Thursday, April 18, 2019

A rough start


The trip started, like many trips. with a middle of the night alarm, a bus ride to the Dever airport in the dark, and some anxiety. 

As as the plane loaded, I saw backbacks with scallop shells shoved into overhead bins.  The family was headed to Geneva Switzerland to start on the way to Santiago. They admitted that they might take a bus at times. 

I had a long layover in the United Club in the Newark airport. The terminal looked shiny and new, but there were no maps of the terminal anywhere!  A work in progress. 

When I headed for the gate, I chatted with Don, also going on Camino. He will start in Pamplona, near where I will start. I may see him on the trail. 

The person in the seat next to me was a university student in Infomatica (computers), from the Canary Islands. The Canary Islands are near Africa but part of Spain. She was on her way back to school, after a vacation in Cuba   

I watched TV programs that I had never seen, including my first episode of Game of Thrones, and a documentary on Meow Wolf. 

I enjoyed a visit to the archaeological myseum. The rock art shown is similar that of the US Southwest. 

I took a nap in the afternoon, but later got sick, and hardly slept. As a consequence, I overslept and missed my train. There were no train tickets to be had, but I was able to get a bus ticket. I just felt trashed.   When I got to Pamplona, I checked into a single room in the Hotel Eslava, and slept most of the afternoon. I decided to stay a second night, try to recover. 

The photo is of the busy streets of the old city. 

I slept most of Thursday, and went to a very high Holy Thursday mass, with washing of the feet. The church was standing room only.   I start walking Friday. 





Sent from my iPhone

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