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One More Camino in Spain 2023
  • Rosie Marzouk

One More Camino in Spain 2023

Rosie tarafından 73 günlük bir macera Okumaya devam et
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  • Rosie MarzoukOne More Camino in Spain 2023Gezgin
    Amr setting off
    12Entering Galicia1Arrival in O CebreiroReward for all the hard walkingReunion!View down to the village

    O Cebreiro, the top of the world!

    18 Mayıs 2023, Ispanya ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    We are here, all assembled, Amr climbed the mountain on foot, I had a lovely taxi ride and Rachel and Richard flew and bussed in from America!! And this is such a great place to meet, and for the third time we are lucky with the weather and have magnificent 360° views. We are now in Galicia, different language (just dialect) and food and wine. And it is colder, Amr didn’t take off his fleece while walking up, and I have kept my jacket on all day. I was the first arrival, getting here by very scenic taxi ride at about 12.30, and I think being early we have the best room as she asked if I’d prefer a matrimoniale bed or 2 beds, so of course I said matrimoniale and it is so nice - on a corner with 2 windows, and reasonable size…she sort of indicated first in lucky, and I do remember other times having 2 beds in a rather tiny room! And Amr arrived at about 1 having left at 8.30 - 4 and a half hours of hard walking! We had a plate of pulpo and a glass of Alberiño to sustain him!

    But of course the highlight of the day is meeting Rachel and Richard!! They had a smooth trip over, as smooth as travel these days can be, and made all their connections and got a bus to here from Santiago airport. They arrived about 2.30 and what a reunion! They have a room next to ours, very handy. They must be exhausted and jet lagged, but we had a ColaCao in our bar, and went walking round this tiny village in case the weather changes tomorrow. It’s not meant to, but you can never tell. So we marvelled at the all round views, and walked even further up the hill to the cross way up high. Lovely views from there.

    Now we are having some downtime till 6.30 when we’ll meet and go to the pilgrim mass with them at 7, and then have dinner by which time I’m sure they will be ready to crash!!    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Rosie MarzoukOne More Camino in Spain 2023Gezgin
    Dinner last night
    Along the camino

    Peaceful day in O Cebreiro

    19 Mayıs 2023, Ispanya ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    A rest day today which was perfect for Rachel and Richard to get adjusted and over any jet lag after their big travel day. And this is such a perfect place to relax, with such amazing surroundings and views everywhere. And the clear weather continues!!

    So not a lot to report. We all walked for a bit along the camino track leading out, where they will walk tomorrow, on the side of the mountain looking over the valley, just gorgeous. Not sure of my transport yet…there is one bus, but it leaves at 3.20, which is rather late, or a taxi…we’ll see. And we have walked around this Celtic village, so cute, and almost totally revolved around feeding and housing of pilgrims. And bus loads of non pilgrim tourists come now and then, as it is such a spectacular sight.

    It is really cold! I have had my layers, including jacket on all day, even in the room…it was cosy at night though - the heaters come on and there are warm blankets and doona!

    Had a nice dinner last night, with Galega soup, which is cabbage and potato soup in a very tasty broth, very hearty! Will have dinner tonight at 8 at the restaurant at our own hotel…all much the same fare, and all tasty, but as usual helpings are too enormous for me!! But Amr and Richard help out! Tomorrow we go to Triacastela.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Rosie MarzoukOne More Camino in Spain 2023Gezgin
    Sun rising in O Cebreiro
    Setting offGood spot for a break1The 800 yr old chestnut treePerfect food after the walk

    Now at Triacastela

    20 Mayıs 2023, Ispanya ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Woke up in very cold O Cebreiro, a spectacular morning, with the sun rising on the surrounding mountains. Had breakfast - fairly sparse here - toast, ham and cheese, jam, OJ (but not fresh squeezed) and coffee. Then the walkers set off at about 9.45, and I walked with them for a little way, round the mountain side, with spectacular views into the valleys. Then came back, didn’t have to vacate the room till 11, but had taxi booked for 10.30, sharing with another cripple! She was a very nice companion - a Norwegian who had developed a bad hip. Had a very nice taxi driver who got us here by 11, and we halved the cost, which made it much more manageable! Too early to check in, so we sat and had a ColaCao in the warm sun!! Not as cold as up on high!

    Finally checked in, a new place for us…it is an albergue, plus a “boutique pension” which we are in…a separate building, with newly appointed very functional rooms, and a wonderful shower which I have just emerged from…so arriving so early, it was a while to wait till Amr, R and R walked in. I stalked them and found they still had several hours to go. So relaxed, did some Words, and games, and walked back to the 800 year old chestnut tree that you pass as you walk into the town. I was waiting there, and became the photographer for people who wanted photos in front of the chestnut tree! A whole group of cyclists from Valencia posed, and were more amazed that I came from Australia…such a long way to Spain! It is always like this…such a long way everyone always says. So finally my trio emerged along the track, at about 3.20, so a long and quite difficult walk…first there was some serious uphill, and then serious downhill to Triacastela set down in the valley. They had magnificent views all the way, but quite hard work…Amr said it definitely wasn’t a walk for me, which made me feel better, as I do remember it as so beautiful. And a tough one for R and R on their first day of walking…about 22 kms. The photos will give an idea of the beauty.

