Blogs from Roncesvalles, Navarre, Spain, Europe

We got in the morning, packed our stuff, and headed downstairs for our breakfast. The breakfast was served in Casa Sabina, the same place as dinner. They had the usual coffee, orange juice and toast, and they had a pastry of some sort and an apple. We finished our breakfast and were on our way by 8am. We posed for a photo by the infamous "Santiago de Compostela 780" kilometers, then walked for a few kilometers along a river thru a forst. By 8:16, we reached our first town, Burguete/Auritz. I'd noticed that my face was sort of tight from the high winds the previous day, so Manoli went to the supermarket while I had a coffee at the nearby Bar Goxona. They had a town square with some awesome trees. We would see this type ... read more

Saint-jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles: I went bed last night and fell asleep fairly easily for once. I woke up around 6am, had breakfast and a couple of coffee, packed my backpack, and was out the door before 7:30. I went a block down the street to see if I could someone to take a photo of me at the Spanish Gate. A youngish guy said sure, took my photo, and ended walking with me all the way to Roncesvalles! His name is Raresh and he is from Romania. I have to say he was a bit of a slave driver, encouraging me not to stop long or often, but thanks partly to him, I made it all the way and good time and health. We will probably continue on together tomorrow. The sights along ... read more

Hopefully Terri pictures will attach... read more

Friday, August 21, St. Jean Pied de Port, France to Roncesvalles, Spain GPS 15.83 miles 9 hours walking, 4500 feet elevation gain? Arrived 1725 Harlan left on his Camino at 8:25. After breakfast we walked through the Market or Navarre gate, down to the church and through the traditional start of El Camino, the Notre Dame gate. It is a beautiful morning. The sunrise revealed mist over the pass, down the valley, toward which Harlan would soon be heading. I return and see the message that they, have indeed, sent our luggage off to Paris. This is all very mysterious as later today, upon arrival in Roncesvalles, Spain, there will be a text indicating a courier had picked up the bags for delivery. I do not know where he was headed! Part of the Paris snafu ... read more

I think the late Chrissie A. was right, there's a fine line between pleasure and pain and I think I crossed into pain today. Nothing much can prepare you for the first stage of the Camino. We had breakfast at the albergue at 6.30am and headed out into the street to begin walking. The night before was an Aussie contingent with Libby and Doug from Tasmania, Connor and Beth from Canberra and Sue and me from Victoria . The walk to Orisson is 8 kms up a steep hill and we were informed it then becomes an easier crisscross sort of walk to the peak. Rubbish ! It was a grind the whole way, over tarred tracks, dirt tracks, and tracks that were covered in rocks. The latter were mainly downhill. We walked through shaded beech ... read more