I must figure out how to put pictures on here
I managed to upload them to my facebook
I will work on it
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
more Paris (but really only the airport), Detroit and home again
Up bright and early for my 11am flight back to Canada
arrived at the airport a few minutes after 9
along with 100,000 of my favourite Americans
youch!!
the lines were long
the grumblings were loud
the lines felt longer
the stress levels were getting higher as we approached one hour to boarding time
then we had to go through security
if they were tense through the first line they were through the roof during this one
but we all made it
I managed to do some quick shopping
and still have time to sit before the flight boarded
we were about an hour late finally leaving Paris
but we made good time and arrived in Detroit on time
which was good, because you have to go through about 5 different check points for American travel
which was all fine
I wandered through arrivals hoping to catch sight of Dad and Em,
who were coming to spend some time with me to help ease my 8 hour layover
I wandered for a while and then finally asked about International arrivals
headed downstairs, and there was Emilie they had just arrived, so perfect timing
we had a nice lunch together
and I got to share my pictures with them
and it was lovely
headed back to the airport,
no great lineups
it started raining and there were thunderstorms rolling through
many flights were delayed (mine, an hour)
and many more were cancelled altogether (not mine thankfully)
finally after 'travelling' for 21 hours I was home
thanks Brock for picking me up
and that is it my adventure is over
arrived at the airport a few minutes after 9
along with 100,000 of my favourite Americans
youch!!
the lines were long
the grumblings were loud
the lines felt longer
the stress levels were getting higher as we approached one hour to boarding time
then we had to go through security
if they were tense through the first line they were through the roof during this one
but we all made it
I managed to do some quick shopping
and still have time to sit before the flight boarded
we were about an hour late finally leaving Paris
but we made good time and arrived in Detroit on time
which was good, because you have to go through about 5 different check points for American travel
which was all fine
I wandered through arrivals hoping to catch sight of Dad and Em,
who were coming to spend some time with me to help ease my 8 hour layover
I wandered for a while and then finally asked about International arrivals
headed downstairs, and there was Emilie they had just arrived, so perfect timing
we had a nice lunch together
and I got to share my pictures with them
and it was lovely
headed back to the airport,
no great lineups
it started raining and there were thunderstorms rolling through
many flights were delayed (mine, an hour)
and many more were cancelled altogether (not mine thankfully)
finally after 'travelling' for 21 hours I was home
thanks Brock for picking me up
and that is it my adventure is over
Paris
Well, after an adventurous time in Paris I am back home
Let's see, where did we last leave off?
Oh yes, heading into Paris
arrived at 2ish
wandered around trying to find the correct shuttle service for my airport hotel
lots of fun in the heat
and miles of walking and getting nowhere
finally got a cab
he had no idea where the hotel was
and was on a round-about heading the wrong way when I saw the hotel and directed him back to it.
I took the shuttle back to the airport so I could venture into the City
headed to the trains so I could get there quicker
however there were camouflaged machine-gun toting guards all over the place
I could not get near the platform
I wandered over to the edge (oops, there was a metal bar at shin height, ouch!!)
and the platform below was pretty vacant of people
I headed over to the information desk to see how much the train was
and asked what was going on
oh, a stray piece of luggage, they were waiting for the bomb squad to come and blow it up
could be an hour for them to arrive
ok, so she directs me to the bus to get into the City
an hour and E34 for a round trip
caught the bus straight away (after a 2k walk to the stop)
and we were in the city within an hour
dropped off at the Arc de Triumphe
fabulous
headed over to the Eiffel Tower with my little map
it was a beautiful afternoon
they were setting up carts with kebabs, onions and tomatoes frying away in very hot pans
lots of cold drinks
candy by weight (little scales with actual grams and assorted measurements for weighing)
crossed the river
travelled along the river with lots of people doing the same thing
lots of picnicing along the grass
lots of people gazing out into the water
I finally got near the Eiffel Tower and noticed that lots of Gendarmeries were pushing people back through metal gates already set up at the entrance of the streets
they directed us down a street, and at every intersection were more of these guards not allowing anyone through
I asked one guard and she said she thought that the tower was closed today
really??
ok, so I was not going to get any further than six blocks away from it
but I could purchase all kinds of Eiffel Tower souvenirs from the shops surrounding me
so I wandered back down the river
headed towards the Champs Elysees
again, lots of people
lots to watch and see and do
headed to a restaurant and had some fabulous Brussel's mussels
totally yummy
I noticed that people had shopping bags with them
it was about 7:30 on a Sunday night
and when I got out of the restaurant I noticed that the stores were open
I hadn't expected it earlier, so I didn't pay attention
so, I went through a few of the shops and did some unconventional souvenir shopping
you can shop at many of the stores until 11:30 on a Sunday night, yay tourists!!
and yay Bradley Cooper and his yummy Haagen-Dazs commercials!
headed back towards the bus, which was waiting at the stop
and within 20 minutes I was back at the hotel
and ready for a good sleep
Let's see, where did we last leave off?
