WINTER - WANKERS AND WORKING ODD JOBS

Its been 5 weeks since I last posted anything on the Forums – so here is synopsis of interesting posts and discussions:

www.caminosantiago.com/way_of_saint_james/pilgrims_forum.htm

Is it possible to walk in January?

Well, of course you can – and in December or February – but the real question is, do you want to?

A similar question was asked on Santiagobis:

Reply: Walking in the winter is nice and quiet. If you are lucky the weather is reasably (sic) good. However, do not cross the Pyrenees in winter, because the fog will disorientate you. Do preferably not walk the Primitive Route (from Oviedo) alone, because no help will be available in case of an emergency. You phone might not work.

I walked alone from Burgos to SDC in January 2008 and the weather was good!

Reply: I walked alone from St. Jean Pied-du-Port to Santiago in January/February 2007 and loved it. Very quiet, not many people out there. Jack's right about the Pyrenees, I suppose, although the January day I did it was so nice I wore shorts. Sunny, and you could see for miles everywhere. Having said that, the weather changes quickly, and I think the day before and after had fog, and a couple people got lost. One woman on the day I crossed the Pyrenees got lost simply because it was so beautiful and she was looking at the scenery and missed the trail turn-off!

How many pilgrims walk in Winter?

796 pilgrims got a certificate in December 2007

306 pilgrims got a certificate in January 2008 (44 less than 2007):

240 walked the camino frances and of those,

56 started in Sarria

26 in O Cebreiro

25 in Ponferrada

20 in St Jean

18 in Roncesvalles, Leon and Astorga

12 in Burgos

Etc, etc, etc

703 pilgrims got a certificate in February

552 on the camino frances

146 in O Cebreiro

125 in Sarria

56 in Tui

50 in St Jean

37 Roncesvalles

28 in Leon

25 in Ponferrada

Etc, etc, etc

What does it take to walk in winter?

One reader posted: “ …..the weather is very different in different parts of the country and at different altitudes.

In addition, you need to consider the marker system. In some places the markers are on stone posts which are elevated about 3 feet or so above the ground. In other places they are above head height as are most signs. But in many places, the yellow arrows are painted on the rocks on the ground - obviously not useful when covered with snow - and some of those places are among the most remote of the journey.
Yes it is possible (although may not be advisable) to walk the camino in January, but please remember that people have died of exposure on the camino when they were unprepared for winter weather conditions. Research carefully, be prepared for the reality (clothes, footwear, directions, etc) and listen to the locals. They know when it's safe to cross the mountains although will no doubt think you're crazy for trying.
Buen camino.

Another post:

You will find information on winter pilgrimages at: [www.csj.org.uk]
[www.suekenney.ca] Sue walked the camino in Winter - she would love to tell you about it so you could contact her.The main difference, besides the weather, is that some of the refuges are closed, your pack will weigh more due to heavier clothing, if it does snow the yellow arrows are covered, you might be alone for many hours and kilometers on the trail.

Amsterdam to Santiago: Cor blimey!

Reply: Pelgrimspad

www.wandelnet.nl publisher Stichting Wandelplatform-LAW
[www.wandelnet.nl] - contact - slaw@wandelnet.nl- Pelgrimspad 1 Amsterdam - 's-Hertogenbosch
& route=166 - Pelgrimspad 2 's-Hertogenbosch - Maastricht (Visé - Belgium)
- 2008 reprint Pelgrimspad 2 with lists of (mail & phone) addresses of tourist offices (vvv), public transport, B&B, pensions, campings, (small) hotels, etcetera, etcetera. Beautiful detailed Dutch ordnance survey maps 1:25.000 and international white-and-red waymarking. A lot of pilgrim's information in Dutch. This is a really wonderful pilgrim's path connected at Visé to the Chemins de Saint-Jacques through Belgium and France; you'll be surprised!

Foot problems:

Reply: Many people get blisters. There are so many factors that you will have to do a bit of research on the Internet about it. A good source of info on problems incurred when hiking or running is at this site:
www.vonhof.typepad.com

Ryanair:

Domestic flights in Spain from November that will make getting back to a major airport easier for many.

