The Pilgrim Pouch at Casa Ivar

Spring is in bloom and time to hit the Road!

The Pilgrim Pouch is now available at the Camino de Santiago forum online store, Casa Ivar --

Casa Ivar is run by Ivar Rekve who lives in Santiago de Compostela. Ivar offers luggage storage services and Camino merchandise, including guide books, credentials, badges, and the Pilgrim Pouch!

Have a question about walking the Camino? Ivar's popular forum is where inquiring walkers go to find out the latest trail news & connect with fellow peregrinos. Check out route information, gear discussions, and more --

Dad posed with the Pilgrim Pouch on Camino Aragones -- the Pouch was handy to carry his guidebook & snacks.

     

New Year Wishes

What adventures await the Pilgrim Pouch in 2016?

Happy trails & Ultreia!

In time for the holidays!

The Pilgrim Pouch makes a perfect holiday gift for any adventurer! See the list of stores below in San Diego, Chicago, & the San Francisco area.

The Pilgrim Pouch is in the travel section at Book Passage in Corte Madera. Nick Setka, the store's Information Technology Manager, first explored the Camino by bike 20 years ago & walked the trail many times.

Book Passage is San Francisco's premier independent bookseller with two locations, Corte Madera & San Francisco. It hosts the annual Travel Writers & Photographers Conference in August.  

In San Diego, the Pilgrim Pouch can be purchased at:

Windmill Farms Community Market -- A family-owned market with organic produce, natural supplements, & gifts. A cool cow sculpture greets customers.

The Next Door Gallery -- Run by artist Johanna Hansen, the gallery is part of Studio Maureen located in South Park. The gallery showcases Johanna's 'storytelling' art creations, including clay figures & jewelry.

The Triathlete Store -- The outdoor clothing & gear store for hikers, bikers, runners, & swimmers. Products are also available online.

Oceanside Museum of Art -- The North County museum & cultural center features major exhibits, arts education programs, & creative gifts in their store.

Traveler's Depot -- Located in Pacific Beach, the store offers travel essentials & help with getting ready for any destination.

Bay Books -- An independent bookseller with a wide selection of books, gifts, & greeting cards. It's located near the Hotel del Coronado on Coronado Island.

In Chicago the Pilgrim Pouch is available at GreenSky, voted the city's "Best Eco-Friendly Shop." Owner Nadeen Kieren features a variety of artists' creations in a vintage Victorian space.

The Pilgrim Pouch looking good at GreenSky!

Happy Holidays!

Look who's carrying Pilgrim Pouches

Peregrina Nancy Reynolds poses with her Pilgrim Pouch at the Hostelling Int. hostel in Point Reyes near San Francisco. Nancy works here and has a Camino guide website, The Camino Experience.

Author Susan Alcorn and I pose with Pouches at Marina Bay in San Francisco. Susan & husband Ralph are avid Camino trekkers & adventurers. Susan's books about her Caminos are available on her website. She also has a monthly newsletter with Camino & backpacking info.

World traveler Lynne Bess from San Diego stands with her Pilgrim Pouch by a holiday display in Prague. Lynne & husband Joe toured the city's sights before departing on a river cruise that ends in Budapest. Lynne, a Hawaii native, is always ready for the next adventure!

Below is a picture of the Pouch by Prague's historic Charles Bridge. In the background rises the Prague Castle.

Home turf

After the summer, the Pilgrim Pouch is on the move in San Diego. A favorite stop is Balboa Park, located adjacent to the city's downtown and spanning 1,200 acres. It opened in 1915 for the Panama-California Exposition and is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. 

Koi fish and ducks swim in Balboa Park's Lily Pond.

The Pouch takes a break in Plaza de Panama.

The park's Japanese Friendship Garden was built in honor of San Diego's sister city Yokohama. The 11 acre garden includes a koi pond & an ornamental tree collection.

The Pouch checks out the San Diego Museum of Art, one of 17 museums located in Balboa Park. The museum's facade is in the Spanish Plateresque style with elaborate ornamentation & a shell design above the main doorway.

The park's House of Pacific Relations International Cottages are a group of 'tiny houses' that represent countries from around the world. The original structures date back to the California Pacific International Exposition of 1935. Throughout the year the cottages host various cultural and educational events. The Pilgrim Pouch ends the day at the House of Sweden.

Chicago 2

In Millennium Park the Pilgrim Pouch sees the city's skyline reflected in artist Anish Kapoor's sculpture known as "The Bean," originally titled Cloud Gate.

The Pouch is amazed at mosaics in Chicago's Cultural Center, built in 1897 & featuring Carrara marble. 

At the Art Institute bronze lions guard the museum's Michigan Avenue entrance. 

The world champion of handy travel bags, the Pilgrim Pouch, ends the trip to the Midwest. Now it's back home to San Diego for the next adventure...stay tuned!   

Chicago

During a visit to the Windy City the Pilgrim Pouch looks up at skyscrapers down by the Riverwalk.

Boats glide by on the Chicago River.

Chicago's renowned design center, the Merchandise Mart (on the left), was built in 1930 & spans 5 acres. This art deco building even has its own zip code (60654). 

Tourist Wendy is smiling because her Pouch is so handy for sightseeing. 

The Pouch caught a ride on a giant Dala horse stationed outside a store in Chicago's Andersonville district. Dala horses are symbols of Sweden and traditionally handcrafted out of wood. 

Later, it was time for a frozen custard at Lickety Split in the Edgewater neighborhood.