We are alive and well in Zubiri after our first day of walking the camino. The weather is fantastic but there are pilgrims galore. The camino is a superhighway! There were over 250 pilgrims staying in Roncesvalles last night on the first stop of the Spanish camino. We travelled from St. John pied de port by superfast taxi! Madeleine and Gabriel managed the 22 k to Zubiri in good style.
Paris was full on - we knocked off the Eiffel Tower, Arch de Triumph and Notre Dame on Tuesday. On Wed Mads and Gabe went to Disneyland on their own and we went to The louvre for 5 hours!
All those who told me that Lourdes is amazing were correct. A special place. Even Mads seemed to appreciate it. The weather there was also fantastic. We visited a Bordeaux grande cru vineyard yesterday and tasted their top plonk. Very nice, but kiwi wines are right up there - especially when you take value for money into account.
Everything has gone smoothly so far and we hope our legs can keep us going tomorrow.

camino training in Hong Kong

We arrived in HK to lots of rain and 30 degrees. Practised for the camino by walking up and down Nathan Road dodging lethal umbrellas. Squeezed ourselves through a crowd of abut 1/2 million Phillipine women hawking scratches and phone cards at central plaza - must be some sort of Sunday tradition! By the time we hit the hotel we were wet through. Bargin of the day - Japanese noodle house lunch for 4 for only $120 HK dollar ($30NZ)

Pilgrim blessing

14 May

After a shared dinner with friends we received our pilgrims blessing from Fr. Brian. Seated on the left is our Camino Consultant Margaret who completed Le Puy to Santiago last year !
Next to her are Murray & Candace who have just returned from a family wedding in Valladollid. Then seated are pilgrims-to-be : Kathleen & Rick, flanked by our nephew Andrew who was present to farewell us !

Last night was my last Spanish class ! I've been learning for the past 15 months at nightschool under the tutelege of Senor Brian Hanley. He has been an inspirational teacher and so I am hoping that my Spanish doesn't desert me under pressure ! Somehow I think my most used phrase will be "hablar mas despacio, por favor !"

Practising

May 10
We took a short practice walk for an hour. Very wet and only 8 degrees, but Gabe had no trouble shouldering his pack and could have walked for another 3 hours easily. Who knew the scenery was so beautiful only 10 minutes from town -why are we going to Spain?

Countdown is on.

3 weeks to go and counting down.
So much to do and so little time!