Shenzhen versus Hong Kong airports

Flew to Changsha from Shenzhen yesterday and back today. In Shenzhen
they again changed gate about 20 minutes before planned takeoff.
Second time in a row this happenes to me in Bao On (precious peace) as
the Shenzhen airport is called. Not much precious about that place - a
more noisy and shrill airport is hard to find.

After letting us board one hour late, they kept us in the plane
sitting on the tarmack for four hours without in the first two hours
telling us why.

It turned out it was due to heavy rain and thereafter a glut of
planes landing and taking off.

I have never seen such an agitated and foulmouthed Chinese crowd as
the atmosphere developed in the plane - quite interesting actually.
Poor airhostesses who really got the verbal abuse.

However I believe it is probably Bao Ons traffic controllers who is to
blame of the lack of info. Afterall the pilots just want to go as much
as the passengers don't they.

I'll really will try to stay away and use our wonderfully Hong Kong airport a paradise compered to Bao On in Shenzhen.
hereafter.

Sent from my iPhone
Ole Jacob Groenvold

Kristins progres

Hello Dear wife and all else.
I which you were here together with me on the pilgrimage, in Paris and
London. sammen med på pilgrimsferd, i Paris og London. Kristin is
doing well, I am proud, now in Rominao and following her schedule.

St Etienne Churc Paris 20100605

A beautiful beige coloured church in Paris very airy and full of light
give's a good feeling

Although in Paris I seem's to be continuing my pilgrim pattern of doing
my Daily devotions in churces. Paris has an abundant choice of those)

As a matter of fact - we should all walk or "travel" as Pilgrims with
God each and every day of our life.

I which I could be back on the Pilgrim trail after 20 hours in Paris.

Hotel Terminus Lyon Paris 20100604

I have now been about 20 hours in Paris – seen Sacre Ceur (and taken lots of photoes) – on of the most beautiful churches in Paris including a fabulous view of the city itself, and also spent the night in a comfortable hotel and just had my breakfast. (Included)

Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in this world.

The pilgrim trail gives you blisters – and burning feet by about 1pm after walking from 8am or even 7am. After about 2-3pm your body is really tired and if you have to go on walking to about 5-6pm to reach a destination and a bed, you just collapse into it after dinner at 8 or 9pm

Why is it that I just which I was back on the pilgrim trail?

Because it is a beautiful simple world with nature all around, birds singing, prayers and bible reading and chats with people.

I really just want start planning for the next time. I hope I can share this experience with a friend or two from home.

Home is Hong Kong – but somehow it is difficult to explain this slow life Pilgrim life to someone in that busy exciting and yes also very beautiful city.

Like a shadow through the colours of life

I am watching you

A cat I met on my walk through France. Gradually it let me stroke him.

Prayer is the key

On of my congregation's slogans is: "Prayer is the key"

Both me and my coleague are quite insistant on the fact that it is the
twice monthly prayer meeting we have in our church, that carries and drives the development of what is happening in Amazing Grace Lutheran Church.

The Catholics of France is using candels to focus theif minds on prayer.

My prayers on the trail all tended to be short and to the point. Each one of them just a few sentenses actually repeated several times during the day. '

I believe our prayers does not depend on our words, nor on how much emotions people can hear in our voice, but the attitude in our hearts and our honesty towards God. Of course in the end prayers depend on God only

Beautiful tracks

The trail is. "designed" to give you peace of mind.

Pilgrim dog riding high

The dog really had a good owner. At first I thought it was lazy, but
later realized it had a problem with his right back knee and was limping.

It is pretty cool thing that the owner takes his dog on a possible two months walk. Sorry Mia (my cat) I believe it would not do you good to take you on my walks.

Pilgrimage ended this year, but now I am on my way to Paris

In Paris I am looking forward to two days of photography, not with my
Iphone but with my Canon and my fisheye!!

Pilgrimage ended for this year train Agen - Paris 20100604

I am on the train to Paris. Yesterday I left daugter in Auvillar and
walked back to Moissac in 4 hours about two hours faster than the
other way. At a point I checked on my speed and it was about 5,4km pr
hour. My personal normal speed is quite high.

It is strange to be on my way home. I've got blisters on both feet,
but this morning waiting for the bus I thought. What if I just chuck
the ticket to Paris and just walk? I will catch up with daughter in a
couple of days. It was really tempting.

