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Camino de Santiago: Palencia
The Camino is full of endings and beginnings, in many different ways. You meet pilgrims going through life transitions. You say Hola to new friends and then Adios. The rain ends and you begin to dry out. And you step across borders. Quite literally. In this first stretch to Frómista, I left the province of Burgos and entered the province of Palencia. Castrojeriz to Frómista – 24.9 km Frómista to Carrión de Los Condes -19.3 km Carrrión de Los Condes to Ledigos -23.4 km Ledigos to Sahagún – 15.9 km Other than an early morning climb up and over a small hill leaving Castrojeriz, it was a totally flat walk.…
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Camino de Santiago: Leaving Burgos
Not sure if it was nerves or excitement in my stomach as I left my hotel in Burgos but as soon as I found the Camino my stomach calmed. I stepped onto Calle San Juan, walked under the archway, and I was at peace. It felt good to be walking again with my only task to follow the scallop shells and see how the day unfolds. Burgos to Hornillos del Camino – 21 km Hornillos del Camino to Castrojeriz – 20.1 km Beautiful first day walking out of Burgos and into the countryside. It rained heavily the week prior so nature around me was well watered. Vibrant green. I discovered…
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Camino de Santiago: Disfrutar de la energía
I am in Burgos to start walking the Camino from where I left off. I had a short stop in Madrid, stocked up on snacks and was warmed by the hospitality and Rioja wine at Cervecería Pepe. A warm embrace. I am feeling very fortunate to slip back into the Spanish way of living, and back onto the Camino. I even received my first “Buen Camino” as I checked out of my Madrid hotel with my loaded backpack and Camino necklace (with the shell crafted from iron) around my neck. When I was walking in September a woman running a rest stop shared this advice with me: Disfrutar de la…
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Ramblings in Madrid
Valencia oranges and Dénia by the sea
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El Présente
“You think of it, all you have is the present moment. The past doesn’t exist anymore, the future hasn’t happened.” I was chatting with a gentleman I often see on my lakeside walks. It was a brilliant sunny late February day, a canoe out on the lake. The gentleman I was talking to is in his eighties, an avid walker, always greets me with a smile, and I learn in this conversation, a fan of Marcus Aurelius. He has a well worn copy of the Roman emperor’s personal essays that he’s consulted over the years. We were talking about the Stoics and the almost mind bending challenge to live in…
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Happier Together
Today, March 20, marks the UN International Day of Happiness. This year’s theme is Happier Together reminding us that “lasting happiness comes from feeling connected and being a part of something bigger.” I feel more grateful with each passing year for my relationships. My family, my friendships spanning decades and my newer connections. I have not always been great with maintaining some relationships and I am trying to be better. This was an important take away from a Happiness Habits course I took (and enjoyed immensely) in the fall with Action for Happiness. It’s a six week course and relationships are one of six topics covered (others are gratitude, self-care,…
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Cassoulet at Thirty Bench
My Mom and I generally have a weekly visit. It revolves around a walk. Her love for walking has rubbed off on me. A day walking in nature is a good day, and over the years she has hiked a large portion of the 900 km Bruce Trail. For over 20 years she organized a weekly hiking group which involved scouting out trails and leading her group of 10-12 ladies on the hike. It seems to be in her DNA to always be looking out for new trail options. In her eyes she has “slowed down” since turning 80 but you wouldn’t know it walking beside her. We have covered…
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Musical moments and memories
The other day I put on an album I hadn’t listened to for some time: Natalie Merchant’s Ophelia. By “put on an album” I mean stream on my iPhone. Back in 1998, the year it was released, I would have removed the shiny CD from its case, placed it on the tray of my CD player, gently pushed it shut, then pressed the play button. Click. I loved that CD/cassette combination player with matching boxy speakers. It took up a large portion of the living room shelving unit in the house I rented in Ottawa with two roommates. We played that CD often. It was in regular rotation along with…
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Une belle visite à Québec
In early December my husband and I travelled to Québec City to visit my mother-in-law. Temperatures were in the -20 range, snow covered everything, and trees were iced. The frigid weather made hot chocolate breaks all the more delightful. And a roaring fire all the more cozy! The wintery weather adds to the charm, non? Québec City is quite charming. We had a lovely time wandering the historic streets lined with inviting cafés and shops. Snow and ice completely blanketed the Plains of Abraham. Still, we staked out a good vantage point on the famed plateau and pondered how the French did not see the British soldiers advancing from the…
