Part of Ireland Travel Planner. When I was first started traveling to Ireland in 1984, the food was pretty basic, but the quality and diversity of Irish Cuisine has improved dramatically. Everything from Full Irish Breakfasts, to Fish & Chips, to Roasts of the Day. And you are never far from the coast on the …
On a cold day on the 31st day of the Camino Levante we arrived in Rionegro del Puente and made a beeline for Teo’s restaurant, Me Gusta Comer (I like to eat). Teo suggested we take a seat by the roaring stove fire and relax. Why not. Following his direction, after a 5 hour long …
Perhaps the Finest Meñu Del Dia on Camino Sanabres Or Any Camino: Read More »
On our first full day in Colombia we scheduled a tour with Bogota Bike Tours. One of the highlights of this highly recommended tour and wonderful introduction to Bogota and Colombia, was a stop at a local fruit market. Our tour guide, Mike, an ex-journalist from the USA, explained that there are over 400 varieties …
IT’S A LONG WAY FROM TIPPERARY TO SANTIAGO-Days 118-119; Walked alone through hills passing young guys from Canary Islands in their tent and stopped in Larrabezco for excellent local version of tortilla patata; layered as sandwich with cheese tomato and lettuce. The 3 German sisters showed up and we walked together off and on on …
IT’S A LONG WAY FROM TIPPERARY TO SANTIAGO. Day 114 Why not keep walking. Having 15 days ago completed a 111 day Camino de Santiago from my ancestral home in County Clare in the west of Ireland to Santiago, Finisterre, and Muxia, I am now back in Spain and two days out of …
This is one pilgrim’s perspective from a single pilgrimage ending in October and biased. However it will hopefully provide future pilgrims and Camino de Santiago veterans a sense of what to expect on Via Francigena (VF). 1. Longer Distance and Time: Of course the length is variable depending upon where one starts but the full …
Got out late and had to backtrack because road shortcut went through tunnel so I veered east and picked up trail going up mountain. Temple Chikurin 31 is laden with beautiful mossy trees and Shinto Shrine between gate and temple. Descended and got photo of little school kids. Made it to Temple Zenjibu 32 and …
88 Temple Pilgrimage. Day 4: After covering a span of 5 temples over 9K, my guide, Mika, had to return home to Kobe and left at Temple 17 via bus. So I carried on alone through urban area of Tokushima for 20K to Temple 18, Onzanji. I speak no Japanese so this might be a …
One of the tougher days. Up 1500 meters(4900 feet) and down 1500 meters while walking 36 kilometers (22 miles). Only made it to one Temple today, #12, Shosanji but a special place being at the top of a mountain. And the first of many mountain temples on the journey. There we enjoyed an osettai gift …
Long but rewarding 35K day. The highlights not being Temple visits but 2 osettais, donated tea services. The first being halfway between Temples 7 and 8 where we came across a quirky little fruit stand where we were directed to a side door by an old man. Inside this old shack was an equally old …
Very nice short first day of Pilgrimage going from Temple 1 to Temple 5. My Pilgrimage rhythm includes not using commercial walking sticks. I prefer one provided by nature. As usual she provides as I found a big crooked stick just after Temple 1. Or perhaps it was Kukai who found me? I say that …
Columbia 2015 to Spain 2021 My French friends from Normandie are sailing to the Mediterranean for the summer. Our paths happened to merge in the coastal village of Muxia at the end of The Camino de Santiago as I was completing a pilgrimage. I first met Jean-Charles and Marie when we walked The Ciudad de …
IT’S A SMALL WORLD-Columbia to Camino de Santiago Read More »
Canterbury to Rome- In Rome I have to speak up about this. A few days ago I was looking for a pizza in Bolsena and reading this menu noticed an American pizza. I thought, “Sausage or Pepperoni” and had to laugh when I read it was hot dog and french fries! I’m American and never …
Days 78-79 Radicofani to Bolsena: In this stretch we left Toscana for Lazio. Still enjoying all these quiet towns off the tourist radar. And getting so close to Rome and the end of our pilgrimage. Trying to enjoy this last week as the world seems to be spinning deeper into Covid fear! Walking around Lake …
Day 77 San Quirico to Radicofani: A gorgeous morning coming out of San Quirico. The last long walk of the pilgrimage. 33K and 1100 meters of ascents. Mostly beautiful nature. I don’t think we even went through any village. Lucky to reach one more beautiful Toscana hilltop town, Radicofani, before the heavy rain started. We …
Day 74 Siena It was raining so we enjoyed a long buffet breakfast and then relaxing at hotel. Walked into old Siena at 5 PM. ——— ——— ——— Took some photos of Duomo and Piazza before nice wine apertivo at Il Bargello on the Piazza outer perimeter. Then delicious splurge dinner at Desiderio. Bruschetta with …
Day 71: Gambasi Terme to San Gimignano: Short but intensely beautiful walk today through the rolling hills of Tuscany. One winery after another and surprisingly they are harvesting today. One winery after another and surprisingly they are harvesting today. We walked through Champagne in late August and they were harvesting. 3 weeks ago they were …
Day 62 Sarzana to Massa. An uphill walk to start and then a long walk to Luni where pilgrims used to set sail to Santiago de Compostela. ——— For you VF foodies. My high expectations for the food in Italy have not only been met but exceeded. Our lunch today in Massa deserves a special …
We met an Italian couple, Marco and Catarina, from Parma 2 weeks back in Aoste Valley. They were walking the VF just for 2 days but we shared a meal and some fun. Last night, they drove to Fornovo and picked us up and we drove another half hour to Trattoria Fopla in the middle …
VIA FRANCIGENA-Canterbury to Rome. Dinner near Parma Read More »
Returned to Community Nature Care Naturopathy Hospital in Rajahar, Nepal. The Hospital uses totally natural treatments for healing all kinds of ailments from a sore throat to thyroid and kidney problems as well as cancer. I went more for proactive reasons to maintain good health and keep my body fit allowing me to walk long …