It is not long until my arrival in Burgos, and the start of my Camino Francés. I am glad it is the weekend again. I look forward to seeing some of the outdoors again now that the weather has picked up. I look forward to my walks as I get away from the computer screen and it is good to stretch the legs. I do worry that the situation in Spain and across Europe has detiorated. It’s 45 days left, I wait for some calm before I focus putting one foot in front of the other.

With over 7,500 pilgrims arriving in Santiago de Compostela in the last week from many different nations, Irish pilgrims can start visiting Spain from the 19th of July if they wish as non-essential travel returns. While most pilgrims will choose to wait until 2022, the number of pilgrims will increase during the rest of the Summer months right through to the end of the year. Some will choose to walk to Santiago and earn a Compostela while others (like myself) will walk a small section ending their Camino with a promise to return. I’ve a few things to do before then.

a) St James’ Day – the patron Saint of Santiago

St. James’ Day falls on July 25th. When St James’ Day falls on a Sunday (ie 2021 and 2022 because of Covid) Santiago de Compostela and Spain celebrate the feast of St James (“fiesta de Santiago” in Spanish). Unfortunately, I won’t be in Spain, but I can do the next best thing.

I want to meet some pilgrims friends at the Church of St James in Dublin. I have been somewhat reluctant to visit the city centre in the last year but now is a great chance. Last year, I celebrated St. James’ Day by walking to the Church of St James – please feel free to read the post that I have linked.

b) More practice walks and be Camino-fit.

In the last few months, I have been racking up the steps in my locality in the north side of Dublin, however I haven’t ventured that far. To be Camino-fit, I really need to be hitting the hills soonish. The last 15 months of laying low has had an effect on me physically and time will tell if I can manage the Alto de Mostalares with the sun blazing on my back. I have all the gear, I probably need a replacement pair of socks and some washing kit that I can buy in Spain. I am excited to use the DJI Osmo Pocket to record some video while I am there.

c) Keeping an eye on Spain

I try not to listen or watch the news here in Ireland. There isn’t anything good to come out of it and it generally doesn’t help my wellbeing. I am fully vaccinatined so I know what I need to do if I am to visit Spain. The only thing that can stop me visiting Spain are the increasing restrictions. So I am keeping an eye on Spain at the moment and willing to make a call before the end of the month. With 45 days left, I am hoping for some calm and I am as positive as I can be. I am hoping that cases in Spain start to plateau shortly. I am using the below link for updates from Spain. It contains this informative map also. More news before the end of the month. Of course, your feedback is welcome.

• https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20210716/mapa-del-coronavirus-espana/2004681.shtml

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Over 14 months since start of the pandemic, there is good news on the horizon as Spain looks to welcome pilgrims from June.

News has been filtering in from Spain over the last few weeks that their state of alarm would be lifted and this was confirmed today. Portugal had previously confirmed that the border between Portugal and Spain is now open. So now Spanish people are free to travel within the country. News that the state of alarm was lifted was received with joy and delight but I’m not sure if the partying in the street was the right response.

So where are we?

EU citizens are travel within the EU but you may be subject to criteria. For example, if I was to travel to Portugal now I would need a negative PCR test 72 hours before each flight. I look forward to the EU new digital green card which will allow travel if one can show proof of a negative PCR test or vaccination. There is no date when this will be implemented yet but I would imagine it will be operational by June.

For those who live outside of the EU, you will need to wait a little bit longer, as Spain has prolonged its travel restrictions for countries outside EU until the end of May. The digital green card will hopefully be operational by then, but we wait and see.

In Spain, approx 20% of the Spanish population has received their first dose, so it is still required to wear a mask outdoors. Restrictions are still in place in the form of curfews, depending on what region you are in. Obviously, if the situation gets worse, I would imagine each regional government will impose their own restrictions.

The youtube channel “Spain Speaks” is a very good place to get your daily fix of updates – a resident of Madrid – he breaks down the news for us folks living outside of Spain.

Personally speaking, I wait for my first dose of the vaccine. I will continue to be patient and until then I will continue my Camino at home. That said, we are picking up pace here in Ireland but we are far way behind the UK and the USA. Our own government is hoping that 80% of the population will have their first jab before the end of June. It is a big ask, but we shall see if it is met. We are on the right road, however, and I am hopeful. This is good news and I look forward to returning to the Camino! That said, there is huge demand to return to the Camino – from all over the world. Every pilgrim misses walking these routes and I can only imagine how busy Santiago will be when “normality” returns.

Buen Camino!

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I have tried not to pay attention to the news over the course of the last few months. In a world of social media, this is quite difficult, however, I am where I am today – still standing and working from home. Restrictions are still in place here in Ireland until April 5th, where they will be re-assessed. The roll-out of the Covid vaccination has been, let’s just say, poor, and not wanting to put blame on any one person, I look at other countries who are doing a far better job than us.

I just look to the future. At the present time, I can’t travel more than 5 km beyond my home and I hope to travel to the Camino in September. Our own government has ruled out any non-essential travel since the start of the pandemic while allowing people to fly into the country unchecked. I think this has eroded confidence.

This week, the EU Commission announced plans for a digital green pass which would allow EU citizens to travel inside of the EU provided they have:

• received the vaccine
• received a negative test
• received a medical certificate to say that you have recovered from Covid in the last 180 days.

I would imagine that I will receive my first vaccine jab before I travel but if I don’t, a negative test can be received at the Airport before I leave.

It is just a week, but it is better than nothing. More news later.

Since I last posted, it has been a month of chills, of more lockdown, and of hopes dashed. Turning on the news leads to a bad news story. However, with all that is going on, I have been quietly redesigning this website that I call home. It isn’t entirely finished yet. I have a list the size of my hand yet to complete but I will get there. If all goes well the site will be back to some semblance of normality (on the internet) in a week or so.

As for life in general, we will be waiting for normality for another few months yet. Restrictions mean I am only able to travel with 5 km of my home until March at the earliest. And while I do love my little area, I long to walk on my favourite trails and I look forward to meeting my buddies again. I need to thank PJ for sending me a postcard a few weeks ago. It really lifted the spirits. I want to thank Lisa also for designing the banner at the top of the page. The Camino spirits is alive and well.

The Camino, while still in my heart, is not at the top of the list of things to do this year, however. There are more important things to look forward to. I look forward to no restrictions. I look forward to hugs. I look forward to being able to travel inside of Ireland. All of these things were taken for granted a few years back. The Camino de Santiago in 2022 seems like a good alternative, no matter how much I hate to say it.

So I have been going for my daily walk, and there are some good walks in this neck of the woods. It is important to get out after a day’s work – it does the world of good. Even for half an hour. Sitting in front of a screen for 7 hours while working at home can be detrimental that you need a release.

So as I look out the window and I see the snow falling (although it isn’t very much), I look forward and picture myself putting one foot in front of another on the trails in Spain. It won’t be long.

So how are you keeping during the last few weeks?

You may have realised that I have not been posting much either here or on my Facebook page. I am tired and after a day’s work, I find it takes great energy to write a piece especially when I am not sure when my next Camino will be. Our Level 5 restrictions will end at the end of the month, but I can see them being extended until care home residents are vaccinated, which is the end of March.

I am currently only able to walk 5km from my home. I try to keep the chin up but I long for the days when I am able to walk my favourite walks in or outside of Dublin. Maybe I will post again then.

I look forward to my next Camino always, but I look forward to seeing my Camino friends and walking my favourite walks.

Mind yourself folks and Buen Camino!