Explicación.

Soy un artista británico que viaja por España siguiendo rutas poco conocidas de peregrinación a Santiago de Compostela, recaudando dinero para organizaciones caritativas dedicadas a los niños en España y Gran Bretaña. Cada vez que llego a Santiago estas organizaciones reciben donaciones de los lectores de mi blog online y de empresas patrocinadoras. Yo tengo que pagar mis gastos de viaje vendiendo mis dibujos para comprar comida, bebida, botas nuevas y calcetines! En una palabra, todo lo que necesito para llegar a mi destino.

Ruta 1: Granada-Santiago vía Mérida, Salamanca, León y Ponferrada.
Completada entre el 21 de septiembre y el 24 de diciembre de 2008.

Ruta 2: Alicante-Santiago vía Albacete, Toledo, Salamanca y Ourense.
Fecha de salida: Febrero de 2009.

Ruta 3: Barcelona-Santiago.

Ruta 4: San Sebastián- Santiago.

En total caminaré más de 4000 Kim y espero recaudar unos 40,000€ para las organizaciones de ayuda a los niños.

Si desea hacer una donación puede ofrecérmela a mí, comprar un dibujo, hacer la donación online en mi blog, o simplemente ofrecerme un cigarrillo!

http://www.sponsorformsonline.co.uk/TheLostPhotographer.asp

Gracias

Sobre mí
Tengo una formación en Publicidad y Desarrollo de Marcas y he trabajado y realizado exposiciones como fotógrafo durante casi 20 años. En la primavera de 2005 me trasladé a España para dedicarme completamente a ser artista. En la actualidad vivo en Granada.
Nací en Birmingham, Inglaterra, y me crié en un pueblo en la frontera de Gales e Inglaterra. He trabajado y vivido en Londres, Nueva York y Berlín antes de venir a España –un país que me encanta.

Futuros libros y exposiciones en Barcelona y Londres documentarán mis experiencias como peregrino y artista itinerante. Mi blog terminará siendo una guía online de las rutas de peregrinación y contendrá videos, documentales fotográficos, entrevistas, dibujos, pinturas y otros elementos artísticos.

Explanation.

I am a British Artist walking around Spain following lesser known pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela raising money for childrens’ charities in Spain and the UK. Each time I reach Santiago de Compostela charities receive donations pledged by readers of my blog online and from corporate sponsors. I have to pay my way by selling sketches and receiving donations myself to pay for food, drink, new boots and socks! Anything I may need to help me reach my destination.

Route 1: Granada to Santiago via Merida, Salamanca, Leon and PonferradaCompleted September 21st 2008 – December 24th 2008

Route 2: Alicante to Santiago via Albacete, Toledo, Salamanca and Ourense
Start Date: February 2009

Route 3: Barcelona to Santiago

Route 4: San Sebastian to Santiago

In total I will walk over 4000KM and hopefully raise around €40,000 for charity.

If you would like to offer support you can donate to myself, buy a sketch, make a pledge online via my blog, or just give me a cigarette!

If you run a business and have a website, a small donation will ensure a link from this blog. A full list of links to sites from people who have given support will be posted at a later date.

Thank you.

About Me
With a work background in Advertising and Brand Development, I have exhibited as a photographer for almost 20 years. In Spring 2005 I moved to Spain to pursue a career as a fulltime artist. I now live in Granada.

Born in Birmingham, England and raised in a small village on the borders of Wales and England, I have lived, worked and exhibited in London, New York and Berlin before moving to Spain – a country I love.

Forthcoming books and exhibitions in Barcelona and London will document my experiences as an itinerant artist pilgrim. My blog will eventually build to become an online guide to pilgrim routes and feature video, photo-documentaries, interviews, sketches, paintings and other art based projects.


You can pledge a donation online here: http://www.sponsorformsonline.co.uk/TheLostPhotographer.asp

You are not being asked to pay at this time. The email address you give will not be passed on to any 3rd party. When I reach Santiago de Compostela you will be contacted with details and instructions of how to pay the charities chosen directly via a secure online payment system, or via post.

The Man with that Umbrella...

... is still stuck in Granada. It's the magnet - it just keeps pulling you back.

It's been raining constantly for over a week. No sketching on the streets. No money. No new boots. My umbrella has been proving very useful. It's sort of become my signature.

My birthday approaches far to rapidly and a good friend is visiting for drinks. New plan is to stay for a 'celebration' then head on to Alicante by Sunday regardless. Desperatley need more cash. Hoping for an improvement in the weather, but the forecast doesn't look so hot :(

About to do a feasibilty study on boot repair. They lasted well, but they are now well and truly borked. As is my backpack. Think that is repairable economically.

