Denia to Geroldswil, Switzerland by Bus
After a rainy yet very relaxing week with my father, Madlen and Gotti I’m finally on my way home 
Pic Early morning in Switzerland
Denia to Geroldswil Oct 30, 2011
November 27, 2011
Madrid to Denia by Bus Oct 21, 2011
October 24, 2011
Madrid to Denia by Bus Oct 21, 2011
Benidorm 90 min break:
It’s been a relaxing ride so far. Scenery wise nothing really special except for a couple of impressive Castles. The sky is cloudy on the east coast of Spain and it actually rained for a short while. Im lucky to been sitting in a bus for that short period of time.
Brrrr it also is colder here with the sun hiding. I hope that once I arrive in Denia the wind will have pushed the clouds away Actually it may be possible that Denia was spared of rain. I’ll find out soon!
I’m welcomed by a rainbow and sunshine in Denia
Madrid Oct 19, 2011
When angels travel….
During breakfast I met Liberad’s grandfather. Except for a few smiles and a buenos dia there wasnt much of a conversation… Oh how I wished I had brushed up on my little Spanish I once knew! So we just watched each other, bubbled a few words while nodding our heads in agreement With one more buenos dia I closed the door behind me and found my way into the city.
I just started wandering around having no clue where I am. There are so many interesting and beautiful buildings, fountains and statues. All of a sudden I hear drums then I see uniforms on horses from a distance. I wonder what’s going on and start walking towards this attraction. Before I know where I am or what’s going on, I see polices on motorcycles escorting a few nice dark cars out of a building down the street. Something big must be going on… So I get closer and finally can read the buildings name; Palacio Real, former official residence of the Kings of Spain. Aha! There must have been an important person in one of the cars. Now what’s that? The drums start up again and once again the military marches out. More cars leaving. I decide to hang out for a while to see if something else is going to happen. So I just stroll back and forth and finally, there I see an escort on horses coming up the street. Picture time;-) This time they escort a beautiful small carriage. I can see a woman sitting in there! Who is she? I follow the caravan until they enter the palace from the side and there only a few feet away from me I spot Rani!! I had to look twice to make sure it’s him!
What a surprise this is! So good to see an unexpected fellow pilgrim 
Rani shows me the Museum del Jamon, a restaurant full of…Jamon! And the best part is they offer beer, wine and sandwiches for only one Euro each Of course we had a drink and I got a yammy sandwich.
Rani tells me about a village called Toledo which is less than an hour outside of Madrid. It’s supposed to be very cute and a must see. Perhaps tomorrow I’ll visit it.
But for right now I still have lots to see here. Hmmm… Maybe one more coffee in one of these little plazas, enjoying watching people and the sunshine before I continue my sightseeing:-)
By the way the event was the official take over of the new Major.
Oh boy..I walked the Camino Madrid today!!! Up and down, left and right, back and forth, round and round I went On a postcard I saw there is a fountain with a statue of Neptune; I was on a mission to find it and I did!:-) It only took me a few hours…
Pic
Madrid – Toledo – Madrid by Train
Oct 20, 2011
Today I’ll take the train to visit Toledo. I was kind of surprised about the cost of the ticket. Then again what do I know about the prices of public transportation? I learn tough that traveling by bus is much cheaper. I also learn that the 10:20 train is already sold out and I’ll have to take the next one at 12:20 returning to Madrid at 17:25. Toledo really seems to be a big tourist attraction;-)
Libertad told me that lots of people visit Toledo since it is so close to Madrid and a historical place.
Since i have a couple hours on my hands I walked to the central bus station and bought my ticket to Denia for tomorrow. Only 8 1/2 hours of another day sitting on my butt But I’m excited now to see my father and his wife Madelen!
In the train station:
I actually have to go through a security check just like at an airport!
Toledo:
Wow!!! This is a super cool town with it’s historic buildings! The old town is similar set up as Huarte, surrounded by the river. I must have taken a hundred of pictures in these few hours. Yes, it is super touristy! Yet it hasn’t lost in it’s charm To bad I’m not going to have the pleasure to see it at night. I just can (and have to) imagine how spectacular it looks with all the spot lights on the buildings and the glowing lanterns in the little streets.
Pics Toledo
Last picture; the column with the red light sinks into the ground when green
Santiago de Compostela to Madrid by Bus 10 hours
October 19, 2011
Santiago de Compostela to Madrid by Bus 10 hours
I got myself a window seat and am on the look out for pilgrims! Every time the bus drives under a bridge I ask myself “Did I pass this bridge?”
Ohh!!! This is so exciting! The bus route takes the country road trough Villafranca and I can see now from the bottom where I walked the Camino Duro!!! We even pass by Trabadelo, where I came off the Duro and spent the night. Aha!! Here I see pilgrims If they only knew what spectacular views they miss by choosing to walk along the street!
In Ponferrada we have a 40 min break and get a new driver. It feels strange to know that I spent a night here too but on the other side of town. I’m curious if on the way out we’ll pass by the Templars Castle.. Nope! I thought so.
382 more kms to Madrid. I’m looking forward to see Libertad again. She invited me to stay at her place while I’m in Madrid
I made it! Now I only have to find the train station… Libertad emailed me with the following directions:
“Tomorrow I’ll have dentist, so I would ask you to take the train directly in the same station you’ll arrive to LEGANES.
What time do you arrive in Estacion del sur? The train to Leganes is 20 minutes. I have my appointment at 19h30. So maximum I will be around 21h in Leganes train station. You can wait for me in the bar in the same station.”
… So I’m looking and looking…for a train station… and I’m still looking… Finally I see a sign reading Metro. Aha! She meant the Metro not a train, dahhhh… I guess for the Spanish this is the same Me being Swiss on the other hand it is a difference! But I caught on to the little difference in language rather fast So here I am at 20:15 in Leganes at the bar waiting to see her.
It’s been a long day sitting…and I’m definitely back in 2011
There she is! The adventure begins with a city tour by night Madrid is full of life at this hour. We decide to park the car and have a calamares sandwich at the plaza de major. Then she takes me to a cave bar for sangria Am I the luckiest person ever or what?
Pic 1Bus to Madrid
Pic 2-4 Trabadelo and the Camino Duro
Pic 5-8 On the bus ride
Pic 9 A civilized Libertad
Pic Rest Madrid, 0 km stone from here all the distances are measured in Spain
Muxía to Santiago de Compostela by Bus
This morning I just sat and watched people pass by. With the weather still being foggy I had no desire to walk around. Besides, I’ve seen what I wanted. Time passed by slowly for Muxía is not a very busy place on a Monday morning but that was fine with me.
Finally, just as the sun broke trough the clouds, it was time to get on the bus. Now this was an interesting experience…to sit in a moving vehicle after weeks of depending only on my feet to move… It sounds crazy but the world seemed to move waaaay to fast!!! My brain got overwhelmed trying to make sense of the scenery and I had to close my eyes for a while. That I didn’t like for I wanted to see as many Horrios as possible. I love those so much and they exist only in Galicia! I guess I’ll have to print a couple and frame them in my new place
An hour into the ride I saw three pilgrims…my heart cried out Buen Camino silently…I feel sad all of a sudden for I realize I’m no longer a pilgrim of the St. Jacobs Way. This journey has come to an end the second I stepped on this bus… It’s hart to explain…the good part is I feel ready for Switzerland. My Camino of life
Once I arrived in Santiago de Compostela I bought my bus ticket to Madrid leaving in the morning. Then I checked in at the same hostel as I was the first time. Again, even in this place among all the pilgrims I no longer feel being one of them. It’s a whole new energy of pilgrims, a new group like a new generation, not one familiar face nor soul. It’s ok, I’m fine.
I visited the Cathedral again and strolled trough the little, narrow streets for a long time. I searched for a Wi-fi place but couldn’t find one so I finally gave up and became a tourist I’m ready for Madrid!!!
Lires to Muxía
October 17, 2011
Lires to Muxía 17 km
What a spectacular day! I must have taken a thousand pictures!!!
On my way to Muxía Sabrina and Miko came towards me. How nice it was to see them again:-) With a good group hug and some kind words we continued on in opposite directions.
As I got closer and closer to Muxía I missed one of the arrows again This time I didn’t care for I saw the ocean and knew I had to be close by. So I headed straight for the water and ended up on a hill of a small beach, right in the middle. To my right I saw one person in the distance. Do I go right or left? I choose right and was right;-) A few minutes later I walked into Muxía.
I asked how to get to the one and only Albergue and checked in. Woohoo…. I received another certificate!!!
Muxía is small with a rich history. Apparently it was here where the Virgin Mary appeared to Jakobus by the Ocean, blessing his fishings. The church build there is absolutely adorable. It’s the church of the fishermen with lots of boats hanging from the ceiling. Even angels are holding boats. When the sea is stormy the church stands in water.
Around the church are lots of incredible shaped stones associated with fables of healing. One in particular is to heal rheumatic and joint problems. One has to crawl underneath and across several times. I did it
And I did it just in time for all of a sudden fog started to come in fast and with it hug waves. It was an amazing sight!!! Look at the pics
Later I found the perfect side at the Monte Corpiño to write down my final thoughts and intentions. Then I performed a little ceremony and burned the papers. It was magical in timing. I was all by myself on top of the hill during my ceremony and just as the last ashes flew away people started to show up again.
