what's the strangest thing that happened to you on the camin

[htgute]

Anything unique or different or especially interesting?

 

[mralisn]

Does romance count? I met an amazing Dutch girl in the Pyrenees on day one of my first Camino 2005. We had 15 second conversation that day. Little did I know a month later this would be the most significant encounter I might ever have. Our journey during and after has been incredible, dream-like. Seven years later we are extremely close for being so far away. Although no longer on a romance level, we love one another just as dearly to this day. Maybe not strange, but needed.

The Camino brings to us that from which we run.

 

[mspath]

Indeed, serendipity or fortuitous chance has been a delight on all my caminos! Here are two most recent occurences. Last October when slowly climbing up the alternate route from Valcarlos towards Roncevalles with a nervous new Italian pilgrim to help take our minds from the endless mounting switchbacks I recounted the importance of serendipity or fortunate good chance on the camino (as well as in daily life). Imagine our mutual surprise when as if on cue there suddenly appeared beside us an Australian fellow whom I had met walking the year before!! We three were QUITE astonished by this coincidence and continued climbing up together in the fierce wind!... Another occurance was late in November. At the wonderful cosy albergue in Ruitelan we twelve pilgrims were worried regarding the weather forecast of heavy snow since all would be climbing up to the mythic village of O Cebreiro. Carlos, the ever gracious hospitalero, told us not to walk the hillside camino but to follow the wider bike path. Luckily for me, Boris, a sturdy pilgrim from ex-Yugoslavia now in Germany working as a personal guard for celebrities walked with me. Perhaps Carlos had asked him to do so; perhaps it was just serendipity. We slowly climbed on dry road to begin, then a bit of snow, then deep snow and eventual total white out! Huge pines shaggy with snow resembled grotesque phantoms from some fairy tale. After four hours climb there was a low stone wall - civilization at last! We had arrived. ...I shall always remember our walk and how lucky it was to have met a guardian angel.

 

[tyrrek]

Indeed, serendipity or fortuitous chance has been a delight on all my caminos!

Yes. While clearing litter with Rebekah in Palencia last month I was hoping we might get a bit further back into Burgos province so I could get one of the little medals of the Lady of Miracles they give out in the bar at Rabe. I wanted to give one to a friend. Unfortunately we couldn't work back that far. However we did work forward into Leon and repaired a memorial to a fallen pilgrim. After an initial assessment of the damage we returned the next day with tools and what did we find strung around the memorial but a little medal of the Lady of Miracles!

I got shot the day before as well, which was a bit unusual. :shock:

Buen Camino!

 

[wayfarer]

I got shot the day before as well, which was a bit unusual. :shock:

Buen Camino!

Do tell more. :?: :?:

(Shot has different connotations here, it involves alcohol. :wink: )

 

[tyrrek]

I got shot the day before as well, which was a bit unusual. :shock:

Buen Camino!

Do tell more. :?: :?:

(Shot has different connotations here, it involves alcohol. :wink: )

No alcohol involved. As I was walking up the senda clearing litter a hunter was walking towards me with 2 dogs, and a shotgun in a bag under his arm. The dogs passed me and I was about to say 'Buenos Dias' to the hunter when the gun went off into the ground and bits of lead flew up, including into my face. Just a flesh wound and no real harm done. The guy must have felt awful - shooting pilgrims on the Camino is frowned upon in Spain, and I bet his wife had a few words for him when he got home. I think it just happened because he was worried that the dogs would annoy me and changed his posture to call them back, which set off the gun. Buen Camino!

 

[wayfarer]

God you were lucky, that could really have been a fatal event. Glad you are ok.

 

[Chacharm]

I got shot the day before as well, which was a bit unusual. :shock:

Buen Camino!

