Camino 2023 - from Brussel to La Roche-en-Ardenne
Comino 2023 started in Brussels where I picked up Lara. Lara had been en route from Sao Paulo to Madrid for quite some time and then flew on to Brussels. Our first stop will be La Roche-en-Ardenne after which we will travel on to Vézelay in France and O Cebreiro in Spain. In O Cebreiro, we will start our Camino over 150 km to Santiago de Compostela.
Tuesday 18-03-2023 - São Paulo - Brazil
A good but long flight from Sao Paulo to Madrid.
Wednesday 19-03-2023 – Madrid - Spain
After a short stop in Madrid and a three hours flight Lara finally arrived in Brussels.
Thursday 20-04-2023 - Helmond - The Netherlands
At half past seven I went to for Brussels to pick up Lara. However, it is terribly busy and before Antwerp I am advised by Google maps to drive on inside. About 40 km before Brussels, I get back on the motorway and it takes me more than an hour to get to the airport.
Thursday 20-04-2023 - Zaventem - Brussels Airport
Around 1.15pm, I arrive at the airport and then have to wait another 15 minutes. A cordial reunion but still strange to see each other again after six months. Although we have been in regular contact. Turns out digital communication is much easier 😜😜. In Ushuaia, we had to communicate by hand and foot all day. Lara spoke no English and I spoke no Portuguese, Spanish or French. Now I thought Lara had pretty much mastered English by now!!! But Google translate pretty much blurred the picture 😜😜 and besides, Lara's dexterity really is a miracle!!! But with hands and feet and a little English, we get a long way!!! Others will probably think we are deranged 😂😂!!!
But - YES!! IT'S REAL!!
Six months after we met in Ushuaia, we managed to plan a Camino de Santiago with a few strategic stops: La Roche in Ardenne, Lara's father's town. Then Vézelay at the White Cathedral, dedicated to Mary Magdalene. A long journey to Cebreiro in Spain, and then the Camino.
After a nice cup of coffee, we set off for La Roche-en-Ardenne.
Thursday 20-04-2023 - La Roche-en-Ardenne
We checked in at Hotel Arcades in the centre of La Roche. Then we walked around, visited the castle, the church and the old streets and had a beer at the river Ourthe. …………. and finally we relax.
Friday 21-04-2023 - Marche-en-Famenne
After a delicious breakfast, we had another chat with the hotel owner. When we show him pictures of La Roche from just after the war, including Lara's father's house, the hotel owner gets more and more enthusiastic and has a lot to tell. He then calls his parents to get more information but they offer to come by in the afternoon and talk to each other. A real surprise for Lara.
All day we had a lovely walk. The weather was glorious but unfortunately the weather turns at the end of the day and we return to La Roche like two drowned cats. But no worries. We thought we have earned a beer after all our efforts.
Friday 21-04-2023 - La Roche-en-Ardenne – the meeting
Around six we return to the hotel for a talk with the parents of the hotel owner. A really warm welcome and it soon turns out that the man (Francis) used to be in Lara's father's class. Also, Francis knows a lot of family and a whole family tree is drawn on a napkin! Very nice for Lara. We spent a long time chatting and then we are invited for the next morning to visit them in their gallery. The family seems to be very creative like Lara's (late) father. In the evening, we took another lovely night walk and crawled into our basket, tired but satisfied.
