Are you disturbed by the Trump Administration's aggressive, supercharged attacks on immigrant communities? As ICE gears up to further escalate their assaults, it’s up to us to stand together and prote...

Kimmel wasn’t fired for his remarks on Kirk—he was fired for using his platform to expose and critique our government. Enough! We especially need large corporations, with the money and influence they ...

As I coughed my way into the evening, unable to think about leaving my room for food, I decided to either find a hospital or a plane home. The start of my travels home. Fortunately there was a plane leaving from Logrono to Madrid early in the morning. I could fly from Madrid to Dublin and Dublin home with all connections working.

Kathy- let us pretend how WE would stop it. I live in Los Angeles. I am a white 42 yo female Born in British VI then moved to Florida. My Dad is the only American born in the family. I am in music...

"There's something terrible for everyone in this bill."

I’ve been walking since 6 AM and there is no one on the trail in front of me or behind me. I keep checking my map to make sure that I’m on the Frances. Caution! On a hill miles from somewhere In Rioja! Snails to Santiago Nature’s palette is perfect Working the Vineyards A solo, beautiful walk today. I did pass Jen from California that I met the first day on the Pyrenees.

I will keep this short and sweet….I made it! This respiratory issue with no sleep is taking its toll plus I have no appetite…not a good thing when distance walking. The Spanish countryside kept me moving one step at a time.

I think that I might’ve been the only pilgrim that stayed in this cute little town. I know I was the only one who stayed in my Albergue/Rural Hotel. I saw the owner one time and then that was it. A nice place for the price, but not the usual friendly Camino welcoming. The good thing about me deciding to stay in small small villages off the “normal” stages is less chaos but I do miss the evenings together with other pilgrims.

The early start was a great idea. Lots of open area with little shade. Nothing on the Camino is truly flat and it is easy to be caught up with “oh this stage doesn’t have much elevation!” I don’t think that anyone said that about today. It was a long up hill climb to the top.

Today the morning was cool and refreshing. A nice walk through some woods and countryside with just a bit of background noise from the freeway that runs parallel to this part of the Camino. I’m looking forward to the day. It’s not as hot as yesterday. If I could whistle like my dad, I would have a great conversation with the birds ever morning.

14.8 miles Whew! It was in the low 90’s by the time that we finished today. All of us were cooked and ready for a shower. Unfortunately my albergue was 3k down the road. I walked solo most of the day but ended the day and the dragon’s back down hill with a new friend from Poland. You can imagine that we had some interesting conversations.

13 miles Today was challenging again. This time it was twice as long. There were so similarities to the Primativo. Lots of climbing and lots of downhills. Truly beautiful scenery. Today the sheep, cows and horse grazed on the sides of the road. A little too close for my comfort! I am tired tonight so I am going to sign off with saying that today I had to dig deep to keep going.

St Jean to Borda Off on my fourth Frances. It was perfect temperature for hiking a 2300 foot elevation gain in under 5 miles! The church bells were ringing and the birds were sing me out onto the Camino this morning. All was beautiful until the reality of the climb started to invade my moment of bliss. ✅note to self - train for your next Camino.

It was an early rise today, 3:00 am to catch my plane from Copenhagen to Paris to Biarritz when a shuttle to St Jean Pied a Port, the start of the Camino Frances. Boots on for the first time of this Camino. Hummmm. Sitting on the ground in Paris. No one can come out to open our door after landing. It is an electrical problem.

Day 4 Today was an incredible day! I was part of a blended family gathering to celebrate a parent’s annual tradition. It was a truly special moment to be a part of it. The day was a celebration of the late spring bloom of years of collection and planting rhododendrons—a total of 1500 to 2000 plants!

Today was centered around food and family as today was a family brunch. We hopped around doing grocery shopping, then pick up Julius. I got to see his first new apartment. The rest of the day was spent cooking, visiting and feasting together. I had previously bulked up🤭 for my Camino but I think that I may have added a few more pounds to carry with me over the Pyrenees in three days😳.

For those who have not followed my blog over the years…where have you been🤣…I will explain my Danish Family. In 1987 Maria was a foreign exchange student in Montesano. We were her “default” family when things were not matched well with her first host family. In a few short months she became sister/daughter/cousin to all of us. The love affair never waned and we have shared our lives together since with weddings, births of babies (Julius and Olivia) vacations and visits.

FYI the new carry-on and personal item size is serious business with Icelandair. The scales are out, the new size board is being used and there is no allowing a ½” outside the lines. Somehow the counter person said I was good to go with my pack. I know it is right at 21” 🤭 so I am glad they gave me the green light.

I spent the day packing, unpacking, repacking and finally saying I’m ready. Many people have asked me what I take with me so I have done a picture essay of my packing and added it to the blog. Hope it’s helpful for people who are getting ready for their Camino. Because I carry my pack on the airplane, I can’t take poles.

YouTube video by The Ezra Klein Show

I woke up last weekend and realized I was three weeks from leaving for Spain. I had made a few reservations: my favorite albergue in St Jean Pied de Port, France, and at Borda Albergue on my first …

YouTube video by Really American