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I learned about the Trainline App here on the forum. I am also able to book and pay for advance bus tickets on it and we are taking a bus, train combo to Logrono later in the week so we can go to the party at Grañón on July 2.We catch a 6:30 am train on Friday morning at the Atoche station to Zaragoza. It is one of the AVE trains and arrives in Zaragoza at 7:52 am.
Then we transfer to a regional train that leaves Zaragoza at 8:43 and arrives at Canfranc Estacion at 12:29.
We could have made a later connection which would have arrived in Canfranc Est. Around 6 pm.
For these tickets I went through the Trainline App. It was fairly simple and I could buy the tickets and print them. I am sure I paid a bit more, but I could not get my US credit card to work with Renfe or the bus companies from the states.
Wishing you the best, as pilgrims and as hospitaleros, and I look forward to your updates.Hola todos,
Phil and I leave Laramie, WY, tomorrow morning for our combined Camino-tourist-Hospitalero trip to Spain. We will fly into Madrid, then take the train to Canfranc Estacion to begin our Camino Aragones. With the fires causing evacuations on this route closer to Sanguesa, we'll see how it goes.
We do have to bus over to the CF on the 28th (Logrono) and will walk from there to Granon for the 25th anniversary celebration of the Hospital de Peregrinos San Juan Bautista on July 2. Then will decide if we are coming back to the Aragones or staying on the CF until Burgos. (We'll see what the fires are doing by then.)
We'll stop being pilgrims on July 8, do some tourist stuff, and then return to Canfranc Pueblo on July 15 so we can be hospitaleros at the albergue until the end of July. I'll start a hospitalero thread for that part of the adventure.
Janet
Some friends mentioned the Carta Dorada to meWe catch a 6:30 am train on Friday morning at the Atocha station to Zaragoza. It is one of the AVE trains and arrives in Zaragoza at 7:52 am.
Then we transfer to a regional train that leaves Zaragoza at 8:43 and arrives at Canfranc Estacion at 12:29.
We could have made a later connection which would have arrived in Canfranc Est. Around 6 pm.
For these tickets I went through the Trainline App. It was fairly simple and I could buy the tickets and print them. I am sure I paid a bit more, but I could not get my US credit card to work with Renfe or the bus companies from the states.
Wonderful! I am looking forward to seeing and reading your impressions of it.Yes, we have a day planned for that. It will be great?
Phil
Hi Janet and Phil, I'm coming to Spain on TAP Portuguese airline, via Lisbon from San Francisco. Its the cheapest I could find for direct. I'll do a two day lay over in Lisbon to get over jet lag. Its offered as a perk. ( I mean the lay over, not the jet lag.) Then I'll train from Madrid to Zaragoza for an over night to be a tourist, get a credencial, walking poles and an Altus rain poncho. Next day I'll go to Somport to walk down to Canfranc to be the hospitalera August 15 to 31.Hola todos,
Phil and I leave Laramie, WY, tomorrow morning for our combined Camino-tourist-Hospitalero trip to Spain. We will fly into Madrid, then take the train to Canfranc Estacion to begin our Camino Aragones. With the fires causing evacuations on this route closer to Sanguesa, we'll see how it goes.
We do have to bus over to the CF on the 28th (Logrono) and will walk from there to Granon for the 25th anniversary celebration of the Hospital de Peregrinos San Juan Bautista on July 2. Then will decide if we are coming back to the Aragones or staying on the CF until Burgos. (We'll see what the fires are doing by then.)
We'll stop being pilgrims on July 8, do some tourist stuff, and then return to Canfranc Pueblo on July 15 so we can be hospitaleros at the albergue until the end of July. I'll start a hospitalero thread for that part of the adventure.
Janet
I am so glad there are other competent people from the US who can’t figure out Spanish washing machines. My most embarrassing moment was in the albergue in Potes when I wound up somehow getting it open and then flooding the albergue with soapy water. Luckily, the only other peregrino there, a Spanish man, was very understanding, though somewhat infuriatingly condescending. But he did help clean it up!I put the first on some kind of long cycle by mistake and could not get the washer open so washed them twice more on the 30 minute cycle.