Ryanair have announced 4 new routes within Spain from Madrid from 18th November. Twice daily each flight.
Madrid - Alicante Madrid - Palma Madrid - Santiago Madrid - Valencia

Arles Route:

We just got back from walking about 200 miles on the Arles Route. I've put together quite a bit of information for planning a walk on that route - I think the most info that is available on any English language site. Anyway, I thought some of the English first language pilgrims who are planning that route would find our new web page very helpful [www.backpack45.com] .
Ralph Alcorn

Santiagobis: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Santiagobis/

Posts are still down:

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

2008 221 163 252 120 120 75 170 174 140 56

2007 64 361 399 406 319 316 212 306 173 183 148 75

Question? Is this a camino forum or a recipe exchange? No less than 6 recipes uploaded in 5 weeks:

Calamares.doc
Pechuga de Pollo a la Naranja.doc chicken with orange slices

Salmon filled chicory leaves.doc salmon filled chicory leaves

Sauteed garlic Mushrooms.doc garlic mushrooms

Tapa de queso y nueces.doc tapas of cheese and walnuts

Tortilla with chorizo and cheese.doc tortilla with chorizo and cheese

St James in Brittany:

To know more about the ways of Saint James in Brittany, visit the web site of the Breton Association of the friends of St-James of Compostela: http://www.saint-jacques-compostelle-bretagne.fr/santjakez-accueil-en.htm
http://www.lescheminsdumontsaintmichel.com/spip/index.php

More posts on Plastic Bags, Cell-Mobile phones, and the two most interesting topics were – toilet seats and wanking!!

14 posts on toilet seats!! An innocent question about why there are so many Johns with no seats set off all sorts of opinions – as well as a detour thread about not being allowed to use the Johns in the albergues when they are closed.

Dear Lynn – the Organiser - was quite indignant:

I think the reason for the dearth of toilet seats in the bars is obvious: they want to discourage those long visits! Bar owners want us to stop in for coffee, breakfast, lunch, a drink, etc. but not just for the conveniences. Can you blame them? Of course, the bathrooms are available to paying customers, as they should be.
What is unconscionable to me is when hospitaleros refuse to allow pilgrims to use the toilets in the albergues during the off hours. Their whole reason to exist is to serve pilgrims!

unconscionable, adj: shockingly unfair or unjust

A flushed response from Rebeka:

Maybe I´m cranky, but I hardly think that a hospitalero´s only reason to be is to "serve pilgrims." That´s way too close to the idea that servants exist only to serve their masters... or that pilgrims somehow are entitled to be "served" by the volunteers at the albergues.

Who would have thought that a sanitary subject could be so interesting!?

And the wanker?

Well, this peregrina warns everyone about the pervert lurking and jerking on the path – which naturally sets of a few anxious replies – only to be told off by a Sheila (Trudy from Australia) in no uncertain terms:

I'm a little wary of people who join a group just to post a warning message. It seems you've joined two Camino forums solely for this purpose. The same message was also posted on Lonely Planet's travel forum. In fact, only your 2nd message to that forum the first being posted earlier in the year, before your pilgrimage, asking very pointedly about safety on the camino for women walking alone.

So?? What’s your point Sheila?? Jealous??

Anyway, the Patsy from Miami came to her defense:

I think it is beautiful when pilgrims write NOT only asking for suggestions, advice...but when this pilgrim takes the time to write his thoughts...from smoky internet bars...with other pilgrims breathing behind their necks waiting for the computer.....and .when he shares his memories with all of us back home and in this particular instance when he/she warns about being a bit careful.....pay it forward sort of thing. Patricia de Miami.

Others have also reported being flashed by this jerk off.

