Update project's progress (september 2011)

Dear sponsors and friends of hike4education,

I have good news for you: the construction of the pre-school centre is making big progress. The windows have been placed and the work inside the rooms has started. According to the planning the opening of the pre-school centre will take place in november.

More information about the opening of the centre and photos will be posted in december.

A big hug to all of you,

Beate

Together we are really making a difference!

Dear sponsors and friends of hike4education,

Thank you for your belief in the power of education and my dedication to the children in Guatemala.
Thank you for all your interest and support during my hike4education 2011.
And above all thank you for your incredible generosity and commitment.
So far (June 21st) we raised an amazing  € 9.084,-  - a fantastic result for which I’m very grateful.

The money will be entirely forwarded to NPH Guatemala to finance the construction of the Montessori pre-school centre which will serve both the NPH orphans and poor children from the nearby village.

A big hug to all of you  in Germany, Holland, Spain and in the USA!
Beate.

PS: I will keep you informed on the projects’ progress. Next update will be published in September.

Saturday May 28: the hike-after, back in Holland
20 km hiking with my friend Carla in the polder north of Amsterdam; strong winds, looks like storm. How I miss the warmth of Castilia. 400 km of the Camino are still to hike. I will surely continue! By 20 June I will inform you about the result of the Camino 2011.
Dear Maarten, thanks a lot for taking care of my weblog before and during the hike. You did a great job! I received lots of compliments which I gladly forward to you.

I made it!! Day 11: Carrion de los Condes - Calzadilla de la Cueza, 17 km.

Today´s program is well-known among pilgrims: it´s an endless path without any houses, the longer you are on the way the less shadow there is, and there is no change in landscape. Some people compare it with hell. But I love this kind of landscape and I really enjoyed the endless horizon and the quietness.
I was lucky because we started early and there was a cool breeze. My only problem was: I had hardly had any breakfast, I had eaten up all cereal, I only had two small pieces of toast. And I felt my blisters on my right foot. Thanks God there was a picknick place to have a rest in the shadow.
Tonight is the last evening with the hiking groep. Three of them will go on hiking, the rest will go back home tomorrow.
I had a great time during this year´s hike. I feel a bit tired now, in general you don´t get much sleep because many pilgrims get up at around 6 or even earlier. Dreaming of my own bed now.

I never forgot the purpose of my hike4education 2011: good preschool facilities for orphans in Guatemala.
I sincerely hope that with my hike and all my physical efforts these days I inspired you to help realize the fantastic project of NPH Guatemala: the construction of a preschool centre.
I´ll keep you informed about the progress.

On the foto you see my travel companions of the last 11 days.Thank you all for your friendship, warmth, confidence and mental support during the hike. We had a great time together.
Erik, thanks for accompanying us as our guide. Your wise words at the beginning of the day inspired each of us to find his own Camino. Good luck for the four weeks to come with new groups on the way to Santiago de Compostella. Buen Camino!

Dag 10: Fromista - Carion de los Condes, 20 km

 En la Meseta. 28 degrees, hardly any shadow. Frog concerts along a river, passing endless cornfields waving in the wind, beautiful flowers. The longer I´m hiking, the more I observe the details and I´m overwhelmed by it. Our earth is so magnificently beautiful!!! During the hike I feel the energy within my body, but at the end of the day I also feel worn-out by the heat. 
Tomorrow is the last day on the Camino. I mustn´t think of that now !! 
I feel 2 blisters on my right foot and I will take care of them.
Saludos desde España tan bonita.

A hike of 6 km along the main road - heavy.

Day 9: Castrojeriz - Fromista, 26 km

Today's hike (nearly 7 hours in La Meseta) was really impressive. Herewith some images to give you an impression.

Day 8: Hornillos - Castrojeriz, 20 km

After yesterday´s major distance my feet show signs of exhaustion (beginning blisters ...). My hiking-speed has changed, I walk more slowly now. At the same time I feel: the Camino has caught hold of me.
I received some new photos from Guatemala of the construction progress of the Montessori preschool centre:

They are busy with finishing the roofs before the beginning of the rainy season. I will gladly continue hiking for this fantastic project and the fantastic kids of NPH Guatemala, they deserve our support.
 
PS: Unfortunately I don´t have acces to my planet mail account here, so I missed all your support mails. Contact is only possible on Facebook or on beate.sass@hotmail.com