http://goodnightandgodbless.com/blog A guide to cheap, safe, clean, unique and well located accommodation in Europe's convent & monastery guesthouses Mon, 06 Sep 2010 07:55:39 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I was up early as is the habit now, to get a few jobs done. First stop was the post office to send some of the contents of my backpack home so I don't raise the ire of the Santiago based Ryan Air ground hostesses. Here I ran ... http://goodnightandgodbless.com/blog/?p=285 At last - after 5 long and sometimes difficult weeks I finally got to walk into Santiago. It was a 19km trek from Rua and I started out early determined to take it slowly and imprint as many pictures of this final day on my mind as possible. ... http://goodnightandgodbless.com/blog/?p=281 Had a great night in Arzua. As it happened Spain was playing Chile in the World Cup. The cafe/bar of the hostel where I was staying was packed with people I had walked with today and everyone was in high spirits. When Spain scored the first goal the ... http://goodnightandgodbless.com/blog/?p=276 There were hills and more hills today and in 37 degree heat the Camino proved to be testing once again. The companionship along the way really helps when the going gets tough and thank goodness I could suss out some English speakers. Janessa and Daniel from Philadelphia, Michaela and ... http://goodnightandgodbless.com/blog/?p=272 Since leaving Sarria there has been an exodus of pilgrims on the Camino.  In fact I could have been at a fashion parade for Paddy Pallin or Kathmandu with all the shiny (and very full) backpacks, trousers with carefully ironed creases and spotlessly clean hiking boots (and sand ... http://goodnightandgodbless.com/blog/?p=268   When I arrived in Sarria I just had to do something about my feet, so I went to a farmacia and bought a roll of gauze bandage. Band-aids, Compeed and Elastoplast are not working on my blisters so need to try something new. Before I left for Portomarin (24kms) I ... http://goodnightandgodbless.com/blog/?p=264 Up early for a 20km walk to Sarria. Again the glorious countryside made walking a pleasure. The track was steep and rocky as usual but the luxuriant arms of giant chestnut trees provided welcome shade. The trail meandered through fields and meadows and tiny rural hamlets, silent but for the ... http://goodnightandgodbless.com/blog/?p=261 Today's walk covered 20kms over and around the Galician mountains and through tiny stone hamlets and somewhat sleepy, silent villages. A new wildflower presented itself - bluebells were peeking shyly from clusters of yellow and white daisies creating a palette Aussie artist Ken Done would appreciate. Woody glades of ... http://goodnightandgodbless.com/blog/?p=257 It was a long, tough walk to-day - 30 kms to the mountain hamlet of O'Cebreiro. For some of the way the Camino followed a national road. The motorists were lucky - they could drive through the mountains, pilgrims had to walk up and over them. However ... http://goodnightandgodbless.com/blog/?p=252 A rest day in Ponferrada did wonders for the feet, the weary bones and for the spirit as well. Highlight of the day was a radio interview with Morris (never did get his last name) who hosts a travel show on Radio Europe. The GNAGB books have just ... http://goodnightandgodbless.com/blog/?p=247