worth 10 Euros).
We all look for something different in a pilgrimage. For me it's in the celebration of life and the appreciation of God. I have come away from the Camino with the understanding that we need to be thankful for both great love and great sorrow, because they contribute to the fullness of our lives. When our thoughts around these states are positive and we take full responsibility for our actions, we live our life’s purpose and open ourselves to unlimited personal transformation.
Catherine Martin, June 2008

Rent-A-Pilgrim

Check out this interesting website: www.rent-a-pilgrim.com
In medieval times, if you could not make a pilgrimage for some reason then you could get someone else to do the pilgrimage on your behalf. If a pilgrim went on pilgrimage for someone else it was called “peregrinatio pecuniae causa”. The substitute pilgrim would go on pilgrimage and would be paid for it.
Arising from this medieval idea, this organisation has created different offers that could be interesting for a modern pilgrim. It becomes a charity walk for a good cause. At the moment the pilgrims are collecting money for the renovation of the city church St Jakob in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Rent-a-Pilgrim channels donations and offers something that could perhaps make your decision for a donation easier.

Esprit Cards

"The pilgrim's hostel L'Esprit du Chemin has been in existence now for five years! We would like to celebrate this milestone with something special for your journey on the camino to Santiago de Compostela or to Cape Finistere, but also further, on the camino through life."
This is the opening of the set of "Esprit Cards" that we have put together and which we offer free of charge– through our website – to pilgrims who are interested in them. We have also added some suggestions as to printing, format and use of the cards. You will find the "Esprit cards" by clicking on the link by that name on the English homepage of our website. We would very much appreciate if you would inform the members of your Society and/or the visitors of your website about the "Esprit Cards ". It goes without saying that any reactions, suggestions or remarks on your side to these cards would be highly appreciated.
“L’Esprit du Chemin”, a hostel of, for and by pilgrims
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France www.espritduchemin.org

Camino to Assisi

For lovers of the Camino de Santiago, or for those who just love to take long hikes, the Camino to Assisi in Italy,
is worth considering. The journey is approximately 300km/200 miles and takes about 11-13 days. Instead of following yellow arrows on the Camino in Spain, this Camino has pilgrims following GREEN arrows and markings. Much of the website is in Italian, but there are lots of online translation tools to use (http://babelfish.yahoo.com), that quickly make the pages readable in English. www.camminodiassisi.it

Scallops found on Muizenberg beach

St James' Feast Day Report back:

From Denise Crain in Knysna in the Southern Cape:
I'm delighted to report that we had a wonderful turnout. The gathering was very informal ... laptops, albums, books spread out with bodies in the lounge, dining room, kitchen and on the lawn. Rene Mitchell (who arrived dressed in her Camino get-up with back-pack and walking stick) and Kim Alcock were able to chat to Val Wakey and Merle Dix-Peek and Pan & Anina van Tonder who have walked ... and cycled very recently. Twenty friends came through to Knysna from Oudtshoorn, George and Plettenberg Bay to share Camino experiences and mishaps over a bowl of 'sopa' and a glass of wine. There was a wonderful hum of voices and laughter and the general feeling was to gather together again next year. Denise Crain
From Bernard O’ Sullivan in Cape Town:
I would like to thank each and everyone for the contribution in making this a wonderful celebration for our Confraternity in Cape Town. The food and sharing was quite outstanding. Denise read a letter from Gordon Bell at Vilacha. The parish priest Monsignor Fr John Baird [Jock] gave a talk about the history of the church. Derek arranged the Mini Walk and had to contend with the rain. Andrée shared her muddy recent Camino. It was lively and so descriptive. Palmira was so Real [royal] from the 'Spanish' heart as usual. The accent lends so much character to our Feast Day. Heinrich had the unusual exercise of tolling the bell! The Afrikaans reading for some pilgrims like Marius, Dorothy and Louisa and others was inclusive. Patricia [Pat] read with the panache of the Church reader she is! Olga collected donations at the door. Margi gave an awareness talk of the 'dirty' Camino ré her Camino litter campaign. Morayne gave us music.
Thank you so much for the time and effort shown. Lastly, an Australian with his partner were walking by and, being a Catholic, he just popped in to have a look to see what was happening. Well, some of his friends in Sydney have walked already and this service has now given him the courage to say YES for next year. Also his surname is Sullivan so that is the Holy Spirit moving him to come closer!
Saludos
Bernardus! Sullivanus!

Jacob’s ladder – mini Camino

Cape Town gathering

St James Church

Scallops – signs of the way

I walked my first Camino alone in 2005. The scallop shells became meaningful. They pointed the way and I found my way alone across Spain for 800km without ever getting lost. The shell signified that I was on the right path. Soon after I returned I was walking on the beach at Hermanus and lying at my feet was a lovely grey scallop. I was astonished as I had never known these shells were found here. Soon I was spotting them quite often. Of course they were always there; my eyes had just been opened. I collected them whenever I saw one. They held the meaning of being on the right path. I walk most often at Muizenberg beach, down towards Strandfontein, with my two spotty dogs. This beach is not known for shells. We only ever see white mussels. After the terrible storms of 30 August which coincided with spring tide, Ron, my husband, and I went for a walk. The beach was littered with debris – seaweed, red bait, dead fish and birds. Then suddenly – the biggest scallop I’d ever seen! It was the size of my hand. I shouted to Ron – and he held up an even bigger one! We found nine that day. In the days to follow we found over forty! We really are on the right path!
by Christine Coates

ROYAL SCALLOPS: Scallops in Prince William’s Crest

Prince William’s Crest

Diana Spencer’s crest with three scallop shells

Prince William broke with tradition and added his mother's Spencer family logo to his crest. Prince William’s Knight of the Garter crest has been revealed for the first time – complete with a touching tribute to his late mother. For the first time in Royal history the identifying symbol on the crest has incorporated the mother’s family logo.
It is understood both William and Harry requested the simple symbol of a scallop shell to feature on both their crests and Coat of Arms. The scallop is the symbol for the Spencer family Coat of Arms and wasPrincess Diana’s as well. William’s crest, which features a gold lion stood on a crown, will now be mounted above his seat at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
It is thought the Spencer family adopted the scallop shell symbol as they were worn by pilgrims to the shrine of St James of compstella in Santiago during the 12th century.
The second-in-line to the throne was installed as a Knight of the Garter, the world’s oldest surviving order of chivalry. Three escallops were added to the ancient Despencer arms when they were adopted by the Spencer family, in the latter part of 16th century. The three scallop shells on the Spencer family’s Coat of Arms are in white but it is thought the shell on Prince William’s is red to make it stand out on the white band around the lion’s neck.

