Author Archives: magwood

About magwood

Trepidatious Traveller - camino blog is about preparing for and walking the Camino de Santiago. Many future pilgrims have found the blog useful and inspiring, and many who have no plans to walk the camino have simply enjoyed the dialogue http://www.magwood.me

Happy feet

Posted on 02/03/2016 by magwood

Only eight weeks until my next camino and my head is whirling with all sorts of planning strategies. The most important piece of equipment I shall be taking with me are my feet and I thought I would share my … Continue reading →

Posted in Camino assessments and reflections, Camino de Santiago de Compostela, Preparations | Tagged blister prevention, Camino blog, Camino de Santiago., long distance hiking, travel | 22 Comments

the riddle of the big knickers

Posted on 25/02/2016 by magwood

I did a bit of camino shopping whilst I was in he UK. I bought some waterproof fabric to make a rain skirt (now made), and another length to have a go at remaking my ‘super-duper backpack cover/shoulder cape’. A … Continue reading →

Posted in A view of life | Tagged camino shopping, merino wool pants | 21 Comments

too close for comfort

Posted on 21/02/2016 by magwood

Panic is not an emotion we would choose to experience too often and I have had more than my fair share in the last couple of weeks. The first time my pulse started racing was in the early hours of … Continue reading →

Posted in A view of life | Tagged Animals, Expats in Andalucia, panic | 29 Comments

Cooperating in Cómpeta

Posted on 16/01/2016 by magwood

I made a lovely walk before christmas and had planned to write a post about it (one of the many unwritten posts) – I had even thought of a title – “a well rounded day” as, not only was the … Continue reading →

Posted in A view of life, Expats in andalucia | Tagged Cómpeta, Expats in Andalucia, extra virgin, La Reciproca de Cómpeta, nevadillo blanco, olive oil, Spain, travel | 27 Comments

A jaunt to Jerez

Posted on 09/01/2016 by magwood

Apologies that there has been a bit of a hiatus between my account of the trip that I took with my daughter Ella to Seville (at the end of November) and the continuation of this trip to Jerez – all … Continue reading →

Posted in A view of life, Expats in andalucia | Tagged Jerez de la Frontera, Málaga, Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre, Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, Sevilla, Seville, Tio Pepe | 15 Comments

A saunter through Sevilla

Posted on 06/12/2015 by magwood

David dropped Ella and me off at Malaga’s Maria Zambrano train station on Saturday morning (28 November) where we boarded the 10:40 to Sevilla. I discovered during my sorti into the Renfe website that it is possible to obtain a … Continue reading →

Posted in A view of life, Expats in andalucia | Tagged Ensegway, flamenco, Segway, Sevilla, Seville, travel | 21 Comments

A meander around Málaga

Posted on 03/12/2015 by magwood

No trepidation was involved in my latest adventure…a round trip with my daughter Ella, taking in Málaga, Seville and Jerez de la Frontera. We were disappointed that a pre-Christmas family gathering here in Cómpeta couldn’t after all take place, but … Continue reading →

Posted in A view of life, Expats in andalucia | Tagged AC Hotel Málaga Palacio, Calle Marques de Larios, Christmas lights, El Pimpi, El Refectorium Catedral, Expats in Andalucia, Málaga, Málaga illuminations de Navidad, Mercado Merced, Picasso | 17 Comments

A word in your ear…

Posted on 09/06/2015 by magwood

OK guys, you haven’t heard the last of me just yet. I have a favour to ask – in fact I have two, but I will save the second one for another post. So here’s today’s favour… I know that … Continue reading →

Posted in A view of life, Camino de Santiago de Compostela, Camino Mozarabe, Expats in andalucia | Tagged Camino blog, Camino de Santiago blog, Camino de Santiago de compostela, Camino de Santiago., camino Mozarabe, Camino Sanabrés, charitable giving, CUDECA, hospice, Just Giving, travel, Via de la Plata | 14 Comments

Journey’s end

Posted on 06/06/2015 by magwood

And so I have really come to the end of this journey. There have been so many highlights, so many people I will remember and not very many that I want to forget. Firstly there was George – we spent … Continue reading →

Posted in Camino assessments and reflections, Camino de Santiago de Compostela, Camino Mozarabe, Camino Sanabrés, Via de la Plata | Tagged Camino blog, Camino de Santiago de compostela, Camino de Santiago., camino Mozarabe, Camino Sanabrés, travel, Via de la Plata | 62 Comments

…..and then there was one

Posted on 31/05/2015 by magwood

Well, that very odd feeling of being alone in a bustling city is here again. Very strange after being in the company of new but much appreciated friends for so long. Yesterday morning (Saturday) Olivier and I stowed our backpacks … Continue reading →

Posted in Camino de Santiago de Compostela, Camino Mozarabe, Camino Sanabrés, Via de la Plata | Tagged Camino blog, Camino de Santiago blog, Camino de Santiago de compostela, Camino de Santiago., camino Mozarabe, Camino Sanabrés, Santiago de Compostela, travel, Via de la Plata | 31 Comments

Camino Mozárabe (Camino Fisterra) – day 52 – Olveiroa to Finisterre 35 km

Posted on 30/05/2015 by magwood

Sorry folks for the delay of my post for my final stage. I spent my blogging time soaking up the sun on the beach…it seemed the right thing to do. I left the bustling albergue yesterday well before 07:00 and … Continue reading →

Camino Mozárabe (Camino Fisterra) – day 51 – Negreira to Olveiroa 35.5 km

Posted on 28/05/2015 by magwood

I met two English speaking women on arrival yesterday, one from the U.S. And one from Australia. It was nice to speak to them, but it transpired this morning that they are light shiners and bag rustlers, the scourge of … Continue reading →

Posted in Camino de Santiago de Compostela, Camino Mozarabe, Camino Sanabrés, Via de la Plata | Tagged Camino blog, Camino de Santiago blog, Camino de Santiago de compostela, Camino Fisterra, camino Mozarabe, Camino Sanabrés, travel, Via de la Plata | 22 Comments

Camino Mozárabe (Camino Fisterra) – day 50 – Santiago de Compostela to Negreira 21.6 km

Posted on 27/05/2015 by magwood

Life was just too exciting yesterday to spend my precious time waiting in line at the pilgrims’ office for my Compostela. So here I am at 07:40 waiting for the office to open at 08:00 so that I can pick … Continue reading →

Posted in Camino de Santiago de Compostela, Camino Mozarabe, Camino Sanabrés, Via de la Plata | Tagged Camino blog, Camino de Santiago blog, Camino de Santiago de compostela, Camino de Santiago., Camino Fisterra, camino Mozarabe, Camino Sanabrés, travel, Via de la Plata | 14 Comments

Camino Mozárabe (Camino Sanabrés) – day 49 – Outeiro to Santiago de Compostela 17.7 km

Posted on 26/05/2015 by magwood

As mentioned in yesterday’s post Paul and I decided to take a walk to see if there was actually a village here or just a few houses. I saw a large building in the distance that could have been a … Continue reading →

Camino Mozárabe (Camino Sanabrés) – day 48 – Silleda to Outeiro 25.7 km

Posted on 25/05/2015 by magwood

I have to recommend last night’s private albergue. The service to price ratio was excellent and the menu del dia was good value. It was such a treat to sleep in a single storey bed, with no snorers or light-shiners … Continue reading →