Author Archives: victoria hoffer

A 7:00 a.m. breakfast allowed us to leave Estrella by 7:40. We had a 17.88 mile day, so we were out the door as early as breakfast and last minute preparations allowed. This did allow us to see the sun rising. So great! Would this be the way to go, or what! More haystacks: TanyaContinue reading “Ninth day El Camino”

We did have trouble finding our way out of Estrella, but at last managed without adding much to the mileage. None the less, this sort of thing is very anxiety making. Today we had a choice: the high route, two kilometers shorter but two hundred and fifty meters more climbing than the low route. NotContinue reading “Eighth day El Camino”

15.47 mile day started with a walk through Puente La Reina, named to honor the elegant bridge leading into the town: A common sight: Hope this is not a common sight—peregrinos (what everyone walking is called) discarding clothes by the side of the road: But this is worse. It can be difficult to find aContinue reading “Day Seven El Camino”

Quoted mileage: 14.67; actual mileage: 15.35, not off by much. It is the strangest thing, El Camino is flooded with walkers and bikers, as in bicycles, until about noon and then everyone seems to disappear. Just to record that observation. Pamplona is a city of some size. Anyone who has walked long distance paths knowsContinue reading “Fourth Day”

A belated post. This one seems not to have made it on its proper day. Our first day, 16.77 miles, began at 8:30 a.m. in the rain. We chose the low route for a variety of reasons not the least of which was the weather. Why climb an extra I-don’t-know-how-many meters if you will notContinue reading “First day of El Camino”

Today was almost a rest day. From Akeretta to our hotel in Pamplona it was 10.53 miles. We started out at 8:30 and arrived just before 12:30; this included a stop for a coffee. These coffee stops are the best! Always a steaming hot latte and a clean W.C. A view: A fixer-upper: Oh dear,Continue reading “Third Day El Camino”

Most unfortunately, today, Ian, who has been suffering from a respiratory infection, could not walk this stage. (He took a bus, which, he told us, was full of walkers. The first day must have done in a lot of them.) So at 8:a.m. on a crisp, perfectly clear morning, Tanya and I headed out forContinue reading “Second day El Camino”

9:30 a.m. train from Barcelona to Pamplona left on the dot and arrived on the dot. Smooth, clean, comfortable ride. Then a horrendous, sickening hour and a half taxi ride to St. Jean. Oh, those torturous, twisty mountain roads. Por favor, senor, puede parar? (Please, sir, can you stop? Can’t get the Spanish diacriticals whenContinue reading “In France”

Photo transfer now active! Too bad the first one is so poor. It is the view through the French doors of the B and B dining area. There is a little table and two chairs on the balcony…utterly charming. As I had been told, and true it is, ham is the national food of Spain.Continue reading “Barcelona”

Trip to airport, check-in, and security completed in a record two hours. How amazing is that! JFK terminal 8 does not offer much in the way of shops or restaurants, but the threatening weather of this morning has cleared and the posted “on-time” status of the flight to Barcelona more than compensates. There is soContinue reading “El Camino: 2013: Getting Ready and Day of Arrival”