SoloCamino
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Sarria 2016
SJPP 2017
So I really enjoyed reading these posts while I was preparing for my trip. For some reason, I could not motivate myself to do these reports while I was walking so I will do them now. Things to know about me:
I am a lover of Spanish history, which is why I Camino
I am a typical American who can't take a month off work so I am doing this in segments
I am 50 and completed the sarria to Santiago portion last year (became obsession to finish before I turned 50)
I am now starting over at SJPP and left the USA from Seattle on May 26
I am not as fit as I should be, so the idea of going over the Pyrenees was daunting
I am a planner who likes having multiple contingency plans
I frequent travel alone for work and Camino solo (yes, and am female so I worry about that too)
I really enjoy meeting people on the Camino but am intimidated by large crowds of strangers
I both sleep lightly and snore so I always stay in small hotels for the sake of my fellow pilgrims
So we will title Day 1 as flexibility is the key to a good Camino.
Given my love of planning, I had the whole thing planned. Hotels reserved, transport booked, packed, unpacked, repacked and ready. Had my credentials from the American Pilgrims on the Camino. Mildly worries about cold on the pass, and hot everywhere else.
I was in a meeting on the day I left, so the earliest I could leave was 130pm from the US. I had looked at the different alternatives - fly to Paris and train to SJPP, or fly somewhere in Spain and train to Pamplona. Through it all, I was worried about my luggage as I had business in Spain and needed non Camino clothes. So I decided to fly to Barcelona, store my bags at the AC hotel by the train station, train to Pamplona, and then get to SJPP. Due to the flight schedules, I would arrive in Pamplona after the last bus to SJPP. Before June 1st, the buses only go in the afternoon, and I didn't have time to wait until the next day for a bus, so I prearranged a taxi to take me to SJPP. Cost = 100 euros (ouch). But my train to Pamplona and cab ride was the same cost as the train from Paris, so I was $$ neutral.
Aah, the best laid plans. Delta contacted me at 5am that the flights from Amsterdam were all delayed so I would be leaving 4 hours late, missing my connection to Barcelona. So I rebooked a flight from Seattle to Portland, then to Amsterdam, and then to Barcelona to stay on schedule. Of course, I had to leave my meeting early, but I have an understanding boss. They did mention the Portland Amsterdam flight was also delayed, but that I should make it. Well, it was delayed so bad that I had 35 minutes in Amsterdam to get through customs and to my flight. And they told me my luggage would never make it. So I just barely made my flight and hoped for the best for my luggage, since my checked hard side had my hiking poles and new hiking shoes. My backpack was a carry on with most of the things I would need for the trip.
As you have guessed, no luggage in Barcelona. It was on a flight that would get in at 4:25pm, which is around 2 hours into my train ride to Pamplona. So I arranged to have it sent to my Barcelona hotel, quickly took a cab there to drop off my other small carry on and dump as much stuff in it as possible, and make sure they would hold my luggage (no problem) and I was off without my shoes and poles.
All the transport worked just fine. My taxi driver spoke a little English. And much to my delight it was a woman so I didn't have to worry about the cab driver being a secret axe murder. She dropped me right next to the TI in SJPP at 8:25pm on Saturday night. It was closed. I had no idea who to get to the pilgrims office. Stopped in a hotel to find out. Made it to the office and it was closed. What? I thought it was open until 10pm. It was but it closed from 8pm to 930pm. Not wanting to wait around, and without enough sleep to think about needing dinner, I set out to find my hotel - villa Goxoki (which was lovely). No hotel had ever heard of it, but the address was Camino napoleon. So a nice man directed me to the Camino and told me to stay left. I was completely confused, and asked another man who was out walking. He spoke Spanish, and I showed him the name of my hotel. I think he said that he knew it, and to follow him. Mapquest was sending me in a different direction, but he said no. And you know what, the Camino truly does provide as this place has 5 rooms and I just happened to find one of the guests of the hotel. The place is .6 miles from SJPP up a very steep incline. I was officially on the Camino. I checked in, knew there was no way I was walking back down there for food, had a nice cold bottle of water and said good night to day 1 in my Camino journey.