    So before going to the rooms we all sat down and had drinks and sustenance. Amr his favourite pulpo, and some croquetas. Then shower and downtime for the walkers, I found the supermarket and got Amr his bottle of water con gas…. We met up again at 6.30 and had a wander through this tiny town, then sat and had dinner…so soon after the late “lunch”…we started at a table outside in the delicious sun - can’t believe I am wanting warmth! But when the sun moved (it doesn’t set till almost 10pm) we moved inside, suddenly it was cold again…I have learned not to have the 3 course menu del dia as I just can’t eat it all, so ordered a plate of our fave pimientos de padron, and paella, which is meant to be a first course serving, but still could not finish it all…all happy and satisfied, R and R did a great day’s walking and I think will sleep well. Our place is a complexo- a hotel, albergue and a restaurant where we ate, and where we will have breakfast…the busiest place in town, and the waiters are running non stop! But good service and food…another taxi to Sarria tomorrow as it is Sunday and not good for buses, but I think after that the bus will be the go. And again I will share with the Norwegian woman.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Rosie MarzoukOne More Camino in Spain 2023Gezgin
    View from the top of SarriaSarria

    Walk and taxi to Sarria

    21 Mayıs 2023, Ispanya ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Our good fortune with the weather continues! It was chilly this morning, but knew it would soon warm up and predictions for Sarria were for sunny and in the early 20s! A, R and R set off early after breakfast, at about 8.15. They said it was again just beautiful and Amr has given me photos to show it, but also quite a lot of ups and downs and fairly hard work. They arrived here in Sarria at about 2.30, and it was about 18 kms…according to the itinerary! Can’t ask Amr now because he is at the laundromat!!

    So I tried to find my taxi partner, the Norwegian woman of yesterday, as we agreed to share one again today to Sarria. We were staying at the same place (which is a large complexo) and I hadn’t seen her since yesterday afternoon when we agreed to do it…she had said she would organise it, so I had faith, but when all the walkers have left, the towns get very quiet, till the next batch of walkers start dribbling in. So I talked to a nice woman who was cleaning the rooms, and she knew who I meant - the one with long hair, with the crutches - and next time I saw her, she said, yes taxi booked for 11 because she had found her on her rounds! So all good.

    We had another very nice taxi driver, good English and talked all the way, about Galicia and where we were going…loved that I came from Australia - long way - and can speak French, Italian and English as well as Spanish…quite a linguist. So we had a very smooth ride in a Tesla, and arrived here at 11.15. I went to my Norwegian friend’s hotel so we could have a hot chocolate together, as our walkers wouldn’t be arriving for a while…and I knew where our hotel is, as we stayed there twice before. Very nice, and while we were there her friend walked in at about 11.40!!! She is a very fit Swede, but she must have been going SO fast…she said she was running, but that can’t have been very enjoyable…my lot didn’t come in for almost another 3 hours.

    So I walked back to our hotel - Alfonso IX - very nice, and right on the Camino and near good eateries. Room ready, bags not here yet, so dropped off my excess stuff, and walked around…lovely and sunny, and actually just had shirt sleeves! A change from the last few days! (Now a few clouds are scudding across, and a bit of wind and it has dropped to 16 or so)… I sussed out where R and R’s hotel is, as they are in a different one, and not always easy to find, as street names often not visible etc…about a kilometre away from us, so worked out the most direct route. Sarria is busy, as many pilgrims start here to walk to Santiago, and it all does become more crowded. But it’s a nice small city, and the old part is set on a steep hill, with many steps to climb. Driving in I saw for the first time the flat modern part! Then I saw that the walkers were getting closer, so walked back along the camino to meet them. I have walked almost 10 kms today!

    Now the post dinner addition: we met up with R and R at 5.30, and had a walk up the many stairs where the camino leads, and up through the Main Street of the old town, with many albergues and tapas bars…and churches…lovely view from the top, and we went to the 7pm mass with R and R and then had a good meal…I had the Galician soup of cabbage and potatoes…yum….(and some chiperones, but not done quite as perfectly as I like!).    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Rosie MarzoukOne More Camino in Spain 2023Gezgin
    Monasterio de San Julian de Samos
    11Beautiful cloistersTapas of paella

    Rest day in Sarria

    22 Mayıs 2023, Ispanya ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Another rest day today, sort of by accident when making the itinerary, but worked well because R and R had had 2 quite big walks after arriving and another non walking day was quite welcome. And Sarria is a pleasant town, quite busy as many arrivals by bus and train, ready to start a camino here. We decided to have an excursion to Samos which has a famous huge monastery…it is on an alternate camino route between Triacastela and Sarria, but a bit longer, so we have never taken that route! Quite a short taxi ride, and well worth it…you have to take a tour to see it, and it was in Spanish, but a very nice guide, and she sometimes answered questions in English, or explained things…it is an enormous Benedictine monastery dating from the 12th century or the very beginning even earlier. And Samos is another rather nice town..lots of veg gardens - growing cabbages (the ones on stalks) and potatoes, and fruit trees. We had a drink in a hotel while waiting for the taxi back, and were given a complimentary tapas of paella! Just hit the right spot!

    Now some downtime - I found the bus station, and there is a bus to Portomarin, our next destination, at 2.15 tomorrow…I should arrive at much the same time as the walkers. Amr and I had a drink and booked the restaurant for dinner tonight…don’t know how busy it will be, but they seemed to think it was a good idea…and this is a very popular strip of restaurants along the river, just near our hotel.