Do tell more. :?: :?:

(Shot has different connotations here, it involves alcohol. :wink: )

No alcohol involved. As I was walking up the senda clearing litter a hunter was walking towards me with 2 dogs, and a shotgun in a bag under his arm. The dogs passed me and I was about to say 'Buenos Dias' to the hunter when the gun went off into the ground and bits of lead flew up, including into my face. Just a flesh wound and no real harm done. The guy must have felt awful shooting pilgrims on the Camino and I bet his wife had a few words for him when he got home. I think it just happened because he was worried that the dogs would annoy me and changed his posture to call them back, which set off the gun. Buen Camino!

HOLY COW!!!

 

[Anniesantiago]

Good Lord!
You are one lucky dude!

 

[fortview]

I can't begin to talk about it, even to my close friends ! But tyrrek, you have to win this thread , hands down !

 

[tyrrek]

I can't begin to talk about it, even to my close friends ! But tyrrek, you have to win this thread , hands down !

Ha ha! I'm sure stranger things have happened, so keep 'em coming! Buen Camino!

 

[MCVet]

Well, I didn't get shot, and it's all rather tame, but:

Right outside of Pamplona, as you walk in, I either ran into a beggar with poor English, or someone attempted to mug/pickpocket me, I'm not sure which. Basically the guy says something in a hushed tone and, forgetting all the pickpocketing techniques I'd read about (this was one of the ones mentioned, in fact. :roll: ) I move in closer to him to get a better listen to what he's saying. He then says "give me your money" and I was thinking "really? Dude's trying to mug me in broad daylight a stones throw from the city walls?" so I just told him "no". Then he repeated it again and I said "no" and walked away. Didn't occur to me until later that he may just not have spoken English well (the most likely case I'd assume) but it was a pretty strange introduction into the Camino.

In Burgos, as I walked in, this really punk looking fellow with a pink mohawk just yells at me from across a square I was walking through "PEREGRINO! PEREGRINO!" and I seemed to be the only peregrino around at that point in time (I'm a slow walker...) so I look over and he thumps his chest and goes "BUEN CAMINO PEREGRINO!" just shouting it at the top of his lungs. I gave him the peace sign and kept walking.

In Leon I was basically surrounded by a group of students, I think (there were about 10 of them). I was outside the Cathedral alone as I'd stayed behind for a bit to take some last pictures of the cathedral. The group basically came out of nowhere, and they were a bit younger than I was and dressed very rattily, and they basically surrounded me, so I wasn't sure where we stood (whether they were vagabonds or just liked to dress that way). I talked to them for a bit, but with both hands in my pockets to secure my wallet and camera. Couldn't do much about anything attached to my back but at least I had the important stuff on lock down. Turns out they walked with me about halfway out of Leon and then just wandered off. Still no idea what that was all about but alls well that ends well.

Oh, also on the way towards Astorga there was a pen of calves and cows off to the side of the road. I walked over and looked at them for a while just kind of standing there and took a few pictures. A farmer came out and he looked pissed. He yelled something at me and I just said "Lo siento, no comprende. Estoy un estudiante veterinario y tu animalos es muy interesante." After that he smiled, said something else, and then walked back inside. I really should've spent more time learning Spanish before going over...

 

[scruffy1]

This is a complicated one connected with bio-physics. I am a night person my best hours are from 2200 until 0200 or 0300, so lights out at 2230 is a challenge for me usually overcome with a bit of aguardiente however after such an early lights out I wake up much earlier as well and am up and out before the headlamp maniacs have flashed everyone else into consciousness. Often I am in the next town or village just as many are leaving and the sun has just risen. Navarra, 0700 your shadow points directly towards Santiago out over the wheat fields and my body heat, the steam if you will, radiating through my fleece creates a clear and obvious "halo" around my shadow which nobody else has since they haven't been walking 2 1/2 hours. "Why does he have a halo"? "Where is mine?" are common reactions and the phenomenon has been photographed by me and others. It has been hilarious at times.

 

[hieudovan]

At Azofra I discovered that I had lost my Vaseline petroleum jelly jar and was developing a newly formed blister. My German peregrino roommate recommended “hirschtalg creme.” He demonstrated how it smelled good and not oily etc... I asked him what hirschstalg is in English or Spanish so I could buy it. After some miming, including putting his open hands on his head he gave up. He then gave me his almost finished tube, saying that he has another tube and that I could use the tube to show the pharmacist.

