Where was I?

I am back from Spain, with many tales to tell. But why didn't I post from Spain? Well, I was blocked from my blog for the duration of my time outside Canada. I made many attempts to get in, but it is all a blur to me now, as Yahoo also frequently blocked my email, and between the two, it was very frustrating trying to stay in touch.

Meghan, Cy and I walked 180 kms on the Camino Frances.



 

"3 generations of McKee family from Toronto with Hospitalero Gilbert. Grandmother Darlene, daughter Megan and grandchild Cy.
Darlene will be back as a hospitalera at Gaucelmo on September 15th. — in Rabanal Del Camino, Castilla y León, Spain"

I walked 123 kms - the entire Camino Ingles, by myself.

 
 This is a picture that Ingrid took on the Camino Ingles last year.


I spent about a week in Santiago, with a visit to Carantonia, Muxia and Finnesterre, spending most of this time with a new pilgrim friend - Irene, from California.


 
 Irene took this picture of me at
the  0 cairn in Finnesterre.

I spent 16 days caring for pilgrims as a hospitalera at Refugio Gaucelmo in Rabanal.



 

 Ray and I at Refugio Gaucelmo

I was in Madrid for 4 days, staying at the OK Hostel,
http://okhostels.com/ (highly recommend it!)



 



 and for 2 of those days, Julie and Michele and I were roommates as we wandered around Madrid.


 

 Thanks to Julie for the 2 pictures above.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
I'll be posting more on my adventures.

Madrid

In Madrid

Yesterday we spent travelling, and went to a local mall for dinner. Just as we were finishing, Lenore, Paul and Lilly joined us. What a surprise! They had just flown in from Toronto, and today went to Ponferrada, to meet Raphael, who will drive them to Foncebadon. They are the hospitalero/as for the first half of June, at Domus Dei, the donativo albergue in Foncebadon. How amazing to be there to see them. Here is where they will be working.

Today we took a bus and Metro into downtown Madrid. We found a free 3 hour walking tour of Madrid, and it was wonderful. The guide Tatiana, was from Kyrzakhstan, married to a Spaniard, and full of information and humour.  We saw so much and learned  a great deal about Spanish history.
One of my favourite squares on the tour was the Puerta da Sol, where we assembled for the tour.



After the tour we had an enourmous meal, then tried to walk it off.  Eventually we found our way to the Prado, which is free from 6 to 8 pm every day. We saw most of the Goyas, Reubens, and Velasquez. My favourite it still this one.

So, it is back to Toronto tomorrow, and hiking the Toronto trails. I´ll be blogging on wandering in Toronto, just not as frequently. Thanks for following my adventures so far, and post if you have any questions.

Buen Camino
Darlene