Arlene L

I am an Explorer! I walked the Camino Frances in 2018 with my daughter. In 2022, I walked from Santiago to Muxia and Finisterre, then the Coastal Caminho Portuguese. Lue lisää www.arlenelaskey.me Edmonton, Canada

Matkaaja Dos Camino
- Näytä matka
- Lisää toivelistallePoista toivelistalta
- Jaa
- 8.10.2022 klo 11.29
- ⛅ 15 °C
- Korkeus: 56 m
- Ranska Île-de-France Paris Paris 04 Ancien - Quartier Saint-Honoré 48.86113, 2.34399248°51’40” N 2°20’38” E
Päivä 27
ORY to LAX
8. lokakuuta 2022, Ranska ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
I am glad I did the walking tour yesterday, I feel like I saw a lot of Paris for the short time I am here. It is really just a stop between flights.

This morning I relaxed over a nice petit-déjeuner at Café Limonade. Then I finished packing, charged up my phone, and headed out to the airport.

It was actually very easy to get to Orly Airport from my location. A train from Gare du Nord, then the Orly-Val (like an LRT shuttle train) to the airport. The only source of confusion was that they switched platforms at Gare du Nord for the train to the airport.

Boarding the plane I was asked for my vaccine record for the first time. But - no masking required on the flight! It was a bit strange, but I was happy not to mask for the eleven hour flight.

I don’t have much to say about the flight. It was long.Lue lisää
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Matkaaja Dos Camino
- Näytä matka
- Lisää toivelistallePoista toivelistalta
- Jaa
- 7.10.2022 klo 21.47
- 🌙 14 °C
- Korkeus: 78 m
- Ranska Île-de-France Paris Paris 05 Ancien - Quartier Faubourg-Saint-Denis Gare de Paris-Nord 48.879821, 2.35534848°52’47” N 2°21’19” E
Päivä 26
Paris Part 2
7. lokakuuta 2022, Ranska ⋅ 🌙 14 °C
Did I mention that the walk to Sacre-Coeur was all uphill? I couldn’t find the funicular so I walked up the steps.

Next I had registered for a free walking tour. The start point was only one hour away walking, so I walked. At least it was all downhill.

We met at the Place du Trocadero, and I was the only customer! Unlike Porto, where there were about 15 of us. So I got a private tour by Eloísa, who is from the Philippines but is living in Paris more than ten years.

It was a lovely tour, lots of views of the Eiffel Tower, we walked along the Seine, through the grounds of the Louvre, across a few bridges. She pointed out many monuments and buildings, and talked about the life in Paris. There is a pedestrian area along the river where many people run, walk, play sports, and just sit. And at night the miniature Eiffel Towers of the street vendors light up, almost like the original.

Paris is excited to host the Olympics in 2024, so they are making repairs to the Eiffel Tower (scaffolding), and other parts of the city.

There are your boats on the Seine, restaurants everywhere. The city is so busy. It is Friday evening, but so many people eating out! Do they ever eat at home? Paris is an expensive place to live.

After the tour I found some food, then walked back to the hotel. So I walked as much as a Camino day 😎.Lue lisää
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Matkaaja So, if you could sum up the walk (sans Paris) in a paragraph, what would it say? Did it change you? What was the most striking thing you learned?
8.10.2022Vastaa
Matkaaja Wonderful day in Paris. I can only imagine what Paris (France in general) will be like in 2024 with both The Tour and an almost as big event as the Olympics. 🚴‍♀️🚴‍♂️😀
8.10.2022Vastaa
4 tykkäystä
Matkaaja Dos Camino
- Näytä matka
- Lisää toivelistallePoista toivelistalta
- Jaa
- 7.10.2022 klo 15.28
- ⛅ 19 °C
- Korkeus: 78 m
- Ranska Île-de-France Paris Paris 05 Ancien - Quartier Faubourg-Saint-Denis Gare de Paris-Nord 48.879779, 2.35534848°52’47” N 2°21’19” E
Päivä 26
Paris Part 1
7. lokakuuta 2022, Ranska ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
I only have one day in Paris, so I went for a long walk.

