Wandering direct aroma with Pooh Bear

EISH!! Been away and haven’t posted for a few weeks. What’s been happening on the forums? Not really much....

Saint James and Go-Camino - a couple of requests for guides on the Camino Ingles and a notice about a DVD being shown in Australia:

We in Western Australia are presently being treated to a wonderful DVD on local TV called: Cities Of Light: The Rise And Fall of Islamic Spain. It is an American production and you can find it on. http://www.islamicspain.tv/
When I visited the website that particular DVD was not available.

Santiagobis:

Between 17^th June and 9^th July there were 14 new topics and 61 posts on these topics. They ranged from the mundane – What are the best Camino Months? and Pieter’s Food for Thought…..oh hum…..to a death notice for the fiddler Oliver Shroer. His website claims that there has been a sudden sharp increase in the demand for his camino CD - this picture is from his website.

Oh …. Other topics were : How to get to Roncesvalles (again!!) How to get to St Jean (ditto) Bayonne to St Jean and Orisson (zzzzzzzzzzzz) ………OK! There was an interesting post that pilgrims could get three free nights in Santiago if they were prepared to spill their guts and tell a research student all about their journey. He is a religious student but you don’t have to be religious to participate. Seems they didn’t have too many takers at first but once they reduced the guts spilling sessions to one or two nights, they had more takers.

www.caminosantiago.com/way_of_saint_james

A bit of advertising going on this month: Someone posted this plug for a fishing boat scheme where tourists can spend a day on a boat:

Through "Port Celta" you can hear the sea, the coast, traditions, history and legends of the town of Portosín from the perspective of seafarers, including the symbiotic relationship that existsbetween their way of life, culture, physical environment and the marine environment it. Go for it!! www.portocelta.com

And a guy from the CSJ - NEW SPIRITUAL COMPANION FOR PILGRIMS - Check out this new book from the Confraternity of St James in the UK: It is really good - beautifully presented and based on the reflections of 25 pilgrims. Included with the pilgrims' stories are prayers, scripture and poems to inspire and comfort those en route or to evoke the experience for those at home. [www.csj.org.uk]

Other posts included: How to get to St Jean (AAARGH!!) Accommodation in Santiago (zzzz) Crowding on the Camino Frances (what's new?) Vegetarians - Minimum Distance to earn the Compostela - and a few posts from a Danish peregrine who started a website about her walks on the Frances, Aragones and Norte a few years ago. Seems she has moved to sunny Spain and will soon embark on a short camino. (PS: and her website is back up and running again – www.raunsbjerg.dk )

Then there were a few unintelligible posts about walking in Italy from a Tuscan member called Luca who insisted that one could stay for free along the Via Francigene. (At least I think that’s what she said!) Decide for yourself:

dear friend. do I live in Tuscan in a beautiful country on the by francigena ok practically? the difference between the walk of santiago and the by francigena and?'very less people, less places bed, however' following a logic...apparte the alpis / piamonte & val of aosta (where is it paid) the rest can be slept in the convents, associations friends of the street) in offer, then to eat?=calm!mind.. luca from s, miniated pisa

Clear now? No – alright then, how about this pearl of a post in reply to the doll who asked excitedly for a list of said free accommodation.

12I will just cross,' my Tuscan, from wandering direct aroma, you don't worry him, visiting albergue, hostels, monasteries he/she asked.. with contribution (donation) I inform her/it to have practical news MY CONTACT e-mail katmanduk2000@yahoo.it

Unofficial Translation: 121 pilgrims of both sexes have crossed her Tuscan by following the aroma of her hubby without bothering him, staying in albergues, hostels and monasteries for a donation.

To be continued.......................

Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela - Total posts 23 935 • Total topics 4 049 • Total members 2 859:

When I checked there were 49 users online : 19 registered, 3 hidden and 27 guests (based on users active over the past 60 minutes) Most users ever online was 155 on Mon Jul 02, 2007 9:54 am.
The longest running topic at the moment is the Stereotyping Germans topic which is getting really BORING. 38 POSTS AND 1946 VIEWS. enough already!!!!

Gareth, the Whizz-Kids' pilgrim, is becoming a sword in everyone's side (his name means 'strong spear' so why are they not surprised!)

Other high volume posts are Boots or good jogging shoes? 26 posts, 1138 views: and a few weirdos: BAHAI graffiti on kilometer stones - 16 posts and 1246 views and Post-camino tattoo? 32 posts and 2669 views. (More peregrinos must be interested in graffiti and tattoos than anyone ever imagined.) And this one To Ipod or not to Ipod with 53 posts and 7388 views. Who really cares about iPods? 7 388 pilgrims - that's who!

Pilgrims are a never ending source of amazement. If Kerkeling was a Comic Kraut then Peter Robins, never one to joke or appear lighthearted, must be the Curt Jester. I found this on his website together with Pooh Bear floating across the screen on a blue balloon!

How sweet to be a Cloud
Floating in the Blue!
Every little cloud
Always sings aloud

How sweet to be a Cloud
Floating in the Blue!
It makes him very proud
To be a little cloud.

What do you think he does when he disappears behind the menu panel?
Does he have a pot of honey there, perhaps??

Mein Gott in himmel!!!

VIA FRANCIGENA

10 Messages since mid-June: A couple of messages from Ann who is walking to Roma for the second time:

Online Maps on Peter Robin's site updated - don't visit Winnie the Pooh - go to http://petersmaps.googlepages.com/canter2dover.html