Father Frank de Gouveia did his fourth Camino: RUTA DEL NORTE OR DE LA COSTA

Here is an edited version of his emails home:
On my way: ZARAUTZ – Second day walking! Thursday, May 22, 2008 Arrived at Biarritz and walked to the station and caught the train to Irun. There is a refugio at Irun where we only wanted a sello (stamp). Derek had made arrangements for us to stay at the youth hostel at Hondarribia. I was walking alone just after the lighthouse about 4 km from San Sebastian, where we stayed last night. It was a narrow path, much like the contour path on Table Mountain. I could hear someone coming up beside me. He said in Caminosh (the language used by pilgrims – a mixture of French, Spanish, English, etc and informal sign language), “Didn’t you walk the Camino in 2005?” I couldn’t see him well since he had a big floppy hat. He took it off and asked if I remembered the four French men and two Italians on the Aragonese Route. I recognised him. One of those little Camino miracles. We caught up with all the news. Pierre, (who could speak English and we often went together to the Pilgrim Masses), well he is fine. Sadly Robert has had open-heart surgery and won’t be able to walk the Camino again. Robert had offered up his bed for me when I arrived late at the refugio in the village 4kms beyond Sarria. I am still deeply moved when I think of that act of kindness. I am praying a psalm a day. Yesterday’s psalm was very fitting – Psalm 15(16):
Preserve me God I take refuge in you ... I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel... I keep the Lord ever in my sight: since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm. And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad; even my body shall rest in safety... You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence, at your right hand happiness forever.
The Northern Route is so beautiful. It is a cross between the French Route and the Otter Trail. The actual walk is similar to the French Camino: pathways, little churches, forests, farmyard smells but to the right there is the beautiful sea, lighthouses, beaches. Do the Northern Route. It has the feel that the French Route had when I walked it in 2000 before it became so crowded. It is much more organised here than the guidebooks led us to believe. These past 2 days have been well way-marked with yellow arrows that one just can’t get lost (don’t know what the future holds).
Blisters in Bilbao Tuesday, May 27, 2008 (Day 7)
Well it had to happen! The Camino got off to a very good start and then came the crash! Have just completed 7 days’ walking and am in Bilbao, about 170km down with about 640 to go! Of the seven days rain on four. Days 3, 4 & 5 were particularly bad, rain in the morning, midday and afternoon. Two afternoons I concluded the day’s walking in thunder and lightning. The Camino is very wet and soggy so I have been slipping and sloshing my way along. Yesterday we had to walk on the carreterra (tarred road) and so I developed blisters on my right foot. Slows down the walking but hopefully shortens the time in Purgatory! But it is all part of the journey! Daniel had supper with us for the last time last night and so we had to say goodbye. It was good to meet up with him. Derek and I decided to stay in Bilbao today although we had only done three hours’ walking. We are staying in a very nice private pilgrims’ refuge for 10 euros (breakfast included). This morning I spent two hours in the Guggenheim museum and learned a little about Surrealism. In a way walking the Camino is a bit of a surrealistic experience – very little reason in it but a lot of spontaneity and freedom!
Today’s psalm is Psalm 145:
It is the Lord who keeps faith forever,
who is just to those who are oppressed.
It is the Lord who who loves the just,
the Lord, who protects the stranger.
No Sun in Santoña! Friday, May 30, 2008 (Day 10)
It has rained every day since Day 2 AND it has been a wonderful experience. Only problem is that it makes walking on the actual Camino difficult and so the last 2 days we have walked on the carretera. Today was heavy. Walked from Castro-Urdiales, through Laredo and then got a ferry across to Santona. The walk through Laredo included a 5 km walk on the beautiful beach! Santona has a youth albergue but it was full. So we are sleeping in tents on ground that is drenched after all the rain! There are six of us peregrinos, who have been together the past few days. Derek and myself, a young Swiss lady, Denise, who has just qualified as a yoga teacher, two young Austrians; Christian, who works with glass and Richard who makes knives! An older German, Martin, speaks no English. Derek will probably move on a bit faster. He will be branching off and going along the Via Primitiva, which is a lot more up and down. I’ve worked out that I could slow down and spend more time visiting churches, monasteries, etc. Irun to Santiago is about 800 km. For future walkers, the refugio at Probeña is really tops. It has 8 bars but no shop. Population: 100! Castro Urales has a new municipal albergue – no charge. Here at Santoña the charge is 8 euros. Well, in the rain it has been best to just go back to Psalm 22 (23):
Though I walk in the valley of death no evil will I fear; you are there with your crook and your staff, with these you give me comfort.
Still no Sun in Santander– and it is Sunday too! Sunday, June 01, 2008 (Day 12). Today I finally discovered that I am crazy. I’ve been suspecting it for a while but today it really clicked. I walked in the pouring rain for 3 hours from Guimes to Somo and then got the ferry across to Santander. But I’m not complaining. It was a wonderful experience. Being a Sunday there were no cars out and because it was raining and overcast everyone spent a few extra hours in bed. I had the beautiful fertile earth to myself. It is not for nothing that they call the area I have been walking Green Spain. I also discovered the true meaning of the pilgrim greeting: Buen Camino! I always thought of it as: have a good journey, may things work out for you, may it be an easy time, etc. Today it occurred to me that it means something much more than that. It is more like the Hebrew greeting Shalom. Whatever the road may bring, may you experience peace and harmony. So it is more about what it is going on inside of you that counts. Psalm 124: He lifts up the lowly from the dust, from the dungheap he raises the poor. When I was in Egypt I learned about the dung-beetle – a symbol for the resurrection. Something to think about as I walk pass all these farmyard smells! For those following: Guimes is definitely a must visit Albergue. It is a beautiful place up on the hill. Here they provide meals for a donation. I am amazed at the generosity of the volunteers. There is still a lot of the old Camino spirit on the Northern Route! The albergue at Santander is also excellent, as is the hospitalero. Apart from the psalms other well-know prayers take on a new meaning on the Camino. Here is Cardinal Newman’s prayer: May the Lord support us all the day long, till the shadows lengthen and the evening comes. And the busy world is hushed. And the fever of life is over and our work is done. Then in his mercy may he find us a safe lodging, a holy rest and peace at the last. Amen.
Larney in Llanes! Thursday, June 05, 2008 (Day 16). The sun came out on Monday! I had a wonderful walk from Santander to Polanco. Left the albergue with Martin, the German, but lost him as he followed the route described in the books. I was a bit behind and someone stopped me and told me that the Camino was cut off there, better to follow the Carreterra. I caught up at Polanco. It is a really tiny albergue, like two small train compartments. Martin and I were in one and Patricia, a girl from Colombia, in the other – 4 euros. Polanco is badly named because the albergue is not really in Polanco but on the main road past Polanco and closer to Barreda. Next morning I was up early and arrived in Santilla del Mar at about 9am. Everything was still closed. It is beautifully preserved village from the middle ages. But once you get into it you see that everything is expensive! I didn’t want to wait for an hour in that atmosphere for the church and museum to open. So I walked right through!
There were road works at Arroyo but one of the workers kindly put me on the right track for Oruna. Again a really beautiful walk, not so much sun but good walking weather. That night Patricia, Martin and I stayed at the Cistercian Monastery at Cobreces – 3 euros. A hospitable porter-monk let us in. There is a choice either to stay in the monastery or the albergue outside. I think inside is better. Sung Vespers at 6.45pm. There were 16 monks in choir, all I would guess over 60! The porter is 73. He took great pride in announcing this after Martin told him that he was 72.
Yesterday I decided to walk on from Martin and Patricia since their timetable is very different from mine. Stayed in a wonderful albergue at Serdio. I am so pleased that I walked the extra 7 km from San Vincent de la Barquera. It was a beautiful country walk, that green that feeds the soul! The hospitalera gave me a great welcome and a real towel!
Definitely the new No.1 on my list! There was a couple from the Netherlands there. They were to walk the Picos de Europa to Oviedo and then the Camino Primitivo. We went to supper at the bar/restaurant and had a lovely meal. When it came time to pay they wouldn’t let me give my share (no, they didn’t know I am a priest).
For those using Walker’s Guide, I chose the E9 Route. Definitely the best choice. The sea is so beautiful and such rock formations! Got into Llanes at 6pm and decided to try the Youth Hostel. They would not accept the card I got in Cape Town. I would have to pay a registration fee and the 18 euros for the accommodation. I relapsed into unseemly unpilgrim-like behaviour. I lashed out in my best Portuguese about what a disgrace it was that a big city like Llanes was so unfriendly to pilgrims. She became a bit more sympathetic and suggested two cheap hotels. So here am I ensconced in this magnificent hotel, with a room all to myself, with a real towel, Really Larney in Llanes! And only 20 euros!
Well you should really thank me that I didn’t stop at the next village which is called Poo. Yes, that’s right, without the H! Imagine being asked by a fellow pilgrim, where did you sleep last night? Just imagine all the questions! Just as well that I don’t actually come from that village! Where were you born? Where did you grow up? Enuff now. The psalms continue to provide food for the journey, especially in the mornings. It is just so beautiful to walk beneath those trees and for example, pray Psalm 120:

Pilgrims using our garbage bags

I lift up my eyes to the mountains, from where shall come my help?
My help shall come from the Lord who made heaven and earth.
May he never allow you to stumble! Let him sleep not your guard.
No, he sleeps not nor slumbers, Israel’s guard.
The Lord is your guard and your shade, at your right hand he stands.
By day the sun shall not smite you nor the moon in the night.
The Lord will guard you from evil, he will guard your soul.
the Lord will guard your going and coming both now and forever.
Off in Oviedo! Tuesday, June 10, 2008 (Day 21)
Stayed at the albergue here. Only 3 euros. I wanted to see Oviedo so decided to stop. This morning went to Lauds and Mass at the Cathedral at 9.30am, then the Camara Santa to see the holy relics. There is a 13th century image of San Salvador. Pilgrims were encouraged to come to Oviedo on their way to Santiago because as an admonition in the Cathedral states: Quien va a Santiago y no al Salvador, visita al criado y deja al Señor (Who goes to Santiago and not to the Saviour visits the creature and ignores the Lord). Saviour refers to is the image of the saviour at Oviedo.
For 2 days I have been walking the Camino Primitivo but tomorrow I go back to the Ruta la Costa at Aviles. If you have the map you will see that I did a bit of a skip and a jump in order to come to Oviedo. At Villaviciosa I had the choice of going on the coast or going inland. On Sunday I walked through Villiviciosa and arrived at the monastery at Valdedios, the stop for the night. Very friendly monks gave us a lovely tour of the church after Compline that night. This albergue is also on top of my list of places to stay. They only ask a donativo.
Covadonga is a story on its own. A most beautiful cave where Our Lady appeared to the Astorian king Pelayo in the 700s and told him to fight against the Moors. This was the beginning of the Reconquest of Spain. But let me retrace my steps a bit! That time in Llanes really brought out the worst in me! And so the next day everything went wrong! Was this God punishing me for my wrongdoing (depends on one’s image of God)? Well when I left Llanes I was planning to take photos of that village I spoke about. I missed the place altogether. Got a bit confused and before long found myself on the A8, the highway. Now unlike the N2 in Cape Town where we allow people and cows to wander freely, here no one is allowed on the highway. So what do I do? I suppose I could have turned back once I realized my mistake but instead I persevered. I saw a bridge ahead and thought that I could get off there but it was one of those bridges that you cannot access so I continued. Motorists hooted at me and it really was quite dangerous. And the psalm of the day? I prayed it over and over again as the traffic whizzed by and I hoped that I would get off before getting arrested!

good pilgrims with bags

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord, Lord hear my voice!
O let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleading.
If you O Lord, should mark our guilt, Lord, who would survive?
But with you is found forgiveness: for this we revere you.
My soul is waiting for the Lord, I count on his word.
My soul is longing for the Lord more than watchman for daybreak.
(Let the watchman count on daybreak and Israel on the Lord.)
Because with the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption,
Israel indeed he will redeem from all its iniquity!  (Psalm 129)
Over and over I said those words and indeed my prayer was answered. A man stopped next to me and told me that I should be walking on the other road. I said I know but what do I do now? He said go back or go forward. Then another stopped. He put on one of those emergency jacket things which all motorists seem to carry. He looked very official. What surprised me was that neither of them offered to lift me off the freeway! And then 300 meters from the turnoff, 2 Guarda Civil (police) in a car stopped. Again I just told my story. The driver was very sympathetic. He then told me to get into the back seat and then drove me off the freeway so that I could get to the right road! I had walked about 6 km on that road which meant that I missed the first two villages after Llanes. Which means I didn’t go to ...! For the next couple of days the Camino intercepted with the freeway and I was constantly reminded of my sin! Sin, of course, in the biblical way of understanding it. Missing the mark.
That indeed I had done! And so Psalm 50 would be most appropriate!
Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness. In your compassion blot out my offence.
O wash me more and more from my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.
My offences truly I know them, my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned; what is evil in your sight I have done.
Well, you can see that I am in the middle part of the journey. Always difficult. The initial excitement has worn off and one comes face to face with one’s limitations. What am I doing in this strange place?  An element of boredom can come in. Another day, another town. Sleeping in albergues with snoring fellow pilgrims, washing muddy socks. Seeing not only one’s own imperfections but also the imperfections of others. In this middle part of the journey it is best just to put your head down and with one foot in from of the other continue the journey!
Psalm 50 continues: A pure heart create for me, O God, put a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, nor deprive me of your holy spirit. Give me again the joy of your help; with a spirit of fervour sustain me.
After Llanes my next stop was Leces. Again put that on the top of my list of best albergues! It is 5kms on from Ribadesella. The rain in Spain stays and stays and stays!! So coming through the mud at about 6pm, I arrived at the refugio in the tiny village Sebrayo, no shop, no bar, no nothing and there sitting outside the albergue having supper were 3 Italians, Denise, the girl from Switzerland, and ... Derek. We hadn’t seen each other for a week and so it was quite a reunion. Unfortunately he had hurt his knee and this has slowed him up.
‘Aving a ‘Appy Birthday in Avilés. Wednesday, June 11, 2008. Thank you to all who sent birthday wishes. The Camino is a birthday thing for me. Of my last 9 birthdays, 4 were celebrated on the Camino!
Lovely walk from Oviedo today. I would definitely encourage anyone doing the Northern Route to do what we did. Stay at the beautifully quiet monastery at Valdediós and then on to Oviedo – a beautiful walled city. Outside the Cathedral there is a plan of the walk from Oviedo to Aviles – also in a book on the Northern Route at Tourism for only 1 euro. It is a way marked out of Oviedo. Steep walk and after about 3 hours (I’m a very slow walker!) I reached Posada, nearly halfway to Aviles. Then another steep walk following the arrows.  Got to top of the mountain and the arrows disappeared or rather I must have disappeared from the arrows. Faced with a decision. four roads to choose from. I had bought a compass last night at a Chinese shop to help with such eventuality, but ... 3 hours later I was again outside Bar el Cruz, the point where the Camino enters into Posada. There is a parable there. Nothing for it but to plod on, this time on the carratere. It is 17 km to Aviles from Posada. All’s well that ends well. A wonderful refuge, only 3 euros, friendly hospitalero, free internet at the municipality cultural centre. It is 16 km to St. Estaban, where there is a youth hostel that accepts pilgrims or 36km to the next pilgrim albergue. I’ll decide tomorrow which way to go. And today’s psalm for the birthday?  What about Psalm 99?

Franklin and Pam on Camino Frances at about the same time

Cry out with joy to the Lord all the earth,
serve the Lord with gladness,
come before him singing for joy.
Know that he the Lord is God; He made us, we belong to him,
we are his people the sheep of his flock!
Lucky in Luarca, Saturday, June 14, 2008
Some of you may not be aware my second name is Fortunato. It appears on my passport and also on my pilgrim’s credencial. As I was leaving San Vincent de B, I heard someone call out ‘Fortunato!’ It seemed strange as I haven’t been called that for many years. As a boy my father would call me that, I think when he was angry with me! My siblings, of course, took it up and would mockingly call out ‘Fruit nut!’
I am indeed fortunate. These last 2 days I have walked completely on my own, in another world. In Aviles on Wednesday night and then at San Estaban on Thursday I was with Holgar, and the French Canadian policeman. They stayed at Soto de Luina. I need to make up a little time so I decided on longer stages. Walker’s book doesn’t mention there is a youth hostel at San Estaban. Cost 13 euros. Then Santa Marina. Throw away all those lists of top places! Santa Marina beats them all! 12 euros for a double room with own bathroom! It was simply the best place I’ve stayed at on all four Caminos and the best meal I had ever had. Luarca is a beautiful old harbour town. Lovely old church – a wonderful statue of the risen Christ. Mass was at 8pm, the theme: put all Christians of all classes and conditions on Camino!
A sort of countdown now for the remaining days, with one day to spare: Sunday – La Caridade, then: Ribadeo, Villanova de Lourenza, Abadin, Vilalba, Miraz, Sobrado de los Monjes, Arzua, Monte del Gozo, Santiago. Weather is improving although rain is forecast for Sunday and Monday. A suggestion: Walker’s guide is excellent. Sometimes I have found that the Camino has not been as bad as he suggests. Certainly the mud is manageable. I think that boots would have been better than the New Balance shoes I have but I have survived. A lovely meditative psalm for today’s mood: Psalm 26
The Lord is my light and my help, whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life, before whom shall I shrink?
There is one thing I ask of the Lord, for this I long,
to live in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life,
to savour the sweetness of the Lord, to behold his temple.
O Lord, hear my voice when I call, have mercy and answer.
Of you my heart has spoken, ´Seek his face.´
Yes, I have indeed been and am fortunate! We give thee thanks ...
(to be continued…)

