Camino 2023 - trip from La Roche, Vezaley, Leon to O Cebreiro
Saturday 22-04-2023 - La Roche-en-Ardenne to Vézelay
After a delicious breakfast, we have an appointment with Francis at 10 am. He takes us to his gallery a few 100 metres away. A complete exhibition of pottery, paintings and other artistic objects. He has also brought along a few photo books from just after the war and has neatly worked out the entire family tree once again! Again many stories and Lara learns a lot and is very happy with this meeting and all the information!
Lara discovered the artistic side of the family is really strong, just as she saw in her father. Beautiful oil paintings, ceramics... She was really surprised!
We looked for her father's house and found it. It's unbelievable how the cities have rebuilt themselves after the devastation of two wars.
The next stop is Vézelay. In the context of our pilgrimage, this is an important place! Around half past five we reach Vézelay. First we look for a hotel because the weather is very bad and the plan to camp quickly disappears. We end up in the village of St Pére in the hotel A La Renommée. After checking in, we had a lovely stroll around Vézelay and visited the cathedral. Vézelay cathedral houses the remains of Mary Magdelena in a golden altar. Vézelay is a lovely authentic town with a beautiful cathedral atop the mountain.
Sunday 23-04-2023 - Saint-Père & Vézelay
Up early today. We want to drive quite a bit today. Basically, northern Spain is on the plan but first a quick visit to St Pére to the local cathedral. Then to Vézelay for a pilgrim stamp in our carnet! This is a good practice among pilgrims to get a stamp in a special pilgrim carnet at each place that also gives you discounts for accommodation and food in pilgrim places. An overnight stay, for example, costs 6 or 8 euros per person per night but then you have to sleep in a dormitory with lots of pilgrims! But let's see if we will do that 😜😜. Besides, men and women are separated so not very cosy. I have such reservations about this cheap idea! All those snoring and smelly men!
We drive all day. Lots of road diversions, traffic jams and incredibly bad weather. Around half past nine
in the evening, we arrive near St Jean de Luz and find a hotel in Quartier Helbarron, Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle - Hotel Pyrenées Atlantique.
Monday 24-04-2023 - Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle to Leon
Hotel Pyrenées Atlantique is a lovely hotel and close to the main road.
Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle is a municipality in the French Pyrénées-Atlantiques department. The place is part of the arrondissement of Bayonne.
Monday 24-04-2023 – Leon to O Cebreiro
After another delicious breakfast, we drive towards O Cebreiro where we start our walk. The drive through northern Spain is beautiful and we have fantastic weather. We decide to make another stop in Leon. But first we have a cup of coffee before heading into town. Lara introduces Chocolate Con Churros. Very tasty and this will become a favourite 😜😜. After a lovely walk around the city and a visit to the cathedral, we drive on to O Cebreiro!!! We visit the pilgrim hotel but I soon come to the conclusion that some privacy has its advantages after all. Lara is persuaded and we find a nice little hotel, Meson Carolo. We spontaneously get an upgrade to a larger room. Very nice. Perhaps the hotel lady took something from our discussion and is making an investment in our relation. After another nice beer, we dive into our bed.
