Hello! I'm Kristin and I'm from Texas (USA). I've made my way to Germany and leave on Sunday (August 14, 2016) for Pamplona to start my Camino via SJPDP.
This is sort of a last minute trip as I just decided to do it about 3 weeks ago, after I got to Germany and tried to decide how I would spend my 90 days in Europe. So, thanks to this forum, the unselfish information provided and the questions of others on their first Camino, I found most everything I needed to plan. BTW, I find planning stressful and hugely disappointing, so I try to avoid it. For a trip like this, I did use common sense but have decided not to stress about the parts I cannot control, believing it will be ok if I just get there and start putting one foot in front of the other. I've calculated I'll do that around 1.4 million times on my way to Finisterre!
Anyway, over the weekend I found an inexpensive flight, got a taxi reservation from Pamplona (I'd be happy to share if anyone else is arriving around 4pm), a reservation at Beilari, and sent a request to Refuge Orisson for August 15 (7 days before my arrival). Orisson responded last night that they do have a bed and dinner/breakfast. So I booked it. I do not have nor did I need a Paypal account. They sent a request for payment and I followed the Paypal prompts (in French, no less!!!).
So I leave in 72 hours and that is as much planning as I'll do other than occasional reservations as I find necessary over the next 40-45 days.
And a special thank you to all of those that gave detailed reports on packing and how to get to SJPDP. That alone probably kept me from making incredibly costly (and heavy) mistakes.
I hope to meet some of you out there!
Buen Camino,
Kristin
This is sort of a last minute trip as I just decided to do it about 3 weeks ago, after I got to Germany and tried to decide how I would spend my 90 days in Europe. So, thanks to this forum, the unselfish information provided and the questions of others on their first Camino, I found most everything I needed to plan. BTW, I find planning stressful and hugely disappointing, so I try to avoid it. For a trip like this, I did use common sense but have decided not to stress about the parts I cannot control, believing it will be ok if I just get there and start putting one foot in front of the other. I've calculated I'll do that around 1.4 million times on my way to Finisterre!
Anyway, over the weekend I found an inexpensive flight, got a taxi reservation from Pamplona (I'd be happy to share if anyone else is arriving around 4pm), a reservation at Beilari, and sent a request to Refuge Orisson for August 15 (7 days before my arrival). Orisson responded last night that they do have a bed and dinner/breakfast. So I booked it. I do not have nor did I need a Paypal account. They sent a request for payment and I followed the Paypal prompts (in French, no less!!!).
So I leave in 72 hours and that is as much planning as I'll do other than occasional reservations as I find necessary over the next 40-45 days.
And a special thank you to all of those that gave detailed reports on packing and how to get to SJPDP. That alone probably kept me from making incredibly costly (and heavy) mistakes.
I hope to meet some of you out there!
Buen Camino,
Kristin