END OF YEAR MEETINGS

Cape Town:
Date:Sunday 7 December 2008. Arrive any time after 11h30
Address: 47 Hangklip St, Twin Palms, Strand, home of Mrs Georgy Keanly.
Phone:021-8533123
Please bring a plate of eats that can be shared as well as a plate, cutlery, glass and your drink. Also bring a chair and a sun hat or umbrella to picnic in the garden. There is no need to book.
How to get there:Approach from the N2 and take the Broadway Boulevard exit 43 and turn right if coming from Cape Town or left if coming from Somerset West and continue past the Golf Course, past Main Road and the railway line until you almost reach the end of Broadway and then turn right down Altena Road. As you approach Strand Private Hospital on your right, turn left down Constantia and Hangklip will be the street immediately behind Altena.
Gauteng:
What:The CSJ is having a morning coffee & chat in November to share Camino experiences. Come and let us hear about your Camino, or if you haven't been, you can join in to find out more.
When:Sunday 23rd November 2008, 9 – 11am
Where: Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens, Nestle Environmental Educational Centre
Cost: Coffee: R15, Gardens entrance is separate: pay at gate
Agenda:Please advise if we can list you for a ‘chat’ on the agenda (photo’s, memorabilia etc)
RSVP:
Sean Stephan, Sean.Stephan@fnb.co.za - 082 418 4488
Marita Nortje, mapano50@hotmail.com -072 507 5188

Camino Snippets:

Ryanair have announced 4 new routes within Spain from Madrid from 18th November. At the moment you can book flights for less than 1 euro!!
Madrid – Alicante (twice daily)
Madrid – Palma (twice daily)
Madrid – Santiago (twice daily)
Madrid – Valencia (twice daily)
www.ryanair.com/site/EN/news.php?yr=08&month=oct&story=rte-en-011008

This rtv news video shows how winter has come early to Spain. Brrrrrrr......!!
www.rtve.es/mediateca/videos/20081028/varias-comunidades-estan-alerta-por-peligro-nevadas/325712.shtml?s1=noticias&s2=&s3=

The Pilgrims' Office, Santiago announced that they have received:

71 pilgrims from South Africa during the month of June
36 pilgrims from South Africa during the month of July
12 pilgrims from South Africa during the month of August (from a total number of 29723 pilgrims)

Pilgrims that have qualified for the Compostela this year up to July 31, 2008 totalled 64,797. Of these, 37,584 were men and 27,213 women. 22,785 of the pilgrims were under 35 years of age; 34,844 were between 35 and 65 years old and 7,168 were over 65 years of age.

Another interesting bit of trivia – the average age of 75% of the SA woman pilgrim is 45.3 years. Seems like the older SA sisters are spreading their wings and going walk-about!

Camino Workshop 2009

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, about your feet, and answer your questions. Pilgrims who have walked the Camino before, are welcome to attend and share their 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!!
Venue:44 Beach Boulevard, Table View (a grey house on the beachfront next to Spectrum flats).
Date and time:Saturday morning 7th March 2009 from 10:00 for 10.30 to about 13:00 or longer.
Cost: R10 per person for tea, cookies and notes.
Reservations:phone Andrée 021 552 2525 or email her at andreelombard@absamail.co.za or Elmara 021 554 1786 or email her at elmara@telkomsa.net

VISAS:

From 5th December, Switzerland will join the Schengen States and visas will be required. Visas are granted for a maximum of 90 days – no exceptions – and although this won't affect people wanting to walk most of the Camino routes, it makes it difficult for those wanting to walk the Via Francigena from Canterbury to Rome – approx. 1900km.

Help keep the Camino Clean

noreply@blogger.com (The Webmaster) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 04:14:00 +0000

The CSJ of SA asks all members who are planning on walking a camino to take a small, green litter bag with them to help keep the camino clean. A litter bag is being sent out with all new pilgrim packs containing Pilgrim Record, welcome letter and credentials documents.

A big thank you to Franklin and Pam Stern and their friends for helping to keep the camino clean on their recent walk.

ST JAMES FEAST DAY

noreply@blogger.com (The Webmaster) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 08:42:00 +0000

Cape Town: our usual Feast day celebrations will be on SUNDAY 27th July at St James Church in St James, Main Road, Kalk Bay. Time: Tea in Hall from 10.30 on. Mini-Camino: last walkers should have started by 11am. Service at 12pm followed by a luncheon [preferably Spanish- type fare]. Please bring a plate of food to share as well as your own plate, cutlery, drinks and a glass. You are encouraged to share briefly; high/low points of your Camino, poems, prayers, quotes, or read a paragraph from a book. Please contact Bernard Sullivan at bermor@absamail.co.za if you are willing to share in the service.

In Durban the group will have a bring-and-share morning tea at the Bergtheil Museum in Westville on Saturday 26th July. Time: 8.30am - 11:00am Contact Sylvia Nilsen 031 267 2059 or nilsens@mweb.co.za

Newsletter 17, June 2008

noreply@blogger.com (The Webmaster) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 05:48:00 +0000

Hola Pereginos e Peregrinas

As I write this 17th issue of Amigos another cold front has swept in and the rain is falling hard. There are many pilgrims in Spain on the Camino walking in sunshine amongst the red poppies and cornflowers as we freeze in the grip of an icy winter. Don't you wish you were in sunny Spain? Actually there has not been too much sunshine in Spain. The weather has been exceptionally cold, wet and muddy with more rain in Galicia in May than the whole year in 2007.
This is another issue jam-packed with articles and snippets of Camino news to keep you warm with delight. We continue with our second part on Labyrinths as well as how to draw a Cretan labyrinth. As we read in the last issue, labyrinths were used as virtual pilgrimages by those who, for various reasons, could not make a pilgrimage. If you can't get to one of the labyrinths in S A near you, you can draw one and then trace your virtual pilgrimage with a finger or pencil. This works as a meditation too.
We follow up with Margi Biggs and the spring-clean of the Camino campaign. There is also a list of 29 tips for walkers and a very funny article from Bernard and Morayne about tried and tested methods for women to relieve themselves in the bush! An article from Sylvia gives you ideas on how to book your next trip on-line as well an article written by Clare Taylor after attending a Camino workshop at the Bergtheil Museum in Westville, Durban.
Being an editor is like living on a lonely planet; I rely on others to send me news and articles and hints. After hours of putting this together, I'd like to know that you've read it and enjoyed it. I'd like feedback, suggestions and comments please. Of course mostly I'd like snippets of your news - anything related to the Camino.
Please also note the times and dates for the St James Feast Day on the 26th 27th July.
Buen Camino!
Christine

How to draw the Cretan Labyrinth

Begin with a cross and a right angle in each square and a dot as in fig 1. Then join up bottom vertical of centre cross with the right arm of square. Next the left bottom square to the right dot and so on joining from left to right …
Historically, the labyrinth of Chartres has been referred to by four different names:
le dédale (or maze, named after Daedalus, the legendary architect who built a labyrinth for King Minos of Crete).
la lieue (or league: which is a distance of about three miles). Although the length of the path is only 260 meters, in the Middle Ages some pilgrims would walk the labyrinth on their knees. This exercise would take about an hour, or the time needed to walk three miles.
le chemin de Jérusalem (or road to Jerusalem). By walking the labyrinth, the faithful could make a substitute pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and be united in spirit with the Crusaders.
le chemin du paradis (or road to paradise, the heavenly Jerusalem).
By walking the, labyrinth the faithful trace the path of our long and laborious life on earth, beginning with birth, at the entrance, and ending with death, at the centre. The way out symbolizes purgatory and resurrection.

† From Marilyn Scholtz: "I am sorry to have to let you know that Peter Keanley passed away suddenly while walking the Camino. Please pray for him and his wife Georgy. Although Peter had heart problems they had enjoyed at least three Caminos together, and this must be a terrible sadness for her."

Our deepest condolences to Georgy and family.

Walking the Camino with a group.

