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Diane’s Camino Frances
  • Diane A
apr. – juni 2022

Diane’s Camino Frances

En 57-dags äventyr från Diane A Läs mer
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  • Diane ADiane’s Camino FrancesResenär

    Finisterre to Santiago

    10 juni 2022, Spanien ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    We caught an early bus back to Santiago de Compostela. It is very busy here - lots of pilgrims arriving and lots of locals as well. I have a different room in the same hotel facing another square and it is very loud and crowded but it still feels fun to be here.

    I bumped into Jenny Heesh down near the pilgrim’s office, you can never stop being surprised by the people you meet here when you least expect it. Jenny is from Cronulla and is the first person who gave me the idea about the Camino when we were volunteering together at the Sydney Writers’ Festival 3 years ago. So it was fitting to see her here when my Camino experience was coming to an end.

    Libredon Rooms (room 17)
    9kms    Läs mer

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  • Diane ADiane’s Camino FrancesResenär

    Santiago de Compostela

    11 juni 2022, Spanien ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    We set off for a walk to the El Cortes Ingles which is a rare shopping centre/department store in Spain. We stopped for coffee on the way and saw Leigh Brennan walking her dog Cooper. Leigh is the host of the Camino Café podcast and I met her while staying at Casa Susi.

    On the way back from the shopping centre I saw Justin Skeesuck from I’ll Push You. He had just arrived in Santiago. We went over and introduced ourselves and chatted for a bit as you do with people from the Camino.

    After a delicious Italian meal we went to the Cathedral for our roof tour. Unfortunately it was in Spanish so we missed the history of the building but the views from the very, very sloped roof and tower were amazing.

    One of the great coincidences of the Camino was Sandra and I beginning on the same day in St Jean and both staying in Beilari. And both having the exact same backpack. As we were talked over the weeks we discovered an even greater connection. My dad came to Australia from Italy in 1951 and met Johnny Berton soon after. They remained close friends all their lives, dad was his best man and mum was Jessie’s matron of honour. We spent a lot of time with Johnny and Jessie and their four children when we were growing up. Carla is one of those children and is also one of Sandra’s closest friends. I will catch up with Sandra and Carla and hopefully Gina when we get home.

    My Camino really ends today as I leave for Madrid in the morning. What an adventure. I’ve loved all of it, even the bits that were very challenging at the time. Will I do it again? I will have to wait and see!

    Libredon Rooms
    12 kms    Läs mer

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  • Diane ADiane’s Camino FrancesResenär

    Santiago to Madrid

    12 juni 2022, Spanien ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C

    I caught an early taxi to the airport for my 9.20am flight to Madrid. We walked alongside the airport on the last leg of the Camino but it seemed much further in the taxi.

    I then caught the airport bus to Atocha Station and my hotel is just a short walk away. It’s another great room with big windows and a balcony overlooking the plaza.

    It’s very hot. I had a walk around the neighbourhood and another gigantic pizza for lunch (and the rest for dinner).

    After a brief siesta I went for a walk through some of Retiro Park and then through the Botanical Gardens. I joined the queue for the free entry into the Prado (every day for the last two hours of opening) but they reached the quota when I was almost at the front of the line. I will try again tomorrow. I have found that entry to most places is greatly reduced for the over 65s so it is fairly economical to go to most museums and galleries.

    Although it is Sunday a lot of shops were open and Madrid is very busy. It is an entirely different pace to my time in Spain so far and I am looking forward to seeing more tomorrow.

    Sleep’n Atocha
    10 kms    Läs mer

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  • Diane ADiane’s Camino FrancesResenär
    1

    Madrid

    13 juni 2022, Spanien ⋅ ☀️ 37 °C

    Breakfast came with my hotel room so I had a lazy morning. I then walked up to the Cortes area to have a look around.

    After lunch I went to the Thyssen-Bornemisza gallery as suggested by Sandra. It was much bigger than I expected and had a huge range of artists. The highlight was an immersive musical video installation by Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson which was amazing.

    It was 40 degrees today and very draining. It was a relief to get back to my air conditioned room.

    I heard from my camino friend Lesley from Durham today. She was also suffering an injury and we spent many days with each other filling in time eating, drinking, commiserating and chatting and then later bumping into each other. After a few more days of rest, she began walking again with Ann and Den and today walked into Finistere! An amazing achievement!

    Sleep’n Atocha
    12 kms    Läs mer

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  • Diane ADiane’s Camino FrancesResenär
    121

    Madrid

    14 juni 2022, Spanien ⋅ ⛅ 39 °C

    Another very hot 40 degree day to be walking around!

    I bought a ticket for the hop on hop off bus so that I could see a bit more on my last day. While waiting for the bus near a fancy hotel there was a huge police and security presence. And out came King Felipe VI! He stood next to his car quite close to where I was waiting. But not as close to me as the guard with the machine gun.

    My first stop on the bus was the Museo Sorolla as suggested by Narelle. It was formerly the home of the artist Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida and was full of ceramics, furniture and his beautiful paintings. It was not crowded and there was a lot of information in English which explained his art and his family life.

    I hopped back on the bus and tried both the historic and modern Madrid routes until it became too hot to enjoy anything.

    I caught the metro to my airport hotel as my flight is early in the morning. I wandered around in the heat trying to find a restaurant with a kitchen that was opening before 8pm - not an easy thing! But lucked upon a Japanese one that was slightly air conditioned and so my time here fittingly ended with a meal and a glass of vino tinto.

    I have loved every minute of Spain but am very excited to get home to my family and friends, some different clothes and my own bed. And a trip to the hairdresser!

    Hotel Villa de Barajas
    11 kms    Läs mer

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  • Diane ADiane’s Camino FrancesResenär

    Madrid to Sydney

    16 juni 2022, Australien ⋅ 🌙 10 °C

    I’m home!

    It was a long flight with a very long delay in Doha. But back home to my family and friends and my own bed.

    It will take some time to process everything I’ve experienced in the last few months but this will also be part of my camino.

    THE END (or is it?)    Läs mer

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    Resans slut
    16 juni 2022
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