"Just as I walked out of Melide I got my laugh. And I laughed for a loooong time. I start to understand the concern some women have of walking alone. I was greeted by a man who had his trousers down at his ankels... he was holding his ...Biiiiiiip in his hand... and he asked me if I was interested in him helping me getting a Buen Camino...!! - But this man is harmless... I was told later by other pilgrims when a man passes he pretends to pee and when a woman passes she gets the same offer I got."

http://www.pilgrimage-to-santiago.com

The most interesting post (besides the ‘how to get to…) was this one by Rebeka Scot for an online hospitalero course. Be interesting to see if she can pull it off.

Being Hospitaleros: a Proposal

Bed bugs continued to raise their nitty little heads and now has no less than FIVE topic headings on this forum. Surely the moderators can condense them all into one?

"Xunta de Galicia chooses to Fumiage their albergues"

BED BUGS-How Not to Get Them!

Bed bugs on the Camino

Bed bugs alert

bed bugs

Weather:

It is getting cold on the Camino...

Stats: Not official yet but there was this post:

There has been a small increase in the number of pilgrims receiving the Compostela in August. In 2007 there were 27140 and this year the number is 29723.

New Guide to Camino Portugués - volunteers needed!

Johnny Walker has been enlisting the help of forum members to log and comment on short Camino routes like the Ingles, and Portugues.

Camino de Invierno to be official route

The Diario de Leon reports that official waymarking with granite plinths of the Leon/Bierzo section, from Ponferrada to the border with Galicia, is starting today.

Re: Today is a great day for the Camino Frances!!

Javier Martin reported that 1000’s of people have walked from Monte de Gozo to Santiago against the Polygon development in and around O’Pino and Lavacolla.

Working odd jobs: Can you or can't you?

I am wondering how easy it might be to find some work and odd jobs along the way at the small towns? Also, is it possible to do work for stay/food arrangements at the albergues/refugios and restaurants? FYI, I am a citizen of the UK (and the US) and therefore, believe I have the right to work in Spain. So an EU citizen, do I still need to go about getting an NIE or would my citizenship suffice?

11 replies:

Yes you can

No you can't

Yes you can but a N.I.E number is required (Numero de Identidad de Extranjeros)

In Villafranca del Bierzo I met several people who were picking grapes for a bit and Jato let them stay in his albergue for free, inlcuding food. All were foreigners. Grape picking season would be in September.

I can reply with an unqualified YES to this excellent question.
We live on the Camino Frances, and we´ve employed several pilgrims (some may call them "drifters") for up to two weeks at a time, doing carpentry, painting, and other big projects we couldn´t handle on our own. Perhaps because it is "under the table" and unskilled work the going wage is rather low: about 5€ an hour plus room and board, but we´ve never had anyone turn it down who needed some money to keep going. There is an entire "underground economy" like this along the caminos, and we see a couple of these workers returning now and then when they need a spot of work. Up to now, they´re really good, hard workers, too, long as we don´t give them beer to drink early in the day.

EU citizen allows you to work in Spain. However, no employee... may or can hire you for a paid job as the NIE are for tax reasons... Unless you take a job like the one Rebekah mentions or if you choose to help out on voluntary jobs... then no... then you do not need it.

To get a Spanish NIE you first need to have a Spanish address. You can use your friend´s apartment or whatever, but it´s got to be a Spanish address they can send documents to.

Take your pick!!

Pilgrim deaths:

1. A pilgrim from Saragossa dies near Sangüesa
2. A man has a heart attack and dies in the albergue at Sahagun
3. A man collapses on the hill after Castrojeriz and dies
4. A man dies in Foncebadon.

RIP

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

Stats, hiking with Mum and Lista Correos

So, what’s up Doc?

On the St James forum Rosina posted a comprehensive update on pilgrim stats for April and May. A similar, shorter post appeared on Santiagobis:

2006 2007 2008
Jan 314 350 306
Feb 351 666 703
Mar 1.093 1.680 5.327
Apr 7.438 8.112 5.655
May 9.992 12.898 15.98
19.188 23.706 27.974

NB: In 2007 they celebrated Holy Week (Easter) during the month of April, but this year it was in March. That is why they received 5327 pilgrims during the month of March this year compared with 1680 pilgrims received in March 2007

Well, the people over at Santiagobis are really bored. One posted the question:

“I've heard wonderful things about the "Yum Yum DODO" but don't know how to find it. Ideas?”