I started at Montmartre, and the Sacre-Coeur Cathedral. Very much uphill. The Cathedral is beautiful, but what was outside was unexpected.

There was a Fete des Vendages, a bit like Taste of Edmonton or Heritage Festival, but this is París! Booth after booth of wine, beer, food, and more. And street vendors with their miniature Tour d’Eiffels and other collectibles.Lue lisää
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Matkaaja Dos Camino
- Näytä matka
- Lisää toivelistallePoista toivelistalta
- Jaa
- 7.10.2022 klo 9.01
- ⛅ 8 °C
- Korkeus: 73 m
- Ranska Île-de-France Paris Paris 05 Ancien - Quartier Faubourg-Saint-Denis Gare de Paris-Nord 48.87972, 2.35588348°52’47” N 2°21’21” E
Päivä 26
SCQ to CDG
7. lokakuuta 2022, Ranska ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C
I am on the move again today. First, the 6A bus to the Aeropuerto (1€ and a bus stop just around the corner from the hostal).

From the Paris airport I took a train to Gare du Nord, which is almost across the street from my hotel.

I chose a hotel instead of a hostel in Paris because the hostels are quite expensive. This hotel is almost like a Camino hostal. The main floor looks like it used to be a restaurant. Family-run, they were eating dinner together when I came in in the evening. And a cat having its dinner as well.Lue lisää
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Matkaaja Dos Camino
- Näytä matka
- Lisää toivelistallePoista toivelistalta
- Jaa
- 6.10.2022 klo 20.14
- ⛅ 19 °C
- Korkeus: 245 m
- Espanja Galicia Santiago de Compostela Praza do Obradoiro 42.880455, -8.54569242°52’50” N 8°32’44” W
Päivä 25
Santiago at night
6. lokakuuta 2022, Espanja ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
We got a lovely surprise during the mass. They swung the botafumeiro! For those who don’t know, here is the Wikipedia definition:

“The Botafumeiro (Galician for 'smoke expeller') is a famous thurible in the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. Incense is burned in this swinging metal container, or censer.”

The story is that the incense helped to camouflage the stench of the ancient pilgrims. Unlike us, they did not have access to a daily shower.

The botafumeiro is typically swung once a week. But additional times are added if a sponsor pays 300€. It takes several men to swing it. We were seated a ways back, so not a great view, but you get the idea. It is very dramatic. If you want a better view, watch the movie ‘The Way’ - Emilio Estévez is part of the crew swinging the botafumeiro.

After mass, we wandered a bit, enjoyed some helado, and got some great photos of the Cathedral at night.Lue lisää
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Matkaaja Dos Camino
- Näytä matka
- Lisää toivelistallePoista toivelistalta
- Jaa
- 6.10.2022 klo 17.50
- ⛅ 23 °C
- Korkeus: 245 m
- Espanja Galicia Santiago de Compostela Praza do Obradoiro 42.880508, -8.54568342°52’50” N 8°32’44” W
Päivä 25
Santiago de Compostela
6. lokakuuta 2022, Espanja ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
This phase of my journey is nearly at an end. We had lunch and cerveza 🍺, then checked in to the hostal (back to where I stayed on the very first night). After a shower we headed out to explore a bit.

First we stopped in a couple of shops (Sharon has room in her pack to fill), then went to see the Cathedral.

Next we grabbed a seat in the Praza Quintana, behind the Cathedral, and enjoyed a vino and shared a plate of Galician style pulpo 🐙 - yes, octopus.

