Somewhere Slowly

Sightseeing in Villafranca

30/08/2020

(From our winter camino, late February to early March 2020) Oh, the bed was lovely and the day outside was so, so grey and miserable. The ankle was no better, and we were now bandaging it and the Scouse Spouse was taking anti-inflammatory painkillers. Sad, but it is what it is. There would be no … More Sightseeing in Villafranca

Winter wander to Villafranca

30/08/2020

(From our winter camino, late February to early March 2020) After a good night’s sleep and ankle rest, we woke up to yet another beauty of a day. The world was hustling and bustling on the square outside while we had our morning coffee, and the lady in reception kindly booked a taxi to take … More Winter wander to Villafranca

Visiting Molinaseca and Ponferrada

29/08/2020

(From our winter camino, late February to early March 2020) After the difficult descent the day before, the Scouse Spouse’s ankle wasn’t feeling right. We reluctantly decided to forego the beautiful but very tricky way down to Molinaseca … shame, since it is one of my favourite parts of the trail. However, we were there … More Visiting Molinaseca and Ponferrada

Winter walk to Acebo

28/08/2020

(From our winter camino, late February to early March 2020) Oh hello, new day! Our window faced straight into the sunrise. We enjoyed a lovely breakfast in the Candela before we headed out, appropriately dressed for the expected summery temperatures. We were just talking about the narrow and uneven trail leading up towards Foncebadón and … More Winter walk to Acebo

Winter walk to Rabanal

27/08/2020

(From our winter camino, late February to early March 2020) We woke up to splendid sunshine, though there was a definite chill in the air. Packing took longer than it should, as it always does the first couple of days, but we finally managed to get ourselves organised and dressed in layers. Then we bimbled … More Winter walk to Rabanal

Back to Astorga

26/08/2020

(From our winter camino, late February to early March 2020) As usual we stayed over in Liverpool the night before so we could wake up, roll out to the bus and go straight to the airport in the morning. We both had hand luggage only – my poles were shipped to our hotel in Astorga … More Back to Astorga

CF winter walk 2020

25/08/2020

You know how you think about the camino, and read and watch and listen to anything camino, and ponder and prepare and start getting the gear together, and then you book your tickets? Yeah, that’s exactly not what we did. When I came back from my (until covid) usual walk in September, I started planning … More CF winter walk 2020

Walking the Camino in the time of Covid

22/08/2020

News just in, fresh from the Camino! Mark McCarthy, seasoned pilgrim and guidebook author, has just returned from his pilgrimage from Lourdes in France to Pamplona after a damaged knee put an end to his walk (for now). He is currently in quarantine back home in the UK and kindly took the time to answer … More Walking the Camino in the time of Covid

Postponing a postponed walk

30/07/2020

This week I bit the bullet, grit my teeth and cancelled my beds on the Camino Francés in September. Not because I wanted to, but for the simple reason that I am waiting to hear about a rather lucrative contract – if I get it, I won’t have time to go, and if I don’t, … More Postponing a postponed walk

Back to a ‘new normal’?

24/07/2020

The camino seems to be bustling again, with hundreds of pilgrims arriving at the Pilgrim’s Office in Santiago every day for their compostela. It is a good sign, and I hope it lasts so the people earning a living along the way can make up some of their losses. There is always the threat of … More Back to a ‘new normal’?

Nidarosa the hiker, traveller, pilgrim