The temptation to offer an overlong, childish retort was too great for one of the moderators – who would not have been allowed such a flippant post a few months ago.

Ah yes! The great "Yum Yum Dodo" ! I'm old enough to remember it well. The Lesser Spotted Dodo was famed throughout the gastronomical world as the tastiest table bird ever. It's flesh, lightly roasted and surrounded by baked potatoes, peas, carrots and pumpkin, made a fabulous Sunday family dinner. It produced gravy that was the envy of the most sophisticated French Cordon Bleu chef. Accompained by a light and fruity white wine it became known as the "Yum Yum Dodo Sunday Roast". Unfortunately for the dodo this meal became so popular in the 1950's that the poor bird (which was very slow at the reproduction process) became extinct. As a result the chicken became popular and the turkey became the standard for big family dinners. But I digress. As regards the "Miao DODO".......... this is not a meal that I will touch upon, except to say that cat-lovers everywhere would rise up in horror at the thought of their feline friends 'sur la table', so to speak. My only comment is that most cats produce thin, stringy flesh that tastes slightly sour, even when sauteed in apricots and mushrooms. Never eat a tom. The smell will last for weeks.

And so on, and so on ……………….

Fortunately, someone who was not amused and did not even acknowledge the gastronomic garbage of the previous post, replied:

The Miam Miam Dodo guides are available from the Confraternity of St James bookshop. See this page of their website: http://www.csj.org.uk/acatalog/The_CSJ_Bookshop_Pilgrim_Guides_7.html

On the caminosantiago.com way_of_saint_james pilgrims_forum things have been somewhat busier – still with the occasional porn-post finding its way onto the forum.

There was a question about staying at Hunto.

The person who replied couldn’t make up their mind how to spell it so hedged their bets by using all possible spellings.

If you stay at Untto or Hunto (Huntto) the price you pay includes dinner and breakfast and you can buy a sandwich for lunch from them if you wish.

They still get the vague request for help such as this one:

I’m planning on taking my mum with me to do the camino santiago, we plan on doing it for about 7 to 10 days, and hopefully about 20 to 30 km a day, but I don't know how to start going about it. Any advice??

Well hellooo??? Which camino? What time of the year? How old is ‘my mum’? 30kms a day!!

This was the breathless, don’t pause for a comma, never heard of capital letter, response.

Hi, last year was my first time on the Camino-i looked up photos to see what sort of road -forest-mountain city-that i would be walking-you and your mum need to start training (walking) this is a must in my books-i dont like to ask the question but consider your mums age (i'm sure she is young) but not as young as you so take that on board-30k a day may be a bit much - you will be walking up mountains most every day PLEASE DONT OVER PACK there are shops in spain that will supply what you NEED dont wear new shoes break them in first-you may think this is scary info but its not like that-its just a bit of advice i overpacked last year and had to get rid of half the stuff-what felt quite light at first did become a burden a few days into my walking 10 persent of your own body weight is the recommended-watch what backback you use mine was heavy before puttong stuff in-i'm sure you will get lots more advice the pilgrims on this forum are one big Camino Family and will help you all they can - by the way you and your mum are goning to take a walk you will NEVER FORGET Buen Camino—

After three more replies regarding the camino frances, and a grateful thank you from the mother and daughter, some imposter with my name (scurvy scoundrel) throws a spanner in the works and suggests they walk the camino ingles.

Quiet on Grant’s site – with a few bouquets for The Man – who I must say has a brilliant website. A few members offered crash course Spanish phrases but Grant sent the link for his new, upgraded language page. I guess everyone is now busy trying to learn Spanish from the links he posted last week.

Uno, dos, tres, cuantro, cinco, seis ……..

Some people have never heard of Google. This guy asks:

A friend of mine walked part of the camino and started in Porto, now where is that? On which route is it?