Of course I could not do that, but the wish certainly was there. The
life on the pilgrim trail is quite unique. You meet a lot of people
and make a lot of friends. Most people feel like family and almost
everyone is helpful and willing to talk. We are united in the motto of
"Ultreia" Always onwards.

I was taking a rest yesterday and the person who passed came over and
asked " Ca va" Are you ok? Everyone will greet you " Bon jour" Good
day.

One thing is clear: In my heart I am already planning to come cack and
walk towards Compostella the name most people uses for Santiago de
Compostella

I only wish I could get one or two of my close friends to come with
me. Not because I do not want to walk alone, but because this
experience is just too good not to share with others. Hey guys anyone
listening?? You need about 4 to 6 weeks on the road. If you do this
you will have an experien e in your life you will not forget.

Sent from my iPhone
Ole Jacob Groenvold

Blisters

Since about the second day I have got blisters on both feet.
And for the last 12 days I have been walking with them.

I used to be a great fan of the brand "Compeed" but have more or less
switched to a much cheaper and thinner kind of micropore bandaid that
you can see underneath. It's got glue on the inside and you just slap
it on after removing the protecting paper. 5 meters cost a out 2 Euro
and you only needs 3-4cm for each cut.

Pilgrim daughter.

Today 20100603 in Auvillar daughter walked on on her own towards
Santiago Spain about 1100 km to the southwest. She can make it and
will I believe.

It was really difficult to part as I got to go back to Paris and
London for work. Sad and of course a little bit worried.
It is so difficult to part from your very good friend.

However the comfort is if course that on The Camino you never have to
alone. Many many nice people on the trail all going the same way - we
have met many of them already.

Moissac from where our Gite is situated

Difficult to beat this view!

Very friendly French

They did not stop talking to us in French, we understood about 20% of
what they were saying, but what the heck... We were all smiles and
tres joily anyway

The railwayline and the monastry

French culture and life is baffeling

Moissac monastry from the 12 century, the inside garden.

Went into the tourist office here in Moissac where the Lady at the
counter has English just a little bit better then my French. This
makes for interesting but not very efficient communication.
Can she help me book a hotel in Paris? No they are not a travelling
Agency.

Can she give me the Telephone no to Hotel Terminus in Paris? No but
She can call them, 30 cents please.
Me: Ok???? Then yes please.

She: Sorry Terminus hotel says, we are full....

Me: Ok

Me again: Can she give me the telephone no to the tourist info in Paris Montparnass Station
please? Cause that is were my train from Moissac is coming in.

Looking at her Internet terminal she answers:
I will give you a list of hotels near Montparnasse in Paris. How many
stars do you want please?

Me: Two stars.

She proceeds to print a list of hotels with two stars in the Monterparnass aria, but with NO telephone nos on the list.

What am I doing wrong here?
Why can tourist offices not provide hotel teleph. no?

Why are the willing to call them?

Why do they not have train schedules?

And why does not their public internet terminals work?
Strange.....

The tourist office is also the the guardian and ticket seller of this
Beautiful 12 century monastry in Moissac that almost got torn down in
in 1850 to make way for the railway they built at that time.

Moissac 20100601

Kristin is here in the post office of Moissac. She has fetched her
postal pack she sent from Espalion where we started our walk to Post
Restante in this town. The box is now going onwards about seven days.
She needs the stuff in Spain, but do not want to carry it there. Good
system.

The end of this years walk - almost

Kristin and I arrived in Moissac last night and found a very nice Gite
called "La Petite Luminiere" = The small light or something close-
just above the town with a very good view of the whole town. Fabelous
dinner too by the landlady who cooked and eat with us.She is doing
this gite as a service to God.

Last night we were so tired. The 24km from Lauzerte was really tough.
Looking at the last six days last night we had done between 23 up to
30 every day and found out that IT was a bit too ambitious. In between
we need days between 15 and 20 so that not all walking days last until
5-6 at night.

Today is a day off. Kristin and I have been walking for 14 days
including these two rest days.
I am planning to walk one day more - then back here and then the train
to Paris on the 4th. I can not reach Condom that has the next easy
connection to Paris.

Both Kristin and I are feeling strange we are parting. I am really
going to miss her. Of course daddy are feeling a bit uneasy about
letting his "little" daughter walk alone, but have no doubt she can do
it. And besides that, on the camino you do not have to be alone if you
do not want to. There are people walking together with you.

Sent from my iPhone
Ole Jacob Groenvold