Oh yes, heading into Paris
arrived at 2ish
wandered around trying to find the correct shuttle service for my airport hotel
lots of fun in the heat
and miles of walking and getting nowhere
finally got a cab
he had no idea where the hotel was
and was on a round-about heading the wrong way when I saw the hotel and directed him back to it.
I took the shuttle back to the airport so I could venture into the City
headed to the trains so I could get there quicker
however there were camouflaged machine-gun toting guards all over the place
I could not get near the platform
I wandered over to the edge (oops, there was a metal bar at shin height, ouch!!)
and the platform below was pretty vacant of people
I headed over to the information desk to see how much the train was
and asked what was going on
oh, a stray piece of luggage, they were waiting for the bomb squad to come and blow it up
could be an hour for them to arrive
ok, so she directs me to the bus to get into the City
an hour and E34 for a round trip
caught the bus straight away (after a 2k walk to the stop)
and we were in the city within an hour
dropped off at the Arc de Triumphe
fabulous
headed over to the Eiffel Tower with my little map
it was a beautiful afternoon
they were setting up carts with kebabs, onions and tomatoes frying away in very hot pans
lots of cold drinks
candy by weight (little scales with actual grams and assorted measurements for weighing)
crossed the river
travelled along the river with lots of people doing the same thing
lots of picnicing along the grass
lots of people gazing out into the water
I finally got near the Eiffel Tower and noticed that lots of Gendarmeries were pushing people back through metal gates already set up at the entrance of the streets
they directed us down a street, and at every intersection were more of these guards not allowing anyone through
I asked one guard and she said she thought that the tower was closed today
really??
ok, so I was not going to get any further than six blocks away from it
but I could purchase all kinds of Eiffel Tower souvenirs from the shops surrounding me
so I wandered back down the river
headed towards the Champs Elysees
again, lots of people
lots to watch and see and do
headed to a restaurant and had some fabulous Brussel's mussels
totally yummy
I noticed that people had shopping bags with them
it was about 7:30 on a Sunday night
and when I got out of the restaurant I noticed that the stores were open
I hadn't expected it earlier, so I didn't pay attention
so, I went through a few of the shops and did some unconventional souvenir shopping
you can shop at many of the stores until 11:30 on a Sunday night, yay tourists!!
and yay Bradley Cooper and his yummy Haagen-Dazs commercials!
headed back towards the bus, which was waiting at the stop
and within 20 minutes I was back at the hotel
and ready for a good sleep
Saturday, July 13, 2013
back in Santiago
Woke up at 5:30
It was completely pitch black outside
(I was not on the lighthouse side of the hotel)
Read until about 7:00
And fell back asleep hard until 9:30
What a nice treat
And my body really needed it
Breakfast
Some souvenir shopping at the little kiosk down the road
And a taxi to town to catch the bus to Santiago
Three hours later -- arrived
Tried to find a Laundromat
Did, but damn, siestas every day?
It was just after 3:00 of course they are closed
Hanging out until dinner hour (8:00)
Italian food, a really nice Spaghetti Putanesca
Totally yum and nice to have something other than Spanish Pilgrim food
I cannot quite believe that I will not be strapping on the old hiking boots
and boogying on down the road for a 20k walk tomorrow
or that I didn't do it today
Must make a plan to do lots of walking when I get back home!
Off to Paris tomorrow at noon
It was completely pitch black outside
(I was not on the lighthouse side of the hotel)
Read until about 7:00
And fell back asleep hard until 9:30
What a nice treat
And my body really needed it
Breakfast
Some souvenir shopping at the little kiosk down the road
And a taxi to town to catch the bus to Santiago
Three hours later -- arrived
Tried to find a Laundromat
Did, but damn, siestas every day?
It was just after 3:00 of course they are closed
Hanging out until dinner hour (8:00)
Italian food, a really nice Spaghetti Putanesca
Totally yum and nice to have something other than Spanish Pilgrim food
I cannot quite believe that I will not be strapping on the old hiking boots
and boogying on down the road for a 20k walk tomorrow
or that I didn't do it today
Must make a plan to do lots of walking when I get back home!
Off to Paris tomorrow at noon
Finisterre
I think it is closer to 90k than 97, but they feel the same
It was a great misty walk from Cee (which is apparently pronounced Say) to Finisterre yesterday
I found a bank machine, was down to my last €10
Then I circled the town for an hour before I found the trail
I was looking for a sign, any sign, that would get me out of walking the last bit
I was dying to take a cab, and I was just about to grab one when I spotted a sign, you know those things you beg God for? Well, I was begging for a taxi sign and there in front of me was a freaking yellow arrow!! Piss off!!
