Europe 2026

Moving day! Well just to another hotel. One where we will stay for 3 nights straight. A new record for me on this trip. But it takes a local city bus ride into the old city section of San Sebastian where we stayed last time. New hotel is still a nice place. Not a hostel.  Before checking out of “The Social Hub” I did all of our laundry since wash and dry was included in the price. Very different hotel with ping pong table, quiet lounge rooms, reading rooms, etc. Google it. It is different and also above what I usually want to spend.    But we taxi to new place and relax. Take a 10 minute walk to a recommended cafe and enjoy a great meal on the sidewalk.  Fried potatoes with 2 different sauces. Beer for me and Apperal spritzer for Mary Ann. An unbelievable tuna carpaccio. Some of the best I have every eaten   And some little birds wanted to eat too. Reminded me of their cousins at our house who come to bathe in my water features everyday.  Quick stop at a fr...

Well what could be easier than a travel day by train that takes you across the rolling countryside of Northern Spain?  Ride from Santiago de Compostela to San Sebastián on the boarder of Spain and France and meet my lovely wife who is flying in from Florence, Italy via Barcelona. Well first of all, you can only call to get a taxi in Santiago de Compostela. Would be simple if their system worked and you spoke Spanish. Even Spanish speakers have trouble. So there I am outside in front of the hostel at 7:00am hoping to get to my 8:30am train a 10 minute drive away. Another couple from Croatia are having the same problem. No taxis coming or answering. I had even asked last nights driver to come in the morning. “No you have to call” Luckily the Croatian couple secured one and took me with them. They by bus, me by train, but the same station.  I board my train and someone with a bag the size of a Volkswagen is in my seat. He moves over to the isle and I to the window. For 2 hours of...

No walking today. Or at least not a lot and only in town.  First order of business was to get the certificate that I had done the Camino. Small wait in line.  My certificate! Next up was to collect the suitcase I had forwarded from Madrid via the Spanish Post Office. But that had me pass by the Cathedral that officially marks the end of the Camino.  And time for a selfie in front of it.  The line in the background waiting to go to Pilgrim’s Mass. I skipped it since I had seen it in 2018.    Last lunch and the men next to us were having Spanish form of BulGoGi. Scenes from the market by our hotel. If you have seen my other blogs, you will know how I love markets. The last hostel for this trip.   The last Camino meal. Very fancy restaurant and a nice conversion with the man sitting next to us.  I had pork checks which Gary finished for me       Good night.

Well one last day of hiking. So close yet so far.  And the “hill” going into Santiago de Compostela was brutal. Too much so to take photos. It just never ended. Luckily I had  some Pilgrim Cake before the last long slog up the hill.  But all turned out well as I met Gary at our hotel for the night and in Santiago, cafes are everywhere. Plus we have the next day off. No hiking. Some photos from our room and around Santiago de Compostela.  From our hotel window. Later that night. 

 Well its back on the Camino. Whats a little emergency room visit?  Headed out with the idea of drinking more fluids. So it meant stopping at more cafes along the way. Some scenes from todays hike.  On the road again. Always seems to be uphill.  I liked this hole in the wall.  Somebody decided it would be fun for people to put their names on beer bottles.  Mid morning snack of apple tart and beer.  And yes cows use the Camino too. They are faster than me. Sitting with a lovely couple from New Zealand.  Another place to stop and refresh  Walking sights Me back to Camino walking Again uphill Beautiful morning Even dogs walk the Camino But before the day ended, our luggage went to one place and we were at another. It meant for me a long walk along a highway in the sun to get there. Once Imdid, I met a lovely family from Korea who shared their sandwiches with me as we trades stories. One of the highlights of the trip. 

 Well the day started quiet enough walking the Camino. That means a hugh uphill walk and very few places to stop for drinks. By now I am forwarding most of my stuff and only using a very small light backpack. Thank you Linda.  After about 9 of the 12 miles for that day ( And who is counting) I began to feel like I was drunk and attributed it to a combo of beer and pain killers. I guess other hikers did not. There are not a lot of places to sit and rest on this portion of the Camino. So when I sat in one spot a bunch of ladies asked if I was OK. Of course I gave them my standard reply. Just “old and slow”. They tried to help me walk further but I was not steady on my feet. So I sat down again Me sitting Feeling fine. They insisted on calling an ambulance and I didn’t have much choice as this one lady had taken charge Ambulance coming to get me.  My ambulance companion Riding in the ambulance.  In the hospital for testing. EKG, blood sugar, BP, pulse. The whole works. ...