Map of the Route

One fine Journey that turns into legend

Day 0 - Saint Jean Pied de Port

Day 1 - Saint Jean Pied de Port - Pamplona(73km)

Day 2 - Pamplona - Estella (68km)

Day 3 - Estella - Logrono (47km)

Day 4 - Logrono - Santao Domingo de la Calzada (45km)

Day 5 - Calzada - Burgos (68km)

Day 6 - Burgos - Carrion de las Condes (80km)

Day 7 - Carrion de las Condes - Leon (89km)

Day 8 - Rest day in Leon

Day 9 - Leon - Rabanal del Camino (63km)

Day 10 - Rabanal - Villafranca (58km)

Day 11 - Villafranca - Sarria (69km)

Day 12 - Sarria - Leboreiro (56km)

Day 13 - Leboreiro - Santiago de Compostella (56km)

Day 14 - Departure Day

WHO

For this trip, I will be traveling with my long-time friend Kevin. just by the fact that accompanying trip with friend will make the trip much more precious and share experiences together.

WHEN

We will be taking this trip from St Jean France to Santiago Spain after graduate University in June 2014. This time allows us to travel Santiago during the most hottest season in Spain.

WHY

I am here now, thinking about the Camino de Santiago, because I've heared about this trip from my friend and I'm Interested.
I chose to travel Spain for my dream vacation for few reasons.
the biggest reason is that I want to get to know my self. I still feel like I don't really know who I am. I don't really have any goals in life, and I haven't ever had any major goals for now. I've sort of just let life "happen" to me. Before I go out to society, I want to do something special. Second reason is that I have heard great things about the landscape and culture of Spain. Lastly, cycling 800 km will be very hard and difficult but cycling with a goal in mind makes the trip much more fun, enjoyable and meaningful.

It will be a  slow trip that will make for an epic adventure is the Camino de Santiago - an 800 km pigrimage over the pyrenees mountains in France and through to the town of Santiago in Northwestern Spain.

PREPARATIONS

• 45 Liter Rucksack
• Broken-in Boots
• Several Pairs socks
• 2 Pairs Pants/Shorts
• 2 lightweight T-Shirts
• 1 Lightweight Long Sleeved T-Shirt
• 1 Pair Pajamas or Other Sleepwear
• 1 Pair Pajamas 
• 1 Warm Jacket
• 1 Raincoat
• 1 Waterproof Cover for Rucksack
• 1 Pair Flip-Flops or Sandals
• Personal Toiletries
• 1 Lightweight Towel
• 1 Water Bottle
• Basic First-Aid Requirements
• Medications
• 1 Swim Suit
• 1 Cap
• Important Documents (passport, Pilgrim's passport)
• Sunscreen 
• Guide Book
• Insect Repellent

COSTS

• Airfare: Air France, €1,331.56(round-trip)
• TGV: Madrid (Av. America) to Pamplona, €28.92, Pamplna to St.Jean-pied-de port, €15.00 
• Albergues: €9.00/day x 14 days = €126.00
• Meal: €10.00/day x 14days =  €140.00
• Fixed Costs = €1641.48

ALBERGUE

- Albergues are pilgrim's hostels which occurs every 10-20 km along the Camino.
- It will make hiking much easier. Pilgrim doesn't need to carry a tent, cooking equipment or sleeping bags while traveling.
- NEED a pilgrim passport to stay in Albergue.
- Some Albergues are warm and cozy, some are old buildings that lack any atmosphere, some have washing machines, but mostly it will have to be done by hand.
- Most town's there will be a bar that serves the Menu del Peregrino (pilgrim's menu), which is cheaper.

Albergue (Old Building)

Pilgrim's passport and Scallop Shell
(symbol of the Camino de Santiago) 

Albergue (New building)

   House Rules

- Most will be open from 4 pm and close in the evening at 10 pm. 

- Some will wake you at six in the morning and normally out by 7 am. 

- Pilgrims are allowed only one night stay.

Day 0: St. Jean Pied De Port

 Kevin and I are wearing a shell on our back, a sign that we are not a tourist, nor a traveler, but pilgrims! we just got out from the train station and made our way to the Pilgrim station.

TGV

At the office, there are three staffs all trying to help new pilgrims like us. After we get a pilgrim's passport, we are given Albergue near pilgrim station.

Breakfast: coffee, bread
Lunch: Juice, bread
Dinner: pasta
Daily Cost - €10.00 (albergue €8.00, dinner €2.00)
              

Day 1: St. Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona (73 km)

 The life of a pilgrim often starts very early in the morning. This explores the first section of the Camino Frances, beginning in St. Jean Pied de Port and finishing in the famous Bull Run town of Pamplona. Cycling about 70 km could be very tough in first day but we ready to get to our next destination.

 Pamplona is fascinating at any time. A fine cathedral is the jewel in the crown and there's much to be enjoyed by simply meandering along narrow streets or relaxing in the vast green belt on the western edge of the inner city. This city is also famous worldwide for its Bull Run festival.

Breakfast: Coffee, Bread

Lunch: Sandwich 

Dinner: Menu del Peregrino (Pasta, fish and chips, yogurt)

Daily Cost - €15.00 (albergue €6.00, dinner €9.00)

Day 2: Pamplona to Estella (68 km)

 Leaving Pamplona we climb towards the foothills of the sierra del perdon, reaching Puenta la Reina.

Puente la Reina is a town between Pamplona and Estella on the way of Camino de Satiago. Wife of King Sancho was the queen who gave her name to the town. Shie built most beautiful bridge in this route for the use of pilgrims on their way to Camino de Santiago.

Romanesque Bridge at Puente La Reina

We will spend the night in Estella, near the beautiful 12th century palace of the Kings of Navarre.

Palace of the Kings of Navarre.

Breakfast: Water, Bread
Lunch: Peach
Dinner: Menu del Peregrino (Salad, beef stew, Ice-Cream)
Daily Cost - €17.00 (albergue €6.00, dinner €11.00

Day 3: Estella to Logrono (47 km)

Kevin and I will start the day with a stop at the winemakers 'Bodega Irache', where a free-flowing wine fountain welcomes thirsty pilgrims. you can drink all you want, but it is not allowed to bring wine with you from there.
On the left side taps for wine and right side taps for water.

Wine Fountain

The ride takes you through vineyards and past castles before crossing the great Puente de Piedra into Logrono, a bustling town with an interesting history, architectural jewels, cafes and music.  Logrono's old town is quite small but the little Calle's are filled with great tapas bars which are washed down with the excellent local Riojan wine.

Logrono is famous for San Mateo Festival. The city celebrates, every year at the beginning of fall, the vintage of Rioja grapes' fiesta. On the festival's day, the city streets are filled with celebrators.

Logrono's vineyards

San Mateo Festival in Logrono

Breakfast: Bread, fruit
Lunch: Bocadillo, Coffee
Dinner: Menu del Peregrino (Porkchop, Flan, Wine)
Daily Cost - €20.30 (albergue €3.00, lunch €2.50, jelly €1.40, dinner €12.40)

Day 4: Logrono to Santo Domingo de la Calzada (45 km)

Our destination today is Santo Domino de la Calzada, one of the most emblematic villages on the route where, according to legend, the resuscitation of a roasted cock and hen served as a harbinger of an even greater miracle: the resurrection of a pilgrim unjustly hanged for theft, through the intercession of the saint for whom the village is named. We will go to the Santo Dominggo de la Calzada Cathedral and see the indoor chicken coop. This is a must-see for the Camino.

Santo Domingo de la Calzada Cathedral 

Breakfast: Bread, Coffee, Tomato
Lunch: Bocadillo, Coffee
Dinner: Noodle
Daily Cost - €6.00 (albergue)

Check this link for miracle story:
http://www.english.catedralsantodomingo.es/santo_domingo.html 

Day 5: Calzada to Burgos (68 km)

The riding today is superb through bell heather on rolling trail. Arriving in Burgos, we will visit the Church because Burgos is home to one of the most magnificent examples of Gothic church artchitecture in all of Spain. Kevin and I heard about nightlife in Burgos.  Plenty of tapas bars and clubs are waiting for us.

Moreover Burgos was founded in 884, and its historical heritage is always evident to the visitor. It is a monumental town, charming for that so typical medieval northern castillan ambience.

Burgos

Breakfast: bread, coffee
Dinner: tapas
Daily Cost - €33.40 (albergue €3.00, stamps €5.40, shopping €25.00)

Day 6: Burgos to Carrion de los Condes (80 km)

Leaving Burgos, we came across literally full streets of dscarded rubbish everywhere from the celebrations of the night. The riding through most of the Castilian stages is one more level terrain allowing you to comfortably cover more distance. Although no less beautiful, the scenery changes dramatically through this region. Our destination, Carrion de las Condes makes for a relaxing town, between the bustling cities of Burgos and Leon.

St.James statue

Breakfast: tomato, bread, coffee
Lunch: lemonade
Dinner: Menu del Peregrino (salad, steak, flan)
Daily Cost - €16.30 (albergue €5.00, lemonade €1.10, coffee €1.20, dinner €9.00)

Day 7: Carrion de los Condes to Leon (89 km)

Although one of the longest distance, the gentle, flat ground should allow us to take our time and enjoy the ride. However, the road is fairly straight and boring. And it's hot and dusty.  Before getting to Leon, We'll enjoy beautiful site on the river Esla in Mansila de las Mulas.

Mansila de las Mulas

River Esla

Breakfast: coffee, bread
Lunch: tart, bread, lemonade, malibu
Dinner: tapas, wine
Daily Cost - €29.20 (bread+coffee €3.70, malibu €3.50, dinner €20.00, beer €2.00)

Day 8: Rest day in Leon

A beautiful city established originally by the Romans as a garrison for its VII th Legion. The focus of our brief visit was a guided visit to the splendid Gothic Leon Cathedral. It is not as immense as the cathedral in Burgos.