At least I have a dry, warm, safe bed here thanks to some very generous hospitality.

Really want to find out how my sketching is received in Alicante. I've never visited before and have absolutley no idea what to expect.

Back to the very wet streets of Granada for a few more days at least.

Granada is so Frustrating.

And, so very fucking lovelly.

I'm still stuck here. At least for a few more dyas, but plan to start walking again on Sunday. Alicante - here I come.

Financially impossible. Emotionally untouchable.

What I love about Granada more than anything else are the sporadic parties of quality music and quality company. On Friday night my ears were filled with the sounds of flute, viola, Two guitars and a woman singing traditional Sicillian sings to the beat of tambourine in a cave high above Scaromonte. Absolutely fucking beautiful. This stuff happens in no other city I've ever visited in Western Europe.

Then, on Saturday, I found myself sketching in glorious sunshine, T-shirt weather in beautiful company. That's Granada's magic! Very difficult to walkaway from.

On the other hand (there's always another hand), rain, snow, cold, police, no money = debt! Aaaaargh!

Three days and I should be back in pocket again, but (and it's a very BIG but) I'm going to miss the place and some very beautiful company.

For some reason Italy is beginning to appeal to me greatly. Perhaps a pilgrimage starting from the southern tip via Florence, or somewhere 'random' like that? Dunno, but Alicante is next. No new boots yet. Hoping for some finacial joy on the coast. There's none here.

Protests.

I was in a bit of a bad one yesterday.

Protest Sketching:
You sketch a huge street scene featuring 'Compro Oro' and 'Tabaco' signs and then write the words 'Who the Fuck Needs It?' big and bold. Then you walk away feeling much better if a little loco.

I needn't have made my own protest. There was a well oranised anti-war demo to join instead. I was fully intending to join in until I saw all the 'Star of David = Swastika' banners. Wrong people. Very wrong. I don't know anyone who agrees with the current Israeli governments 'solution' to the 'problems'. No-one. Not a single person of Jewish faith. Fuck off with that vile comparison. I find it extremely ugly and highly offensive and I'm not even religious never mind Jewish.

On a brighter note; I finally rediscovered the real Granada last night. For the first time since I returned I felt the warmth and familiarity that I love here. So, thanks to those people. Looking forward to a small party for a returning friend tonight also. The World id far from all bad, but I really want to start walking again to feel the good for real!

Today's Tune in My Mind is...

I'm losing my mind, in a record amount of time...

Her Space Holiday from the album Manic Expressive. One of my all time favourite album titles.

I've had a bit of a manic couple of days. Policia Local confiscated all my sketches and paintings yesterday. About a weeks worth of work. That hurts when you're surviving on virtually nothing. Firstly they tried to serve me with a denuncia for not carrying the correct ID. I had my EU driving licence as photo ID and photocopies of my passport. Perfectly legal. They realised that when back-up arrived.Then they served me with a denuncia for selling sketches and paintings on the street without permission. Granada is the only city in Spain I've come across so far that doesn't give permission. I argued that I wasn't selling and that all prices were simply suggestions for donations. If I had played the situation a bit more sensibly I could have just walked away with my sketches, but they caught me on a bad day.

So, I'm back to square One :(

Desperately want to get out of Granada. Much as I like the place, it's beginning to cost me money.

My Leon Umbrella and Me.

This umbrella will be going for auction on ebay when I've finished walking. (If it survives - it's already done a few hundred Kilometers in rain and snow with me). I take commissions to sketch on umbrellas - 360 degree views of your favourite plaza. Certain umbrellas will also be going into mass production very soon. Get an original whilst I'm still skint ;)

And here's me back in Granada (and struggling to get out!) sketching in Plaza Nueva. The guy next to me is turning an old Spanish, gold coin featuring St James into a piece of jewellery for me to carry on my travels in return for a sketch for is daughter. That's the sort of payment I like to receive :)

Sponsor Me for Charity.

Online pledge/sponsorship form is here:
http://www.sponsorformsonline.co.uk/TheLostPhotographer.asp

All funds raised will be divided eaually between UK and Spanish based charities working with children. Due to the nature of my (sometimes a bit edgey) blogging style I'm notgoing to name the charities. They quite likley want nothing to do with me :D

But, I am a life long Aston Villa fan and quite like what FC Barcelona are doing with the sponsorship space on their football shirts also ;)

Or, you can suggest a worthwhile cause yourself.

Still preparing and saving cash for a start date. Most likley to be in about Two, or Three weeks time.

Route Two.

For my own future reference really.

1 ALICANTE – ORITO 23 km
2 ORITO - PETRER 20 km
3 PETRER - VILLENA 22 km
4 VILLENA - YECLA 23 km
5 YECLA – MONTEALEGRE DEL CASTILLO 27 km
6 MONTEALEGRE DEL CASTILLO - PETROLA 23 km
7 PETROLA - ALBACETE 35 km
8 ALBACETE - LA RODA 36 km
9 LA RODA - MINAYA 21 km
10 MINAYA - EL PROVENCIO 23 km
11 EL PROVENCIO - LAS MESAS 19 km
12 LAS MESAS - EL TOBOSO 25 km
13 EL TOBOSO – VILLA DE DON FADRIQUE 25 km
14 VILLA DE DON FADRIQUE – TEMBLEQUE 29 km
15 TEMBLEQUE - ALMONACID DE TOLEDO 33 km
16 ALMONACID DE TOLEDO - TOLEDO 23 km
17 TOLEDO - NOVES 40 km
18 NOVES - ESCALONA 19 km
19 ESCALONA - CADALSO DE LOS VIDRIOS 21 km
20 CADALSO DE LOS VIDRIOS - CEBREROS 22 km
21 CEBRERO - SAN BARTOLOME DE PINARES 19 km
22 SAN BARTOLOME DE PINARES - AVILA 23 km
23 AVILA - GOTARRENDURA 24 km
24 GOTARRENDURA - AREVALO 28 km
25 AREVALO - MEDINA DEL CAMPO 33 km
26 MEDINA DEL CAMPO – TORDESILLAS 25 km
27 TORDESILLAS - MOTA DEL MARQUES 24 km
28 MOTA DEL MARQUES - VILLALPANDO 38 km
29 VILLALPANDO - BENAVENTE 30 km
30 BENAVENTE - ALIJA DEL INFANTADO 24 km
31 ALIJA DEL INFANTADO – LA BAÑEZA 21 km
32 LA BAÑEZA - ASTORGA 25 km
33 ASTORGA - RABANAL DEL CAMINO 21 km
34 RABANAL DEL CAMINO – MOLINASECA 25 km
35 MOLINASECA – VILLAFRANCA DEL BIERZO 28 km
36 VILLAFRANCA DEL BIERZO – O’CEBREIRO 28 km
37 O’CEBREIRO - SAMOS 30 km
38 SAMOS - PORTOMARIN 33 km
39 PORTOMARIN - PALAS DE REI 24 km
40 PALAS DE REI - ARZUA 29 km
41 ARZUA – SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA 38 km

Best Wishes for 2009.

Seems like everyone is expecting a bit of a grim year. Perhaps all the anticipated gloom and apathy will bring unexpected good things? I'm looking forward to this year. If it's half as good as the past Three months I'll be more than happy.

Next route: Alicante - Albacete - Toledo - Salamanca - Santiago de Compostela. Should be almost spring by the time I get there. Rules are very simply that I have to walk the entire route. I can take as long as I want. I can take bus, or train diversions, but always have to return to the point I left the route to start walking again. All money has to come via sales/donations for my 'art'.

Charity. There will be a link to an online sponsor form here. Options to donate to UK, or Spanish charities on a pledge basis. All promises to be honoured when I reach Santiago and get my second compostela and indisputable pass to the pearly gates.

I'm still seeking corporate sponsors also.

Photographs, video links, sketches and paintings will appear here this year too. Many sketches and paintings will be offered for sale and I will also be looking for more commissions - photography, sketches, paintings...

If you enjoy reading, then please consider a small donation. Sponsor form will be up and running by this time next week.

Back in Granada.

Pilgrimage 1 Summary.

That was great fun. A fantastic adventure. Fabulous places, lots of good people and many interesting experiences.

Do it! If you get the chance to try it for a week, a month, a year...

I'm guessing it's going to take me a couple of weeks to complete stuff in Granada. Off to Alicante around January 12th for pilgrimage 2.

Madrid for a Day.

Absolutely shattered. I now know not to expect any sleep on a night train in Spain.

Tried selling on the streets of Santiago yesterday evening. Nada. Policia Local told me to move, so I took that as my que to head to the train station. Some sketching here if I can find a nice pedestrianised plaza. Probably not. I don't really like Madrid. First visit for about Seven years. I prefer the suburbs and contempoarary Madrid to the city center. To many roads, to many cars, to few big, wide plazas.

