Camino de Santiago

Via De La Plata 

Tomorrow Liam and I are about to embark on the longest walk of our lives. We will be walking 1000 km from the South of Spain (Sevilla) to the North of Spain (Santiago de Compostela).  The Via De La Plata, otherwise known as the Silver Route, is the longest camino piligramage.  The route was first used a trading road by the Romans to join the North and the South of Spain.  It then became a pilgrimage route, under the Moorish domination, when the North African Christians headed to Santiago de Compostela. This route tells Spain’s untold story.  The Via De La Plata is known as one of the most beautiful camino ways. The route will take us through some of the best preserved Roman ruins in Europe and to medieval Spain's churches and palaces. We will walk through patches of olive trees, villages with bull fighting, valleys full of blooming flowers and lush green mountains. No doubt the beauty of the Via De La Plata route will mesmerize and motive us to complete the 1000 km journey.

For more information on the camino ways please visit; Camino Ways

It is important to note that some people walk the camino for a spirtual reasons, others walk for fitness. However, we both wanted to walk the Camino de Santiago with a further motivation in mind. Sometimes in life we set out on a journey to help those we love. Sometimes we see such strength in those who suffer it also inspires us to overcome great challenges of our own. Liam and I see this 8 week pilgrimage as a great opportunity to raise awareness and funding for the disease Fredrichs Ataxia and in doing so share the story of my cousins Chelsey and Brittany who have this disease. Their experience living with Fredrichs Ataxia is one of suffering, yet it is also one of courage, resilience and hope. We know that Chelsey and Brittany's story will be a big source of strength and motivation for us on our journey. We hope it proves to be a reminder and inspiration for others too. Sometimes what we see as an enormous challenge in our lives is often insignificant compared to the physical, mental and emotional struggles of those who live with chronic pain, disability, and degenerative disease. For more information on FARA and to donate please click on the link; One Million Steps for Friedreichs Ataxia

When deciding what to take on this challenge of walking across a country the difficult decision arose of what to bring and what to leave behind. Many people have messaged me inquiring about whether or not we will be carrying our belongings and if so, what will we be taking with us. To safisfy those questions, below is a list of the items that will be making the journey with me. Due to having another piligrim accompanying me on this route some items will be shared between the two of us to share the load. 

1 pair of good quality walking shoes
2 sports bras
2 pairs of shorts, with built in underwear
3 walking tops, one with built in bra
1 walking pants
1 rain pants
1 zip up fleece
1 rain jacket
1 sleeping bag, comfortable to zero degrees
1 rain cover for backpack
4 pairs of socks
2 pairs of underwear
1 extra set of shoe laces
2 walking poles
1 extra t-shirt for sleeping
1 water bladder, carries 2 L of water (Liam has another which holds 3 L)
1 neck warmer
1 hat
1 waterproof bag for money, credit cards and passport
1 deck of cards
1 camera with case and charger
1 sunglasses
1 epilator for hair removal
1 ipod with necessary chargers
1 set of headphones
1 ipad with necessary chargers
1 power converter
1 kindle (which Liam will carry)
1 emergency sewing kit
1 Canadian flag
1 extra set of batteries
1 head torch
1 journal
1 Canadian passport
2 credit cards
2 extra platic bags
3 months of birth control
1 first aid kit (which I will carry) including; bandaids, baby powder, hand sanitzer, anti-nausea pills, anti-diarrhea pills, re-hydration tablets, iodine, water purification tablets, anti-septic cream, kendal mint cakes, voltarian cream, bottle of advil, sunscreen and safety pins.
1 tolietires kit (which Liam will carry) including; bug spray, tooth paste, toothbrushes (2), ear plugs (2), nail clippers, eye brow pulkers, hair brush, tissues, travel fork/spoon/knife utensil combo (2),  matches, extra toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, mascara, sunscreen, dental floss, hair ties,
1 camino scallop sea shell
1 camino passport
2 camino pins.

Buen Camino!!!

Happy Anniversary

April 1, 2013

Today marks my one year travel anniversary! Happy anniversary to me!

It has been 12 months since I started out on this amazing journey yet sometimes it feels like merely a few weeks. The last year of my life has gone by so fast but so much has happened.  I have travelled to 28 countries in 12 months only two of which were predominately English speaking countries. When I think back to the small town, Canadian girl who began this journey I feel as though she is a distant memory. This year of travelling has changed my soul, my perspective on life and my values system. I can proudly say I am not the same girl anymore.

In the last year I have seen so many fascinating wonders of the world and experienced some of the world's most beautiful hidden gems. The world we live in is such a beautiful place! It encompasses so many exquisite beauties many of which aren't published in travel guides. I've been blessed to have visited a few of these world wonders such as the Taj Mahal, Great Wall of China and the Pyramids of Giza. I've also bungee jumped from the world's highest bungee in China, learnt how to scuba dive in Thailand, rode in a hot air balloon in Turkey, taught yoga in India, went snowboarding in Sarajevo, met the worlds oldest monk in Vietnam, went to the theatre in London, met my Hungarian family in Hungary, drank Guinness in Ireland with my dad and went on a camel safari in India. On the flip side I have also had physically and mentally challenging experiences. For example, I was in Tel Aviv when Gaza started dropping rockets on the city for the first time in 21 years. I've been sick more than once with stomach bugs and once from food poisoning. In the last 12 months I've been tormented with too many 18 - 24 hour bus rides which often results in no sleep and extreme exhaustion. Finally, my camera was stolen at one point with 3-4 months of travel photos on it. Consequently when dealing with the challenges and hardships of travelling for such a long period of time I've had to stay focused on the positive and brush myself off after falling down. Every bit of hardship, vomit, diarrhea, frustration and loss of sleep has been completely worth it. It is impossible in life to cherish the good without the bad.

There are many great things about travelling. The food, the sites, the local culture and the history, but for me it's the people we meet while travelling that makes the experience so special. This year of travelling has blessed my life with some of the most phenomenal individuals I have ever met. From my great friends in India, to weekend travel companions, each person I have met has made a mark on my heart and influenced my life. In some ways I would like to mention everyone but our connection, our experiences together and our shared memories are the most precious travel gifts I have. Every person that has crossed my path in the last year has enhanced my life and taught me something. I truly believe that it is the people you meet when travelling a country that make you experience their positive or negative. Thus, my heart is overflowing with love as a I write this for all those whom I've met. They made this year the best year of my life! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.