I used the hirschtalg creme sparingly, asking pharmacists on the way for another tube. No such luck. By the fourth day my blister had miraculously healed. Unfortunately I had also run out of my hirschtalg creme. I grudgingly used the Spanish “sports creme” which I thought was not as good. At the next albergue I met a young German peregrina who spoke fluent English. Thinking that my prayer was answered, I asked her for the meaning of hirschtalg so I could ask the pharmacist for the creme in Spanish. Again, after numerous attempts at describing the animal, she put her open hands on her head... We had good conversations and enjoyed the pilgrim meal, but no hirschtalg creme.

The next day, I hiked through rain, hail and even snow up the mountain. I had resigned to having foot problems with the sports creme. At noon, suddenly the sun came out at the summit. Everyone was sitting down resting or eating their snacks. I saw 2 young men looking like a couple of Bulgarians that I met earlier on the Camino. I approached them to say “Hi.” Turned out they were 2 German college students starting their Camino in the middle. Again, I asked if they know the translation for hirschtalg. Sadly, they did not know either. However, one of them went to his backpack and took out a brand new tube of hirschtalg creme to give me. I declined, saying that he needs the tube also. The young man smiled, saying that he had overpacked with 3 tubes! I gratefully took the tube and attempted to offer him 10 euros, which was the price of the Spanish sports creme. He smiled, declined and wished me “Buen Camino!”

 

[scruffy1]

hieudovan Shalom
Hirschtalg? Easy, Hirsch is a common German and Jewish personal and family name meaning deer, talg is the hard part, it means basically refined lard or tallow. In short, rendered deer fat. It is also effective for moistening and softening interesting things like bagpipes and the cork bits of recorders, the rubber insulation of car doors, and yes for preventing and relieving the pain from blisters.

 

[fortview]

Ok, here's one of them.
Attempting to walk into Santiago airport for the flight home, like you do, and getting picked up by security on the ring road, and escorted to departures by a very nice " seen it all before , peregrinos, hah , what do you expect " security guard

 

[jemitch65]

Mine probably won't win the top slot either, but here it is. After 4 days walking the Camino Frances, a blister began to appear on the pad of my right foot. By the time I got into Puenta la Reina, I knew I had problems. Halfway between Estella and Torres del Rio I was literally stopped on the camino and my fellow pilgrim family had helped me bandage it up. Finally, by Redecilla del Camino my blister was so big it covered the pad of my right foot from my big toe to my fourth toe, nearly my whole foot. While in the only albergue in this tiny village that 99.9% of pilgrims walk through, my friend told me that there was a "holistic foot nurse" across the street. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. In all of Spain and only across the street in this tiny village? I walked across the street and into her small office. She looked at my foot and winced and said "mal" which I have since learned means "not good." She treated the blister (I won't describe how), steralized it and carefully dressed it. She then prayed over my foot and told me "No...(used her fingers to make a walking motion) manana." She even gave me two days dressings to carry with me. I stopped walking the camino for 3 days, but in that time, the skin on my foot rapidly repaired itself and a new layer formed over what was a large open sore. I was able to continue on to Santiago, Fisterra and Muxia. I will never forget that nurse or her kindness. Her services were donativo but I paid her just the same. Without her help and prayers, I might never have completed the camino.

 

[max44]

The guy must have felt awful shooting pilgrims on the Camino

I was thinking bed bugs were the worst thing that could happen. It wont be long before there is an arcade game where you earn point for shooting pilgrims.

 

[tyrrek]

I was thinking bed bugs were the worst thing that could happen. It wont be long before there is an arcade game where you earn point for shooting pilgrims.

Speak to Eduardo from the albergue in Boadilla. He'll help with the design, scoring system etc. He's a lovely guy and pilgrims love him, but he cannot stand the 'princess' type pilgrim who expects to stay at the Ritz for 9 euros.

