- Time of past OR future Camino
- Sept/Oct 2023
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Ok, normal for Spain not to post flights until just before flight. You will know next time.Madrid's airport completed the new construction near customs! I cleared customs about 15-20 min. after getting off the plane. Very fast.
Found the airport tram downstairs. Took tram from T4s to T4 for domestic flight on Iberia. Went thru the usual hassel obtaining my reserved ticket at the Iberia desk then went to K gates per ticket info. Gate # not posted (2 hours prior to flight) . Wandered around. Asked gate agent for gate number. Told to "look at the board". I said it's not posted. Told to "wait". Circled gate area several times. Asked again. Gate was not posted until 45 min before flight!!! Arrgh! Met other Pilgrims & chatted so was nice. 4 from the US, 1 from the UK, 2 from OZ.
After arriving at PNA I went to check out the bus situation. I was told by an agent the bus stop was" a long way" and one must cross 2 major highways to access the stop. Shared a taxi with3 other Pilgrims so fare was less than 5eu each. Nice! I'm glad Pamplona is supporting their taxis (with the bus sooo inconvenient ha!). BTW, beautiful afternoon weather! Happy!
Checked into Jesus y Maria. Bed assignment was a configuration of 2 bunks pushed together (kinda like 2 double bunk beds). I was on the bottom but I surely don't want to sleep THAT close to anyone other than family!!!!! I declined and moved over to the Cathedral Albergue 10 person dorm. Wonderful hospi's at both places BTW.
Met up with a couple of forum members for pinchos and drinks - lovely people and I'm so glad we had a chance to meet!!! Around 6 it started to rain and we returned to our respective lodgings.i have a tendency to get lost in these narrow streets so Sarah was kind enough to walk with me back to the cathedral.
Back at the Albergue everyone was discussing beds. Beds beds beds. Where are they???? Why can't we find a place for tomorrow, etc. I listened but failed to understand why there was such a a strong perception of scarcity. Maybe I was just too tired. Fell asleep around 2100 in an empty dorm room - quiet & wonderful with everyone else in the common room discussing beds. Around 2300 I was awakened when people came to bed. Thought well yeah may as well use the facilities. Did so and tried to go back to sleep but oh no! No no no. Haven't been able to and now it's 0445. Long day ahead I believe!
Yes I would have engaged in more discussion but just too tired yesterday.Ok, normal for Spain not to post flights until just before flight. You will know next time.
Are you going to start in Pamplona?Buen Camino. You are a seasoned pilgrim now. You can impart wisdom on the less experienced Pilgrims. Wish I was there.
It's so good to be on the Camino... look for a quiet space where you can sleep inYes I would have engaged in more discussion but just too tired yesterday.
Didn't know about the flight posts . Good to know!
I’ll bet you amazed yourself. I’ve often ‘been there’ and thought ‘ how can I walk a stage tomorrow without any sleep ?’ But I somehow find the energy next day. I think the fact that we are ‘resting’ our bodies works the magic.Haven't been able to and now it's 0500. Long day ahead I believe!
Get ear plugs at a Ferrateria they are called tapones para los odios. At least that is what they are called in Mexico. Just get those cheap rubber ones. Twist them and then put them in your ears. To seal them just twist them in the opposite direction after they are in your ears.This Camino is dedicated to mi amiga Teresa and her family.
I walked many km's in 2023 with Teresa and her daughter. For Teresa, the CF was a " true pilgrimmage". A devour Catholic, she encouraged me to attend pilgrim's mass & blessings and visited almost every church along the way - I often joined her. About a month after Teresa's return home she was diagnosed with an aggressive type of breast cancer. I will pray for Teresa and her family as I walk this Camino.
Madrid's airport completed the new construction near customs! I cleared customs about 15-20 min. after getting off the plane. Very fast.
Found the airport tram downstairs. Took tram from T4s to T4 for domestic flight on Iberia. Went thru the usual hassel obtaining my reserved ticket at the Iberia desk then went to K gates per ticket info. Gate # not posted (2 hours prior to flight) . Wandered around. Asked gate agent for gate number. Told to "look at the board". I said it's not posted. Told to "wait". Circled gate area several times. Asked again. Gate was not posted until 45 min before flight!!! Arrgh! Met other Pilgrims & chatted so was nice. 4 from the US, 1 from the UK, 2 from OZ.
