The Dunars on the Camino

We really started walking today! I am waiting outside my alburge right now in Pobeña after walking around 15 miles. 

But let’s rewind. Last night we walked into downtown Bilbao and saw the Guggenheim and ate these huge, anazing sandwiches.

Today we had breakfast in the alburge and set off around 7:30am. The biggest issue was that the clothes we washed last night didn’t dry so we had them hanging from our pack most of the day.

The path was all cement and it was really hot today. We did see an amazing church but sadly it was closed. We had many people wish us “Buen Camino” as we walked and have made some friends waiting for our alburge to open. We also had our first costal view.

Overall we are tired but we feel good. I hope it continues.

Today we arrived in Bilbao, the start of our pilgrimage, and started walking the camino to our alburge (hostel). We were met with our first yellow arow and shell to mark our way. We were also met with this monstrosity called simply “stairs” on the map.  The view, though, makes it worth while.

We have not slept hardly at all but it is only 2:30 in the afternoon so we are now waiting for the Alburge to open at 3, shower, eat, and then sleep. Tomorrow the real walking begins. 

I am sitting in JFK airport, eating some Mcdonalds fries, and trying to supress the butterflies in my stomach. Edward and I are over the moon excited to be starting our month long pilgimage together. 

We stopped by Fordham today and got a great send off by our wonderful friends. Here is a picture Mary Kate took of us ready to head out.

 Below is a picture of the bags we are carrying. Mine is the blue and Edward’s is the black. The shell on my bag is a symbol of the camino and shows that we are pilgrims. Edward is getting one in Spain.

Please feel free to comment on these posts if tou want to. Also, please send up a prayer or good wish for us.  We will need it.

Now we are just waiting for our plane. A beer might be in order.

We are leaving on May 19th for our trip to the Camino del Norte. For those of you who don’t know what the Camino is, here is a brief overview:

“The Camino del Norte or Northern Way is also referred to as the “Ruta de la Costa”. This Camino was used for centuries by Spanish pilgrims making their way along the magnificent coasts of the Basque region and Asturias to finally arrive in Santiago de Compostela, the final resting place of the Apostle Saint James.

The Camino del Norte is a unique journey, favoured by many pilgrims. This Camino walk crosses some of the most spectacular scenery of the Northern Coast of Spain with superb cities like San Sebastian, Bilbao, Santander and Oviedo. Ultimately, this Camino walk joins the Original Way or Camino Primitivo in Oviedo which continues on to Santiago de Compostela.”

Edward and I are so excited for our trip and hope that you will follow along with us. Here is a map of the trip we will be taking. Hopefully we will have daily posts with a picture of the amazing scenery and beautiful cities we will be going through on our pilgrimage. We will be starting in Bilbao on May 21st and going to Santiago. We will be flying our on the 19th of June and arriving back in the USA on the 20th.