First ride on an underground since January 2005! First visit to any city of any great size for a few years. Despite being extremely tired, I've sort of just dropped straight back into the pace of things.

I suspect the police won't allow me to sketch by the palaces. I may venture into the modern part of town and sketch some contemporary architecture in large scale.

Night bus back to Granada and immediately to work when I get there. Already fucked. It's going to be a very stressful few days :(

But, then I can head on to Alicante and start pilgrimage number Two :)

Aaaargh!

Thank God I didn't do last night on a night train. Something I ate I think. Off shortly to see if it's safe to restore energy. Bit shattered. Very little sleep. But, I'm still planning to make a couple of sales this afternoon and get the train to Madrid for some city sketching tomorrow. Wonder if I'll get my bag nicked?

I was thinking I would have to research the Alicante to Santiago camino, but someone's written a complete step by step guide already http://www.encaminodesdealicante.org/

What's more, the guy who wrote it is hospitelrio(sp?) at the First albergue enroute :)

It's going to be much colder, much tougher and much more expensive, but I'm eager to get on with it. Possibly starting Second week of January.

---------------

Me yesterday sketching Santiago cathedral in my new Stetson engine drivers hat :)

All Aboard the Night Train.

To Madrid. Tomorrow night, provided I make the necessary cash tomorrow. Almost there.

Interesting Drops Number 17: Three lottery tickets. "You never know" the man said. And, I guess you don't. By this time tomorrow I may be one of the World's richest pilgrims. On the other hand, I may well still be that elusive €50 away from a safe passage back to Granada and on to Alicante. We shall see.

Met some good people today. Plenty of numbers and emails exchanged for future meets. Another HUGE thank you. You know who you are. I'll be in touch some day - I'm afraid that's a promise whether you like it, or not :)

Last night here. What to do on a rainy evening in Santiago with very little spare cash? Suppose I could carry on working. Try to sell sketches under the arches. Better to pick up an extra Tenner than to spend another.

Aaaargh! More Wind and Rain.

It's back :(

Shouldn't really be moaning after a week of sunshine, but you tend to take it for granted and when it stops you're stuffed. I was planning to get an early bus tomorrow morning, but I now need good weather tomorrow and good money this evening and tomorrow.

This isn't really that easy. Fine when the weather is fine, but next to impossible if it's windy, or wet. I'm thinking new plan to take a bus to Madrid and hopefully make cash during New Year, then bus to Granada to finally complete jobs that should have been signed and sealed long ago, then onto Almeria for pilgrimage number Two. Still need a sponsor for that also.

There are plenty of dry pitches here, so with luck, I'll make enough to cover costs and pick up enough for a bus tomorrow. Currently paying €25/night for a very basic bed and shower hostal. Food and drink at about €10/day. Cigs €2.50. I need to do some washing - about another Tenner. Current outgoings are ITRO €40 a day. A single day of rain/wind/whatever to spoil income hurts!

Expensive day. Thankfully yesterday was a good day.

Chorizo, Eggs and Chips.

Fuck yeah! That hit the spot. Sausage, egg and chips Galician stylee :) Big fat juicy chorizo.



Almost time to leave Santiago, but I will surely be back. I've loved every minute here. Fantastic little city. And, I got good weather. My favourite cafe is just off the tourist trail, almost opposite Policia Nacional. Good selection of daily dishes for just €5 (with bread). Decent size servings, good food at good prices with friendly staff. It's very popular with the locals. Best to beat the rush and get there just after 2PM.

My favourite bar is now introducing it's customers to the listening pleasure of Neil Halstead. Can't remember the name. I'll come back to it in a later post because I'm sure to pop in for one final visit. Live music from the guy who runs the place (and his mates) every Wednesday. Nice place.

Tunes in my head today include 'Sitting on the Beggars Bench' - Neil Halstead and 'Dirty Old Town' - McEwan? Communist playwrite guy???

I took just Four albums with me on pilgrimage. I haven't actually played any whilst travelling, but they are there to give away, or share when opportunity arises:

1. Bunny Wailer - Blackheart Man.
2. PJ Harvey - Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea.
3. Neil Halstead - Sleeping on Roads.
4. Neil Halstead - Mighty Machine.

I guess the first Three must be my all time favourite top Three. Number Four made the rucksack simply because it was new and very eagerly awaited. And, it is a beautiful collection of songs.


