- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances “2017”
Aragones “2018”
Portuguese “2018”
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In Artieda an elderly man sits outside in the plaza with his big key to open the church and give a stamp to interested pilgrims. It was very special. I think that is his reason to get up in the morning. Our Catholic American walking friends were very touched.
Enjoy the pics
Foz de Lumbier. Enjoying this dramatic gorge first thing in the morning on your own, surrounded by the river and tens of vultures is a unique experience in all Caminos. A small tip: you have to cross old train tunnels where there is no light. You can do it the easy way, using a torch or your mobile, or you can be brave and do it the sensible way: just carry a stick/pole on your hand and point it at the wall on your side. Drag it along the way, and as long as you are dragging it agains the wall you can be sure you will not be breaking your nose in the dark. You start slowly, but when you realize it is perfectly safe, it is eery to walk at a good pace in complete darkness until you start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
Incidentally, that place was famous for some squirmish between ETA terrorists and Guardia Civil a few years ago, that is why the name was familiar to me. DO NOT MISS IT!
Love the photos! And I liked your snippet about the man in Artieda. I don’t want to overstate this, but I do think that the camino has brought some life and intereste into these tiny towns filled with old people and on their way to oblivion. I also remember a couple of years ago at the new albergue in Vilaserio. An elderly woman had opened an albergue in the family home after the death of her husband. Her daughter was at the albergue when i was there and she told me that in her opinion the albergue had given her mom back her reason to live. From depression, resignation, sadness, to getting up in the morning and having to get going. It’s nice that it’s one of the side effects, maybe for more people than these two.
And you are probably already beyond Sangüesa, but I wonder if you were moved to take the alternative through the Foz de Lumbier, a river canyon gorge type place, sorry for my inartful description. One of my few regrets when walking the Aragonés was that I was oblivious to its existence, and it looks like a beautful walk.
Bueno, I only realized the day before, it was not so well signposted, I used the map on my mobile to cut across some fiels without realizing the GPS does not show fences or bad falls! I eventually made it. You will have to come back for this, Laurie! The old railway path is in carved in the cliff on the right hand side of this photo, I went down to the river to cool down a bit, and there was nobody else but me and a few dozens of different types of vulturesYou’re killing me with these descriptions. How in the world did LT and I not know about this when we walked a few years ago??????
That’s a really beautiful picture, just keep on doing this Amancio,Bueno, I only realized the day before, it was not so well signposted, I used the map on my mobile to cut across some fiels without realizing the GPS does not show fences or bad falls! I eventually made it. You will have to come back for this, Laurie! The old railway path is in carved in the cliff on the right hand side of this photo, I went down to the river to cool down a bit, and there was nobody else but me and a few dozens of different types of vultures
The trail runs along the right side of the gorge. It was wide enough for a train to travel along.That’s a really beautiful picture, just keep on doing this Amancio,but I wonder if you could explain how you walk through the gorge with those water levels.
The bus takes workers up to SAN Juan Della Pena, so I presume that it keeps going while the monasteries are open. So I would say yes for mid October. Check on their website.Vow, this is supremely beautiful.
Some quick questions - is the Aragones just as nice in mid October? Is this bus going up to SAN Juan de la Pena still operate in Mid October, and most albergues still open? And I assume I could get to Somport from Madrid city or airport? *(I know I should read past postings, but seeing all these beautiful pictures really get me excited)!!
Thanks!
Thanks! I will consider this option, nice to visit Zaragosa too!I took a train from Madrid to Zaragoza and the small regional train to Canfranc and taxi to Somport. Tourist office in Jaca will help you arrange a taxi to San Juan de la Pena, 50 euros well spent. I am in Sanguesa right now and have seen only 4 pieces of litter the entire way. The hospitalero in Arres says that this route is for intelligent people, very true.
Thanks Sharon, I have been reading your postings with great interest! I will check its website, hopefully they are still working and running! I am also researching how to walk to the monastery and continue walking there! Much appreciated the information from all fellow pilgrims!The bus takes workers up to SAN Juan Della Pena, so I presume that it keeps going while the monasteries are open. So I would say yes for mid October. Check on their website.
If you are walking down the Somport route watch out for new arrivals nearby in the forest near Aspe. Controversal wild bears have just been reintroduced to the area. Be prepared!
Read more in French here --
http://www.lefigaro.fr/sciences/201...oduction-de-deux-ourses-dans-les-pyrenees.php
It was Jose, the hospitalero from the municipal albergue, who told us about the bus.The tourist office obviously had incorrect information as there were 8 pilgrims and 4 workers on the bus the day we took it.
Yes. You would be right. Also, if I was by myself, the taxi option would probably be better, as the walk down is stony and steep.Hello, all and @sharon w, I do not think that the tourist office in Jaca would give incorrect information, but other information to fit our circumstances. If, for example, you arrived in Jaca later in the afternoon it makes sense to take the workers bus to San Juan de la Pena in the next morning. I arrived in Jaca during the morning and so going to the monestery by taxi in the afternoon worked well for me. Yes, 50 euros was no small amount of money but the driver and I had wonderful conversations in Spanish, he showed me his favorite lookouts and we also spent time at the churches in Santa Cruz de las Seros. So, any way that you get there, we all would agree that it is worth the time and effort.
Why not just fly from Paris to Pau? Quicker and faster.We have made it YAY. From Australia we have had 2 plane flights, 3 train trips and 1 bus ride to get to Somport to start our walk. It really wasn’t that hard.
We flew into Paris (CDG). Waited a couple of hours and got the 4 hour TVG train to Bordeaux. The station is at the airport. Overnight in Bordeaux.
Next day to Pau by train. Another overnight to help get over the jet lag, it really is a beautiful city.
This morning we got the train to Bedous and then the bus to Somport, arriving at 11.30am. All done by the machine at the station, and in English.
Got our picture taken with the sign by nice Spanish Police, a caffe con leche, a sello, and we were off.
Now in Confrac Estacion after a couple of hours down the steep hill. The pack and poles feel like old friends. A good start to our second Camino.
We thought of it, but we like train rides. You see more of the country that way....but not as much as walking !!!Why not just fly from Paris to Pau? Quicker and faster.
That is what I want to do for my next Camino: maybe in 2020. I loved our 6 days in Provence after the CF this year.I did it the hard way in 2004...walked from Arles.
Check out the links/tips on this earlier thread for Paris accommodation.So excited We are hiking the CA and leaving Cape Town, South Africa 21 September 2019! We fly to Paris from where we would like the experience of travelling by train and will walk from Somport.
Any suggestions for reasonable accommodation in Paris?
I walked from Lourdes, over Somport and got as far as Jaca, in May 2018.So excited We are hiking the CA and leaving Cape Town, South Africa 21 September 2019! We fly to Paris from where we would like the experience of travelling by train and will walk from Somport.
Any suggestions for reasonable accommodation in Paris?
If you want to talk to me, please send me a message. We can meet. I am also in Cape Town.So excited We are hiking the CA and leaving Cape Town, South Africa 21 September 2019! We fly to Paris from where we would like the experience of travelling by train and will walk from Somport.
Any suggestions for reasonable accommodation in Paris?
HA! I even commented on these posts, so sorry, blame it on my fading memory. I will have to go through and re-read carefully because I have such wonderful memories of that route. Would you mind if I merged them all into one “live from the camino” thread so people who are looking for info now will out all about your camino in one place?
Way off topic, but what did you think of your Douro cruise? I love visiting the Douro and have taken a train way up to Pocinho to the end of the line and it’s gorgeous, but not sure how I would enjoy being in a boat.
Buen camino, Laurie
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