Yes, yes, and yes, I've been travelling for about 48 hours, explanation, a long one involving a day-long layover in Brussels, a bad prix-fixe meal with gasoline flavored wine, and Mr. Fatty Bum sitting next to me (see next paragraph) on one leg of my myriad of flights to Bilbao, Spain, where I've a friend to pick me up and sweep me away for a few days deep into the Pyrennes near St. Jean-pied-de-Port to sleep-up, help jet-lag, bag-feed me, and send me off. And, yes, he's a doctor! Any problems I've got now, deal with it quickly. He also has a friend, Caroline, who knows loads about the Camino, given she´s started a company years ago, Burricot Express, that delivers backpacks from point to point, over the Pyrennes and until Lograno. I´ll definitely pick her Basque brain!
So far, 1. blister, already broken, healing, with medical tape----no pain and walked all day in Brussels. 2. brand-new Gregory backpack's aluminum structure support is poking out on top, causing my pack to lean to the left. One day, and my pack is disintigrating. 3. Lost loads of sleep and sanity, as, please don't judge me those overweight folks, as I was Fatty Bum for 1/3 of my life and I KNOW what it's like, however this 300+ pound man veritably utilized 50% of my leg, arm, and chest space during an entire flight, during which, he editing spread-sheets with his behemoth laptop on his robust belly, while his elbows jetted out, rose and fell, near my nose and mouth. However, since I was reading my trusty Camino Bible, "A Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino de Santiago", by John Brierly-------he emphatically states, "Respect your fellow pilgrim", so with this said, I was kind, said nothing (unusual for me), and stuck close to the window upon which I was cramped like wienies in a can for hours.
Still awaiting flight to Bilbao in Brussels. No shower in 2 days, perfect prep. for the Camino!!!! I smell great! As you can see by this post, I´m crabby and tired and this is the way I am when crabby and tired. A bitch! A controlled bitch....Which will calm down when I find the way again. "Il fait etre zen et detendu, oui?"
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Walking poles, how to get past Airport Security in the US
The day before I leave: I have my final contemplation whacking me in the head like a metal pole, a trekking pole to be exact!
How do I get these lethal weapons onto the secure and hermetically sealed plane? I know that security is stringent, as they took my nail clippers last time and a collapsable pool-stick another time, which was never to be found again.
So, I called American Airlines to find out what to do with the walking poles. As said by helpdesk woman on the 1-800 number I called, "canes are allowed on the plane". I tried to explain to her nicely that I have not one cane, but two, and they're walking poles, not canes. She insisted that the poles qualified as canes for walking assistance. Hmmmm. I smell uncertainty frying in this pan!
I kindly explained again that my walking poles are for trekking, are made of aluminum, and bear little jagged metal bits on the bottom, with which to grab the earth so that I don't go tumbling down---operative words for the airline safety situation "jagged metal bits". She insisted that if I simply go through security and get checked, my friendly walking aids would be permitted. I've heard this one before! I do know, from extensive travel acumen, that the airline and airline security check-point have NOTHING to do with each other. One's the docile cat and one's the dog next store!
She prompted me to go to http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/index.shtm
I've finally deduced that my poles are still lethal weapons, which can be checked in for free (on international flights) as non-carry on luggage, or you can collapse them and put them in a small box and make sure to use clear packing tape and airport Saran Wrap to seal the box shut. Also include your name, contact details, flight number(s) and destination just in case. And don't forget to throw in your Swiss Army knife, your plastic spork (another lethal weapon), nail clippers, or anything heavy that is not "essential", to lighten your load during your travel to Spain.
Prayer to Self: May all of my bags and myself, arrive intact and with sufficient sleep! No cranky-pants upon arrival!
How do I get these lethal weapons onto the secure and hermetically sealed plane? I know that security is stringent, as they took my nail clippers last time and a collapsable pool-stick another time, which was never to be found again.
So, I called American Airlines to find out what to do with the walking poles. As said by helpdesk woman on the 1-800 number I called, "canes are allowed on the plane". I tried to explain to her nicely that I have not one cane, but two, and they're walking poles, not canes. She insisted that the poles qualified as canes for walking assistance. Hmmmm. I smell uncertainty frying in this pan!
