Departure Date: September 3, 2014
We head for Europe in less than two weeks and have been so busy for the last three months. When we are not shopping at REI, we are compiling and editing our packing list. One funny thing, we will be traveling for almost three months with only two "quick dry-lightweight" outfits... one on our backs and the other in our backpacks.
But the other stuff... Flights, travel logistics, Eurail pass, backpacks, sleeping bags, shoes, hi-tech sock, hats, walking poles, medical supplies, and of course technology! Another requirement, everything must be very small, lightweight, quick dry and versatile. Such as, soap that can be used for body, hair and to wash clothes. WOW!
Earlier I mentioned technology. Oh my! First the issue of phone or no phone? Can we do without one for almost three months? Probably not! Thank goodness for apps and wi-fi! Then to add more to our list, we decided to do a blog. Thank goodness for Lee's granddaughter, Abbie, she set us up! That was easy!
We have had many questions about trip. Some we know the answers to and some we will learn before our trip is over. The first 35 days (give or take a few) we will be walking 500 miles across Spain on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. Yes, 500 miles! We actually start in France, in St. Jean Pied de Port and hike over the Pyrenees Mountains into Spain. We will pass through many small villages. Some of the larger cities (Burgos, Leon, Pampalona) will have less than 200,000 people.
Along the path, we will spend the night at albergues/hostels.These are facilities owned and maintained by the local authorities and reserved for pilgrims only. They may have as little as 10 beds or up to one hundred plus. A pilgrim is referred as someone who walks the entire 500 miles carrying their own backpack. Yes, we will be pilgrims.
Once we reach our daily destination, we choose an albergue, claim our bed, shower, dress and wash the clothes we were wearing that day. Then we get to explore the village and find a restaurant for dinner.
Some albergues have communal kitchens where you can prepare your own meal. Also, some prepare meals for all the pilgrims that are staying for the night. It will be great to hang out and share dinner with the other pilgrims and hear about their travels.
Then we will have a new experience... communal sleeping. Ear plugs are a must for this adventure! Then lights out!
Daily Schedule: Repeat everyday until we complete the entire 500 miles!
Friends have asked why we decided to make this journey. First the camino is not a race or a competition. It is a spiritual journey traveling the path that was taken by St. James centuries ago. The lesson we hope to learn is how little we need in life for happiness and hopefully our cups will be spiritually overflowing when we finish. Also, we want to put our physical and mental abilities to a test as never before. We are not getting any younger.The beauty will be magnificent like walking through a travel postcard.
After we complete the camino, we will backpack throughout Europe traveling on the Eurail as far north as The Netherlands, Poland on the east, Italy on the south end and Portugal on the west side. WOW! Will share pics along the way.
One more note of interest... Lee will have a big birthday while we are traveling. We have our tickets and we will celebrate at the top of the Eiffel Tower. Shhhh... I told Lee we could have dinner at the top, but that was before I saw the menu prices. Guess I will be packing a brown bag dinner with crackers, cheese and hopefully pick up a couple of individual wines.
Less than two weeks to go and our "to do" list is finally getting smaller. Now we are almost ready to start our trip!
Signing off for now... Buen Camino!
For more info check out:
www.caminodesantiago.com
The movie "The Way"