Another HUGE thank you. To Erva - you total angel! No doubt when I finally hit Barcelona I will be inviting you to share a good meal and a few drinks. I like your handbags :)

http://www.erva-design.com/

Hope to see you again someday, some place.


Rain forecast for tomorrow, so possibly my last day sketching here. The cathedral is an absolute monster challenge, but I'm going to do it big just one last time.

Tarta de Santiago

It's a bit like Bakewell tart, but without icing. Just a simple dusting of icing sugar over a pastry crust, stencil decorated with the cross of Saint James. Very nice.

The weather has been fantastic and the forecast still looks good, so I'm staying put for a few more days. May leave after Christmas. Cheap(ish) accomodation is available. I can save money here to get me back to Granada for a brief visit before heading to Alicante.

I have a stinking cold, but my new coat is well cosy. Think my new hat is staying with me for a few years at least. New image works well on the cash making front. Two sketches sold yesterday before I had finished them. Going to try a few small watercolours today with a panoramic 3 Meter sketch in a new pitch this afternoon. Nice square at the back of the cathedral. Few pwoplw around, but it should still be good enough to pay for bed and food today.

If You Want To Get Ahead, Get a Hat!

My Fifth hat of pilgrimage! I seem to have developed a bit of a hat fetish. Three blew away, One is still in my pocket - a gift from a friend who is no longer with us. I'll never let that one blow away. And, now I have the most perfect Stetson Railway Network leather engine drivers cap :) Only cost me €85!!! FFS! What am I doing?

I've just completely reinvented myself on a very self-induldgement shopping binge. Spunked a load of cash on a very nice, light weight, extra warm, multi-pocketed coat for future treks across the winter plains from Alicante to Toledo. I also have a new pair of quality, light weight, multi-pocketed parachuter trousers. These are highly recommended for pilgrimaging.

I've also bought a bottle of detergent. Going to spend a Saturday night washing me togs and shaving me bonce. Hit it a bit hard last night. I need a recovery session.

Big spend, but it is almost Christmas after all and no other fucker's going to buy me anything!

Apparently Villa v West Ham is on GOL TV. I'm off to find a bar with telly before hitting the laundrette for an exciting Saturday night.

Monte do Gozo.

Monte do Gozo - the last albergue before reaching Santiago de Compostela, about 3KM from the city center. I gave it a miss walking in after what I had read. Specifically, the bit about the number of pilgrim beds available - 800! However, on arrival in Santiago I found all existing albergues closed for various reasons and the modern, purpose built albergue as listed in the guide I was reading turned out to be so contemporary that they had barely laid the foundations yet.

But, Monte do Gozo is available for Four nights at just €3/night. I'm not complaining. Good facilities. Warm. Clean. Safe. But, it's an absolute nightmare of a holiday camp come army barracks come open prison like complex. Dorm after dorm on the side of a hill with a central 'plaza' that has a 24 hour shop full of vending machines and not a lot else. Capitalism at it's worse borders with Communism possibly at it's best. It's a bit of a hard welcome back to the 21st Century after treking through forgotten villages full of friendly people. Another pilgrim, another number, another tourist, another cash laden ant. Nothing more. I'd swear this place was American owned if I didn't know it is actually state run. At the top of the hill is a modern sculpture of monumental proportions. The cheapest accommodation (pilgrims albergue) comes first. Lower down is mass holiday accommodation. Below that is some horrific hotel that really should have a golf course next to it. Perhaps it will do some day. But, €3/night. Can't grumble. And, they're pretty flexible on the lights out rule. A long walk back from the city, or a number 6 bus.

I'll take the Four nights and then book into a cheap city pension.

I can also claim Three days worth of free pilgrim meals at some swanky hotel apparently. Just have to photocopy my Compostela. I opted for the non-religious version. No doubt it's worth fuck all on ebay despite being exceptionally rare. I quick glance through the registry reveals that 90% of pilgrims took the religious version. Yet, only Two pilgrims I met told me that their walk had some meaningful religious conotation.

Anyway, still loving Santiago. It's a great little city.

And...More Rain :(

Oh well. Forecast is good for the weekend :)

I have invested in a nice, new, shiney portfolio full of various watercolour papers. I'm going to sit in a cafe all day drawing and painting from postcards. This evening, I'm going to sit under an arch and paint a nice Navidad scene featuring the cathedral and all the sparkly Christmas lights.

Seems stupid to be buying a new digital camera at this time of year, but I really should be recording more sketches and paintings. My panoramic sketches have been going up in bars and cafes all along my route. I'll have to revisit them all some day. I'm leaving my mark everywhere.