Gothic Leon Cathedral

We also visite Antonio Gaudi's Casa de Botines a building designed and built for commercial purposes.This is one of the three buildings that Gaudi built outside of Barcelona.

Casa de Botines

Breakfast: coffee, bread

Lunch: chocolate, water

Dinner: Menu del Peregrino (fried shrimp, chicken, yogurt)
Daily Cost - €12.75 (coffee €1.00, wine €2.50, water+yogurt €2.25, dinner €7.00)

Day 9: Leon to Rabanal del Camino (63 km)

 Leaving Leon is a little difficult, even though the parador is right on the road leading out of town. There was a lot of traffic, and the cycle lane small to non-existent. Riding out of Leon, we arrive in time for lunch in Astorga. This place is known for mantecados, one of the famous delicacies in Spanish pastry making.

Mantecados

Astorga

 We will overnight in Rabanal del Camino, one of the most famous pilgrimage sites along the trail. The road into Rabanal del Camino is quite steep. This town is clearly the beneficiary of the numbers of pilgrims who come trough town because it is the logical jummping-off point for the highest point of the Camino.

Rabanal del Camino

Breakfast: bread, coffee

Lunch: bocadillo, coke

Dinner: Menu del Peregrino (salad, steak, wine)
Daily Cost - €25.00 (breakfast €3.00, coffee €2.00, dinner €13.00, albergue €7.00)

Day 10: Rabanal to Villafranca ( 58 km)

 Just before lunch we'll reach the Cruz de Ferro which is most famous locations. The Cruz de Ferro is an iron cross at the top of an enormous wooden pole. What makes it famous is the tradition of bringing a stone from your hometown to leave at the base of the cross. MAKE A WISH!

Cruz de Ferro

Before getting to Villafranca, there is another place to visit. In Ponderrada, we'll visit the Templar Castle, one of the oldest and finest examples of Spanish military architecture.

Templar Castle

Breakfast: juice, bread

Lunch: coke, fried bocadillo, coffee

Dinner: steak, wine
Daily Cost - €32.00 (albergue €6.00, lunch €5.00, coke+coffee €5.00, dinner €16.00)

Day 11: Villafranca to Srria (69 km)

From Villafranca, we will climb through unspoiled countryside of heather and broom, pines, chesnuts and aoks enjoyin a magnificent view over the Valcare Valley up to El Cebreiro, famous for its 'pallozas', straw-roofed dwellings. In Samos, we might visit a monastery before continuing on to Sarria and with its Monastery of La Magdelena and its hospitable Mercedarian monks.

Samos Monastery

We were going to skip visiting here in order to take shorter route, but eventually we joined the tour in the monastery and took the longest route other than the normal route, If I haven't been there,  I would regret. The monastery and the road were so beautiful.

Breakfast: grape, yogurt, soup
Lunch: croissant, coffee
Dinner: Menu del Peregrino (soup,steak,flan)
Daily Cost - €9.00 (albergue €6.00, temple €3.00)

Day 12: Sarria to Leboreiro (56 km)

From Sarria, the terrain changes again, as we find ourselves in a rural part of the country with people liveing mush as they did centuries ago. This part is the one of the best biking of the Camino. Leboreiro, this small town shows beauty of this region. This is the last place before we get to Santiago.  

La lglesia de Santa Maria de las Nieves

Leboreiro

Tonight is the last night of the trip. I feel a sudden tingle of excitement. On the other hand,  I wonder what my facial expression would be at the end of the road.

Breakfast: coffee, bread
Lunch: banana, coffee
Dinner: Menu del Peregriono (salad, steak, ice-cream)
Daily Cost - €20.00 (albergue €10.00, dinner €10.00)

Day 13: Leboreiro - Santiago de Compostella (56 km)

When I woke up this morning, my heart was throbbing with expectation. It looks like I am dreaming while cycling. The moment is just worthy of last morning to Santiago. Everything around me was tranquil and peaceful. As I call back now, every moment on the Camino was special. My adrenaline will surge as I make my way through Santiago itself, packed with vestiges of the pilgrimage. Nothing quite prepares me though, for arriving at the Cathedral itself, where I can share in the sense that pilgrims have felt since time immemorial.

Finally, we got to the hill called Monte do Gozo. This hill is the place where pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago get their first views of the three spires of thier destination, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

Monte do Gozo

The Destination

Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela 

The word 'Compostela' means a star field. To be interesting, the origin of a campus, which we refer to a school place as, came from compostela.

Breakfast: bread,coffee
Dinner: wine,tapas, steak, pizza, salad, beer
Daily Cost €40.00 (dinner €20.00, snack+beer €20.00)

Day 14: Departure Day

A Pilgrim's special mass is held in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela at noon.
After the mass, Kevin and I decide to travel Spain as a tourist.
From now on, I am just a tourist, not a pilgrim..

Full Stamps 

Buen Camino!!