While most of you are sleeping soundly tonight, I’ll be 30,000 feet in the air trying to do the same. At 10pm, I leave JFK and head to Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. From there, it’s a bit an adventure to get to my starting point for the Camino: St. Jean Pied-de-Port.
- Thursday, May 10, 11:10 AM: Touch down at Charles de Gaulle. Get my bags. Go through customs. Hop a bus for the 45 minute ride to Paris’ other airport – Orly.
- 3:00PM: Depart Orly for Biarritz, France – on the same flight as two fellow pilgrims from South Africa with whom I’ll travel the rest of the way to St. Jean. (More on that below.)
- 4:15PM: Arrive Biarritz. Take a half-hour bus ride to the Bayonne train station.
- 6:10 PM: Take the train from Bayonne to St. Jean Pied-de-Port.
- 7:36PM: Arrive in St. Jean. Make my way to the hostel I reserved. Eat something. Hopefully get some sleep.
- May 11, sometime after 6AM: Wake up, write three pages, eat, don my pack and head out for my first day on the Camino. Walk 5 miles up and up and up and up into the Pyrenees to Orisson. Note the snow in the pictures on their web site. Let’s hope I don’t see any of that.
I posted my start date and location on a Camino Forum a couple months ago. Thanks to that, I know of seven people starting with me. Brad is originally from Nebraska, now going to school in DC. You can follow his blog here. Next I heard from Daniel who informed me he and his two friends (all from Switzerland) would also be starting from St. Jean on May 11. Next Christina from Germany asked about car pooling. I gave her the name of a web site for that as I’m aiming to take public transit from the airport. Then there’s Charmaine and Chrisi – the two girls from South Africa who are actually on my very same flight from Orly to Biarritz. So for those of you that said, “You’re doing this alone?!” rest assured I’ll have some company along The Way.
And if you’re still picturing me walking something akin to the Appalachian trail, go on Netflix and watch The Way with Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez. You’ll have a much better picture.
Note that I’ll also be blogging for bustedhalo.com along the Camino. I will link to those posts from this site (so subscribers – you’ll still get an e-mail notification), but you’ll find those posts on bustedhalo.com first. The first post is due to go up on Friday, the second possibly on Monday.
Any words of support or encouragement are welcomed – ideally via the comments section on these posts or via e-mail. Thanks to everyone who helped me get this far:) Next post will be from Spain!
RenaissanceRebecca 
Bon Voyage, Rebecca! Be safe, go slow and enjoy all of this grand experience. I’ll look for your posts and think of you each day!!
Bon voyage, Rebecca. I’ll be anxiosly awaiting your updates.
enjoy the journey and be safe… =)
Have a safe and fabulous journey! I can’t wait to hear all about it! xoxo
Via con Dios, my brave young friend. You will never be alone even on days of solitary walking because you are surrounded by love from all corners of the world. I have a St. James candle that I am lighting for you every day. I look forward to your updates. Savor every step and remind the rest of us to do the same.
Thank you so much Linda!
~~~~ Rebecca Gallo 301-787-5619 renaissancerebecca.wordpress.com
Go Becky!!
Glad you found the site Wendy:)
Thinking of you every day and looking forward to your posts. All your friends here ask about you and want to know where you are in this year of adventure and exploration. Be safe.
Thanks you Glenda!
~~~~ Rebecca Gallo 301-787-5619 renaissancerebecca.wordpress.com
Hi Rebecca,
I am practicing my “reply” skills since I never quite sent you anything during the domestic traveling days! I figure you’re asleep now after the 1st leg of the journey. Hoping that such a cliche is truly figurative language and that you’re feeling great after a snow-free walk to Orisson.
Thanks so much. Doing very well here:)
~~~~ Rebecca Gallo 301-787-5619 renaissancerebecca.wordpress.com
Hello Rebecca, I just found your post and was inspired, as I had just been doing research on The Way this morning. Good luck! You have many thoughts and well wishers following you. God Bless your travels.
Thank you Cassandra. I wish you well in your research and on your journey. There are two Camino Forums which have the answers to most every question you can think of. When you google Camino Forums or any question about the Camino, they are usually the first to appear. In the meantime, if you have any questions you´d like me to answer, do feel free to e’mail me. My info is in the Frequently Asked Questions section of this blog.
Hi Rebecca–I met you a few weeks ago at knitting . Very excited to follow your journey–blessings as you travel–Nancy
Great to hear from you Nancy. Thanks for following me on my path!
Hello Nancy –
Will look forward to seeing you when I come back to NY. Am thinking of having some sort of gathering upon my return to tell my stories. Will keep the group posted:)
Rebecca, I am a friend of JHay and I met you at her wedding. I am truly astonished and amazed at your determination and strength to follow your heart. God Bless You and keep you safe!
Thank you Sandy!
Thank you Sandy -for your kind and encouraging words. 🙂