Photos

I must figure out how to put pictures on here
I managed to upload them to my facebook
I will work on it

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

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

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

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

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)

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

Santiago

It was a very quick walk this morning
The guide book warns about the huge hill (Mount Joy of all things)
And I arrived before I even realized it
I was with a couple from Texas and I embarrassed myself by crying in front of them
It was quite an emotional moment
Then a 5k walk to the cathedral and I arrived at the same time as a very cool Danish grandmother I had met the other day who was walking with her 9 and 11 year old grandsons, again, very emotional
I got to the Pilgrims Office by 11, got my certificate (no Latin name for me though) and arrived to a very full cathedral by 11:45.  An interesting, long, service, no butafumiere though, bummer.
Then off to the post office to dump some clothing that I don't want to throw out, but didn't want to carry around anymore.
And off to shop ( I just dumped 5lbs worth of stuff, now I have room).
It is incredibly hot again, so back to the hotel for a great shower and some screen time.

Heading out to find some dinner.

Lavacolla

Slept much better last night
It was a short walk today
Thankfully because it is brutal in the sun
Fortunately there was still Lots of shady spots in the trees

Only 10.5k to get to Santiago
Then I have arranged to go to Finisterre
Another 87k

Then my trip will be almost over
I still have to make my way back to Paris
I cannot believe that it has been almost a month.

a Rua

I had a terrible sleep last night
It was hot and the air conditioning in the room was not working, but making plenty of noise
So I opened the window, after it was finally dark
It gets dark really late here, after 10:00
But the sun also rises really late (like 7am)
Anyway, I was worried about someone taking my money belt while i was sleeping (weird thoughts)
So I got up to put it under my mattress

Was up early (for me) because I knew I had a very long day ahead of me
I had gone to the post office yesterday to get a box to send home some useless stuff, that I don't really want to give up, but don't want to schlep around
The post office doesn't open until 9:30 on Saturdays
So I was deciding whether to delay leaving until then --  um, no
So I loaded the packed box into my backpack and headed down for breakfast
Left the hotel at 8:30
My earliest start time yet
Wandered through town, about 1.5k in
And I start to think about where am I going to get my pilgrims stamp today (you need two every day to get your certificate at the end) since I am not so competitive I tend to forget about them
So then I think about passport. And of course realize that my money belt is back under the mattress. Crap!!
Back I go, it is warm enough already and I have just added 3k to my 19k day
So I grab a cab
And got my money belt
Phew

It was a brutal hot day
Lovely scenery
Nice people
I had to take my shoes off and change into sandals, but I knew that, that's why I had them the me.
Tried new socks that are just not up to the challenge.

I thought I would be at the hostel at 2:00 and I pulled in right at 2:00.
Showered and now relaxing with my sore feet

Oh and it is presently 97° heading up to 99° and I don't even want to think about what those are with a humid ex reading.
Fortunately a lot of today was through trees, but that sun is just waiting to take you down when you step out of the shade.

Melide to Arzua

It is stinking hot out today.
Going up to 93 (which it is right now)
Going to be 98 tomorrow and I have 20k to walk, better get out there early
I finished today by 1:30
And that was a good time to get  out of the sun
Fortunately there were lots of trees and shade along the way
A few hills though, just when I thought we were done with them along comes another
Lots of downhills with those ups though

A walk into town to get a box from the post office
And a horrid lunch of plastic hamburger and lousy fries
oh, my goodness, this was the most disgusting meal of my life
and not only was there one freaking hamburger on the plate, but there were two patties
I tried to make it look like I ate a lot of it
but it was very difficult to choke down
and the amount of French fries was just ridiculous
but a least it wasn't another Serrano bocadillia
Which are fine, but getting boring.

Resting and watching Spanish news

Palais de Rei to Melide

Long walk today
It is very hot outside
 Fortunately there was lots of shade
But it was a long time in between refreshment spots
I had lots of water and some apricots with me
And had a big breakfast

just arrived at the hotel

Melide

Last night was Melide
Nothing interesting
 However it is getting very hot

Ventas de Naron to Palais de Rei

A very quick walk,
The hotel was part of a new complex
There were about 500 young adults around,
The hotel I was at was cabin style, just like being in the Adirondacks
Met some interesting Americans
Had massive prawns for dinner
And a late night

Portomarin to Ventas de Naron

Quick walk
Beautiful day
Another need to ask for the phone to call for a pick up from my hotel
Another 'no'
Hmmm
They have a pay computer
So I send a note to the hotel (not all of my contacts have email info on them, I was lucky)
Anyway I had to walk to the next cafe and there was a taxi there to take me to my next hotel
Which was beautiful
And way out in the country (not that this whole trail isn't out in the country)
A very quiet relaxing evening
And hearty breakfast
Drive back to 1k before my pick up spot from the day before
And off we go again

Sarria to Puertomarino

The bus to Sarria is done in two stages, you go to Lugo first, about two hours, then a transfer of about half an hour for a half hour drive to Sarria.

I fell asleep ( up at 4am is not my usual waking time) and panicked that I had missed the stop, not to fear, we were fine.

Pulled into Sarria around 7:15, time for some tylenol shopping and dinner and of course finding the hotel

Hotel was great, now, to get a good sleep for my first real day of walking the Camino.

Up and had breakfast, baggage was being picked up by 9am, so I had to decide how much I was going to carry. Water, water, snack, sunglasses, raincoat, tablet, guidebooks, hotel vouchers, camera, glasses and money. Still weighs a considerable sum, and so I was off.

First day was supposed to be about 15k, turned into 23, which was fine, although I wouldn't want to do that every day.

I was supposed to head to the Municipal Albergue and ask to telephone my hotel. The lady at the desk said no. I was pretty surprised, nobody has said no to me in a while. But no she was not going to let me use her phone if she had one, she pointed outside to a pay phone. Which in tried to use three times, and which two young Spanish boys couldn't figure out.

No problem, the guy at the pizza place called for me and the cook came up with his 4x4 to take me back to these cool rustic cabins along the river.

Great sleep

Up and ready the next day to go again, however my hotel is about six feet from where the driver drops me off, so I take a break for the day. Get some laundry done and relax.

catching up

Catch up time, it has been a few days
I finished at Corfe Castle at the very beginning of a huge rain storm
 It rained all night and stopped just before I caught a cab to the train station
I travelled to London by the milk run and had a day to get myself organized to be at Gatwick for a 6:45am flight
I stayed at the holiday inn right beside the airport and it was perfect
Up at 4am
There was more than a bus full trying to get to the airport, so I caught the second trip at 4:40
Huge honking lineup to check in
So by the time I did that and went through security it was about five minutes before we boarded

Took off on time and landed in Santiago del Compestella by 8:30, which translates to 9:30 Spanish time
I was hoping to catch up with Melanie at the post office, which she thought opened at 10:00
So I took the bus from the airport to the city centre, had a taxi driver tell me where the post office was (and pray I was at the right one)
I was at the back of the building, and while in was on my way to the front doors I sensed (seriously, I did not even see her, I just knew she was right there. -- and she was --  we literally bumped into each other.

She was heading to Portugal, and hoping to get the noon bus, I was heading to Sarria (beginning of 100k to Santiago) so we headed to the bus station.

Mel could not get onto the bus until 6, so I took the 4:00 and we got to catch up with each other. How awesome is that?