@konnie, You will have to take a taxi to Somport. The train does not go that far although there may be a bus. I can let you know more when we go back in late July.Hi Janet and Phil, I'm coming to Spain on TAP Portuguese airline, via Lisbon from San Francisco. Its the cheapest I could find for direct. I'll do a two day lay over in Lisbon to get over jet lag. Its offered as a perk. ( I mean the lay over, not the jet lag.) Then I'll train from Madrid to Zaragoza for an over night to be a tourist, get a credencial, walking poles and an Altus rain poncho. Next day I'll go to Somport to walk down to Canfranc to be the hospitalera August 15 to 31.
Thanks for posting your adventures and experiences.
Phil, as a glasses wearer myself I'm glad your glasses are ok, (more or less).
I should have let Phil do the washing machine. He always does the laundry at the albergue and when we are Spain. Heck, he does it at home. I don't know what possessed me to presume I could understand the hieroglyphics on the front. The first thing he asked me was "Did you put it on the regular super long cycle or the short one?" Then I could not bear to admit he might be able to fix it so I was looking at YouTube videos again and trying to find the lady at the checkin desk to help me. She was not available and it was only by chance that I happened upon the open sesame combination. By then on course I could not pretend to Phil that I knew was I was doing all along... he let me do the second load under gentle supervision and it only took 30 minutes and not 3 hours.I am so glad there are other competent people from the US who can’t figure out Spanish washing machines. My most embarrassing moment was in the albergue in Potes when I wound up somehow getting it open and then flooding the albergue with soapy water. Luckily, the only other peregrino there, a Spanish man, was very understanding, though somewhat infuriatingly condescending. But he did help clean it up!
Sounds like you are off to a great start, enjoying your posts! Buen camino, Laurie
Thanks, maybe I'll just go to Canfranc Estacion.@konnie, You will have to take a taxi to Somport. The train does not go that far although there may be a bus. I can let you know more when we go back in late July.
That is what we did. Walk down is short, but some trip hazards.Thanks, maybe I'll just go to Canfranc Estacion.
I remembered from years ago when I walked the Catalán and Aragonés, that the Eroski site had good info on buses from Jaca to Somport. Lo and behold, it is still there. There are five daily buses up to Somport every day from Jaca, and they all stop at the train station. So if the timing is right, you could just hop on the bus up to the pass and walk back down. It’s a really pretty walk, and it was still totally snow covered in June, though that might not be the case anymore.Thanks, maybe I'll just go to Canfranc Estacion.
Thanks, maybe I'll just go to Canfranc Estacion
@peregrina2000 you are such a font of knowledge ! Your seemingly instant recall amazes me (no matter which route or corner of the camino).I remembered from years ago when I walked the Catalán and Aragonés, that the Eroski site had good info on buses from Jaca to Somport. Lo and behold, it is still there. There are five daily buses up to Somport every day from Jaca, and they all stop at the train station. So if the timing is right, you could just hop on the bus up to the pass and walk back down. It’s a really pretty walk, and it was still totally snow covered in June, though that might not be the case anymore.
Great to hear that I’m not the only one too !! The apartment I had for 3 nights in muxia recently in late May had a washing machine (I’ve vowed never to use one again if it doesn’t have instructions ).I am so glad there are other competent people from the US who can’t figure out Spanish washing machines. My most embarrassing moment was in the albergue in Potes when I wound up somehow getting it open and then flooding the albergue with soapy water
That's my plan too, to walk a few days from Oloron into Canfranc Pueblo in mid October for my second stint there.I'm thinking of walking the Arles from Oloron-Sainte-Marie to continue onto the Aragón.
Thanks, that is a big help.Ideally about 90 minutes at the 'new' monastery and interpretive centre and a half hour for the old one would be enough, to get some photos and stuff.. Depending on your level of interest, of course. I would allow 2 hrs or so.
The site is unforgettable. I have not walked there, but driving up the mountain road was steep!Question: those of you who have visited the monasteries at San Juan de Pena-- how long did it take you? We want to hire a taxi to take us up and wait and then take us to our hotel at Santa Cruz de los Sereos. We want to check into the hotel at 3 pm. How long do you think I should allow for?