The old adage two is company, three is a crowd can be very true when walking the Camino. Spending 30 days or more together on holiday in a foreign country can be trying for even the closest of friends but when you engage in something as strenuous as the Camino with a group of people, tiredness, injuries or just not enjoying the experience can lead to friction, dissatisfaction and arguments.
"My friend Carol and I planned on walking el Camino together," said Jane. "Then Carol asked if her friend could join us. She told me that I would love Jackie but we never really hit if off. We were planning a pilgrimage and she wanted a walking holiday complete with hotels and gourmet meals. We ended up being her tour guide having to wait for her to get ready each day and eat at restaurants we didn't intend eating in." We have heard many sad tales of broken friendships, grudges and recriminations occurring in small and large groups. Groups often spilt up, some members going on alone, whilst others even cut their holiday short. We printed the views of a few South African pilgrims in an early AMIGOS.
"I started with a group" said M, "but chose to walk most of the route on my own as I needed to sort out my life (which I did)". Some members of the group might need time alone and will resent having to stay with others day in and day out.
A pilgrim who walked with a group said, "No one really had private time despite encouragement to give people their space, they wanted to be together. Many lacked the courage to spend time on their own, needing the reassurance of companionship, acceptance, someone to tell them what they should be carrying, wearing, where they should go etc."
When you are with a large group you lose some of the opportunities for contemplation. "I think that if you walk in a group you are very tempted to chat about home, kids, and all the little things we do here, instead of focusing on the Camino and the spiritual journey it actually is." (M)
Before you go, agree on what kind of accommodation you will stay in and what you will budget for meals. Do you all want to stay in the smart, up-market, comfortable albergues and eat out every night or do you want to try out the small, basic refuges where communal cook-ups and sing-a-longs are tradition? "Despite being on a pilgrimage, some wanted the usual home comforts" said AG. If you are planning to walk with a group there are a few things you can do to minimize the dependence on each other and to ensure the camaraderie is retained.
Ensure that each group member is involved in the planning, the organization and the daily routine of the walk. Don't let anyone say, "Just tell me where to go and I'll follow you."
Unless you want to be a tour guide, this is not acceptable. Make copies of your guide book or maps and share them equally otherwise one person will be left carrying the load and everyone will come to depend on that person for guidance. With three, four or more people all walking together with different fitness levels and different ideas on when to start each day, how far to walk, how fast or slow, it will be difficult to satisfy everybody's aspirations. Before you go, come to some agreement about the distance you will be walking each day. Bear in mind that there will be slow walkers, fast walkers and speed walkers. You can't expect people to change their pace to suit each person in the group. You should agree that if one wants to walk ahead they can and if another wants to dawdle along, she won't mind always being at the back, as long as you all meet up at the same place at the end.
Consider that refuges work on a first-come-first-served basis and they can fill up quickly. If three or four arrive first they might get a bed but the rest of the group might not. What will you do in a case like this? Some pilgrim refuges only have 20 beds (or less) and these do not accept groups. You might have to find alternate accommodation in hotels or inns. Is everyone prepared for the extra expense of staying in hotels? Agree before hand on what to do if one person is injured or falls ill. Is it going to be one-for-all and all-for-one or do you agree that the injured person catches a bus ahead and waits for everyone else to catch up - or even goes home alone? Ditto if someone is ill: let them go ahead a couple of days and meet up with the group later at a pre-arranged village or town; or will everybody stay together and have a rest day until the ill person is feeling better?
Now this might sound a bit like girl-guides but with a large group it will help to plan on having a new group leader - or Mother - each day so that you don't have one bossy-boots doing all the organizing and leading! The role of the Mother is to ensure that everyone is up on time, that they have all their belongings (she will check on walking poles, hats etc) and that everyone is clear on where they are heading that day. The Mother is the 'sweeper' and should stay at the back, walking with the slowest person all day and making sure no-one is left behind. The following day, she can be in the front and the new Mother goes to the back. If you have 10 people in your group and are walking for 30 days, each person will be Mother only 3 times so it's not a hardship.
Have a group meeting each evening (over dinner is good) to share experiences and discuss plans for the following day. Perhaps you are planning a shorter day and can all get up half an hour later, or a longer day and need to be up earlier. If you have predetermined wake-up times you won't have to resent the lazy-bones who sleeps in late and keeps everyone waiting. Agree to take it in turns to go shopping for provisions for the evening meal. Many refuges have kitchens and it will be a fraction of the cost if you buy pasta or rice, vegetables and salad ingredients and make your own meals.
With a bit of preparation and planning walking with a group can be a wonderful experience but be prepared for the odd break away.

BOOKING YOUR CAMINO ONLINE:

Using the World Wide Web you can book and pay for all your travel and accommodation online. Airlines, rail, shipping, car hire, hotels - all have safe servers that allow you to book and pay online using a credit card. This will save you the travel agent's service fee.
Airlines:
Most airlines allow you to book up to six routes which means that you can fly into one city and out from another using an 'Open Jaw' ticket. If you are walking from Roncesvalles to Santiago, you can fly to Pamplona on Iberia and get a bus to Roncesvalles, then fly home from Santiago (or continue onto other destinations). This not only cuts out a lot of time consuming airport transfers, hanging about for trains or buses, but is also cost effective in the long run.
Iberia - the Spanish carrier - has a fairly 'friendly' website at www.iberia.com. To book from South Africa you will need to open the Home page for South Africa. This is done by clicking on the box at the top left side of the page, after HOME and SPAIN entitled "Iberia in/en". You will be prompted to select a country and your language. If you intend flying into one airport and out from another, click on Multiple Routes. On the next page you start making your bookings E.g.
Flight 1: City of origin Johannesburg, destination Pamplona - date of departure 12th July
Flight 2: City of origin Santiago de Compostela - destination Johannesburg - date 18th August. Click on SEARCH.
The Flight search (Availability) page will open with a number of flight options. The first one (the one with a dot in the circle next to the flight) is usually the best option. Scroll down to the end of the page and click on NEXT LAG.
Once again the first option will be the best so scroll down to the end and click on FARE.
The Flight search (Price) page will display the price. Total 8,478 ZAR
To book this ticket, click on BOOK. On the Passengers identification page click on 'Continuing passengers details'
On this page it is important to enter your name as it appears in the document you will be using to check in - either your passport or ID book. Click on BOOK NOW.
Check all the details on the Flight search (Trip plan): choose your document type (passport/ ID etc) and enter the document number. Click on the box to accept the terms and conditions and click on CONTINUE.
The next page is the Purchase page where you will enter your credit card details. Once you have completed the payment process, print out your e-ticket. Confirmation will also be emailed to you.
NB: When you check in at the airport you MUST have the credit card you booked with and the document you used for the booking.

Follow up on the Camino clean up:

Below is a picture of the newly developed "Camino Spring Clean" refuse bag. Margi Biggs, our sub-committee chairman, will coordinate the execution of this project in May/June 2009.
The Camino Spring Clean project will focus on three key areas:
to issue a bag per pilgrim in South Africa when they apply for their CSJofSA Credencial,
to clean up a specific sector of the Camino in Spain (one sector per annum) - the Burgos/Léon sector will be targeted first, and
to leave a small supply of refuse bags at each refugio/albergue along the Camino.
Margi has paid for the purchase and printing of 10,000 refuse bags from her own private funds. The CSJofSA will pay for the printing of a small number of A3 sized posters. Gordon Bell, our CSJofSA member who lives in Vilachá (near Portomarin) in Spain, has kindly offered to assist with the distribution of refuse bags and posters along the Camino, from Roncesvalles to Santiago de Compostela.
Suggestion: If you are walking the Camino soon and would like to take a few bags to help clean up litter or leave at an albergue, please contact us.