Buen Camino!

 

[MCVet]

Oh how disappointed I was when I learned that the Parador wasn't donativo. :lol:

 

[GunnarW]

Re: what's the strangest thing that happened to you on thecamino

A short one to mention:
Entering Terradillos de los Templarios, I was filming a shepherd and his sheeps. The shepherd had an old portable radio around his neck and was shouting to me "...copyrights copyrights...".
It was not clear to me if I had to pay him for filming the sheeps or for listening to the music from his radio.

 

[max44]

Re: what's the strangest thing that happened to you on thecamino

A short one to mention:
Entering Terradillos de los Templarios, I was filming a shepherd and his sheeps. The shepherd had an old portable radio around his neck and was shouting to me "...copyrights copyrights...".
It was not clear to me if I had to pay him for filming the sheeps or for listening to the music from his radio.

From a legal point What he was trying to say was. He holds the legal copyright to his picture. He seemed to have been saying, "dont take my picture or pay him a gratuity for it"
In other words, he has claimed the copyright of that picture, taken without consent. As he isn't a public figure, he can claim that

 

[kogga]

We were walking trough one town and were looking for the arrow,when I took a photo of a blue arrow on a wall.I showed my friends the picture of the arrow,when the penny dropped and we realise that is the arrow pointing the direction.If I didn't took the picture,we would have walked pass the arrow.Johann Pretorius

 

[max44]

We were walking trough one town and were looking for the arrow,when I took a photo of a blue arrow on a wall.I showed my friends the picture of the arrow,when the penny dropped and we realise that is the arrow pointing the direction.If I didn't took the picture,we would have walked pass the arrow.Johann Pretorius

That is funny. Easy to do as well. Thanks for sharing

 

[MeganG22]

I made a whole post recently about my final day on the Camino which was magical, so I'll just summarize here... it was very Wizard of Oz like in the sense that I saw almost everyone in Santiago whose name I had learned in the 32 days on the walk- even those I had not seen for weeks. ("And you were there, and you were there!") There was such a sense of joy and accomplishment in that town the few days I was there, it was wonderful.

After taking a train and spending a night in A Coruña we returned to Santiago for a night... having a hankering for some spring rolls and pad thai we walked into the one Thai place we had found and had a hug filled reunion with yet another man we knew, whom we had spent several evenings and bottles of wine with in different albergues in the last two weeks. The next morning on the early bus to the airport, a gentleman got on who we knew- he saw us and his face lit up and we all laughed and hugged. In Ferrerios, we had stayed at a shockingly new and modern albergue and the only other two people there were this man and a young lady he had met on the way and was walking with. We had all sat together and had a delicious pilgrim dinner and talked about life.

That first man spoke primarily French, the second spoke Italian. Both spoke little English, and yet we managed each time we saw them to have such great conversations and learn about each other.

Oh my, I cannot wait to do this all again!

 

[fraluchi]

Hirsch is a common German and Jewish personal and family name meaning deer, talg is the hard part, it means basically refined lard or tallow. In short, rendered deer fat.

Now that we know what it is supposed to be, what is it called in Spanish? :roll:

 

[SYates]

Hirsch is a common German and Jewish personal and family name meaning deer, talg is the hard part, it means basically refined lard or tallow. In short, rendered deer fat.

Now that we know what it is supposed to be, what is it called in Spanish? :roll:

I seriously doubt that you will find it in Spain, it is virtually unknown outside the German speaking world ;-) But you can always try the Latin for it 'adeps cervinus' and hope that some Spanish pharmacists remembers which cream contains it, SY

 

[wayfarer]

Somewhere after Sarria I walked with an Irish lady for a few hours and after a bit of conversation I discovered she was the widow of someone I had worked with years before.

 

[annelise]

My strangest day/experience has nothing dramatic about it.

