Carlota de Otto to join pilgrims!!!!

To the delight of all, Carlota de Otto (daughter to Manolo and sister to Pablo) will be joining the pilgrims for the entire roadtrip in the U.S. Carlota, who has spent the past year in Lisbon, Portugal, is studying to be a teacher, and also practices flamenco dancing on the side. She is a great walker on our yearly Spanish pilgrimage (except when hitchhiking). ¡Venga! We are now officially 5 permanent pilgrims on the roadtrip, but there is still room in the mini-van for anyone who wants to ride along for a few days. Or if a few of you want to come along, we could always start a train of cars. All are bienvenidos!

The Itinerary

(subject to change)

August 4- arrive in Washington DC
August 5- Washington DC/Baltimore, MD
August 6-Drive from Baltimore, MD to Savannah, GA
August 7-Savannah, GA
August 8 -Drive from Savannah, GA to Atlanta, GA to Auburn, AL
August 9- Auburn, AL
August 10- Drive from Auburn, AL to New Orleans, LA
August 11-New Orleans, LA
August 12-New Orleans, LA
August 13-Drive from New Orleans, LA to Memphis, TN to St. Louis, MO
August 14-St. Louis, MO
August 15- St. Louis, MO
August 16-St. Louis, MO
August 17-Fly to San Jose, CA
August 18-San Francisco/Oakland/Bay Area
August 19-San Francisco/Oakland/Bay Area
August 20-San Francisco/Oakland/Bay Area
August 21-Drive from Oakland to Carmel to Yosemite National Park
August 22-Yosemite National Park
August 23-Drive from Yosemite National Park to Sequoia National Park to Los Angeles
August 24-Los Angeles, CA, and drive to San Diego, CA
August 25-San Diego, CA/México
August 26-Drive from San Diego to the Grand Canyon
August 27-Drive from the Grand Canyon to Monument Valley to Arches National Park, UT
August 28-Arches National Park, UT
August 29-Drive from Arches National Park to Mesa Verde National Park
August 30-Drive from Mesa Verde National Park to Taos, NM
August 31-Drive from Taos, NM to Santa Fe, NM
September 1-Drive from Santa Fe, NM to Albuquerque, NM
September 2-Fly to Washington DC
September 3-Fly to Barcelona
September 4-Arrive in Barcelona

The Preparation: Films

Los Pilgrims will be preparing for the US with an outdoor (unless its raining) film festival to introduce Los de Ottos to the US. Please list films that we should show in the comments section.

The Preparation: Guacamole

This weekend Liz and Clay are hosting a BBQ with a competitive "Guacomolada" (Catalan for Guacamole Festival). Despite a history of poor judgement expressed by voters, Liz expects her perfect guacamole to reign supreme this year. Guacamole with a gold medal will taste even better when consumed in the homes of friends and families throughout the US during the August trip.

The Preparation: Rodeo

Manolo de Otto is preparing for the West by visiting the Spanish National Rodeo Championships on his brother's horsefarm this weekend in the Pyrenees mountain range (between France and Spain).

Michael Walters to join Los Pilgrims

Michael Walters is tentatively scheduled to join the merry band of pilgrims for a Wednesday to Friday run this summer. Itinerary determines whether he sees the Southeast, Southwest, Midwest or full on West.

Pilgrim Profile: Liz Kueneke + Clay Douglass

A one month homecoming. See you soon.