Reset search
PrimitivoPrimitivo
SatelliteEdit route

Primitivo

October - November 2023
A 31-day adventure by Nipawin Read more
  • 29footprints
  • 3countries
  • 31days
  • 424photos
  • 0videos
  • 11.7kkilometers
  • 9.6kkilometers
Follow Calendar Share Bucket list
Date descending
  • TravelerPrimitivo
    1
    111
    Day 27

    Day 44 ♥️BURGOS♥️

    November 4, 2023 in Spain ⋅ 🌬 8 °C

    I just love Burgos♥️ Even if it is 8 C with severe winds.🥶
    It is such a beautiful city.

    I had the best sleep and HOT SHOWER ever 😍🤗

    I headed off to see the Cathedral as it has been 4 years since I last saw it. It is simply amazing. The architecture, carved marble tombs artwork tapestries, and stained glass windows are extraordinary
    I particularly liked the Leonardo DaVinci painting of Mary Magdalene.

    The Mass was held in the side chapel A young Nun came up to me after the service and offered me a Stamp for my Passport. So nice 🤗💖

    I found my favorite cafe and had 2 cafe con leches😍

    I wandered around town and found the hostel I will be staying at tomorrow night it is right beside the bus depot which is so handy.

    There are only 2 other girls in my room It is sooooo quiet.

    It is very windy here making it colder for sure. But the sun came out and I was able to enjoy it. I ate my lunch on a park bench.

    I met a German Pilgrim at supper who had just started the Camino. She mentioned that the group she has been travelling with took a bus to Burgos instead of walking. She is very concerned about how cold it is. She will start the Meseta tomorrow

    Jerry from Ireland said that in the past 7 years of doing different Caminos, this was the coldest and wettest he has seen it in October /November. He said winter in Burgos is warmer ( January+February)
    Very interesting to say the least    Read more

  • TravelerPrimitivo
    1
    Day 26–29

    Day 43 Lourdes- Tarbes- Bilbao - Burgos

    November 3, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    Last night before I went to sleep I thought I would check my train ticket one last time.
    I took a double take at my ticket that was crossed out in red.
    The trip had been cancelled due to a storm. If I hadn't looked I would have found out the next morning as they did not notify you of any changes.

    I spent the next 2 hours trying to figure out a way out of Lourdes by tomorrow. All of the buses were full. I then looked at bus connections from places near Lourdes, and found Tardes. A bus left at 830 in the morning All I would need to do was get there by taxi. That is what I did🤗

    However the bus was late and I stood out in the rain and wind for 2 hours. The good news was that it did came and I am going to Bilbao😉😂 We should be there by 2:30 pm 🍀🍀

    My next connection was a train from Bilbao to Burgo leaving at 5:30 and arriving at 8 pm .

    I stood waiting for some sort of transport when I arrived at the Burgos train station. There were about 10 other people needing rides as well. It was windy and very cold ( just like home)
    The bus came but I got off too early. At night I was completely disoriented because I couldn't find any lankmarks to go by.

    After an hour of trying to find my hostel I found a cab and he helped me out. I was quite far away so I'm glad I did. The streets were crowded with so many people because. It was Friday Night 😂

    I am so happy to be back in Burgos again🤗😉    Read more

  • TravelerPrimitivo
    1
    Day 25

    Day 42 Lourdes

    November 2, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌧 13 °C

    It is pouring with rain and I am so happy that I basically did everything yesterday 😉

    I will revisit a few places but I think this is a journal writing day.

  • TravelerPrimitivo
    2
    Day 24

    Day 41 Lourdes 765 km

    November 1, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    It felt like I was walking in Nanaimo today as the temperature was 8 C and it was raining. I wore every piece of my merino wool clothing and down vest to keep warm.

    I found a great grocery store and bought some salads and fruit for lunch.

    I visited a church however I cannot recall its name. It had a lot of stained glass windows. The front windows facing the altar were very unique. There were also paintings of each station of the cross. I have never seen anything like it.

    I lit a candle for Les♥️ The candle table was under the picture of Bernadette.

    I then made my way to the Grotto to collect my Holy water and touch the stone in the cave.
    It wasn't too crowded meaning there was not a long line to stand waiting. Afterwards I attended what I thought was an outdoor Mass but was a lineup to do the three things that Bernadette was led to de by Mary:
    Wash your hands with the Holy water
    Wash your face
    And finally drink the water.
    I was allowed to stay for awhile afterwards. Each person was done individually and blessed🙏

    I then went to where there are hundreds of lit candles for those to be remembered. I will post the picture of the prayer that went with it. I lit a candle for Les ♥️

    The cutest thing I heard was a child trying to blow out a candle as if it were on a cake 😃

    I walked up to the crypt at the top of the cathedral. The chapel was beautiful.

    Afterwards I walked up the side of the hill to see the stations of the Cross.

    The nicest part of Lourdes Cathedral grounds is that it is a very large property. The added size gives rise to a park like feel to it. It also helps with the throngs of people they can be spread out quite easily.

    I gave up trying to get a coffee from a bar here ( many are closed for the end of the season) so walked to the train station. It was packed with people!!!

    I was so looking forward to a hot bath/shower tonight except all the tub has is a hand held shower head you have to hold and fill the tub with. There is not a wall attachment to have a shower😓 But the biggest issue is no plug for the tub....and warm water.....not hot😭    Read more

  • TravelerPrimitivo
    Day 23

    Day 41 Lourdes

    October 31, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    It is pouring rain and extremely cold.

    I am huddled in my sleeping bag wearing all the clothes that I brought. I am sitting in the front lobby area drinking my instant coffee.