    Just back from dinner…a great meal…Amr and I shared a big piece of beef that we had seen someone having at (late) lunch time, and it was excellent…thick and just done au point as we love it…a ferritin boost! I think I needed that. It’s starting to get dark, at almost 10 pm, so it must be bedtime!    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Rosie MarzoukOne More Camino in Spain 2023Gezgin
    Setting off in the cool morning
    The Galician cabbagesThe 100 km milestone (to Santiago)Church at Portomarin

    Walk and bus to Portomarin

    23 Mayıs 2023, Ispanya ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Another beautiful day…if the predictions are right, it should last till the weekend, when there may be afternoon thunderstorms…meanwhile, good walking weather, and hot this afternoon! The walkers left Sarria at 8.30, and arrived at Portomarin at 4.15…a long day’s walk of 22kms…, quite demanding but through beautiful countryside and I now have the photos from them to show.

    Meanwhile, I had to wait until 2.15 for my bus, that I hoped existed! I didn’t have to check out till midday, so could amuse myself doing my word games etc, and called Paul for his birthday tomorrow in case I don’t catch him then, and also spoke to Cathy, Liv and Ted…so all in all it was fine, but it is a bit of a flat feeling when they have all walked off.

    Had a bit of a walk around, and went to the bus station early to try and find out which bus went from where…a nice Italian woman turned up, also going to Portomarin, and it was comforting to know someone else was hoping for the same bus…then quite a few more came out of the woodwork as the time got closer…I guess there are always camino injured, or tired, but when we knew which bus there was quite a little crowd. My Italian friend, who had lived in America and spoke perfect English, and I want to get to Palas de Rei tomorrow and hope to share a taxi as the only buses are 7am or 5pm…we swapped phone numbers, and hope to connect.

    Meanwhile A, R and R arrived at a bit after 4…Portomarin is a lovely little town set high above the river, so you have to climb many steps to arrive…hard at the end of the long walk! I clearly remember doing that…so I met them at the top of the steps…the village used to be down by the river, but in the 60s Franco made a dam and the village would be underwater, so they moved and rebuild the Roman church, and other historic buildings up to the higher site. Amazing. We are in different hotels…both very nice. Ours is on the camino and was very close to the bus stop which was handy. Nice room, except twin beds, with our own balcony (where our washing is already dry) and view down to the river. And R and R also have a very fancy hotel, near where have previously stayed, and we are all happy with our accommodations! The river at the moment is full of water, but I do remember in autumn it was a very green but waterless riverbed and I thought the dam had taken the water away…apparently it does dry up after a dry summer…anyway at the moment it looks lovely and full.

    We met at 6.15 and had dinner and now back and unwinding…still bright daylight, and cooling off for the night. Lovely and peaceful.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Rosie MarzoukOne More Camino in Spain 2023Gezgin
    They were leaving this morning, but couldnt see me waving from hotel!
    1Greeting them as they arrivedDinner tonight

    Long walk to Palas de Rei

    24 Mayıs 2023, Ispanya ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Well, it was a long walk for those that walked! 23.86 kms according to Amr. And it was as usual a beautiful day, cool to start, warmed up and now cooling off in the evening….and the walk was through more Galician countryside, undulating, no huge ups and downs but quite long, and the distinct aroma of dairy farms!

    I, on the other hand, met my Italian friend, Marilina, and we shared a taxi here at 11 am. For the first time an almost silent and unsmiling taxi driver…but he delivered us here and splitting the cost works well. So then Marilina and I had quite a while to wait - the hotels don’t do check in till 2pm, so we walked around, saw the church, found our hotels (and she managed to leave her bag in her hotel when a bag deliverer opened the door and she popped it in! We had a sandwich and OJ and finally it was time for check in. A new hotel for us, right in the centre and right on the camino (or very close) and fresh and perfect with a very helpful and friendly woman on reception who calls me Rosemarie every time I come and go…I think she was happy I did it in Spanish, and she spoke slowly and clearly and it was a good success. And she was excited when I reappeared with Amr…these personal things tend to make your day!

    So I went up to meet the walkers as I saw they were getting close, and walked a couple of kms, and we were able to guide R and R to their accommodation which was where we had formerly stayed…if you didn’t know it was hard to find, so that was good…sort of cabins just before you get to the town itself…

    So we met after a bit of downtime and they went off to the mass, and we tried to find somewhere to eat…the recommended place didn’t take reservations, but when we turned up had a wait of an hour for a table…so we found another place and had a great meal…I just had a tureen of the Caldo Gallego which is the delicious soup - cabbage, potato and white beans…so good, and it was my whole meal, instead of trying to fit in another course. Amr had pulpo, R and R shared a Spanish tortilla and we were all happy.