OK, so that was my sign, off I continued on my last 12k into Finisterre
It was a lovely day
Met a nice German couple who rescued me from a wrong turn
for which I was most grateful, it did mean a long walk through a beautiful path
instead of along the highway (much nicer through the green lush path)
Then it was an amazing 2k walk along the sandy beach
A lunch of beautiful mussels on the wharf
And off to the Semafaro, the converted seminary and fire pit at the end of the earth
It was very misty so no good views
The Germans told me that there are amazing sunsets here, but it just couldn't break through the mist
Great sleep
Now am on my way back to Santiago by bus
It was a great misty walk from Cee (which is apparently pronounced Say) to Finisterre yesterday
I found a bank machine, was down to my last €10
Then I circled the town for an hour before I found the trail
I was looking for a sign, any sign, that would get me out of walking the last bit
I was dying to take a cab, and I was just about to grab one when I spotted a sign, you know those things you beg God for? Well, I was begging for a taxi sign and there in front of me was a freaking yellow arrow!! Piss off!!
OK, so that was my sign, off I continued on my last 12k into Finisterre
It was a lovely day
Met a nice German couple who rescued me from a wrong turn
for which I was most grateful, it did mean a long walk through a beautiful path
instead of along the highway (much nicer through the green lush path)
Then it was an amazing 2k walk along the sandy beach
A lunch of beautiful mussels on the wharf
And off to the Semafaro, the converted seminary and fire pit at the end of the earth
It was very misty so no good views
The Germans told me that there are amazing sunsets here, but it just couldn't break through the mist
Great sleep
Now am on my way back to Santiago by bus
Thursday, July 11, 2013
97k in 4 days?
What on earth was I thinking?
I am very comfortable walking 15-18k, but the mental and physical barriers of more than 20 are daunting
I have been starting earlier, which helps some, as it is very pleasant in the mornings, but by 9:00 the sun is beating down and it is brutal
Yesterday was a very long, lonely walk
Instead of 4-5k between refreshment spots it was 15k
I passed two women I have seen before, so we chatted a bit
Then another very fast gentleman passed me, no chatting there
which was fine, I was huddled underneath a very small bit of shade, right in the brambly bushes
hunkered down eating my three hour old Serrano Ham Bocadilla (which was sweating and hot and quite horrid)
And then finally I was in the town, there had been signs posted all along the road for my hotel
4k
3k
2k
then -- no more signs
However once I was in the town -- nothing
How disconcerting
It is always annoying to think you may be going the wrong way or missed a turn
But I didn't,
Finally there it was
In all of its 80s glory
Shower didn't work, which is a real bummer after a hard day of walking and sweating
But the bed was comfy and I got a good sleep
and that was sufficient
12k in to Finisterre today
Walk in the park. (lol)
I am very comfortable walking 15-18k, but the mental and physical barriers of more than 20 are daunting
I have been starting earlier, which helps some, as it is very pleasant in the mornings, but by 9:00 the sun is beating down and it is brutal
Yesterday was a very long, lonely walk
Instead of 4-5k between refreshment spots it was 15k
I passed two women I have seen before, so we chatted a bit
Then another very fast gentleman passed me, no chatting there
which was fine, I was huddled underneath a very small bit of shade, right in the brambly bushes
hunkered down eating my three hour old Serrano Ham Bocadilla (which was sweating and hot and quite horrid)
And then finally I was in the town, there had been signs posted all along the road for my hotel
4k
3k
2k
then -- no more signs
However once I was in the town -- nothing
How disconcerting
It is always annoying to think you may be going the wrong way or missed a turn
But I didn't,
Finally there it was
In all of its 80s glory
Shower didn't work, which is a real bummer after a hard day of walking and sweating
But the bed was comfy and I got a good sleep
and that was sufficient
12k in to Finisterre today
Walk in the park. (lol)
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Finisterre
Have I complained about the heat?
It is pretty unbearable
I walked from 8:15 until 5:30 yesterday
Covered over 22k and it was just a sweat-fest
Beautiful
But not much shade cover
Lots of uphills
Met a great mother/son from Alaska
They were absolutely out of their comfort zone
If it had snowed on us we would have loved it
Alas, it didn't and so we soldiered on
Today was to be 27k, absolutely no way,
I happened to meet up with the Alaska people again, even though they left an hour and a half before me, and I phoned my hostel from their dropoff point,
My hostel was 10k off-route, so I was to be chauffered anyway
it was still another 22k day for me
It is still 90° out there now
Whine whine whine
Moan complain
At least I have no blisters
But do have sore achy feet
So I should be grateful
I am showered and refreshed,
Off to find dinner
It is pretty unbearable
I walked from 8:15 until 5:30 yesterday
Covered over 22k and it was just a sweat-fest
Beautiful
But not much shade cover
Lots of uphills
Met a great mother/son from Alaska
They were absolutely out of their comfort zone
If it had snowed on us we would have loved it
Alas, it didn't and so we soldiered on
Today was to be 27k, absolutely no way,
I happened to meet up with the Alaska people again, even though they left an hour and a half before me, and I phoned my hostel from their dropoff point,
My hostel was 10k off-route, so I was to be chauffered anyway
it was still another 22k day for me
It is still 90° out there now
Whine whine whine
Moan complain
At least I have no blisters
But do have sore achy feet
So I should be grateful
I am showered and refreshed,
Off to find dinner
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)