If he pulled his finger out and keyed in the word Porto he would be 192,000,000 links for Porto.

The Pilgrimage-to-Santiago forum is by far the busiest, most up-to-date-ist forum out there at present.

Good old Bob has adopted the forum to post his last year’s daily blog posts. I’m surprised the moderators haven’t asked him to kindly provide a link to his own website so that those interested can read them if they wish.

But, this forum is very liberal and laid back when it comes to members’ posts. One veteran offers regular trivial pursuit info on everything from Hindu shrines to Austrian monks on the British hit parade, water expos and trains across the north of Spain.

This week there was a plug for Brandon Wilson’s latest book, dry bags, Ibofuren, drain plugs and tents from Wilikinson’s in the UK.

Then Gene McCullough of Denver, Colorado, aka webmaster for American Pilgrims, posted this rather disturbing up-date on the Lista Correos from a returning pilgrim:

I just returned from Spain, and wanted to provide some important information regarding mailing packages (lista de correos). I mailed a package from Pamplona to Santiago. I had read that the Santiago post office would hold the package for 30 days if you write perigrino on the box and your date of arrival. This not true. They will only hold the package for 15 days in Santiago, then they send it back to the other post office. So they sent my box back to Pamplona. I did not have much luck in trying to get it shipped back to Santiago, and only had a few days before my flight. Needless to say, my stuff is still in Pamplona. I met a pilgrim from Holland, and the same thing happened to her.

Someone asked if there was a timetable when the Botafumeiro is swung.

Ivar said: Next time I pass by the pilgrims office I will ask. (Watch this space)

And, a rather encouraging post from the road:

We´re having a great Camino so far. Weather has been wet, so bring that atmospheric poncho that Sil posted about and a hiking stick for all the mud. Albergues are not full, so relax. People were able to get a reservation at Orisson last Wednesday from SJPP. We went to Orisson from Bayonne and then on to Burguete. There is a nice private albergue there called Camping Urrobi which is part of a campground a long 2 km past Burguete. Four bunks to a room there for about E10, nice bathrooms with 4 sinks, 2 showers and 2 toilets in the ladies room- sorry, don´t know about the mens room. This was listed on the paper we picked up at the Office de Peregrinos in SJPP, otherwise would not have known about it. Also found a fantastic private albergue in Uterga for 10E. There were 16 bunks in it, new, very clean, very friendly and great food- ladies room had 2 sinks, a shower and toilet- again don´t know about the mens. There was only 1 other pilgrim there last night, so... I like to stay in the municiple albergues when we can for the Camino experience, but we are also looking for the quiet Camino and staging it the way we are, that is what we have found. Bottom line, there are many more albergues than the books tell us about so don´t panic about beds. If you want a quiet Camino, it is very possible- especially if you stay in the more obscure places!!!

Precipitation, pesticides and post-camino blues

Lets start with the pilgrims-to-santiago fourm:

Rain, rain and more rain
Over the weekend it has rained quite strong in north eastern Spain and several areas have had severe flooding. The Bilbao area seems to be hit the hardest, with several secondary roads closed. The mayor highways are reported to be open. The rain has stopped in Santiago after 23 days in a row with rain. In Santiago we got more rain this May than in the whole of 2007.

A guy asked about walking from Scotland (Why?)
He received this reply:
In 2005 I set out from home, Tynemouth, got the ferry to Amsterdam and walked south to Le Puy to pick up the GR65. I think Zeebruge is further west than Amsterdam so Le Puy wouldn't suit, but the Vezelay route is now marked all the way. Difficulty is that there are few gites d'etapes as you go through Belgium and northern France and not a lot on the Vezelay route. I didn't take a tent and so tended to walk on fairly major routes so as to hit the towns that appeared big enough to have a B+B - didn't always get it right.

Bed Bugs and fleas made it onto the forum again this week. (I actually started scratching just reading the posts!)