    Tomorrow to Melide, only 15 kms…Marilina and I meet at the bus stop to get the 9.35 bus, but she is going to Arzúa where we go to the next day…her husband is walking a long way…ours is broken into 2 days…needed after the long hard days. So I will have many hours to explore Melide as will be there by 10 am…!    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Rosie MarzoukOne More Camino in Spain 2023Gezgin
    Setting off...the blue hotel sign was our hotel
    1My italian friend and bus/taxi mateA little chapel along the way1Arriving in MelideThe newly paved old bridgeChurch in Melide1

    Shorter walk to Melide

    25 Mayıs 2023, Ispanya ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Had breakfast in our rather sweet hotel, and the walkers set off at about 8.30. It was quite cold, and in fact I kept a jacket on till I met them soon after 12.30….so it was a fairly easy 4 hour walk…people weren’t staggering in today! I met my friend Marilina at the bus stop at 9.15, ready for the 9.30 bus, and to our amazement there were many many people also waiting! Thank goodness it turned out to be a full size bus…we wouldn’t all have fitted in a minibus. Many were going to Arzúa where we go tomorrow, as it is a long walk there from Palas de Rei, and they avoided that long one…but quite a few also got off at Melide. And that same but will leave from here tomorrow for Arzúa.

    While we drove into town, I saw our hotel as we whizzed past, back down along the main road, so when deposited here at 10.15, I explored down to check if I wasn’t mistaken, and there it was, very nice but quite a long walk from the main centre…good to know, because as the pilgrims walk in it was easy to cut across to the hotel instead of going all the way up to the centre and back again. There was another nice group of Aussie girls from Albury/Wodonga staying here who I also warned…. So then I went up and walked in the centre, a nice little town…found the church, and the camino path through..many pulperias - octopus restaurants…sat in a park for a while and then walked back along the camino to meet them…at an old stone bridge which has been repaved and cleaned since last coming through.

    Then we all went and checked into the hotel, we have a good room with a double bed - and even 2 separate pillows each!! - rather than 2 pushed together (always a triumph) and a closed in balcony with sun pouring in and a view to the countryside over the main road and buildings opposite. Washing drying there now. Had a drink in the bar here with R and R who had some big bocadillos and chips as at dinner time they will be at 8pm mass…we all shared a small cheese plate first…they are very proud of the local cheeses, and they are delicious.

    Relaxing afternoon, Richard went to the laundromat and I did some nursey dressing on blisters on Rachel’s little toes. And some of the Aussies have an appointment for foot treatment a bit later!! R and R are going to mass at 8 pm and will have something after…rather an awkward time as restaurants don’t serve dinner till 7.30…so Amr and I are having dinner in the restaurant at the hotel at about 7.30.

    Addendum…have to add that dinner was rather special! It was handy to go to the hotel restaurant but it was fabulous food… I went a bit mad and had 2 courses from the expensive menu - 2 first courses, and they were wonderful, and as I suspected, quite large for primos! First I had scallops with citrus, then clams with a tasty tomato broth…Amr had a yum veg soup, and monkfish with beans…and a great Rioja wine, which we later found out the Aussie girls had paid for, for the medical advice and help!    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Rosie MarzoukOne More Camino in Spain 2023Gezgin
    View down to Melide
    Setting offContented cowsWonderful veggie gardenArrival in Arzúa1Awful of Rach and me, but yum dinner!

    Leisurely walk to Arzúa

    26 Mayıs 2023, Ispanya ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Another lovely day, though rain is threatening in the next couple of days…there were predictions of rain here this afternoon but it hasn’t happened so far! And it has been comfortably cool….the walkers left at 8.30, and this is a beautiful walk through picture postcard countryside, undulating but not too strenuous, and only 14.87 kms. Arrival in Arzúa was about 2.15, and tonight, and tomorrow also, we are staying at different hotels from R and R…this part of the camino gets very busy and booked up, and I guess they couldn’t place us together. We are in a lovely little boutique pension…very sweet and comfortable…had slight difficulty finding it as they have a restaurant with almost exactly the same name, and our Camino book shows the restaurant (to be fair, our instructions from the camino people were correct, but we just saw it in the book) …but that all got sorted…the restaurant looks fabulous, but sadly they are all booked with a group this evening. That is where we go for breakfast in the morning, so it should be good.

    Arzúa is famous for its cheese, and we regrouped for a drink and a cheese plate before we dispersed for downtime…will meet at 6.45 before the mass in the church, and have dinner after…we have found a nice place that the hotel lady recommended…and I think they have chiperones!……Later….they did have chiperones, which I had plus a normal salad (as opposed to the enormous ones that have tuna, asparagus, corn…) Amr had lentil soup and an enormous salad, Rich had a pizza and Rachel had lasagna….all happy!    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Rosie MarzoukOne More Camino in Spain 2023Gezgin
    Leaving Arzúa
    Interesting pattern of rows of new corn seedlings!Rachel amid the wild flowers

    Another gentle walk to A Rua

    27 Mayıs 2023, Ispanya ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    This is going to be brief, as the internet is terrible…may not be able to upload till tomorrow…but it is such a pretty walk through Galicia, and not many ups and downs, but through tree tunnels, enormously high oak, pines and eucalypts…and dairy farms and small villages of just a small group of houses…we all share photos and will show the pick of the bunch…staying where we have stayed before and very comfortable, and just had good dinner in the restaurant here.

    Will try just sending words first…

    Ah, that worked, so will try adding photos…tomorrow is the big day arriving to Santiago de Compostela!!    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Rosie MarzoukOne More Camino in Spain 2023Gezgin
    111The very tall skinny gum treesArriving - if you look closely you can see the towers of the cathedral in the distance!1We made it!

    We are here in Santiago de Compostela!

