Camino Norte Day 1: San Seb to Getaria

Walked: 24.4kms
Hours: 5:48
Steps: 40,528
Tortillas to date: 5
Blisters to date: 0

The Camino del Norte began with the most beautiful sunrise as I left San Sebastián, but also with some nerves. 🌅

For almost an hour I didn’t see another pilgrim and wondered if this would be a solitary path. Then, suddenly, I started seeing people. First, a group of walkers just before my first coffee stop at the 12 Tribes religious community, weird but lovely. ☕️

Soon after I met Itzi and Isra, two locals from the Basque Country, and the day changed completely! We walked together all the way to Getaria, having one of those easy, flowing conversations that make the kilometers pass quickly. The views along the coast were stunning, and reaching Getaria felt like a real reward, specially in the heat 🥵

We celebrated our arrival with pintxos and drinks. I tried txakoli (a crisp local white wine) for the first time, and also Gildas (skewers of olives, anchovies, and peppers, sometimes with a spicy kick). All delish! 😋

At the albergue, while I was preparing a simple dinner with a tortilla and supermarket tomatoes, the hospitalero shook his head at my tomatoes and then generously brought me three giant ones from his own garden, which transformed the meal. I ended up sharing dinner with Dom, a French pilgrim walking the Norte backwards, and we somehow chatted in French for three hours! 🍅

It was a hot day, Getaria was beautiful with its port and beaches, and knowing Elkano came from here gave it a special touch! A great first stage 👣 ☀️Read more