I am a lover of Spanish history, which is why I Camino
I am a typical American who can't take a month off work so I am doing this in segments
I am 50 and completed the sarria to Santiago portion last year (became obsession to finish before I turned 50)
I am now starting over at SJPP and left the USA from Seattle on May 26
I am not as fit as I should be, so the idea of going over the Pyrenees was daunting
I am a planner who likes having multiple contingency plans
I frequent travel alone for work and Camino solo (yes, and am female so I worry about that too)
I really enjoy meeting people on the Camino but am intimidated by large crowds of strangers
I both sleep lightly and snore so I always stay in small hotels for the sake of my fellow pilgrims
So we will title Day 1 as flexibility is the key to a good Camino.
Given my love of planning, I had the whole thing planned. Hotels reserved, transport booked, packed, unpacked, repacked and ready. Had my credentials from the American Pilgrims on the Camino. Mildly worries about cold on the pass, and hot everywhere else.
I was in a meeting on the day I left, so the earliest I could leave was 130pm from the US. I had looked at the different alternatives - fly to Paris and train to SJPP, or fly somewhere in Spain and train to Pamplona. Through it all, I was worried about my luggage as I had business in Spain and needed non Camino clothes. So I decided to fly to Barcelona, store my bags at the AC hotel by the train station, train to Pamplona, and then get to SJPP. Due to the flight schedules, I would arrive in Pamplona after the last bus to SJPP. Before June 1st, the buses only go in the afternoon, and I didn't have time to wait until the next day for a bus, so I prearranged a taxi to take me to SJPP. Cost = 100 euros (ouch). But my train to Pamplona and cab ride was the same cost as the train from Paris, so I was $$ neutral.
Aah, the best laid plans. Delta contacted me at 5am that the flights from Amsterdam were all delayed so I would be leaving 4 hours late, missing my connection to Barcelona. So I rebooked a flight from Seattle to Portland, then to Amsterdam, and then to Barcelona to stay on schedule. Of course, I had to leave my meeting early, but I have an understanding boss. They did mention the Portland Amsterdam flight was also delayed, but that I should make it. Well, it was delayed so bad that I had 35 minutes in Amsterdam to get through customs and to my flight. And they told me my luggage would never make it. So I just barely made my flight and hoped for the best for my luggage, since my checked hard side had my hiking poles and new hiking shoes. My backpack was a carry on with most of the things I would need for the trip.
As you have guessed, no luggage in Barcelona. It was on a flight that would get in at 4:25pm, which is around 2 hours into my train ride to Pamplona. So I arranged to have it sent to my Barcelona hotel, quickly took a cab there to drop off my other small carry on and dump as much stuff in it as possible, and make sure they would hold my luggage (no problem) and I was off without my shoes and poles.
All the transport worked just fine. My taxi driver spoke a little English. And much to my delight it was a woman so I didn't have to worry about the cab driver being a secret axe murder. She dropped me right next to the TI in SJPP at 8:25pm on Saturday night. It was closed. I had no idea who to get to the pilgrims office. Stopped in a hotel to find out. Made it to the office and it was closed. What? I thought it was open until 10pm. It was but it closed from 8pm to 930pm. Not wanting to wait around, and without enough sleep to think about needing dinner, I set out to find my hotel - villa Goxoki (which was lovely). No hotel had ever heard of it, but the address was Camino napoleon. So a nice man directed me to the Camino and told me to stay left. I was completely confused, and asked another man who was out walking. He spoke Spanish, and I showed him the name of my hotel. I think he said that he knew it, and to follow him. Mapquest was sending me in a different direction, but he said no. And you know what, the Camino truly does provide as this place has 5 rooms and I just happened to find one of the guests of the hotel. The place is .6 miles from SJPP up a very steep incline. I was officially on the Camino. I checked in, knew there was no way I was walking back down there for food, had a nice cold bottle of water and said good night to day 1 in my Camino journey.