It was the day I walked from Villafranca Montes de Oca to Ages. When sitting down at the wayside among the beautiful mountain vegetation, I suddenly felt totally happy – totally in the moment – and with tiny vividly blue butterflies around me. This total happiness just came out from the blue – I have never experienced it before or after. – But this memory has stayed with me.

How often do you feel totally happy?

 

[Sagalouts]

the strangest thing that happened to me on the Camino was that in my first year,I went from a grumpy old man that in the first 3 days had already fallen out with 3 snorers,kicking one so bad he got up and left the Albergue to the unfazed pilgrim 5 weeks later that lay unperturbed in my rocking bottom bunk while the young stoned Spanish couple had noisy sex twice! in the upper bunk,I nearly rolled over and smoked a cigarette myself!!
Ian

 

[gregdedman]

The strangest thing to happen to me on the Camino was coming out of Leon into the countryside and onto a peaceful stretch of trail.
An elderly Spanish man with no English, coming the other way, stopped and gestured that I was not married. I laughed and said no, to which he laughed heartily and placed his open hand where it was most certainly not welcome!
He continued walking, laughing as he went and I walked on hugely bemused.

 

[tyrrek]

An elderly Spanish man with no English, coming the other way, stopped and gestured that I was not married. I laughed and said no, to which he laughed heartily and placed his open hand where it was most certainly not welcome!

That's certainly unusual. Was he questioning the potential of your 'cojones'? Farmers think that way sometimes. Buen Camino!

 

[max44]

It was not a sexual thing. He was saying that you have "balls" for doing such a brave thing. Was meant in a nice way, even if it doesn't seem like it. Remember the language barrier.
If only the Spanish ladies would do the same thing
It is a compliment he gave you.

 

[MCVet]

From a legal point What he was trying to say was. He holds the legal copyright to his picture. He seemed to have been saying, "dont take my picture or pay him a gratuity for it"
In other words, he has claimed the copyright of that picture, taken without consent. As he isn't a public figure, he can claim that

Is that how it works in Spain though? In the US if you're out in public, you can have a picture taken of you, no problem. Something about implied consent by being in public. It's what allows us to take pictures of police officers without having our cameras confiscated.

Also, while we're on the subject, anyone know for France? I took a picture of a military guy walking outside a French train station with a FAMAS. There were three of them, and it's not something you see around here in the US, someone just walking around with such heavy fire power, and it was an interesting juxtaposition based on how much shit the US gets for its gun laws. Anyhow, I took the picture without thinking about it and the dude gave me a very disapproving look, shook his head, said something in French, and I left quickly.

 

[nreyn12]

Oh how disappointed I was when I learned that the Parador wasn't donativo. :lol:

With you on that one, MCVet!

up and out before the headlamp maniacs have flashed everyone else into consciousness

Great line, Scruffy! I've never been out walking at night or early in the morning. But I think I might give it a try next time around.

I don't think I've had much 'strangeness' on the Camino, just too many moments of pure joy to count.

 

[Telluridewalker]

Detailed much better by Jack Hitt in his book, Off The Road, and later shown in a lengthy scene in The Way, I can tell you that spending the night in Ramon Sostres' "refugio" in Torres Del Rio was a very strange experience. (His was the ramshackle house with no front door, no furniture, no electricity, no running water and where the bathroom was the backyard.) Although they made him out to be a little more flamboyant than when I met him, I can vouch for the movie's verisimilitude on this strangest of overnight stays. :shock:

 

[daesdaemar]

The following occurred on Sunday July 3 as I walked the Betanzos to Bruma leg of the Camino Ingles. I have been reluctant to post this experience because, frankly, it seemed so weird and disconcerting. Now, a few months later, I am interested in the opinion of others.
Just a short way past the Bar Julia is the somewhat modern appearing Igrexa de Santo Tome. As I approached, there were barricades closing off automobile traffic as there appeared to be a church festival going on. This was on the road passing directly in front of the church. I walked along this road among dozens of people and their booths selling various trinkets, religious items, and foods and snacks. The church and its hall were open with many persons walking through and around.
I must clearly have appeared as a pilgrim as I had my backpack, hiking boots, and even a large scallop shell hanging around my neck. As I passed among the people I would smile, nod my head, and say "Hola!" Everyone looked straight through me as if I did not exist. Not a single person smiled or acknowledged me in anyway whatsoever. I even walked up to some of the booths looking for a snack and the vendors didn't even look my way. I felt like a ghost. I felt very much out of place and recall a feeling of great uneasiness. I considered walking up to the church to seek a sello, but felt so uncomfortable that I could not bring myself to do so.
It was very strange and bothered me for hours afterwards.

 

[tyrrek]

That's odd! I've got no idea what that is about. Are you sure it wasn't just a private service (Christening etc) and they didn't want strangers hanging around? Even if it was a private service the Spanish are usually very welcoming. Buen Camino!

 

[Homer-Dog]

Not sure this was exactly strange but it was part of my Camino.

My Camino started a little rough when the airlines (American/Iberia) lost my bag. This was followed by my missing the Madrid to Hendaye train the same day. Oh, and the work slowdown that cancelled several trains leaving Hendaye including mine going to Bayonne. I was in Bayonne (got there just as the restaurants were closing). My train to SJPDP was canceled due to the worker slowdown so I had 4 hours to kill. Feeling kind of desperate, when I heard someone speaking English, I practically ran over to introduce myself. We chatted and commiserated. I helped carry their luggage (I figured I needed some good Karma).

The next morning I had breakfast with them (Kevin & Monica) and walked them to the edge of town as they started their Camino. My bag arrived in SJPDP later that day and I finally started being only one day late ... though I think I aged several years during those first two days.

Six weeks later I was in SDC saying goodbye to the last of my Camino Family. I was going to walk to Fisterra the next day. As I waved goodbye at the bus station I felt like the last guy at the party. It felt odd and kind of lonely.

That night, at Seminario Menor I was totally bored and a little depressed so I headed down to check email before going to bed. The computers were all full so I sat down to wait. At one computer there was a couple and they seemed familiar. I must have looked like a stalker as I tried to get a better look at their faces. It was Kevin and Monica! I talked with them and we exchanged Camino stories. They were exactly what I needed to get out of my post Camino funk. They bookended my Camino perfectly.

 

[kingscrown2014]

Belezebub, my foot and San Bol.
In 2006 when I was walking the Camino with blisters on the bottom of my feet the size of holy waffers. I came upon San Bol and thought it a good spot to end the day.
An Italian man with a purple silk rope and an eyebrow peirceing greeted me at the door. He said he was the warden of the hostal and a prist to Belezebub. His Italian accecnt was so thick I wasn't sure I was hearing him correctly. He was very gracious and offered me food that had been placed on an alter. Above it on the wall was a painting of a goat head. As I began to settle in my bunk for the night tending to my sore foot, more interesting people arrived. They were part of the up coming party that was planed for that night at San Bol. The purple robed man told me they were going to be up late with ceremonies and I was welcome to join them. Thank goodness I was not a virgin...laugh. I decided two things would happen here, I would have the time of my life with the Devil worshipers or no one would see me again. So I squeezed my foot in my boot and limped on to Hontanas. I have always woundered what kind of time I would have had if I had been brave enough to stick around.

 

[daesdaemar]

That's odd! I've got no idea what that is about. Are you sure it wasn't just a private service (Christening etc) and they didn't want strangers hanging around? Even if it was a private service the Spanish are usually very welcoming. Buen Camino!

No, it was definitely a "public" festival. Again, there were many vendors selling food and trinkets. It was such a surrealistic experience that I sometimes wonder (partly in jest) if I was invisible to the others around me - some kind of a freaky Camino experience/miracle???

 

[tyrrek]

It was such a surrealistic experience that I sometimes wonder (partly in jest) if I was invisible to the others around me - some kind of a freaky Camino experience/miracle???