    I went to Mass this morning and it was quite pleasant but now....well let's say I am dreaming of Mexico😎

    I did ask the housekeeper about a plug for the bathtub and she said No🫤

    That's OK it will make it that much better when I have my hot shower.....in Burgos hopefully 🍀

    Even in the pouring rain people are still filling their containers with water and visiting the Grotto. There must have been over 200 people at the sung Mass service.

    Getting ready for travel day tomorrow..... Lourdes - Irun -Burgos.    Read more

  • TravelerPrimitivo
    Day 23

    Day 40 Bilbao - Lourdes France 750km

    October 31, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    I am always learning on this trip especially about other Cultures like the French for example.

    They are very proud of their language and generally do not like to converse with anyone who doesn't speak French.

    Some do not wish to engage with apps such as Google Translate..,.leaving someone like me in a pickle when delays happen and connections missed😳 and new tickets need to be purchased because there is no WIFI to use on ones phone.

    My train was delayed an hour which created a situation of missing a connection. Luckily I figured it out and bought another ticket before the train left the station.

    The terrain was relatively flat for the most part . As we got closer to Lourdes you could se the Pyrenese Mountains topped with snow. Stunning countryside. I also saw a very fast flowing river with kayakers on it.

    It is very tricky getting to Lourdes.The train lines are the only way in and out unless you have a car. I found out by accident that the train line that takes me out will not be operating this weekend 😱
    I had to book a day early to leave and forfeit a train and Pension reservation😳 Oh well, I will be spending an extra day in Burgos👍😉

    After I checked in I went to the cathedral and attended a sung Mass. Absolutely beautiful acoustics with the organ and voices of the priests and congregation.

    Afterwards I had a bite to eat and headed back to the Grotto ( where Bernadette saw the Virgin Mary) for the evening procession. It was a such a feeling of connection with people from all over the world standing with lit candles. There must have been over 200 people and this is the end of the busy season!    Read more

  • TravelerPrimitivo
    1
    Day 22

    Day 39 Porto- Madrid- Bilbao 735km

    October 30, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    I walked down to the bus stop and caught the 5 am bus to the airport. What a great service for 2.50 Euros.

    Very smooth check in and through Security. I had to catch a connecting flight in Madrid.
    Madrid airport is like a small city.
    It is enormous

    Bilbao was sunny and very warm when I arrived I enjoyed walking around and seeing the canal again.

    My hostel experience will go down in history as one of the worst..... let's leave it at that. I am very sleep deprived at present🥺

    I take the bus to Hendaye tomorrow and then the train to Lourdes France. I decided to stay 4 days there and I am so happy that I did🤗    Read more

  • TravelerPrimitivo
    1
    Day 21

    Dqy 38 Porto 711 km

    October 29, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ 🌧 17 °C

    Chatted a long while with Carla from Chile. She was telling me all about her country.....Yup I would love to go there👍

    I walked over to the famous library " Livraria Lello" that inspired J. R. Rowlings Hogwarts library in the Harry Potter series.
    I felt like a sardine in a tin with the hoards of people. The lineups were phenomenal to get in. Beautiful architecture inside. Well worth the wait and 8 Euros. I have never seen anything like it.

    I then proceeded to another lineup to see the Cllerigos Church andu Tower.
    Very beautiful.

    I will say it is expensive to be a tourist with most admissions being 8 Euros🤔

    When I was walking back to the hostel I heard a lot of shouting. There was a huge protest in front of the city hall. I am thinking it may be related to the Palestine issue? The participants were all young people dressed in black

    I have an early flight tomorrow to Bilbao.
    Porto was a great place to visit.    Read more

  • TravelerPrimitivo
    1111
    Day 20

    Day 37 Porto 699 km

    October 28, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ 🌧 17 °C

    I had a great sleep. I finally broke down and bought some Nescafe coffee🤠

    We have breakfast at this hostel which is lovely.

    I left around 9:30 and came home around 5 pm.

    I walked 20 km today just seeing all the sights 🤗 It would rain pretty hard and then stop so we had some breaks even with some sun in between which was great.

    It was very crowded probably because it was a Saturday, and there were just many tourists ( mostly French) many with young families.
    There were lineups everywhere.
    I would say it is much more crowded than in Santiago for sure.

    I also walked a km or 2 on the Porto Camino.....I miss seeing my daily dose of arrows🤔

    Upon reviewing my pictures for the day I am quite disappointed as most of them are very dulll due to the cloud cover😥    Read more

  • TravelerPrimitivo
    11
    Day 18

    Day 36 Santiago to Porto Portugal

    October 26, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ 🌧 17 °C

    It was not raining when I walked to the bus depot 😁

    I had my morning cafe con leche and am now waiting for the bus to Porto.

    Very comfortable bus ride. Met a mother /daughter from Bavaria. They had just completed the Porto Camino.

    Got off at the bus depot and saw that my hostel was 2 . 5 km away. I started walking....and saw the train/ Metro station. I found an information booth and was able to ride the subway close to my hostel.

    I wanted to check-in but I didn't realize that Porto is an hour behind Espana so had to wait.

    I decided to eat and ordered a delicious fish dish called Pataniscis with tomato rice.

    I went back to the hostel " So Cool Hostel" only to find it was the wrong one😳 The one I was booked at was called " Cool Hostel". But it was easy to hop on the metro for another couple of stops.

    When I got off I was inundated with all of these people. It was a street that was a mall ( no cars) and it was very crowded.
    There was a street vendor selling castanats which are roasted chesnuts. They roast them on briquets. They tasted like potatoes to me🤔

    I found my hostel got settled then did laundry. The owner was doing laundry and filling Ikea bags....where is there an Ikea here?

    Went to bed early as I was very tired.    Read more

  • 2024© FindPenguins
  • Home
  • About us
  • Blog
  • Group Tracking
  • Press
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Support
  • Legal notice
  • English