    28 Mayıs 2023, Ispanya ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    We are here!! And I walked in and all is very well. I had been walking so much in the towns, and going to meet the walkers…and from the beginning along the hospital corridors, so on Friday I had my first attempt at walking from Melide to Arzúa - it was a short and easy walk, and I felt just fine…so I continued and walked for the last 3 days. I am not stupid or irresponsible, and would have stopped if I had any signs of problems…but none at all, and I am so happy to have walked just a little! We went at a very relaxed pace, and it was a joy to see the beautiful countryside…

    The wifi tonight is excellent, so can catch up and not worry that it won’t upload…today’s walk was first through more beautiful tree tunnels and forests…and many many eucalyptus trees…it was almost like walking in the Australian bush, with the eucalyptus smell, sort of weird, but the trees are amazingly tall and thin, as they are planted in rows and just seem to grow up not out! After that first very pleasant sector, we went past the Santiago airport, and then along streets, and a bit of industrial area, and outer suburbs till we got into the historic centre and the cathedral. Rain and thunderstorms were predicted for later in the afternoon…we knew we were cutting it fine, but we stopped and had sustenance at several bars along the way, and got to the cathedral at about 4.20, had someone take out photo to prove it, and almost immediately it started to rain…a few drops and then torrential, with thunder and lightning!! R and R wanted to go straight into the cathedral (this was before it actually started raining) but we thought we’d head for the hotel - we are all at the same place this time - and we did, but put on ponchos and made our way through the downpour…very glad to arrive, and unwind in our room.

    Amr Is tomorrow morning going to the post office to send a parcel of stuff we won’t want, including our walking sticks which we can’t carry on to planes, back home. This will be good, to clear our bags and be lighter…so tomorrow we have the day to spend in Santiago and enjoy seeing places we remember and relax. We have just come back from a celebration dinner in a restaurant that is a serious meat place, and it was just wonderful…we thought it was familiar, and when I looked up photos of having dinner here 5 years ago with our camino friends, I could see from the decor it was the same place..! Anyway, off to bed, and we are all very happy.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Rosie MarzoukOne More Camino in Spain 2023Gezgin
    Dinner last night
    Fabulous vegetables!And amazing beef!Amr, showing full height of cathedral towers1Dinner tonight

    Relaxing rest day in Santiago

    29 Mayıs 2023, Ispanya ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    A lovely quiet day today. Cool to start, then quite hot and humid, and another thunderstorm predicted for later in the afternoon. First thing after breakfast Amr went with our sticks and other stuff to the big post office nearby. And it was SO efficient! They are geared to do this - we are not the first people to want to ship stuff back home, and they have special boxes for poles, even will ship bicycles.. and print out your name and address so no mistake!! And all completed in 15 minutes, and half an hour later Amr got an email from Australia post saying 2 parcels were on their way to him from Spain!!

    So we spent the morning wandering round the old haunts, went to the pilgrims office to get our Compostela, and went to the 12 noon pilgrim mass. At 11.15 Amr and I were lucky to get seats in the side transept, R and R were standing in the main body …it is a long stand, but so many people, and this happens every day as a new wave of pilgrims arrive! It is always a moving experience, and three times out of three we have experienced the swinging of the botafumeiro, the incense burner, which is so special, and sitting in the side aisle it is the best view, as it swings in that direction…you almost wonder if it will hit you, or the roof, and that is really high!

    Met some of the girls from Albury, one still sick and needing advice, and a drink and tapas. We found the best route to the station, as tomorrow we catch the train at 10.20 to Madrid, and a new adventure! Will include some photos from last night…so delicious! And we have sorted out a place to eat tonight…still no storm, and it’s almost 4.30…hope there’s not a deluge when we set out to eat tonight!

    Just adding that again we had a great dinner, and our farewell dinner with Rachel and Richard…a different restaurant but again amazing…all share dishes and varied and delicious. Have said goodbye to R and R…they leave very early before 6 to get to the airport, and we go to the station to get the train…the end of a lovely pilgrimage with them…very special!….and the thunderstorm never happened!    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Rosie MarzoukOne More Camino in Spain 2023Gezgin
    Misty grey morning at santiago station
    Back to an Ibis room which we know and love!!Puerta del SolA little touch of asian flavoursVino tinto in a supermarket - 5 litres for €4.99!1My old battered shoes, and 2 new pairs...

    The Camino is over…now in Madrid

    30 Mayıs 2023, Ispanya ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    A varied, happy and successful day! We got up reasonably leisurely, no bags to be packed up and ready in the lobby by 8am, and we are now on our own, no camino back up! Rachel and Richard had left before six, and we had breakfast and left at about 8.30 to wander down to the station, not sure if the tickets on my phone was adequate…the email said to print them, but couldn’t believe it was necessary as absolutely everything is done online - menus you have to get from the QR square on the table etc…and of course it worked perfectly…was smug watching so many people all fumbling with their many pieces of paper…anyway, out TGV equivalent train left a misty grey morning in Santiago and zoomed to Madrid, only 2 stops along the way…through many tunnels..it just ploughed through the countryside and arrived at Madrid at about 2pm. Many camino people on the train who will now disperse into normal lives. First we went through hilly wooded countryside which I think was still Galicia, then it turned into flatter grain fields and vast open spaces.

    We arrived at Chamartín which is not in the centre, but with the very efficient and user friendly metro here (which we have used many times before) we got to the stop near our hotel with no trouble, a new area for us on purpose to see different parts, but only a 20 minute walk from Puerta del Sol, and surrounded with many bars and eateries, and very pleasant. So we are settled into our Ibis - a spacious room, comfortable bed, opening window and everything works! And we are here for 6 nights…luxury, after having to pack up each day for so long! And we have our voucher for a welcome drink being Gold Accor members!!