After arriving at PNA I went to check out the bus situation. I was told by an agent the bus stop was" a long way" and one must cross 2 major highways to access the stop. Shared a taxi with3 other Pilgrims so fare was less than 5eu each. Nice! I'm glad Pamplona is supporting their taxis (with the bus sooo inconvenient ha!). BTW, beautiful afternoon weather! Happy!
Checked into Jesus y Maria. Bed assignment was a configuration of 2 bunks pushed together (kinda like 2 double bunk beds). I was on the bottom but I surely don't want to sleep THAT close to anyone other than family!!!!! I declined and moved over to the Cathedral Albergue 10 person dorm. Wonderful hospi's at both places BTW.
Met up with a couple of forum members for pinchos and drinks - lovely people and I'm so glad we had a chance to meet and I hope our paths cross again. Around 6 it started to rain and we returned to our respective lodgings. I have a tendency to get lost in these narrow streets so Sarah was kind enough to walk with me back to the cathedral.
Back at the Albergue everyone was discussing beds. Beds beds beds. Where are they???? Why can't we find a place for tomorrow, etc. I listened but failed to understand why there was such a a strong perception of scarcity. Maybe I was just too tired. Fell asleep around 2100 in an empty dorm room - quiet & wonderful with everyone else in the common room discussing beds. Around 2300 I was awakened when people came to bed. Thought well yeah may as well use the facilities. Did so and tried to go back to sleep but oh no! No no no. Haven't been able to and now it's 0500. Long day ahead I believe!
The feeling is mutual!Wish I could walk with you! You'd be great company! Keep us informed!
Days 3 & 4:
Borda to Roncesvalles and Roncesvalles to Zubiri
3 French & 3 Spanish border patrol officers were at the border checking passports. One of the officers asked me to take a picture of the 6 of them together, which I did. After I handed the camera back they all got into their official patrol cars and drove away!!!
This might be an option for you @MARSKA:...
I'm unsure where to go tomorrow. I don't care to stay in Pamplona but also don't care to walk through Pamplona and up Alto de Ferro. My Camino buddies have dispersed so I'm on my own.
C'mon, you're too modest. They'd heard that the world famous forum legend @MARSKA was coming, and wanted to be able to boast that they'd had their photo taken by you.And I saw the patrols drive past the food truck on my way up, so the agents had not been present too terribly long before I arrived.
I just have to ask to be sure: They did ask to see national passports and national ID cards and performed identity controls? It is a little surprising and presumably part of more visibility in the context of their joint cross-border units but what surprises me more is the fact that there were as many as 6 of them and that they asked a passer-by to take a souvenir photo of their group.3 French & 3 Spanish border patrol officers were at the border checking passports. One of the officers asked me to take a picture of the 6 of them together, which I did. After I handed the camera back they all got into their official patrol cars and drove away!!!
Yes there were 3 French and 3 Spanish agents. Yes they asked for my passport. And yes they asked me to take a picture of them together, with one of their phones. I know it's odd and that's why it caught my attention and thus I posted about the encounter.I just have to ask to be sure: They did ask to see national passports and national ID cards and performed identity controls? It is a little surprising and presumably part of more visibility in the context of their joint cross-border units but what surprises me more is the fact that there were as many as 6 of them and that they asked a passer-by to take a souvenir photo of their group.
Buen Camino, @MARSKA !
Somehow I missed your post, Sheesh. If I had seen it I def would have gone this route! Well. Next time.yhank you for caring enough to post the recommendation!This might be an option for you @MARSKA:
Get the La Estellesa bus from Pamplona to Legarda. There is a bus leaving at 10:00 and another at 13:30 on Sunday, and the ride takes 20 minutes. The bus doesn't actually go into the hamlet of Legarda, but lets you off on the highway opposite it. From there you can walk into Legarda (which is tiny) and then cut across country (about 1.5 km on farmland trails) to Uterga and then proceed on to Puente la Reina, or further. I did this in 2022 and also took the detour to the lovely Church of Saint Mary of Eunate. It may not be open, but it's a pleasant walk and you can go into the grounds surrounding the Church.
A forum member Mikel Olivares kindly added a photo of the view of Uterga from Legarda into the Forum Media Resources:
Isn't it great when this happens?Day ?
I'm losing track of the days.
Yes it is!!!Isn't it great when this happens?
