shefollowsshells
Veteran Member
- Sep 3, 2013
- 770
- 1,846
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Several alone and with children
I'm writing from a nice vegan restaurant over the bridge in San Sebastian, I love this town!!!!
The place I am eating at was recommended by the young fella at the hostel I am staying at.
I found my way to Roger's House , a young hip hostel , Audrey's recommendation from our forum.
The cost is 18 euros a night and he opened the fridge and pretty much said to help myself in the AM.
No other pilgrim there but many young kids during their " gap year" at school and I am really enjoying talking to them, so a nice little evening. there is a sign awarding it friendliest staff, and I can see why the got this. I'm older than the crew staying here, but they seem accepting and have been very nice to chat with.
Today was hard, but splendid! A beautiful walk.
I left for dinner without David's book or I might be more detailed here , I might need to come back and share my thoughts more specifically to add some info.
I left the auberge At 8:45, you,ll find I am later riser than most as I share my days BUT I typically will walk long days with several breaks. It's good I didn't get out to early for the church with the black Madonna opens at 9:30 and I think I got there about that time. The side was open a jar and it appeared no one was there.
Almost immediately you are left the choice to go UP or skirt the bottom, I had assumed the lower trail was North, and looking back over David's words he clearly had shared that left was the lower trail and the high trail was the one closer to the coast. The high trail is indeed high, and you know what you are getting yourself into immediately, you see the hill and you see the path.
There is zero chance of getting lost ( speaking of this stage), I actually felt like I was following the person marking the trail because if I paused with doubt there was a mark. You must know that the red and white marks are used here too! Can a place be too marked?
There was one spot where I felt like I had to almost crawl over rocks ( behind a building, maybe a water pump or something) I was convinced I was the ONLY person ever to do this...but nope , there were red ans white signs telling me many others had gone this way.
So my funny story of the day...
After you make the decision to go the alpine route , higher route, near the top of that first big hill is a fence, clearly closed off and then further closed off with some kind thick material. I took off my backpack hurled it over my head to throw it over the fence and with bootie in the air climbed over the fence, certain my body weight would carve an open path for any future pilgrims when the gate broke. It withstood and right when I was ready to put my pack back on two local men out for their daily walk approached the fence , lifted the cloth tie with minimal effort and proceeded to walk thru the fence.
I loved Pesai Donibane...I was there in about four and a half hours and ate a generous serving of calamari , coke, cafe con leche for just under 8 euro, the water taxi is now .7 Euro and I gave the guy a euro.
The light house walk, going right just about killed me, from that point on I struggled some , and concluded for me that this was harder than the Pyrenees.
My dinner at this vegan restaurant came to 8 euros.
So 35 euros today!
Yesterday I had to pay 21 euros to go from Charles de gaul to Orley via BUS ( I miss typed train yesterday, it was a bus) 2 euros to go from airport to Hendaye , 8 euros for a lunch of kabob, coke and coffee and 17 euros for my nights stay.
For those afraid of being alone there are many young travelers who love to chat with you about the Camino, and while not socializing with pilgrims these have been wonderful conversations.
I met four pilgrims today, my two German bunk mates from last night who are walking ten or so days, anda young engaged couple from England and New Zeland. All four did not come to San Sebastian but stopped on the way.
I'm not certain I have ever been so tired....
The place I am eating at was recommended by the young fella at the hostel I am staying at.
I found my way to Roger's House , a young hip hostel , Audrey's recommendation from our forum.
The cost is 18 euros a night and he opened the fridge and pretty much said to help myself in the AM.
No other pilgrim there but many young kids during their " gap year" at school and I am really enjoying talking to them, so a nice little evening. there is a sign awarding it friendliest staff, and I can see why the got this. I'm older than the crew staying here, but they seem accepting and have been very nice to chat with.
Today was hard, but splendid! A beautiful walk.
I left for dinner without David's book or I might be more detailed here , I might need to come back and share my thoughts more specifically to add some info.
I left the auberge At 8:45, you,ll find I am later riser than most as I share my days BUT I typically will walk long days with several breaks. It's good I didn't get out to early for the church with the black Madonna opens at 9:30 and I think I got there about that time. The side was open a jar and it appeared no one was there.
Almost immediately you are left the choice to go UP or skirt the bottom, I had assumed the lower trail was North, and looking back over David's words he clearly had shared that left was the lower trail and the high trail was the one closer to the coast. The high trail is indeed high, and you know what you are getting yourself into immediately, you see the hill and you see the path.
There is zero chance of getting lost ( speaking of this stage), I actually felt like I was following the person marking the trail because if I paused with doubt there was a mark. You must know that the red and white marks are used here too! Can a place be too marked?
There was one spot where I felt like I had to almost crawl over rocks ( behind a building, maybe a water pump or something) I was convinced I was the ONLY person ever to do this...but nope , there were red ans white signs telling me many others had gone this way.
So my funny story of the day...
After you make the decision to go the alpine route , higher route, near the top of that first big hill is a fence, clearly closed off and then further closed off with some kind thick material. I took off my backpack hurled it over my head to throw it over the fence and with bootie in the air climbed over the fence, certain my body weight would carve an open path for any future pilgrims when the gate broke. It withstood and right when I was ready to put my pack back on two local men out for their daily walk approached the fence , lifted the cloth tie with minimal effort and proceeded to walk thru the fence.
I loved Pesai Donibane...I was there in about four and a half hours and ate a generous serving of calamari , coke, cafe con leche for just under 8 euro, the water taxi is now .7 Euro and I gave the guy a euro.
The light house walk, going right just about killed me, from that point on I struggled some , and concluded for me that this was harder than the Pyrenees.
My dinner at this vegan restaurant came to 8 euros.
So 35 euros today!
Yesterday I had to pay 21 euros to go from Charles de gaul to Orley via BUS ( I miss typed train yesterday, it was a bus) 2 euros to go from airport to Hendaye , 8 euros for a lunch of kabob, coke and coffee and 17 euros for my nights stay.
For those afraid of being alone there are many young travelers who love to chat with you about the Camino, and while not socializing with pilgrims these have been wonderful conversations.
I met four pilgrims today, my two German bunk mates from last night who are walking ten or so days, anda young engaged couple from England and New Zeland. All four did not come to San Sebastian but stopped on the way.
I'm not certain I have ever been so tired....
Last edited:
