Camino 2023 - trip from Santiago de Compostela to Paris and Brussel
Tuesday 02-05-2023 – O Cebreiro
Up at seven. Packing bags and on our way to O Cebreiro. We booked a taxi because the bus does not leave until much later in the day and takes hours. Now we are on the spot in about two hours. In O Cebreiro it is cold but it remains a beautiful village or more like a hamlet in beautiful surroundings. We have another cup of coffee and leave for France. On the way, we plan to camp if the weather cooperates.
Tuesday 02-05-2023 – Saint Martin de Seignanx
We travelled about 1000 km and took a campsite in the town of Saint Martin de Seignanx near Bayonne. A lovely campsite with all the space in the world!!! After a lovely shower, a delicious dinner and a nice evening walk, we crawled into our tent.
Wednesday 03-05-2023 - Amboise
We slept very long this morning!!! Then a delicious breakfast of coffee, croissants and a baguette. Enjoyed all the peace and quiet at the campsite for a while and started driving towards Paris around noon. On the way, we take another campsite. The Camping Municipal de L'ile Or in Amboise.
Thursday 04-05-2023 - Blois
After a delicious breakfast, we pack up our camping gear for the last time. Again, a wonderfully quiet campsite. Around 12.30, we drive towards Paris but with the plan to visit some castles on the way. We drive on inside to Blois. A beautiful picturesque setting!!! A rolling landscape with lots of meadows and beautiful yellow rapeseed fields and many forests. Blois is a very pretty city on the Loire with a beautiful cathedral and an imposing chateau!
Thursday 04-05-2023 - Paris- Villeneuve-le-Roi
After Blois, we drive to Paris. A trip of just under 200 kilometres. The journey goes smoothly until we reach Paris. Everything is jammed and the last 20 km take us over an hour. Around 6 pm we arrive at our hotel. When we enter, Lara almost pees her trousers with laughter! The building turns out to be a retirement home!!! So I am in my place. Lara quickly disappears outside because she is completely doubled over. I try in my best French, under the stern gaze of about 30 elderly people, to find out where the hotel is. What turns out!!! This building is also a hotel. Multipurpose!!!! We get room 326. When we enter, we are surprised. It turns out to be a complete apartment!!!
Friday 05-05-2023 - Paris
Morning we met for breakfast around nine!!! But the bed is soft and good!!! But there is a knock on the door. I, assuming housekeeping was at the door, answer the knock with a forceful NON!!! But persistence wins out. The knocking persists so then anyway I get out of my warm bed to open the door. And what turns out!!! Our breakfast is brought to bed!!! What a luxury! What a life!!!
After a delicious breakfast, we leave for the train station. We take the train to central Paris. It's about a 10-minute walk to Villeneuve-le-Roi station. But unfortunately no train. Due to an accident, train traffic is down for a few hours. But not to worry we walk to Les Saulles station about 2 km walk.
In half an hour, we were in the heart of Paris. We spent the whole day strolling around and at the end of the day, we had a nice snack and drink with Daan and Yudit! How coincidental!
Friday 05-05-2023 - Paris - Jardin de Luxembourg
The Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Garden) is one of the most beautiful parks in Paris, located in the 6th arrondissement, between Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter. It was created in 1612 at the request of Marie de Medici and surrounds the Palais du Luxembourg, which now houses the French Senate.
Friday 05-05-2023 - Paris - Tore Saint Jacques
The Tour Saint-Jacques (Saint-Jacques Tower) is a historical monument located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, near the River Seine. Originally part of a larger church, the tower was built between 1509 and 1523 in the Flamboyant Gothic style and was once the bell tower of the Church of Saint-Jacques-la-Boucherie, which was destroyed in the French Revolution.
The tower stands at about 52 meters (171 feet) tall and the tower is adorned with elaborate carvings, and it features gothic architectural details, including flying buttresses and statues of saints.
For a long time it was a key landmark for pilgrims heading to Santiago de Compostela, as it was a point on the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James).