When I showed the hospitalero in Astorga evidence of bed bugs he said I must have brought them with me from Mararife and HE didnt have any bugs there. This was not true - my bed was COVERED in bugs and I would have noticed the weight if I was carrying so many! (WHAAATTT?? )

Having been badly bitten last year I was carrying spray to treat my bedding etc and lotion to soothe bites and I was able to give the poor chap some of both. He did not really understand the need to treat all his gear thoroughly and unfortunately I suspect he will have carried them further as he seemed to think I was making an unnecessary fuss when I tried to explain what he needed to do to be rid of them. I had the misfortune to be on the bunk above him and even earplugs could not drown out the noise of his incessant scratching!! I would advice everyone to take some kind of insecticide with them as I found it difficult to buy anything stronger than fly spray which really wont be strong enough to deal with bedbugs.

Santiagobis - was quiet again this week – just a few posts:

Someone looking for a hippie commune asked:

Why no artist communities along the Camino???

And the reply: We´re working on it. Wanna join up?
Rebekah Scott - www.moratinoslife.blogspot.com

And another asked if pilgrims returning along the way can stay in the albergues.

The succinct reply? YES

On the Via Francigena Forum

A cry from the wilderness:

Oh dear, more and more pilgrims; everyone kills the thing (s)he loves. It will get as bad as the Camino in ten years' time. Do it now or not at all.

Grant’s website:

This is an interesting one. (No-one has replied. Who is going to admit that they walked the camino with a go-as-you-please B&B back-up service? Nobody. Nadie)

Does anyone know of a company that offers 'Randonnée en liberté / Go as you please walking' on the Camino del Norte? (= you do the walking, they book the bed-and- breakfast for you).

Good post by the webmaster on his language courses:

Have you seen our Camino Language page? It currently shows 4 instructional audio 'CDs' for both Spanish and French. These files are available in both PC and Mac formats. You can save a file to your computer by right-clicking and 'save as .. ' . I'm working on streaming media players for these files and others. The first of the group that's now working are music media player.

http://groups.msn.com/ElCaminoSantiago/caminolanguage.msnw

The subject of vegetarians on the camino came up again.

http://www.caminosantiago.com/way_of_saint_james/pilgrims_forum.htm site

This vegetarian eats fish, cephalopods and eggs. Heloooo!! You are not a vegetarian.

Ask Yahoo: "If I am a vegetarian and I eat fish, am I still a vegetarian?
Answer: "No. Fish is an animal. Vegetarians do not eat animals.

I walked the Camino in 2005 and had no problems with meatless food, tough I did eat fish almost every evening. There was always at least a fish menu to choose from. Otherwise you can survive on starters (ensalada mixta, pasta, rice dishes) and postres (cakes). Sometimes I even got a specially prepared dish just for vegetarians (eg. in Tosantos).
Bocadillos with cheese and once a huge one with egg and cheese (in Arzua) are common, but also try different sandwiches with onion, spinach or cheese. I am not too sure about Galician pulpo (boiled octopus), we had problems with digestion afterwards.
I do very much recommend pilgrim menus. They are big, tasty and affordable.

Post Camino Syndrome: I walked the camino in the Spring of 2005 and when I got home at the end of May, I was like a fish out of water. I wanted to move away from my home on the west coast of Canada and just keep walking and experiencing life. Everything was big compared to Spain, big cars, big houses, lots of material stuff, big stores, a different reality. Now three years later, I still long to be on the camino. The emotional and physical pain that I experienced on the path, continues to be an inspiration in my life and I am living more in the moment. Trying to bring the Camino back to your life and community is a huge task. I cried a lot when I got back and I was ready to leave everything behind. It gets better with time. (Boo-hoo! I couldn't find a picture of a crying pilgrim so this one of a crying Paris will just have to do.)