So good to read this and must say - that it is obvious reading your posts that you have relaxed and are really ‘getting it’I feel more confident and stronger. The hills are nothing.i am not afraid or anxious. I walk well and sleep well. I am content.
Ha! Thanks Dani and Janet!Maybe after this holiday week passes, things will thin out and you'll be back to gritty pilgrims again.
Let's hope your hike up the mountain goes better this year!Met up with Mr. David & daughter last night. Nice to touch base with forum members! If anyone is in Las Herrerias tonight and wants to meet shoot me a PM. I'll be in O Cerebrio tomorrow and same there.
Allergies much better! Yeah! Not sure what it was but oh man....
The Pradela route was absolutely wonderful. Beautiful views and I only saw 3 people on the route. However, I forgot how looonnggg the downhill part is and how dang far it seems to Las Herrerias once down. I love Las Herrerias. It reminds me of my grandparents farm in Iowa. It's amazing how peaceful I feel watching bovines eat grass.
Gracias! No rain forecasted so it's gotta be better!!! Wasn't that a heck of a downpour last fall?Let's hope your hike up the mountain goes better this year!
Prayers and best wishes.
Nope. It was a solo din-din again tonight. I was one of 3 solo pilgrim diners. The other two were neck-deep into their phones.Any gritty pilgrims yet? Hope you are finding someone to dine with.
My recommendations? --- See if you can snare a private room at Albergue a Reboleira, in Fonfria, and enjoy the 'communal' dinner there!.... And then there's that place you stayed last year in Samos....A Casa da Botica... Really very nice! (Ask for room 101!).... And in Sarria I have a soft spot for the Pension Escalinata -- top of the famous stairs -- have stayed there several times since 2012. It ain't all that great, but there's a kind of funky 'old Camino' feel to it.Suggestions for such a place past O Cebrierio (sp- always manage to get it wrong) welcome!
Oh no sleep!This Camino is dedicated to mi amiga Teresa and her family.
I walked many km's in 2023 with Teresa and her daughter. For Teresa, the CF was a " true pilgrimmage". A devour Catholic, she encouraged me to attend pilgrim's mass & blessings and visited almost every church along the way - I often joined her. About a month after Teresa's return home she was diagnosed with an aggressive type of breast cancer. I will pray for Teresa and her family as I walk this Camino.
Madrid's airport completed the new construction near customs! I cleared customs about 15-20 min. after getting off the plane. Very fast.
Found the airport tram downstairs. Took tram from T4s to T4 for domestic flight on Iberia. Went thru the usual hassel obtaining my reserved ticket at the Iberia desk then went to K gates per ticket info. Gate # not posted (2 hours prior to flight) . Wandered around. Asked gate agent for gate number. Told to "look at the board". I said it's not posted. Told to "wait". Circled gate area several times. Asked again. Gate was not posted until 45 min before flight!!! Arrgh! Met other Pilgrims & chatted so was nice. 4 from the US, 1 from the UK, 2 from OZ.
After arriving at PNA I went to check out the bus situation. I was told by an agent the bus stop was" a long way" and one must cross 2 major highways to access the stop. Shared a taxi with3 other Pilgrims so fare was less than 5eu each. Nice! I'm glad Pamplona is supporting their taxis (with the bus sooo inconvenient ha!). BTW, beautiful afternoon weather! Happy!
Checked into Jesus y Maria. Bed assignment was a configuration of 2 bunks pushed together (kinda like 2 double bunk beds). I was on the bottom but I surely don't want to sleep THAT close to anyone other than family!!!!! I declined and moved over to the Cathedral Albergue 10 person dorm. Wonderful hospi's at both places BTW.
Met up with a couple of forum members for pinchos and drinks - lovely people and I'm so glad we had a chance to meet and I hope our paths cross again. Around 6 it started to rain and we returned to our respective lodgings. I have a tendency to get lost in these narrow streets so Sarah was kind enough to walk with me back to the cathedral.
Back at the Albergue everyone was discussing beds. Beds beds beds. Where are they???? Why can't we find a place for tomorrow, etc. I listened but failed to understand why there was such a a strong perception of scarcity. Maybe I was just too tired. Fell asleep around 2100 in an empty dorm room - quiet & wonderful with everyone else in the common room discussing beds. Around 2300 I was awakened when people came to bed. Thought well yeah may as well use the facilities. Did so and tried to go back to sleep but oh no! No no no. Haven't been able to and now it's 0500. Long day ahead I believe!
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