    So we set off to test the waters. Had a drink and tapas at a nearby bar as we hadn’t eaten, then walked down to Sol, the hub of the city. Suddenly we are out of camino land and in a city with all the global shops, restaurant chains etc, but such a vibrant and buzzing vibe. The weather held out…there was a little light rain while we were having a meal later, but nothing that impacted us. Menacing black clouds did not materialise into thunderstorms…and tomorrow has no raindrops on the prediction.

    We saw my favourite pasteleria where we may have breakfast one day, and also found Rosi La Loca, a favourite restaurant, crazy but with delicious food, and booked for tomorrow night when Omnia will be here. She arrives tomorrow afternoon. So we went and did a little shopping in El Corte Ingles, a department store…I bought some sneakers…my walking shoes are falling apart, they would barely have made it if I had walked all the distance I had intended (they were the ones I walked the 900 kms from Vézelay in 2021, very comfortable but definitely on their last legs)….and Amr went to the VAT refund section and the woman he dealt with had a camino bracelet on (she had just done the Portuguese one) and they immediately bonded about walking the camino and we parted with hand shakes and blowing kisses…that is what the camino does!

    Then on our way back to the hotel we also stopped at a Decathlon store as Amr wanted to look and check some things, and I ended up getting another pair of amazing sneakers!!! (And he couldn’t find what he was looking for!). So we continued back and stopped at Gran Via to have a drink and a sit down…very nice, but the wind did blow up and it looked threatening, so we moved inside and ended up eating there…it was wonderful…now in Madrid we are out of the world of Peregrino menus, and this place had an array of small plate choices, but not all the jamon and cheese variations we have been having, but fusion food, and there were wok cooked vegetables with soy and sesame, and I had some seared tuna with guacamole and seaweed..we just realised how we crave some Asian flavours!! So that was not planned, but just wonderful. Now back, showered and ready for bed…    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Rosie MarzoukOne More Camino in Spain 2023Gezgin
    Royal palace
    Wonderful buildingsPlaza Mayor1I think this was the octopus dish!The tuna dishDessert

    Madrid, such a wonderful city

    31 Mayıs 2023, Ispanya ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Today we had no time restrictions! We woke and took our time, finally set off and found a bakery nearby with pastries and coffee…perfect. Wandered towards Sol, then I returned to get my kindle as we planned to find a park bench later to have kindle time…then we met up and walked along the road leading to our usual hotel to find the churreria we loved, and it didn’t disappoint..fab churros, coffee, juice…so we were sustained and walked via the opera house, royal palace to the park and sat in the shade with kindles. I wore one of my new sneakers, the ones with purple trim, and am happy to say they were wonderfully comfy, and could walk in them all day…

    We were watching the time as Omnia was arriving at 1.30 we thought, but turned out to be 2.30, so we walked through the Plaza de España and up the Gran Via, a major road with superb apartment buildings, and shops…the architecture here is just wonderful…beautiful, well kept buildings…and in the small streets too. It is sunny and perfect, hot in the direct (and very bright) sun, but very comfortable. We found a Basque tapas bar and restaurant that Amr remembered along the Gran Via, and had a drink and tapas there to keep us going…so lovely. Then had a visit to UniQlo, also along the Gran Via!! I looked and resisted, but Amr bought some shorts!

    I think we then returned to the hotel, as Omnia wasn’t going to be ready till about 5.30, and we all met up then in Puerta del Sol! Lovely reunion, and we walked round the lovely streets, into the Plaza Mayor (which is a very good Plaza Mayor) and through the narrow streets with many eateries. Found our way to Rosi La Loca where we had booked for dinner.

    Rosi La Loca is a crazy place where Amr and I have been several times before…it is over the top in decor, and fabulous food. And you certainly need to book as it is very popular. The only irritating thing was that the menu was only online and in the lower floor where we were you had to go on their wifi as there wasn’t reception otherwise…took ages to get the right password etc…but finally ordered, and had amazing meal. They fuse all food cultures..we had a baba ganouch (I know that is spelt wrongly), salad with mysterious crunchy bits, tataki tuna (very Japanese touch), octopus, chicken balls in a curry sauce, and finished with a version of cheesecake (very soft) with fruit and crunch…all SOOO good! Great day, and I think the Prado tomorrow!    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Rosie MarzoukOne More Camino in Spain 2023Gezgin
    Tree lined street with Prado
    Goya cats! Not allowed to take photos in Prado, but it was too late...Almost demolished paella!

    Thursday in Madrid

    1 Haziran 2023, Ispanya ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    A fairly quiet day…we are winding down, and in a week will be home! We have a breakfast ritual - mandarins and a banana in the room, then finish off with a pastry and coffee at our nearby bakery…lovely! We had decided today would be Prado day..we have been there several times before, but hard to come to Madrid without a visit. We had a longish walk, as we went via Atocha, the main train station to see about trains to Toledo where we plan to go tomorrow…that was a bit fraught as, as usual, they are renovating and parts are closed off or with scaffolding etc…but it is a rather gorgeous station, with a beautiful inside garden…or green house like area…anyway, trains are quite frequent, and we are going, although there are as usual predictions of rain.