A FOOT GUIDE TO THE WALKER'S CAMINO

You know the rules - get good shoes, walk them in, get fit.
Walk for 30 min a day to keep muscles and breathing synchronised. Once a week do an extended walk of 3 hours.
Something that helped me was to do a measured walk before setting off. I measured the distance from my home into the village by car. It was 5km. Then I set off from home one morning with a light backpack. I noticed where I was after 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes and an hour (by then I was in town). I had coffee in town, did some errands and set off back home. I then knew I could walk for 10 kilometres, and how long that took. It was a "yardstick" throughout the Camino.
Do a mini-Camino a month before going to Spain. Set off with a 5 - 7 kg backpack and walk for 20 - 25km. Notice what your walk was like, what happened, what your thoughts were.
An average, medium fit walker will do about 5 - 5.5km in an hour. A fit, fast walker can do 6 - 6.6km in an hour. A slow or unfit walker will do only 3 - 4km in an hour.
Take care of your feet. Each foot bears about 1.5 times your body weight at each step and about 70 tonnes each kilometre you walk.
Keep your feet in check. Don't be caught flat-footed. Get your feet checked out by a professional or try this test: Wet your feet and step onto a sheet of paper. If the bridge (along outer edge of your sole) joining the heel to the front of your foot is wider that two-thirds - you're flat-footed and need an insole. If it's less than one-third the width of the heel your high-arched foot needs cushioning.
BLISTERS: keep your feet dry. Wear socks that wick away moisture, not cotton socks. If you feel a "hot spot", stop immediately and attend to it. Carry "blister packs" or COMPEED. http://walking.about.com/cs/blisterschafing/bb/bybblister.htm
Try walking poles (Nordic Walkers). If correctly used they can take up to 20% of your body weight. Adjust to longer length when going downhill, and shorter when going up hill. http://walking.about.com/cs/poles/bb/bybpole.htm, http://www.swixnordicwalking.us.
If you walk at 6.5 km/h, a 60kg walker will burn 336 kilojoules every 15 minutes.
On steep hills, try zigzagging up or down. It's what the skiers do.
To speed up swing your arms strongly, bent at elbows. It will increase your walking speed.
On level, firm ground try to swing your legs from the hip. Imagine moving your hip forward with your sort-of-relaxed leg swinging then straightening out in front. Down goes heel then the toes as your body passes over your foot.
Make your walk more than locomotion. Listen to slower rhythm music and take notice of your surroundings. Try reciting a mantra or a prayer. In the afternoon try to let your mind go very slow. Notice details like the grass on the verges, the pebbles, the gravel, the birds, the ants.
Regardless of where or when you're walking - town, country, near or far, light or heavy - make it a habit to carry a pocket knife, a whistle, small change and your ID with you.
When you walk uphill, imagine a cord pulling your knee backwards, thereby straightening the leg. This mental game takes a lot of effort off the thighs and makes walking uphill much less tiring.
Breathe through your nose to keep your mouth moist and to conserve water.
Water bottles become hot. Carry two 500ml bottles instead of one large one. Place one in the bottom of the pack.
Keep topping your body's water level up. Drink small amounts often. Thirst is not a reliable indicator of how much water your body needs.
When you tire more easily and are becoming irritable, you're likely to be dehydrating. As little as a 5% drop in hydration can cause a 20% to 30% drop in your metabolism.
Watch your sodium level if you're sweating a lot. Salt might not be the best way to replace sodium so talk to your chemist. Even on cool days you're still flushing out sodium.
Take little steps to conserve strength. If you can't carry on a conversation, you're going too fast.
Do your fingers look and feel like sausages after you've been walking for a while? Keep your hands higher than your heart for 2 to 3 minutes in every 30.
Keep toe nails short.
The most important item in a first aid kit is the knowledge of how to use it. Your kit should contain a crepe bandage for sprains, roll and strip plaster for cuts, bandages for wounds or supports, antiseptic ointment, sunscreen, eye drops, ointment for insect bites, muti for tummy upsets, and a waterless hand-wash.
The rougher the terrain, the lower the heavier items should be in your backpack.
Waist belts stop light daypacks from moving around. On the larger backpacks they're needed to transfer a lot of weight from the shoulders to the hips.
Keeps boots properly laced and tied. Lace the foot part and tie a knot; then lace the ankle part and tie another knot. This allows you to maintain different tensions throughout the boot, depending on the terrain.
Feed but don't overfeed, your leather boots and shoes. Choose a product that deserves and waterproofs but isn't tacky and doesn't attract dust.

Tried and tested - Ladies relieve your bladder while standing!

(Bernard and Morayne received this in an email from a friend they met on the Camino in 2001 and have remained fast friends) - During our recent adventure in South Africa we had plenty of opportunity to test out a few FUDs (Feminine Urinary Device).These products are great for many times when you don't want to bare your butt to the world or have no other option but to use unclean, public washrooms. Useful when hiking, cycling, dirty or no public washrooms, camping, skiing, and for all your foreign and domestic travels (car, train, ferry, plane).
Five companies provided us with their product. We liked all of them and they each have their merits. Here are our results:
Freshette ~ Love this product and will use for many years to come. A little on the large side, but easy to use and no spills or splash. Comes in its own discreet zip lock travel pouch and easily fits into a pocket or purse.
TravelMate ~ Great product! Practice at home the first couple of times to get used to it. Compact in size and designed to last a very long time.
PeeZee ~ A reusable FUD. Compact, light weight and easy to use.
P-Mate ~ Our favourite disposable FUD. No spills, easy to use and fits nicely in a pocket or purse.
Whizzy ~ This disposable FUD took some practice, but once we got the hang of it, it was great.
Each of the FUDs was a little different from the other, depending if you're looking for a reusable or disposable device. If we could only pick one reusable it would be the Freshette and P-Mate would be our choice for the disposable.

Freshette

www.freshette.com

TravelMate

www.travelmateinfo.com

PeeZee

pee-zees.tripod.com

P-Mate

www.pmateusa.com

The CSJ Badge - why a red cross?

The white scallop shell with the red cross of Santiago emblazoned on it is a fitting logo for the Confraternity of Saint James.
The Order of Knights of Santiago was confirmed in 1175 by Pope Alexander 111. The motto of the order was 'Rubet Enis sanguine Arabum" - The sword is red with the blood of the Moors. The badge was a blood-red sword in the form of a cross charged with a white scallop shell.
By the 15th century, the Order possessed two hundred commanderies and as many priories, an immense number of castles and villages, and properties of every description. Queen Isabella appealed to the Pope to grant Mastership of the Order to Ferdinand and in 1493 the Order and all its properties were incorporated into the crown. From then on the emblem, the little red sword called el largato (or lizard) became the courtly symbol of knights who wore it on their doublets and cloaks. (Source: The Road to Santiago by Walter Starkie)
*The person who designed the CSJSA logo is one of our members, Georgia Gardner. She's the creative director for a publishing company. The logo is on badges and caps and can be ordered from your local branch.

DISABLED PILGRIMS:

60 pilgrims in wheelchairs received the Compostela in the 2004 Holy Year. In 2006 11 pilgrims in wheelchairs finished in Santiago and in 2007, 7 got the Compostela. Ibermutuar, together with several Spanish companies, sponsored a guide aimed at pilgrims with handicaps. The guide was written by people with different physical, psychical or sensory handicaps. It offers some background information on the Camino as well as describes each of the stages with the perspective of someone with a disability. The guide contains information about accessibility and other matters of interest including albergues, suggested stages of 8 kilometres per day and restaurants with special facilities.
Three pilgrims that covered the French Way in wheelchairs participated directly in the preparation of the guide which, at present, is only available in Spanish, but which is being translated into French and German.
www.ibermutuamur.es/camino_santi ... nsejos.htm
www.ibermutuamur.es/camino_santi ... nicial.htm
A Hollander, Ad Hermans did 2 500 km from Akersloot, Holland to Santiago in a hand-biked wheelchair in 2000. www.adhermans.nl/old/ In 2002 he went off again, this time to Rome, 2250 km: www.adhermans.nl He was ccompanied by his wife, her sister and brother-in-law, and a couple friends, all on bicycles. On their way they camped.
In 2004 Sylvia met a Spanish pilgrim in a wheelchair in Arzua (above) who had started in Pamplona. His wife was following him in a campervan. At night they often parked next to the albergue so that they could use the shower and kitchen facilities but they always slept in the van.

Points to Ponder: WHICH CAMINO?