Sorry it has not been a good day for Phil. By now you will be settled in your room. Best to have upsets over and done now - I once sat on my lovely prescription specs, and thought they had been left on the ground by someone else... and picked them up to place on a wall! Later, a kind optician in Pamplona agreed to re-twist them into shape, on the understanding it was my risk!It was a difficult day for Phil. I have mentioned elsewhere that he is a slow walker, but today he had a lot of unspecified aches and pains. I found myself waiting for him more often and trying to cheer him on.
At one point we got to Hotel Charle a bit more than 3/4 to Jaca and had hoped the bar would be open. It was not, but the sign said "Amigos de Camino". I went into the hotel side to ask if we might use the restroom and was told the bathrooms were closed!!! They are not MY amigos!
Once we got to Jaca there was a huge fiesta going on with kids screaming as the 'giants' chased them. They were not the real giants from the parade, but people dressed up in costumes with heads like the devil or the Guardia Civil teasing and chasing kids. I nearly lost Phil in the shuffle.
Found our hotel (Hotel Jaques) and I had 2 Cafe con leches while Phil had a beer and we waited on our room. Resting now and will go out to walk around this evening. It is Sunday so we may be eating bocadillos again for supper if nothing is open.
Even our young host who is fit, has done two Caminos and teaches skiing round the world in the winter said this downhill stretch is the roughest and that he would not want to do it ever again. I can't imagine what it would have been like if it was wet or a very hot day. DON'T DO IT, PEOPLE!!!Unfortunately, you can now join the chorus when people ask about steep descents. I think that descent from San Juan to Santa Cruz de los Serós is one of the two or three most difficult I have done on a camino, and my knees were not the same for the rest of my camino.
But the luxury of the hotel there is a definite plus! I have never stayed there but it did look very inviting. And you can visit two more ancient churches in your relaxation time, too!
So glad that Phil is doing better and that you both were able to get such great long sleeps. Buen camino!
Waiting for a ride into Jaca to catch our bus. We counted up and between us have not quite 200 euros cash. Phil will continue to work on the bank problem today. We are here in Spain for more than another month and 200 euros won't last so it is good we encountered this issue before we are down to zero.Even our young host who is fit, has done two Caminos and teaches skiing round the world in the winter said this downhill stretch is the roughest and that he would not want to do it ever again. I can't imagine what it would have been like if it was wet or a very hot day. DON'T DO IT, PEOPLE!!!
As for the hotel it is lovely. The host and hostess, Alberto and Angela, are two young people who work hard in the summer so they can travel in the winter. They prepared us a salad and cheese/meat tray this evening even though I had not asked in advance. In the morning, either Alberto or the community taxi driver will take us to Jaca at 9 am. To catch our bus/train combo for Logono.
Tomorrow we begin our transition to walk the CF for 3 days so we can get to the party at Grañón on July 2. Then we'll come back to Jaca and walk further on this route.
I loved the crypt, but the vespers in the church was an experience I cannot describe. My vivid memory (and this is from 1994 by the way!) is sitting in the church, with its central arch flanked by two smaller arches, which were not symmetrical, but each one shaped slightly differently. It just hit me that here I was sitting in a place where people built such a beautiful building at a time when they didn’t have the equipment to build perfectly equal arches, but perservered and created an amazing place of beauty and calm.but we toured the crypt and the church and will attend vespers at 7 pm.
Attended vespers and took a photo of what @peregrina2000 was talking about. The church has had many revisions. This was a pretty thriving monastery until a law in 1836 did away with monastic life. In 1954, the community of Benedictine monks arrived from Santo Domingo de Silos. For sale here at the monastery is a special liquor and goat cheese as well as other specialties of the region. They are building a new visitors center so money is being invested.I loved the crypt, but the vespers in the church was an experience I cannot describe. My vivid memory (and this is from 1994 by the way!) is sitting in the church, with its central arch flanked by two smaller arches, which were not symmetrical, but each one shaped slightly differently. It just hit me that here I was sitting in a place where people built such a beautiful building at a time when they didn’t have the equipment to build perfectly equal arches, but perservered and created an amazing place of beauty and calm.