That is definitely the strangest so far. As I said before, the Spanish are welcoming and having a pilgrim at your Christening, funeral etc would probably be seen as a bonus. The fact that it was public makes it even more strange.

I've felt invisible at the bar when waiting to be served, but that happens everywhere.

Buen Camino!

 

[SYates]

That's odd! I've got no idea what that is about. Are you sure it wasn't just a private service (Christening etc) and they didn't want strangers hanging around? Even if it was a private service the Spanish are usually very welcoming. Buen Camino!

No, it was definitely a "public" festival. Again, there were many vendors selling food and trinkets. It was such a surrealistic experience that I sometimes wonder (partly in jest) if I was invisible to the others around me - some kind of a freaky Camino experience/miracle???

Any chance that they were setting up for filming? Then it could be explained that way that they were just waiting for the "real actor" to appear.
Or you simply have stepped out of "real time" for a moment and were indeed invisible :cry: SY

 

[tyrrek]

It just sounds like a strange Camino experience. They happen all the time - some good and some bad. You just shake your head and walk on. :lol: Buen Camino!

 

[fortview]

I occasionally had the sensation of being a weirdo. One of a strange sect, tolerated by the Spanish living along the camino.
But never felt it so acutely until stopping early one morning for breakfast at a motorway type services, just after Trabadelo. It was a Saturday morning and the place was heaving with young A Coruna football fans, dressed in blue and white strips, on their way for a match against Madrid.
They were rowdy, and drinking beer, and very happy.
Stepping outside I was suddenly grabbed, had a large football flag draped over me and had one after another of these lads throw their arms round me while their mates took photos ! They wanted a photo with a genuine peregrina. :shock:
The only way to go was to take it in good part, but it was certainly a strange experience !

 

[eano]

Leaving Villar de Mazariffe very early one morning was a corker for me. The exit road is quite straight and long and we were chatting and enjoying the beautiful cool morning. A man appeared with a broom at his front door on the opposite side of the road. Nothing remarkable there. A little further on we realized he was wearing nothing but a t-shirt and some sort of HUGE erect penis strapped on. (I'm presuming it was strapped on). He swept, and it swayed and it was a very long walk to get past him. I wish I had the presence of mind to take a photo but we were too busy trying to act 'normal' and contain our amazement and mirth. A few days later we came across other pilgrims who had had a similar encounter with him.
Debbie

 

[NoorvanderVeen]

In Castrojeriz, my boyfriend's hiking boots were stolen. It is really strange waking up, preparing for the walk and then finding you've got nothing to walk on. These shoes are your vehicle; it feels like your car is being stolen. Who does such a thing? (The story is actually more strange, because someone left behind his own pair of shoes, which were half a size smaller and didn't fit.)

Anyway, the very very very nice hospitalero (I forgot his name , but he had long hair and a beard and he lived across the street of the albergue) helped us out in every way he could. He had a whole cupboard full of stuff for pilgrims in need, including shoes. None of them fitted, so we had to go back to Burgos to buy new shoes. The hospitalero walked with us to the bus to make sure we got the right one. When we returned at 7 PM he had kept two free places for us in his albergue. (Camino provides) He's a great man.

 

[cornishtim]

I walked the last ten days of the Norte with growing pain from arthritis in my left toe. It had grown so intense that at on point I thought I would have to stop. With lots of Ibobrufen and meditation as I walked I managed to reach Santiago. I placed my foot on the shell outside the cathedral and gave thanks for my safe arrival. When I then walked to get my certification I noticed that all pain had disappeared. This was last october. I have been pain free since.

 

[tyrrek]

I walked the last ten days of the Norte with growing pain from arthritis in my left toe. It had grown so intense that at on point I thought I would have to stop. With lots of Ibobrufen and meditation as I walked I managed to reach Santiago. I placed my foot on the shell outside the cathedral and gave thanks for my safe arrival. When I then walked to get my certification I noticed that all pain had disappeared. This was last october. I have been pain free since.

Wow! A real Camino miracle. Glad it's so much better. Buen Camino!