A HORNY JENNET, A HEART ATTACK AND THE NOKIA RING TONE

The real news this past week is that a diabetic pilgrim crashed his bike and was taken to hospital, and that a 60 year-old English guy died of a heart attack crossing from St Jean to Roncesvalles. This was posted on most of the forums this week. Also, the weather has been bloody awful with cold and sleet and a prospect of hail in the Pamplona area.

http://www.caminosantiago.com/way_of_saint_james/pilgrims_forum.htm

Caminosantiago.com offers information on art, history, tips, a pilgrims’ forum, webcams, wineries, museums, natural landscapes, ecosystems, transportation, the route on horseback, bicycle route, restaurants, pilgrims illustrious ...etc.

It can now add pornography to the list! Someone, obviously pissed off with all the porno-posts asked: “I am just curious if there is anyone who can remove or block those annoying "posts" with links to all kind of por.nographic sites?....”
Nobody replied so sickos with usernames like Superman, Clerk Kent and Van Derm continue to post links to porno sites.

http://groups.msn.com/ElCaminoSantiago/messages.msnw

"Good, informative and balanced TV program on the Camino de Santiago."

Was the post with a link to this video. Yippeee!! I love videos on the camino.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3lsFaKsfHQ

The program is hosted by César Vidal, with guests Francisco García, a member of the Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago, and Ana Echevarría, a professor of Medieval History at UNED.

Yeah, well, maybe…. but dude, its all in Español. How many peregrinos on the English forums can understand rapid Spanish? Daahhh!!

And something for peregrin trivial pursuit.

Spanish Classical Guitar and the Nokia standard ringtone ...

The Nokia Tune is probably the most recognizable ringtone in the world. It was also the first musical ringtone for cell phones. But the Nokia Tune wasn’t an original. It’s a short clip lifted from the classical guitar piece Gran Vals. It was written by Francisco Tárrega in the late 19th century. Tárrega is often considered the father of classical guitar playing.
Listen for it at 15 seconds, and again at 2:56.

The Gocamino and Saint James Forums are just ticking over with an occasional post by Professor Rosina Wachtel but not many others.

Santiagobis has been very quiet. This little gem was posted last week - or is it just another Hemingway urban legend??

At the Hostal Burguete you can order Ernest Hemingway Soup and have a look at the piano with 'E. Heminway,' and ‘1923’ carved into it. The novelist stopped here to fish for trout as part of his trip to the Feast of San Fermin in Pamplona in 1924. "The girl brought in a big bowl of hot vegetable soup and the wine,' Hemingway wrote. "We had fried trout afterward and some sort of stew and a big bowl full of wild strawberries."

God bless him!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/via-francigena/

The current discussions have focussed on the numbers of pilgrims who have received the testimoniam certificate in Rome. Seems that 850 have been handed out since 2001 - 235 since January 2007.
So bro, how do you earn one of these certificates? Well, one website says that you have to walk 100kms to Rome to receive it but another says 150 kms. 4COL can’t they make up their minds? That’s another two days walking at least. If I walked 100km and someone told me to go back and walk another50km for a piece of paper I would be really peeved.

Forum Flavor of the Month again this month is pilgrimage-to-santiago forum with a flurry of posts on all matters peregrinations including a couple of long posts on the hormonal high-jinks of a horny jennet called Dalie.

We have learned that when the jennets are amorous they indicate they are in heat by mouthing as though they are chewing, laying back the ears, posturing and urinating frequently. This is love language to the jack, letting him know that the lady is interested.

What has this got to do with pilgrims to Santiago? Well, Dalie's owner walked to Santiago with her femenino burro and had her shipped back to the south of France in her deluxe horse trailer where she lives in a pasture with another donkey. Altogether now................aaaaahh sweet!!

In the past few months some topics have had huge number of views.

9580 Topic: Is it safe for a female to travel alone
9063 Topic: Pack sizes
7969 Topic: Class of 2008
6985 Topic: To iPod or not to iPod (WTF?)
And, over 3500 views for a Raincoat/Poncho post. (Its obviously been a very wet season!)

There was a longish thread about a guy who was running the camino but most were not impressed. “We saw this guy go blasting through town and wondered what the heck he was about! What a nut!” said one poster.

So, I'll leave you this week with a picture of a bubble-gum chewing, pheremone enhanced peregrino of a different sort!