I think you made a great decision to visit the monastery! And I too am glad you took Option C!
Very happy to see how things are progressing, Janet. Please do not stay down in the dungeons of the bus station. Have a look at the escalator. When you exit from there, look behind to your right, and you will see an extensive grassy area. Each evening, during San Fermin celebrations, there are fireworks there. You can at least surface and breathe fresh air. It will depress you no end to stay underground if you do not need to!Ok, everyone, last post on this thread. I will start a new one for the hosputalero gig in a few weeks.
After my little over-heating fiasco we really turned into touragrinos. Today we are in Javier which is a slight variation in the walk from Undeis and Sanguesa. Elena out trusty cab driver picked up at the monastery at 11 am and brought us over. Turns out she was married here in Javier and it is a really beautiful place.
She also filled us in a bit on life in Artiede in the hilltop town. There is no store, but she explained they don't need one. Everyone helps each other with errands and shopping, especially since the pandemic. The bread truck comes 3 times a week. Another truck brings meats and cold foods. The pharmacy truck and the doctor come twice a week. She said the bank even comes to you. She said there is also a program where the albergue cooks and delivers to the older village residents. She did qualify that a car was pretty essential though, but everything is being done to encourage people to stay in their communities. During the worst of the pandemic they had no illnesses due to their isolation. People with vacation homes from the city stayed away to protect the community.
Javier is the home of a Saint who traveled to the east in the 1500's as a missionary. The castle tower dates from the 10th century and was added onto over the years to protect the border of Navarre against Aragon which is extremely close by. We toured the castle and got a credential stamp. Then came back and had a menu del dia and took a nap.
I included one photo of the burn area again. It was very close and many people were temporarily displaced. It would have been terrible to lose such historic treasures as the monastery and this castle.
Tomorrow Phil and I have bus tickets to San Sebastion via Pamplona (wish us luck, we probably won't leave the bus station). We go on to Bilbao for a couple of days, then to Avila (I did get train tickets sorted out) and then will spend a day in Zaragoza before returning to Canfranc. Getting excited about the service to pilgrims after we have received so many kindnesses ourselves the past weeks.
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Straight across the road at the pedestrian crossing.Yes. We know the station pretty well, and know it is in the park area of the fortress. If there is anyplace for coffee that is likely where we will migrate.
Nice to see your smiling faces. I’m glad things are going smoothly now.Ok, everyone, last post on this thread. I will start a new one for the hosputalero gig in a few weeks.
After my little over-heating fiasco we really turned into touragrinos. Today we are in Javier which is a slight variation in the walk from Undeis and Sanguesa. Elena out trusty cab driver picked up at the monastery at 11 am and brought us over. Turns out she was married here in Javier and it is a really beautiful place.
She also filled us in a bit on life in Artiede in the hilltop town. There is no store, but she explained they don't need one. Everyone helps each other with errands and shopping, especially since the pandemic. The bread truck comes 3 times a week. Another truck brings meats and cold foods. The pharmacy truck and the doctor come twice a week. She said the bank even comes to you. She said there is also a program where the albergue cooks and delivers to the older village residents. She did qualify that a car was pretty essential though, but everything is being done to encourage people to stay in their communities. During the worst of the pandemic they had no illnesses due to their isolation. People with vacation homes from the city stayed away to protect the community.
Javier is the home of a Saint who traveled to the east in the 1500's as a missionary. The castle tower dates from the 10th century and was added onto over the years to protect the border of Navarre against Aragon which is extremely close by. We toured the castle and got a credential stamp. Then came back and had a menu del dia and took a nap.
I included one photo of the burn area again. It was very close and many people were temporarily displaced. It would have been terrible to lose such historic treasures as the monastery and this castle.
Tomorrow Phil and I have bus tickets to San Sebastion via Pamplona (wish us luck, we probably won't leave the bus station). We go on to Bilbao for a couple of days, then to Avila (I did get train tickets sorted out) and then will spend a day in Zaragoza before returning to Canfranc. Getting excited about the service to pilgrims after we have received so many kindnesses ourselves the past weeks.
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