Saying, "I would like to walk the Camino" is a bit of a misnomer. There are at least 7 routes in France and over 20 to choose from in Spain and Portugal. The most popular and well known is, of course, the Camino Frances but with reports of mass overcrowding (over 350 pilgrims a day set off from St Jean Pied de Port at the end of April), disappointed pilgrims being turned away from refuges and bun-fights for beds, it might be worth considering one of the other Camino routes. If you would prefer a quieter more solitary Camino you can choose from this list of Camino routes:
FRANCE:
Via Gebennensis (350km - Geneva to Le Puy) /www.csj.org.uk/route-geneva.htm
Via Turonensis (970km Paris and Tours) pagesperso-orange.fr/viaturonensis/
Via Podiensis (736km from Le Puy to St Jean) www.aurelle-verlac.com/composte/composte.htm
Via Tolosana (905km: 745km France + 160km in Spain - Arles) chemindarles.free.fr/liens_EN.php
Via Lemovensis (900km - Vezelay) www.webcompostella.com
Chemin du Piemont (525km - Narbonne via Lourdes to St Jean) vppyr.free.fr
La Voie Littorale (140km - Pointe de Grave) pagesperso-orange.fr/vtt.compostelle/littoral.htm
La Voie de Soulac/La Voie des Anglais
SPAIN:
Camino de Andorra (Abalate to Fuentes de Ebro) www.caminosantiago.org
Camino Aragones (245km - Somport - Puente la Reina) www.jacajacobea.com
Ruta Sur del Camino Aragonés (Jaca) www.caminosantiago.org
Camino Frances (750km - Roncesvalles)
Camino de la Costa (85km - Irun - Markina (Vizcaya) www.caminosnorte.org/caminos.htm
Camino Norte (765km - Hendaya) www.caminonorte.org
Camino Vasco del Interior (210km - Irun to Santo Domingo)
Ruta Vadiniense Picos de Europa (134km - Potes a Mansilla de las Mulas) www.rutavadiniense.org
Camino Primitivo (369km -Oviedo) http://www.amigosdelcamino.com www.caminotineo.com
Camino del Salvador (120km - León a Oviedo) www.caminosantiagoastur.com
Via de la Plata (676km - Sevilla) www.viaplata.org
El Camino del Sur (184km - Huelva to Zafra) www.descubregalicia.com/caminos.php
Camino Inglés (108km - Ferrol) www.amigosdelcamino.com
Camino Catalán (480km - Montserrat to Logrono) www.peregrinoslh.com
Camino del Ebro (219km - Tortosa to Logrono) www.valvanera.com/caminoebro.htm
Camino de Valencia (863km - Valencia) www.vieiragrino.com
Camino de Alicante (735km - Alicante) www.vieiragrino.com
Camino de Murcia "Ruta del Azahar" (153km - Cartagena) www.caminosantiago.org
Camino de Levante (900km - Valencia to Zamora) www.vieiragrino.com/camino/camino.html
Cami de Sant Jaume (251km - Barcelona) www.camisantjaume.com
Variante de Huesca y San Juan de la Peña (238km) www.amicsdelspelegrins.org/icatalans.htm
Camino Mozárabe (347km - Granada to Medellin) www.granadajacobea.org
Camino Sanabres (400km - Zamora) www.caminosantiago.org
Ruta de la Lana (380km - Valencia to Burgos) www.decuencaasantiago.org
Camino del Maestrazgo-Bajo Aragón (497km - Castellón) caminosantiagoalcaniz.org
De Granada a Mérida (613km) www.caminosantiago.com
De Málaga a Córdoba (190 km) www.caminosantiago.org
Camino de Madrid (321km - Madrid to Sahagún) www.caminodemadrid.com
Camino de Fisterra (141km - Santiago) www.amigosdelcamino.com/
Camino de Invierno (A variant from Quiroga to Montefaro) www.caminodeinvierno.com
PORTUGAL
www.amigosdelcamino.com
www.caminhoportuguesdesantiago.com/PT/
Camino del Interior (230km - Oporto to Santiago), Camino del Norte (170 Km. - Barcelos a Redondela)
Camino de la Costa (140km - Oporto a Vila do Conde, y de La Guardia a Vigo). Caminho Portuguese -
(1050km-Lagos) www.caminosantiago.org/cpperegrino/cpalbergues/caminoportugues.html
Camino Portugués de la Vía de la Plata (268 Km. - Zamora) www.mundicamino.com
caminodesantiago.consumer.es/los-caminos-de-santiago/aragones/
www.jacobeo.net

BOOK REVIEW

The Way of Saint James by Georgiana Goddard King. A new edition of a classic book on the Camino De Santiago - The Way of Saint James - by Georgiana Goddard King is now available. Completed in 1917, this three-volume masterpiece is a wide-ranging exploration of the history, literature, legends, and architecture of the Camino de Santiago. It is based on Professor King's "three years wanderings" on foot and by cart, mule, and other conveyance on the Spanish pilgrimage road, and on extensive academic research with particular emphasis on medieval art and architecture. Professor King was both a well-respected scholar and a keen observer of her surroundings. As a result, she has given us a fascinating, detailed description of both life and architecture on the Camino de Santiago nearly 100 years ago. Thoroughly documented, with extensive notes and appendices, this is a must-have reference book not only for art historians but also for any true aficionado of the Camino de Santiago. Georgiana Goddard King established the department of the History of Art at Bryn Mawr College in 1913. She received a BA in English and a MA in philosophy and political science from Bryn Mawr College and began teaching art history there around 1910. Although Professor King's interests were wide-ranging her main passion was the art of Spain; Bryn Mawr thus became the first institution in the United States to offer graduate courses on Spanish art. In 1917 she completed her most ambitious and best known book, The Way of St. James. The three-volume work traces the pilgrimage trails to the shrine of St. James (Santiago de Compostela. King's book provided immense bibliographic review of the pertinent literature as well as publishing monuments not previously considered. Although not published until 1924, it formed a survey of the buildings before those in the Way of St. James book. A reprint of the 3 volume set is available from Amazon.com or from www.pilgrims process.com/ events.htm

Camino Snippets

SPANISH LESSONS: The Department for Continuing Education at the University of Pretoria is offering a Spanish for Beginners course in the second semester from 14 July 2008. Please note that Marina Nell will be the coordinator for the course at that time and that you can then enroll directly with her at marina.ce@up.ac.za
Pilgrim Stats:
In 2007 Holy Week (Easter) was celebrated during the month of April, but this year it was in March. That is why 5327 pilgrims were received at the Pilgrim's Office during the month of March this year compared with 1680 pilgrims received in March 2007. Of those pilgrims, 2.229 were women (43,16%) and 3.028 men (56,84%). 4.670 pilgrims arrived on foot (87,66%); 619 by bicycle (11,62%), 37 on horseback (0,69%) and only one pilgrim arrived on wheelchair (0,02%).
Pilgrims' Ages:
204 pilgrims were younger than 15 years old (3,82%); 2.860 were between 16 and 35 years old (53,68%); 2.138 were between 36 and 65 years old (40,13%) and 125 pilgrims were aged above 65 years old (2,34%).
Pilgrims' Nationality:
Spanish: 3.642 (68,36%) Madrid 734; Valencian Community, 463; Galicia 457; Catalonia, 409; Andalusia, 335; the Basque Country, 327; Castile and Leon, 195; Castile - La Mancha, 145
Foreigners: 1.685 (31,64%), Portugal 485; Germany 430; USA 122 ; Austria 63; Italy 62; Ireland 57; Brazil 46; etc.
Starting Points:
Sarria 1.537 (28,85%); O Cebreiro 461 (8,65%); Roncesvalles 311 (5,84%); Ponferrada 250 (4,69%); in Tuy 227 (4,26%); Leon 195 (3,66%); St. Jean Pied de Port 173 (3,25%); Astorga 172(3,23%) etc.

Video: Camino Frances a Santiago - In Spring

noreply@blogger.com (The Webmaster) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 14:44:00 +0000

An 800-kilometre pilgrimage walk across Spain in the spring of 2006 from St Jean Pied de Port, south west France, to Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, north west Spain. The Camino (or Way) has been in existence for over a thousand years and in 1987 the European Union declared it Europe's first Cultural Itinerary. UNESCO followed suit in 1993, adding the Camino to its World Heritage list. This video uses MTV-style graphics backed by a gentle classical soundtrack.

By: Johan

PILGRIM STATS FOR MARCH

noreply@blogger.com (The Webmaster) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:18:00 +0000

During the month of March 2008, 5.327 pilgrims were received at the Pilgrim’s Office. The number of pilgrims in the year 2007 during the same period was 1.680. Of those pilgrims, 2.229 were women (43,16%) and 3.028 men (56,84%). 4.670 pilgrims arrived on foot (87,66%); 619 by bicycle (11,62%), 37 on horseback (0,69%) and only one pilgrim arrived on wheelchair (0,02%).

Pilgrims’ Age.

204 pilgrims were younger than 15 years old (3,82%); 2.860 were between 16 and 35 years old (53,68%); 2.138 were between 36 and 65 years old (40,13%) and 125 pilgrims were aged above 65 years old (2,34%).

