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  • October the 12th 2004 I posted the first post here on this forum. 20 years have passed. Thank you for being such a good group of people and for hanging around. More here in this thread. All the best from Santiago, Ivar

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Twenty year anniversary of the Camino de Santiago forum

Time of past OR future Camino
Us:Camino Frances, 2015 Me:Catalan/Aragonese, 2019
Congratulations Ivar.

We are starting the third decade of the Camino de Santiago forum. The first post available for us to see is #1 on thread #3, titled “Hostal Suso” dated October 12, 2004. That is actually the third post ever (I'm assuming the first two threads and posts were tests and deleted).

Thank you so very much for helping so very many. Stick around for a while longer. We still need you.
 
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€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
And of course, here's the the very first thread/post:

Hi and Welcome!

This discussion board is meant to be a forum where past visitors (pilgrims?) and future visitors can meet and share their experiences related to Santiago de Compostela. There are mainly two groups of people that travel to Santiago, pilgrims and tourists. This board is meant for both types of visitors, the board is about Santiago de Compostela, no matter how you got here you will have something interesting to share.

Let me introduce myself: My name is Ivar Rekve and I live here. I am originally from Norway, but meet my Galician wife in the USA and now we have settled down just a few minutes outside this beautiful town of Santiago de Compostela.

About my pilgrim experience: I have not done El Camino so on expert advice on what to bring and what to wear, I might not be much help. But on topic related to the city of Santiago de Compostela I might be able to give you the information you are looking for.

There are not too many sites about Santiago in English; I believe this is the first.

Welcome and enjoy!

Ivar Rekve
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
I had a little giggle - it was YOU who started the pilgrim/tourist debate;-)
So now, with @ivar in front, we are free to distinguish between tourists and pilgrims? 😈

Edit: Rachael/@Kiwi-family : It was so nice to meet you in Uterga this April!

@ivar : You have come a long way, fellow countryman: Congratulations!
 
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The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
Congratulations and thank you. Over the past six years I have walked the CF in fragments because of work restrictions. Each time we begin planning again I come back here first. I may not post much but I have found peoples posts informative, enlightening and comforting when needed.
What a community - thank you
 
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
Congrats Ivar. I joined on 2 November 2004 when it was a forum for visitors to Santiago. I think it evolved into a Camino forum later.
 
Congratulations Ivar, this forum has been the best. It has provided a wealth of information, guidence, and day to day updates on the verious caminos which is so helpful. lt has given many that might not otherwise had embarked on any of the Caminos, the confidence to take the first step. The interaction, the sahring of information has been very informative and keeps us all up to date. Thank you for all you do not only on information but also on the Camino store, luggage assistance and all the resources you provide. Once again, Thank you and Congrats on 20 years of service to us all.
Buen Camino
 
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
Congratulations Ivar.

We are starting the third decade of the Camino de Santiago forum. The first post available for us to see is #1 on thread #3, titled “Hostal Suso” dated October 12, 2004. That is actually the third post ever (I'm assuming the first two threads and posts were tests and deleted).

Thank you so very much for helping so very many. Stick around for a while longer. We still need you.
God blesses us in many ways and this forum is one of those ways. This forum is further blessed as it does not, as many others do, degenerate into nasty spats and attacks. It is firmly and spiritually focused on its missions to serve pilgrims, regardless of the make, model, and year. Chuck
 
Congrats Ivar. I joined on 2 November 2004 when it was a forum for visitors to Santiago. I think it evolved into a Camino forum later.
I had you marked as such on my calendar because I was going to create a similar thread for you. You were forum member number 8. Members 2 through 7 haven't been seen in a long time and that makes you the senior active forum member. Maybe Ivar should find some sort of a silly doll to put in his shop for a mascot. ;)
 
Wow! You are right, we are 20 years today! Congratulations everyone, thank you for being such a good group of people. All the best from Santiago, Ivar
Congratulations on what has turned out to be a very successful international English speaking forum for pilgrims about the Camino de Santiago and Santiago de Compostela. Together with your shop it has been an incredible achievement. The big question from me is when are doing your next Camino?
 
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
...and ship it to Santiago for storage. You pick it up once in Santiago. Service offered by Casa Ivar (we use DHL for transportation).
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€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
WOW!!! Congratulations to @ivar and also to all who contributed! I would rather say: ¡Enhorabuena!...

Have any of you kept a screenshot of the forum back then? As a neophyte I would love to see it.
 
Maybe Ivar should find some sort of a silly doll to put in his shop for a mascot. ;)
That would be too funny - because the dolls I have seen were attached the the small daypacks of "tourist walkers"
1728756092638.webp1728754794151.webp

However, in searching for a picture to show, I also found these and I think I will make one for my next camino instead of a shell
1728754936756.webp
Will look good with my collection of mostly handmade shells
1728755616061.webp
 
A selection of Camino Jewellery
Thanks from me as well. I’m a newish member, but an active participant who has learned and benefitted immensely from what has been created here.

Indeed, I’ll confess that when I was explaining about Ivar and wanting to stop by his shop to the friend who walked the Ingles with me, there was a bit of a welling up in my eyes.
 
Couldn’t be without this forum. Great when planning but also great to stay in touch with all the peregrinos at any time!
 

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