We left Madrid 18 months ago as the world shut down and now on 12 September we returned to Madrid en route to San Sebastian where we will begin a pilgrimage of 500 miles, walking from San Sebastian to Santiago de Compostela along the northern coast of Spain. This pilgrimage is called El Camino de Santiago de Compostela and we are following Camino Norte and Primitivo. Almost 350,000 pilgrims reached Santiago in 2019 following many different routes. The most popular is Camino Frances which starts in France. The route we are taking is less populated and somewhat more challenging as it follows the northern coast of Spain which tends to be more mountainous and rainy. 2021 is a special year to walk the Camino as it is a Jacobean Holy Year. According to Jacobean tradition, pilgrims who walk to Santiago de Compostela during a Holy Year and Pass through the Holy Door of the Santiago Cathedral are forgiven all their sins. And so our journey begins.
First full day in San Sebastian documented above was a leisurely fun day netting us nine miles of walking. The walk home from the above four pictures was up and over a long steep hill but we felt quite good. We are both feeling confident that we can walk this pilgrimage.
Second full day in San Sebastian: Sandy’s primary goal is to obtain a Pilgrim’s Passport or Credencial del Peregrino. This passport is supposed to be stamped twice per day and dated in order to substantiate ones pilgrimage and qualify to receive a Compostela in Santiago. The Compostela is the accreditation of the pilgrimage to the Tomb of St. James. Jim already has one Compostela but he made that pilgrimage without his true soulmate Sandy. We are now making this pilgrimage together to celebrate Sandy’s 76th year of life and Jim’s surviving an acute myocardial infarction in San Miguel de Allende Mexico. We will sorely miss our fellow pilgrims, Karen Lewis and J. William Boyle who planned this walk for us and were then unable to make this pilgrimage due to a number of factors. We will also miss former neighbors Peggy Scott and Margaret Deutsch and her friend Mandy Victor-Pieczarka who were planning on joining us for one week walks.
[…] Our goal is to begin on Monday the 26th of September and end on the 30th of October. We began this pilgrimage on 17th of September last year in San Sebastián Spain and ended it due to Jim’s health […]
Hi Jim and Sandy, I am so glad you made it onto the Camino! And I am delighted that you are taking the challenging and beautiful del Norte route. You have a lovely blog, and your photos are just gorgeous. Already they bring back so many sweet memories for me. Buen Camino!
From Tom Connell (Author of “Shadow of a Pilgrim: An Apostate Walks Two Caminos in Spain,” described in http://www.shadowofapilgrim.com)
Thanks for the support and initial help you gave to us. I am finding it quite tough but Sandy is just sailing along. We have had one day of rain but lots of mud. We have already made many friends and are enjoying the experience. You can also follow us on FB at SandyandJim Steen.
Walking the El Camino trail sounds like an ideal goal. What an accomplishment it will be. i look forward to reading the future blogs about the new adventure. Best. Victoria
You two are absolutely amazing!!! These pictures brought back such wonderful memories of the wonderful time Adam and I spent there. I am looking forward to following your incredible journey. Godspeed!
LOVE, Rebecca
On Thu, Sep 16, 2021 at 5:25 AM Living the retirement dream wrote:
> Living our retirement dream posted: ” We left Madrid 18 months ago as the > world shut down and now on 12 September we returned to Madrid en route to > San Sebastian where we will begin a pilgrimage of 500 miles, walking from > San Sebastian to Santiago de Compostela along the northern coast of Sp” >
Yahooo! You are on your way again! San Sebastian is such a beautiful place on earth.Great place to start “El Camino”
Que Dios los bendiga en el Camino de Santiago!
Much Love,
Jeff and Patricia
To my dear brother and your soulmate, Sandy!
My heart is definitely with you as you make this pilgrimage! I was with you, Jim, when you started your first pilgrimage on November 1, 1949 in Gimbie, Ethiopia and we’ve traversed a good bit of the globe together since. From our circumnavigation of the Big Ball, eastward from Fullerton, California to Addis Ababa, then on eastward through Pakistan, India, Burma, Thailand, Japan and back to California, during my 15th year and your 10th, to our latest adventure in Austria with Sandy & Donna, celebrating Elden & Evelyn’s wedding and falling in love with Salzburg, your honeymoon destination with Sandy–we’ve shared some good travels. I’ll have to miss this one, but I won’t miss your travelogue or beautiful photos! Thanks so much for sharing! Your brother, Claude
On The Road Again! You both look so happy resuming your adventures and I love reading about them. Looking forward to more pictures and stories of the journey!
Just wow – LOVE seeing the beautiful photos you took and reading your amazing descriptions of everything! What a lovely beach city. Great start to your journey and how awesome to see your friends there ! Hope your first day went well and not too much rain You’re strong ! Karen
…and we will miss the walk with you guys. So glad your friends showed up. They will be the start of many new friends. Buen Camino
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kevbot
Welcome back! So great to see you both on the road again. Enjoy some jamon for me, and maybe some percebes if you see them. Looking forward to seeing more of the trip.
So wonderful to see you back on the road of adventure! Very exciting to see your photos and hear about this pilgrimage! You are both such an inspiration for the rest of us!! I feel so fortunate being able to get a glimpse as you live dreams! Many blessings to you!!
What an absolutely wonderful blog and journey ahead of you❤️ Best wishes
On Thu, Sep 16, 2021 at 5:24 AM Living the retirement dream wrote:
> Living our retirement dream posted: ” We left Madrid 18 months ago as the > world shut down and now on 12 September we returned to Madrid en route to > San Sebastian where we will begin a pilgrimage of 500 miles, walking from > San Sebastian to Santiago de Compostela along the northern coast of Sp” >
Your journey is inspiring! What a beautiful start to a fabulous journey! Wishing you good health, strong legs/heart, and positive vibes along trout 500 miles! Say hello to Duck and Andrew too! We cant wait to catch up upon your safe return!
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