Our Eclectic Camino

[mytiturk]

My wife and I did an eclectic camino. By "eclectic" I mean that it satisfied our special goals and matched our physical capabilities. We started in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on April 25 and arrived in Santiago on May 16. We walked from France to Spain via the high Ibaneta Pass. We selected a few other demanding 20+ km walks because of our particular historic, architectural, religious or mythical interests, and we did the complete 113 km walk across Galicia, earning our Latin Compostelas. We took public buses several times and stayed two nights in Saint-Jean, Pamplona, Estella and Burgos - all well worth the extra visiting time. We finished with 3 nights in Santiago and 3 in Bilbao. The trip was everything we expected it to be: a little grueling, occasionally scary, frequently fascinating, filled with people-stories, regularly drop-dead gorgeous and, without exception, wonder-filled. Itinerary details are in two consecutive posts on my website beginning here: http://mightyturk.wordpress.com/2013/05/31/our-camino-trip-schedule/. The second post on June 1 mentions specific bus companies and places at which we stayed so that you can contact them and save yourselves some research time. The site is about many topics - not just the Camino Santiago. It shows a few nice Camino photographs. I am still whittling down and digitally editing over 2000 photos into something manageable.

 

[Kiwi-family]

This post may inspire others to make a camino experience that suits their own limitations and interests. Glad you had such a successful time.

 

[mytiturk]

Hi Mama Rachael,

Thanks for the encouragement. I see from your site that you are accomplished at designing your own pilgrimages! Lovely photo of Westminster Abbey. Some places are more challenging for a photographer. Had to wait 3 days for the right, "dry" light to appear in Santiago. Decided to add some captioned photos to my June 1 post - the detailed one. It is a work in progress... From one grandpa to another - Keep on walking!