I kindly explained again that my walking poles are for trekking, are made of aluminum, and bear little jagged metal bits on the bottom, with which to grab the earth so that I don't go tumbling down---operative words for the airline safety situation "jagged metal bits". She insisted that if I simply go through security and get checked, my friendly walking aids would be permitted. I've heard this one before! I do know, from extensive travel acumen, that the airline and airline security check-point have NOTHING to do with each other. One's the docile cat and one's the dog next store!
She prompted me to go to http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/index.shtm
I've finally deduced that my poles are still lethal weapons, which can be checked in for free (on international flights) as non-carry on luggage, or you can collapse them and put them in a small box and make sure to use clear packing tape and airport Saran Wrap to seal the box shut. Also include your name, contact details, flight number(s) and destination just in case. And don't forget to throw in your Swiss Army knife, your plastic spork (another lethal weapon), nail clippers, or anything heavy that is not "essential", to lighten your load during your travel to Spain.
Prayer to Self: May all of my bags and myself, arrive intact and with sufficient sleep! No cranky-pants upon arrival!
What does one do the day prior to leaving for the Camino?
Yes, I have the pre-Camino jitters. Have I got EVERYTHING, can I take just one more thing out of my pack to make it lighter. Should I send a box to Santiago to have a few things after the trip, luxuries such as sneakers, jeans, maybe a smattering of make-up, or loads of extra underwear and clothing that smells like clean laundry.
No, no and no. Not really necessary.
* Travel insurance? check (www.worldnomads.com)
* Paid all of my bills and have all online bill-paying info? check
* Skype contacts updated? check
* Passport, duh? check, photocopy of Passport, check
* Laminated contact info? check
* Final email to the boss-man? check
* Print-out of flight details? check
* Super-light digital voice-recorder? check
* Pace my pad until I have an epiphany? not-checked
I can't stop thinking about what I may have missed. But, this is the obligatory leaving-the-country-for-a-long-time song and dance of jittery mind and stomach. May it be at peace soon:)
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Some interesting Camino de Santiago statistics!
January 1 to June 30 of this year:
Total compostela recipients : 48,970 (43,803 for the same period in 2008)
Men 19,345; Women 29,625
Walked: 40,418; Bicycle: 8,368; Horseback: 181; Wheelchair: 3
Under 15 years of age: 1,146
between 15 and 35: 15,555
36 to 65: 28,220
over 65: 4,049
Pilgrims with exclusively religious motives: 20,065
Religious/cultural: 24,727
Cultural only: 4,178
21,713 pilgrims hailed from Spain itself, less than 50%!
7,309 came from Germany;
3,213 came from France;
3,121 from Italy;
2,578 from Portugal;
1,278 from Austria;
1,121 from the United States;
1,112 from Holland;
1,084 from Brazil;
964 from Ireland;
835 from Canada;
656 from Belgium;
579 from Finland;
494 from Mexico;
The rest, in decreasing numbers, from another twenty or so countries.
37,939 of the pilgrims followed the French Camino
4,539 the Portuguese
2,669 the Via de la Plata
2,341 the Northern Way
856 the Primitive Way
and 499 the English.
The rest followed several other routes.
11,508 of the pilgrims started out in Sarria;
6,220 in Saint Jean Pied de Port;
4,279 in Ponferrada ;
3,427 in Roncesvalles;
3,182 in Leon;
2,836 in O Cebreiro;
1,892 in Sevilla;
1,721 in Pamplona;
1,583 in Astprga;
1,128 in Le Puy;
1,042 in Tui
81% of the pilgrims are single
56% of the pilgrims possess a college education.
95% of the pilgrims declare either an exclusively religious reason, or a religious/cultural reason for the pilgrimage.
87% of the pilgrims declared themselves to be believers; of these, 96% were Catholic, 2% non-Catholic Christians and 2% belonged to other religions. 59% of the believers stated that they are regular church-goers.
66% of pilgrims, declared that they went to the Camino without prior preparation, physical or otherwise. Of those who prepared themselves beforehand, 81% undertook physical training. (Ah-hem, me..)
87% of the pilgrims went to the Camino in the company of someone else.
13% went alone (mostly by choice...ah-hem, me!)
5% of the pilgrims declared that the most negative aspect of their experience was the difficulty of the Camino (tiredness, aches, blisters, etc). The climate bothered 46% of the pilgrims, and 31% complained about the albergues (no hot water and unfriendly hospitaleros).65% of the pilgrims were satisfied with the albergues (indeed, 18% were extremely satisfied), while 14% found the albergues deficient and 3% found them “very bad”.
On the positive side, 90% of the pilgrims pointed out the camaraderie, the friendship and the brotherly communication among the pilgrims. 41% found the spiritual and religious experience very meaningful and 21% were quite happily impressed by the contact with nature, the cultural aspects of the Camino and the opportunity to expand their physical and spiritual capabilities.
Monthly figures up to June can be viewed at http://www.archicompostela.org. Click on the colourful shell. Then click on the Spanish flag and then on Estadísticos .
Total compostela recipients : 48,970 (43,803 for the same period in 2008)
Men 19,345; Women 29,625
Walked: 40,418; Bicycle: 8,368; Horseback: 181; Wheelchair: 3
Under 15 years of age: 1,146
between 15 and 35: 15,555
36 to 65: 28,220
over 65: 4,049
Pilgrims with exclusively religious motives: 20,065
Religious/cultural: 24,727
Cultural only: 4,178
21,713 pilgrims hailed from Spain itself, less than 50%!
7,309 came from Germany;
3,213 came from France;
3,121 from Italy;
2,578 from Portugal;
1,278 from Austria;
1,121 from the United States;
1,112 from Holland;
1,084 from Brazil;
964 from Ireland;
835 from Canada;
656 from Belgium;
579 from Finland;
494 from Mexico;
The rest, in decreasing numbers, from another twenty or so countries.
37,939 of the pilgrims followed the French Camino
4,539 the Portuguese
2,669 the Via de la Plata
2,341 the Northern Way
856 the Primitive Way
and 499 the English.
The rest followed several other routes.
11,508 of the pilgrims started out in Sarria;
6,220 in Saint Jean Pied de Port;
4,279 in Ponferrada ;
3,427 in Roncesvalles;
3,182 in Leon;
2,836 in O Cebreiro;
1,892 in Sevilla;
1,721 in Pamplona;
1,583 in Astprga;
1,128 in Le Puy;
1,042 in Tui
The rest commenced their pilgrimage at different points distanced from Santiago sufficiently to qualify the pilgrim for receipt of the Compostela.
An “Anthropological Profile” of the 2008 Compostela recipients was made. These are some of the findings:
Over 50% of the pilgrims were between 36 and 65 years of age; the percentage of pilgrims between 16 and 35 years of age has increased to 40%. (getting a younger crowd????)
81% of the pilgrims are single
56% of the pilgrims possess a college education.
95% of the pilgrims declare either an exclusively religious reason, or a religious/cultural reason for the pilgrimage.
87% of the pilgrims declared themselves to be believers; of these, 96% were Catholic, 2% non-Catholic Christians and 2% belonged to other religions. 59% of the believers stated that they are regular church-goers.
66% of pilgrims, declared that they went to the Camino without prior preparation, physical or otherwise. Of those who prepared themselves beforehand, 81% undertook physical training. (Ah-hem, me..)
87% of the pilgrims went to the Camino in the company of someone else.
13% went alone (mostly by choice...ah-hem, me!)
5% of the pilgrims declared that the most negative aspect of their experience was the difficulty of the Camino (tiredness, aches, blisters, etc). The climate bothered 46% of the pilgrims, and 31% complained about the albergues (no hot water and unfriendly hospitaleros).65% of the pilgrims were satisfied with the albergues (indeed, 18% were extremely satisfied), while 14% found the albergues deficient and 3% found them “very bad”.
On the positive side, 90% of the pilgrims pointed out the camaraderie, the friendship and the brotherly communication among the pilgrims. 41% found the spiritual and religious experience very meaningful and 21% were quite happily impressed by the contact with nature, the cultural aspects of the Camino and the opportunity to expand their physical and spiritual capabilities.
Monthly figures up to June can be viewed at http://www.archicompostela.org. Click on the colourful shell. Then click on the Spanish flag and then on Estadísticos .
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