Camino Day 2

Posted on May 9, 2024 by Dave

Camino Day 2

Last night I went to Catholic mass in Roncesvalles. This was probably the first time in two decades I went to a regular mass service. But considering what we are doing, I thought it was appropriate. Before mass, I had the best 16 euro meal I ever had (see pics in previous post). Tortellini with mushrooms, Basque chicken, cheesecake and a bottle of wine. Easily a $75 meal at a US restaurant, but just €15 each for us. May be worth walking 500 miles if this is the norm.

Today’s walk from Roncesvalles to Larrasoana was about 16 miles and mostly flat, which was a welcome change from yesterday’s 4300 feet of hill climbing. We met our Detroit friends, Stephanie and Kyle, for likely the last time as they only planned to walk 7 miles today. I got a pic of all of us, minus me, before we left them. A fairly uneventful day, except for more walking than we originally planned. Most of the walk was through forest paths which was very nice. Lots of animals along the way…horses and cows.

Resting at our albergue, Albergue San Nicolas, waiting for dinner. This is the first time we will be bunking with people we don’t know. When I say bunking, there are actually bunk beds in our room. Enough for 6 people.

It looks like 16 more miles are planned for tomorrow. We are getting off to a fast start on our Camino…maybe too fast.

Pics from the day:

[Show slideshow]
Posted in Camino de Santiago, Europe, Spain | Leave a comment

Over the Pyrenees we Go…

Posted on May 8, 2024 by Dave

Ruth and Jim in St. Jean Pied de Port at the Camino start

Today is the day we started our Camino. We woke up around 6am, had a nice breakfast at Gure Lana, our B&B, and hit the road running…or walking I should say. We were not sure what to expect as this is considered the most difficult day of the 500 mile walk. Still, I am a bit ambivalent how I feel about it after it was done. My initial thought is that it wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be, but there were certainly at least two instances in the first 8 kilometers where I thought to myself, “what the F am I doing?”

We saw our new Detroit friends, Stephanie and Kyle, at the Orisson rest area and then just motored the rest of the way from there. It was foggy, windy and cold in places but it was better than hot and sunny.

We rolled into Roncesvalles in 7 1/2 hours, not too bad for three senior citizens, and I’m sure we beat our two Detroit 30 year old fellow peregrinos. Beers and fries when we reached La Posada, our auberge. Hot shower and bed rest until dinner at 7pm. Only 34 days to go to reach Santiago…lol. Fingers crossed that we can keep the momentum going. Some pics:

[Show slideshow]

 

Posted in Camino de Santiago, Europe, France, Spain | 1 Comment

Pamplona, Spain to SJPDP, France

Posted on May 7, 2024 by Dave

St.Jean Pied de Port, France

We spent a quick overnight in Pamplona, Spain and explored a bit of the city where the running of the bulls occurs every year.  Pamplona is a very nice town and I wish we has more time to explore.  However, we had to wash some clothes in the AirBnB using a combo washer/dryer which took a mere 3 hours per load.  We haven’t come very far in the 21st century with some technology.  Today, we took the noon bus to St. Jean Pied de Port, France where we will start our Camino tomorrow morning. The first day is the most difficult as we have to walk over the Pyrenees.  We met a funny young couple from Detroit while waiting in line to get our Camino credential, which is the book we use to collect stamps while walking the 500 miles to Santiago de Compostela.  This is used to prove that we walked each stage of the Camino.  St. Jean was a bit cold and rainy today, but it looks like it may get near 70 degrees tomorrow with rain clearing.  We are exhausted from all of the traveling getting here and will spend an early night back at the hotel.  The real adventure starts tomorrow. A few more pics from the last two days:

[Show slideshow]
Posted in Camino de Santiago, France, Spain | Leave a comment

First week in Spain

Posted on May 6, 2024 by Dave

2024 Madrid Open

It has been a very quick first week in Spain as I made my way to Barcelona to visit a friend for several days and then to Madrid to watch the men’s and women’s Madrid Open tennis finals.  I also spent several hours visiting the Prado museum in Madrid…though this great museum would take days or weeks to adequately explore.  But visit for the Bosch and Goya Black Paintings at the very least.  I’ll be back to the museum again at the end of June, but fighting the crowds here can be exhausting.  I took the train to Pamplona this morning and met my brother and his wife and we will be heading to southern France tomorrow to start our Camino.  We are a bit anxious to get going and a bit nervous about spending 30+ days walking.  I’ll try to keep posting while we are on our trek, but posting with this iPad may drive me crazy at some point…but I wasn’t going to be lugging a laptop around for 5 weeks.  Highlights in Barcelona were the Vinilo vinyl bar for music we listened to in college, the Bar RAIM Cuban bar, and the Bodega Neus tapas bar…all in the Gràcia section.  Lots of cerveza and a two bottle of wine night thrown in.  Madrid was almost exclusively back and forth to the tennis matches. Some pics from the first week:





 

Posted in Barcelona, Europe, Madrid, Spain | Leave a comment

First couple of days in Spain

Posted on May 1, 2024 by Dave

Bar Vinilo – Barcelona

After spending several days in Maine, I have made it to Spain, where I will be spending the next 7 weeks.   I’ve met up with my friend Tony in Barcelona, and then will be heading to Madrid this weekend for the Madrid Open tennis tournament, and then up to southern France to start the Camino.  I’m using this post to test my proficiency blogging using an iPad…which is turning out to be more challenging than I expected…mostly uploading the photos. Still, I think I have mastered the process and hope to be posting more interesting content while walking across Spain beginning next week.  For now a few pics from Maine and Barcelona. You will notice many of them include food and beer…I think the next 7 weeks will be the same. Cheers!


Posted in Barcelona, Europe, Spain | Leave a comment