Pilgrims’ Motivation.

Religious

1.781

33,43%

89,03%

Religious and Cultural

2.962

55,60%

Cultural

584

10,97%

Pilgrims’ Nationality.

Spanish: 3.642 (68,36%). Most of the pilgrims come from: Madrid, 734; Valencian Community, 463; Galicia with 457; Catalonia, 409; Andalusia, 335; the Basque Country, 327; Castile and Leon, 195; Castile – La Mancha, 145, etc.

Foreigners: 1.685 (31,64%) Most of the pilgrims come from the following countries: Portugal with 485 ; Germany with 430; the United States with 122 ; Austria with 63; Italy with 62; Ireland with 57, Brazil with 46, etc.

Starting Points.

Most of the pilgrims received during the month of February started their Way to Santiago in: Sarria, 1.537 (28,85%);O Cebreiro, 461 (8,65%); Roncesvalles, 311 (5,84%); Ponferrada, 250 (4,69%); in Tuy, 227 (4,26%); in Leon, 195 (3,66%); in St. Jean Pied de Port, 173 (3,25%); in Astorga, 172 (3,23%), etc.

The Chosen Routes

Most of the pilgrims chose the French Way with 3.795 (71,24%) ; followed by the Portuguese Route with 623 pilgrims (11,70%) , the Silver Way has been chosen by 285 pilgrims (5,35%), the Northern Way with 265 (4,97%), the Primitive Way with 199 pilgrims (3,73%), the English way with 79 pilgrims (1,48%) and 81 pilgrims (1,52%) have chosen another ways.

Report back on the KZN Camino Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (The Webmaster) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:06:00 +0000

Camino Workshop - Westville 19th April

About 20 people enjoyed the workshop on Saturday morning with people coming from Empangeni, Amanzimtoti and Pietermaritzburg,

We started with a display of posters, books, videos and DVDs. After tea and coffee the program started at 8h45.

08H45

Welcome, CSJ of SA, Visa Applications - new rules: Introduction of speakers: (Sylvia)

09h00

DVD on the camino Frances includes a few scenes of the Aragones and the Camino Norte routes. 34 mins

09h40

How to get there and what it costs:
What to budget for - flights, food & accommodation (Sylvia 15mins plus questions)

10h00

What to take: Walking & sleeping gear, clothing, maps / booklets
(Ezio Gori 15mins plus questions)

10h20

Where to stay; Albergues / refugios, hostels, casas rural
(Sylvia - 15mins plus questions)

10h40

Packing your backpack: "Show and tell":
Getting the right pack, leaving out the non-essentials (Male: Ezio Female: Sylvia 15mins plus questions)

11h10

Getting fit and staying focussed on the trail:
(Lesley Leiper and Ezio Gori: 15 mins plus questions)

11h30

Medication on the trail (Fiorenza: 10 - 15 mins)

Tricia and Charmaine from Empangeni

Lesley Leiper (Amanzimtoti) and Grant Scholtz (Kloof)

Pat and Eugeni

The Pilgrimage to Santiago in February 2008

noreply@blogger.com (The Webmaster) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:55:00 +0000

Pilgrim's Office

During the month of February 2008, 703 pilgrims were received at the Pilgrim's Office. The number of pilgrims in the year 2007 during the same period was 666.
Of those pilgrims, 217 were women (30,87%) and 486 men (69,13%). 654 pilgrims arrived on foot (93,03%); 47 by bicycle (6,69%) and 2 on horseback (0,28%).

Pilgrims' Age

71 pilgrims were younger than 15 years old (10,10%); 366 were between 16 and 35 years old (52,06%); 258 were between 36 and 65 years old (36,70%) and 8 were aged above 65 years old (1,19%).

Pilgrims' Motivation

Religious                           221    31,44%    93,64%
Religious and Cultural         438    62,30%    93,64%
Cultural                             44       6,26%     6,26%

Pilgrims' Nationality

Spanish:
346 (49,22%). Most of the pilgrims come from: Madrid, 85; Andalucia 71; Catalonia with 39 ; Extremadura 30 ; Canary Islands, 29; Balearic Islands 22; Galicia 18 and Valencian Community with 14.

Foreigners:
357. (50,78%) Most of the pilgrims come from the following countries: Portugal with 137 ; Germany with 15; France with 37 ; Italy with 20 (4,88%); Brazil with 14; Austria with 11 and Belgium with 10 pilgrims.

Starting Points

Most of the pilgrims received during the month of February started their Way to Santiago in: O Cebreiro, 146 (20,77%); Sarria, 125 (17,78%); Tuy 63 (8,96%); St. Jean Pied de Port 50 (7,11%); in Roncesvalles 37 (5,26%); in León 28 (3,98%); in Ponferrada 25 (3,56%); in Valença do Minho 17 (2,42%); in Villafranca 15 (2,13%); in Astorga 15 (2,13%) ; in Burgos 14 (1,99%) and in Pamplona and Seville 13 pilgrims (1,85%) respectively.

The Chosen Routes

Most of the pilgrims chose the French Way with 552 (78,52%) ; followed by the Portuguese Route with 97 pilgrims (13,80%) , the Silver Way has been chosen by 28 pilgrims (3,98%), the Northern Way with 12 (1,71%), the Primitive Way with 10 pilgrims (1,42%) and the English way with only 4 pilgrims (0,52%).

The Pilgrimage to Santiago in January 2008

noreply@blogger.com (The Webmaster) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:43:00 +0000

Pilgrim's Office

During the month of February 2008, 703 pilgrims were received at the Pilgrim's Office. The number of pilgrims in the year 2007 during the same period was 666.
Of those pilgrims, 217 were women (30,87%) and 486 men (69,13%). 654 pilgrims arrived on foot (93,03%); 47 by bicycle (6,69%) and 2 on horseback (0,28%).

Pilgrims' Age

71 pilgrims were younger than 15 years old (10,10%); 366 were between 16 and 35 years old (52,06%); 258 were between 36 and 65 years old (36,70%) and 8 were aged above 65 years old (1,19%).

Pilgrims' Motivation

Religious                            221         31,44%     93,64%
Religious and Cultural           438         62,30%
Cultural                               44           6,26%       6,26%

Pilgrims' Nationality

Spanish:
346 (49,22%). Most of the pilgrims come from: Madrid, 85; Andalucia 71; Catalonia with 39 ; Extremadura 30 ; Canary Islands, 29; Balearic Islands 22; Galicia 18 and Valencian Community with 14.

Foreigners:
357. (50,78%) Most of the pilgrims come from the following countries: Portugal with 137 ; Germany with 15; France with 37 ; Italy with 20 (4,88%); Brazil with 14; Austria with 11 and Belgium with 10 pilgrims.

Starting Points

Most of the pilgrims received during the month of February started their Way to Santiago in: O Cebreiro, 146 (20,77%); Sarria, 125 (17,78%); Tuy 63 (8,96%); St. Jean Pied de Port 50 (7,11%); in Roncesvalles 37 (5,26%); in León 28 (3,98%); in Ponferrada 25 (3,56%); in Valença do Minho 17 (2,42%); in Villafranca 15 (2,13%); in Astorga 15 (2,13%) ; in Burgos 14 (1,99%) and in Pamplona and Seville 13 pilgrims (1,85%) respectively.

The Chosen Routes

Most of the pilgrims chose the French Way with 552 (78,52%) ; followed by the Portuguese Route with 97 pilgrims (13,80%) , the Silver Way has been chosen by 28 pilgrims (3,98%), the Northern Way with 12 (1,71%), the Primitive Way with 10 pilgrims (1,42%) and the English way with only 4 pilgrims (0,52%).

KZN CAMINO WORKSHOP

noreply@blogger.com (The Webmaster) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:34:00 +0000

Interested in walking the old pilgrimage trails to Santiago de Compostela in Spain? Come to a Camino workshop at the Bergthiel Museum in Westville from 08h15 to 12pm on Saturday 19th April. R20 includes refreshments. Bring a tin of food/bottle of oil/packet of flour/sugar or something to donate to Oakford Priory.

Contact Sylvia on 031 267 2059 / 083 474 8086 or by E-mail.

Newsletter 16, February 2008

noreply@blogger.com (The Webmaster) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:18:00 +0000

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