Then we went back into the Cathedral to wait for mass. We wanted to be able to have a seat.Lue lisää
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Matkaaja Dos Camino
- Näytä matka
- Lisää toivelistallePoista toivelistalta
- Jaa
- 6.10.2022 klo 13.05
- ⛅ 19 °C
- Korkeus: 286 m
- Espanja Galicia Santiago de Compostela Parque de Bonaval 42.884273, -8.54015342°53’3” N 8°32’25” W
Päivä 25
Milladoiro to Santiago de Compostela
6. lokakuuta 2022, Espanja ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
I felt great today, very strong. And Sharon’s feet felt a bit better today. She had thought to take a cab part way, but was able to walk the entire distance.

There is an alternate route entering Santiago, which is a bit longer but supposedly along a river. We miscalculated - we got the extra distance but no river. 😐

But we finally arrived, saw the Cathedral, then went to the Pilgrim Office to get our Compostela - that prized certificate indicating that we are successful pilgrims. It only took about 30 minutes of waiting.Lue lisää
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Matkaaja Congratulations 🎊 to you both!
7.10.2022Vastaa
Matkaaja Thanks
19.10.2022Vastaa
Matkaaja Well done!
7.10.2022Vastaa
Matkaaja Thank you
19.10.2022Vastaa
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6 tykkäystä
Matkaaja Dos Camino
- Näytä matka
- Lisää toivelistallePoista toivelistalta
- Jaa
- 6.10.2022 klo 10.21
- ⛅ 15 °C
- Korkeus: 245 m
- Espanja Galicia Santiago de Compostela Praza do Obradoiro 42.880465, -8.5456942°52’50” N 8°32’44” W
Päivä 25
Escravitude to Milladoiro
6. lokakuuta 2022, Espanja ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
We started our walk with a visit to a church, then walked past farms, cute puppies, a small horreo, a replica of the stone from Padrón, a Samurai-themed yard, and some lovely green forest trails.
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Matkaaja Dos Camino
- Näytä matka
- Lisää toivelistallePoista toivelistalta
- Jaa
- 6.10.2022 klo 8.13
- ⛅ 15 °C
- Korkeus: 24 m
- Espanja Galicia Rois Seira Río Rois 42.77705, -8.6547242°46’37” N 8°39’17” W
Päivä 25
Camino Portuguese Day 15
6. lokakuuta 2022, Espanja ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
For our last night on the Camino we had a true pilgrim experience. There was a shared guest meal, which was fabulous! This included a three course meal, vino and bread, and liqueur following. There was a traditional Galician drink, home brewed by a neighbour, and a coffee and a cream liqueur, which made a tasty café con leche. Yes, I was a bit tipsy.

This wonderful meal was paired with amazing conversation of the Canadians, the Germans, the Kiwi, and the South Africans; as well as our host - a Mexican who has lived in Canada and Europe before settling in Spain with his Spanish wife.

To complete the pilgrim experience, the large Portuguese man in the bunk above me snored like a freight train. Even with my ear plugs it was very loud. Somehow I did get enough sleep. 😴

Many people do this Camino in 12
days, but I had a couple of short days, a
rest day, and the Spiritual Variant. So
on my 15th day, I walk into Santiago.Lue lisää
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Matkaaja Dos Camino
- Näytä matka
- Lisää toivelistallePoista toivelistalta
- Jaa
- 5.10.2022 klo 15.46
- ⛅ 23 °C
- Korkeus: 24 m
- Espanja Galicia Rois Seira Río Rois 42.776969, -8.65474842°46’37” N 8°39’17” W
Päivä 24
Padrón to Escravitude
5. lokakuuta 2022, Espanja ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
We arrived in Padrón at about 10:00, had some café, took care of some business at an ATM and a Farmacia.

We visited the church there, dedicated to Santiago. It houses the Roman ‘pedron’ stone, which is said to have moored the stone boat which carried St James to Spain. Also a statue of St James the Moor Killer. As well as the pilgrim history, James was said to appear during a battle to help the Christians overcome the Moors.

We walked on out of Padrón, along the highway, then turned in past farms and villages. Then found our albergue, which is a beautiful renovated building.Lue lisää
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