    Omnia had calls she had committed to and we couldn’t meet till later in the afternoon, so Amr and I wandered in the Prado, enjoying the art but have to admit that I was getting weary with the slow museum walk! It was fun though, and after we walked back in the direction of Sol and had a drink and sustenance…shared some stuffed peppers which I love, but slightly not quite perfect as they had battered and deep fried them rather than just the naked peppers, but they did have a divine capsicum tasting sauce…

    Soon after that we met Omnia and it started to rain, heavily enough that we, and many others, sheltered in the Apple Store! When it eased we went to a cafe and all had very healthy and yum smoothies and then walked to the UniQlo store where I bought a black cardigan like the green famous one that I lost and then found in Rome! It will be very useful!

    After that we went to the restaurant where Amr and I ate on our first night…lovely tasty dishes, small and shareable! The highlight was a seafood paella which we had eyed before, but needed more than 2 people to share it…it was just delicious, and I forgot to take a photo till it was almost demolished…but you will get the gist. Not many photos, just a peaceful day, and you can’t stop admiring the streets with such beautiful buildings, and the little narrow streets that are so charming, and the beautiful parks.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Rosie MarzoukOne More Camino in Spain 2023Gezgin
    1Atocha station
    Looking up at the city from station levelCity walls and gateInside the cathedral..and the cloistersIn the El Greco gardenEl Greco's SantiagoDelicious salad at our "local"

    A Day in Toledo

    2 Haziran 2023, Ispanya ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    This is so late…it’s almost midnight, but I do want to quickly give a rundown of our day. We had tickets for the train to Toledo at 11.20, but thought we’d get tickets for the return when there, not sure when we’d feel like coming back….so we met Omnia at Sol and walked down to Atocha…only a half hour ride, but not having a return was a mistake, as all the trains were completo till 8.40….this was later than we’d planned, but no problem really…we could eat there, and it is light till 10.

    Anyway, we had a lovely day. The train station, which is very moorish in architecture, like quite a lot of buildings especially in southern Spain, think Granada! Anyway, beautiful and exotic, and from there you walk (or you can get a bus) across the river and up,up into the city. It is full of many narrow streets, all winding and nothing flat, and nothing smooth…so we climbed up and down all day, but it was worth it. Amr and I had been there after the camino in 2018 (and also in 1994) and Omnia had also been there, but we really enjoyed the feel of the city. There were banners on many buildings everywhere and we never really found what they were in aid of, but it added to the feeling of festivity.

    We first made our way to the enormous cathedral…very beautiful and as always with lots of history. That took quite a while with an audio guide and after we sat in a square and had a bit to eat…Omnia and I had gazpacho, delicious, and Amr a salad, and we shared some croquetas and calimari…then we made our way to the El Greco museum, which we did by circuitous route, but finally found it via the Jewish quarter and the synagogue and Sephardic museum. The El Greco museum is in the house and garden where he lived and is very charming, and the best paintings we thought were his portraits of the apostles…

    Then we wafted back vaguely in the direction of the station and stopped for a drink at a bar right up high looking down at the countryside…so beautiful . By the time we got back I was actually tired…and Amr and I got the metro back to our hotel, and we stopped at the bar on our corner, our local, and had a drink - I had a tonic - and we shared a salad…just what we needed, as we hadn’t eaten before we left as at the bar they said the kitchen didn’t open till 8…stupid at such a touristy town! Now after midnight and must go to bed…    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Rosie MarzoukOne More Camino in Spain 2023Gezgin

    Not a great day!

    3 Haziran 2023, Ispanya ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Just a short entry so that I can get to sleep…I wasn’t feeling 100% this morning (nothing serious, no worry) but it was made worse because in a packed metro my phone was stolen….must have been very skilful because it just fitted with my kindle, and sunnies on top, in a small shoulder bag…but it was the classic situation, and you feel so violated, plus no phone. Can only say that it was better to happen in the last 5 days than the first! Will survive till we get home, and my phone contract only had a month to go…got to look on the bright side!

    Anyway, we went to the Thyssen museum…wonderful paintings, classic and impressionist…no madonnas and bambini! Could have done without some of the modern, but not too much. And again the weather held out…we have been just amazingly lucky right through, except a bit rainy in the beginning round Pamplona…each day they predict thunderstorms in the evening, sometimes they eventuate and sometimes not, but never at a vital time! Then the next morning dawns bright and clear. Just photos of more beautiful buildings.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Rosie MarzoukOne More Camino in Spain 2023Gezgin
    1Funny benchCristal palaceAnother beautiful apartment buildingDinner (see behind the ad for the Importance of being Ernest!

    Last full day in Spain

    4 Haziran 2023, Ispanya ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    A much better day! In fact a great day…Have got used to the fact that I don’t have a phone for the moment and it doesn’t get me down any more.. First we had our usual breakfast at the local bakery, then met Omnia at 10.30 and walked via the scenic route to the Reina Sofia museum, which has mostly modern art (most famous being Picasso’s Guernica) and some Salvador Dalis, Kandinsky…and also photography, architectural designs and drafts…it again is a large museum, and after completing one floor Omnia and I declared enough…

    The scenic route we took there was along the beautiful tree line boulevards leading by the Prado and on to Atocha…so lovely walking under the huge trees, and maybe it was because it was Sunday but some seemed to be closed to cars for the day..even better…after the museum we got a table along the street across from Atocha and had a little lunch - bocadillos - just right, then went still by scenic route to the huge park del Buen Retiro…it is huge and beautiful, and on a sunny warm Sunday everyone was out, children playing, boats on the large pond, sitting picnicking under the trees…we found a shady spot under a tree and read…(at least I have my kindle!)..all very pleasant and restful..