Friday 05-05-2023 - Paris - Daan en Yudit
Google maps does a good job and soon we found Daan and Yudit on a nice terrace on the Seine. We had a very pleasant evening! Lots of laughter and the ladies soon found each other and were able to speak wonderful Spanish! Daan is also not left untouched and speaks quite a bit of Spanish. And that in just a few months. Chapeau!!! Many hours later and consuming the necessary beers, we return to the hotel. But we get totally bogged down in all the diversions and works on and in the metro!!! It seems like they have closed exactly the routes we need. After several attempts, we decide to take a taxi. Pretty convenient in the middle of the night and not quite clear-headed anymore 😜😜!!!
Saturday 06-05-2023 - Paris - Église Madeleine
Just hard to get out of bed this morning!!! No idea how this can be? But a delicious breakfast in bed works wonders!!! Really enjoying it!!!! We are taking it easy and enjoying our lovely apartment immensely. What a luxury! Lots of space, our own kitchen and a well-stocked fridge 😜😜!!!
In the afternoon, we leave for central Paris again. Public transport is cooperating well this time. We go to Eglise Madeleine. Eglise Madeleine is the starting point of the St Jacob path. We get another stamp for our Camino Carnet here. Lara is associated with an association Camino in San Paulo and for Lara, like the cathedral in Santiago de Compostella, this is an important point. This is now the third time Lara has walked part of the Camino. In 2005, Lara walked from Mont Saint Michel to Santiago de Compostella in two months!!! I already found a week pretty tough and so did my legs and feet! I think I would have been worn down to my hips if I had to walk for two months, day by day 🤪🤪!!!
Église de la Madeleine
The Église de la Madeleine (Church of Saint Mary Magdalene), commonly known as La Madeleine, is one of the most iconic churches in Paris. It is located in the 8th arrondissement, near the Place de la Concorde and the famous Rue Royale. Designed to resemble a Roman temple, the church features 52 Corinthian columns surrounding the exterior, giving it a grand and imposing look.
Originally construction started in 1764, the building went through multiple redesigns and was even considered as a potential Napoleonic temple before finally being completed in 1842 as a church.
The church’s interior is adorned with stunning frescoes, sculptures, and a majestic organ, which is still used for concerts.
Saturday 06-05-2023 - Paris - Place de Concorde
The Place de la Concorde is one of the most famous and historic squares in Paris, located between the Champs-Élysées and the Tuileries Garden in the 8th arrondissement.
A 3,300-year-old Egyptian obelisk from the Temple of Luxor, gifted to France in the 19th century. It stands 23 meters (75 feet) tall and is covered in hieroglyphics. Also two magnificent fountains—Fontaine des Mers and Fontaine des Fleuves—inspired by Rome’s fountains.
During the French Revolution, the square was called Place de la Révolution, and it was where King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and many others were executed by guillotine.
Saturday 06-05-2023 - Paris - Eiffel tower
The Eiffel Tower is the most famous landmark in Paris and one of the most recognized structures in the world. Located on the Champ de Mars in the 7th arrondissement, it was designed by Gustave Eiffel and completed in 1889 for the World’s Fair (Exposition Universelle).
The Height is originally 312 meters (1,024 feet), now 330 meters (1,083 feet) with antennas. The tower is made of wrought iron, weighing around 10,100 tons.
After our visit to the Eiffel Tower, we had a lovely stroll around Paris. A café au lait on a terrace and the party is complete. We returned to our hotel at around ten o'clock.
Sunday 07-05-2023
Sadly our wonderful adventure comes to an end today. We had a great time. Lots of laughs, taped feet, blisters, seen and done a lot. Lara is a fantastic friend to travel with. Plans are already being made for the end of the year. We have had an incredible time together! With a heavy heart we say goodbye in Brussels. Lara is travelling to San Paulo via Madrid, so she will be on the road for some time.
Sjak
Home sweet home!!
Lara
After a brief stop in Madrid, Lara flies to Sao Paulo.
Lara
Lara finally arrives home, almost 30 hours in the air and six hours by bus. ✈️+ 🚌 + 🚖 = 🏠