Talking about timing, since I’m here on a Sunday there was mass in the church in the evening. So I got to go inside What a perfect ending…
After mass I saw Anton walking into the church. He just made it to Muxía. We took pictures of each other at the healing stones
Tomorrow I’ll take the bus to Santiago.
Pic 1-3 New bridge next to an ancient pilger’s bridge.
Pic 4-15 From Lires to Muxía, my lunch
Pic 15-rest Church by the ocean and surroundings
Fisterra to Lires Part 2
October 15, 2011
Fisterra to Lires 14 km
Part two:
As I’m sitting on the cliff watching the waves crash, locals fishing, mothers wading in the little pools with their children, I realize that I stared out my pilgrimage walking by myself and as it looks like I’ll finish it by myself.
This makes me think of what Freia said this morning. She said that the path of the El Camino is just like your life. It is a part of your life with a beginning and an end yet it becomes part of your live. People come and go in and out on your journey just as in life. Some you will remember some you don’t. With some you experience a connection that will last for life with others you experienced a connection but then it’s gone. I think, what a beautiful way of saying what I’ve been feeling. I learned already sooo much on this journey (I’m sure more insights follow as time passes by) and am grateful for all it’s participants!
I don’t mind finishing this part of my life’s journey by myself. To the contrary; I really am enjoying to have my fullest attention set on myself for these last couple of days. It allows me to quietly reflect back onto the last few weeks, starting to digest and integrate all those amazing days! I’m discovering my new gained spiritual growth, stronger grounding and expanded sphere from which I am / shine
With this said, I now shall skip waiting for the sunset but rather oblige my noisy stomach and feed my self! OM
Ps. Gees… I’m actually having a room and a shower and a toilet for myself!
Pics Lires and my way to the beach. What’s that thing I have with taking pictures of my feet??? Last picture reminds me on a commercial
Fisterra to Lires 14 km
Part one:
After a good night sleep I woke up to an ongoing quarrel between two persons in the early morning hours. I remember thinking what the heck and then I felt my head… Outsch!!! Where’s the water???
Later I was told that a woman got mad at a man for getting up, making to much noise at 8 am… People are strange…
After I slept for another hour my head felt normal again and I enjoyed breakfast with Freia and Anton (A Swiss guy I’ve met yesterday and lives only three towns away from my brother’s)
Then it was time once again to pack my back bag. For one more time I headed to the Galeria for one more coffee and to say goodby to my dear friend, the best hostelario I’ve had on the Camino, Armando and my friends Freia, Anton, and Hildegart (German gal I met yesterday at the beach)
At about 12:30 Armando walked me out of town, making sure I’d get on the wright path to continue my journey to Muxía. How nice of him!!
It feels kind of funny to hike again with a back bag… The scenery and scents in the air are special…a mix of ocean and intense pine. I love it! Walking trough Pine forests, glimpses of the ocean between the branches then it goes up and down again…passing cornfields and hundreds of Horrios I just love those!! I wished I could sleep in one of them! That would be an adventure.
I just checked into a pension…my first and only one on this trip. There is no Albergue here in Lires or anywhere along my route and I don’t feel like going all the way to Muxía today. I’ll finish the remaining 15 kms mañana. For now I enjoy my Clarita con Limone (again) and then explore this beach. Perhaps I’ll go for a refreshing swim. Did I mention how hot it is today? Very, very hot! The world has gone nuts in regards to the temperature! All the plants have turned brown here as you may see in the pictures and yesterday I saw twice black smoke from nearby brush fires. Galicia is in need of rain…but I’m happy with the sunshine even if it’s hot
Pic 1 The new sign I’ve to follow; F=Fisterra, M=Muxía
Pic 2 Way ahead of me after Fisterra
Pic 3 Last view back of Fisterra
Pic 4-12 Along my path
Fisterra Oct 14, 2011
Ok, I traded the beautiful, calming sound of the ocean with the sound of snoring! But the toilet was close by ,;-)
This morning I strolled trough the little market, bought some fresh Galician style corn bread and fruits for my tomorrow as I’ll continue on to Muxía.
Now it’s beach time. Found a cute little bay and swam for a long time in the refreshing soft salt water. The heat of the sun on my frozen body feels now fantastic!
In the late afternoon I hiked with Armando in the Cap. It was amazing! He took me over secret old roman paths, away from the tourists. We watched the sunset sitting on the holy stones and then went on to old Celtic Caves to see the lights of all the villages around the bay. It was soooo awesome!!!!
Later on we went to the bar Galeria for our Quemeia. Oh boy that stuff is dangerous!!! So yummy and getting me drunk fast