    Finally we roused and walked via the crystal palace here …it was built in 1887, and was originally to house some flora from the Phillipines which was then a Spanish colony, and it was part of a fair…it is still intact and beautifully maintained and now is used for modern art exhibitions by the Reina Sofia museum. Then we walked up to plaza Santa Ana, and had a little dinner at an outdoor cafe in the adjacent Plaza San Angel…delicious food, and we discovered that it was an outlet from the very nice hotel in the Plaza (where Cathy once stayed)…no wonder the food was excellent! And not expensive…

    So very happy, we walked back to Sol where we lined up at an Italian gelateria (helado italiano) for a yum ice cream. Now back, and sort of packed…we check out tomorrow, but don’t fly out to Paris till the evening…we don’t leave for Sydney till Wednesday morning, but had allowed an extra day in case of any problems - flight cancellations etc…and would you believe it, France has declared a general strike on Tuesday, so thank goodness we go on Monday…and we have already checked in to the flight, and have boarding passes, so hope all is smooth!!    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Rosie MarzoukOne More Camino in Spain 2023Gezgin

    Last day, flying to Paris

    5 Haziran 2023, Ispanya ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    A quiet restful day…cloudless morning, and we met Omnia and had churros and chocolate, fresh OJ and coffee in the favourite place near where we used to stay…where you can watch the churros being made, squeezed through a machine and done with great dexterity! So fresh… then we all walked to the park near the royal Palace and sat there and whiled away the time reading.

    Set off about midday and walked through plaza de España and up the Gran Via to the basque tapas restaurant where we slowly had drinks and delicious food. Then a walk back to the hotel where we had checked out, but left bags, and picked them up and got the metro to the airport. Very efficient metro ride with only one easy change. Now waiting for flight, so will put this up now, as we won’t get to the hotel in Paris till quite late…and yes Hartley, Amr badly needs a haircut but insisted on waiting until we get home….he’s now all fluffy at the sides like a koala!! He has twice had Spanish haircuts before, but not this time!    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Rosie MarzoukOne More Camino in Spain 2023Gezgin
    Funny... for the wine people - Paul, Hartley..
    All the leaves are now fully out and vibrantWedding dress photo shoot on Pont Neuf!

    In Paris, last day in Europe

    6 Haziran 2023, Fransa ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    This ended up being a really good day, but wasn’t sure it would be, as we went to bed so late (doing wordle at 1am), and Amr of course just rolled over and slept, but I was all hyped and didn’t sleep well…so I was rather a slow starter…this was the strike day in France, but when Amr went to check if the RER was running from the airport into the city, all was totally normal….(forgot to mention that we staying at an airport hotel (another Ibis!) which is right at Terminal 3, as are other hotels, so handy just to walk directly to them)…so we ignored the possibility of strike complications and had a great day in Paris…in fact there was no sign of any strike anywhere that we could see.

    So we got the RER to St Michel, had coffee and croissants there for old times sake, then we were off on a shopping mission for the things Amr had been waiting to do…this is where I lagged a bit, as I am not a shopper, but I needed to stay together, as without phone, I had no means of communication if we got lost from each other…normal situation 20 years ago, but now it feels so vulnerable without a phone!! Pathetic!

    Anyway, Amr was patient about me not being enthusiastic, and we coped…stopped for a drink near the Opera…our favourite place was full with lunchers so we went to another nearby, not fancy looking, but when we had 2 glasses of wine got a bill for €38!!! Bit of a change from Spain where you get 2 glasses of Rioja, plus complimentary tapas, for 3 or 4 euros!! And this time we didn’t even get chips or olives…anyway, just a Paris experience…then I sat on a chair in the shade (hot day by afternoon) in the Tuileries with kindle, while Amr could walk round, explore, and find if we could go to Chez Denise tonight…success there…we could have early dinner there at 6.30 outside..perfect as we need an early night as our flight leaves at 9 in the morning…so good to be right at the airport. So we had a perfect meal at Chez Denise, house terrine, kidneys in mustard sauce and an Ile Flottante, all shared…yum, and we know how manage their massive helpings. So off to bed, big flights home tomorrow.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Rosie MarzoukOne More Camino in Spain 2023Gezgin
    Yum dinner
    This was a selfie taken in ferry now, on our way to a concert tonight!

    Back home

    9 Haziran 2023, Avustralya ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Just a final entry to round off the trip and get us back to Oz. We had a good trip home…as good as air travel can be these days…the security people in CDG actually smile and were human, and both flights were easy and smooth. Good to be home, and love the cool weather. And on arrival got an invitation to have dinner with Peter and Louise as they had a beautiful roast beef and had been stood up by guests…so we were happy to help out, as hadn’t thought of food at all at that stage. Lovely evening catching up with them.

    Today I gave Amr his haircut, Hartley will be relieved to know…And I got a new phone, so all is well with the world, and looking forward to seeing everyone.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
    Gezinin sonu
    8 Haziran 2023
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