On to Bayonne!

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Hola- it was time to leave Madrid. Apart from the cleaner I was only person in Madrid’s Plaza Major this morning around 6.30 . It was surreal Dali!


Next problem was to find the station and an open gate with a friendly person who understood where I needed to go


Sure enough the Camino came good, I found an open metro gate, stumbled past really really late night revellers outside McDonalds 🙄 and laid my ukulele to rest and began thinking about BREAKFAST 


A kind lady moved her chair for me in the. crowded main station cafe. Cafe con leche por favor y tortilla I asked in my ridiculous Spanish and the lady answered me in English how embarrassing 😳 Then the train arrived (thank God!) 


I had the most engaging trip watching  the  landscape change as the train rolled north towards San Sebastián and Irun toward what’s called ‘green Spain’ - check this:

Then

Then


On arrival in Irun,  I shared a Tesla taxi with two French train companions to Hendaye, just over the border into France.

And then onto Bayonne by bus - which was boarded by French national police looking for illegal immigrants by checking IDs. I handed over my passport and explained I was Australian, they referred to rugby, laughed, and let me go on my way. But a group of  passengers of African appearance were offloaded and questioned. Hmm complex issue that 🤔


I was happy to arrive in Bayonne. Locals are saying its unseasonally warm




After settling into the Albergue I went exploring (including for a laundrette). I found one which doubled as a bar, and an avante garde performance venue !



I was invited to stay for the show by BriceDanse theatre. It was a blend of improvised Basque folk music and ecological imagery - at least I think it was. It was warm, friendly and edgy- it made you think 




What a day and evening it was- bon nuit everyone 




Comments

  1. Anonymous8 October 2023 at 03:39

    Wow! Bit scary! What an adventure. Is . Looking forward to the next chapter! x they tell me waters 17 deg today so warming up and clear

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lizzie8 October 2023 at 06:48

    Sounds fabulous. Enjoy your first special day on the trail and please say Hi to San Sebastián for me…one of my all time favourite places in the world 😉

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tim M8 October 2023 at 08:39

    Excellent reporting thank you

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous9 October 2023 at 03:59

    Bonjour mon amie, glad you made it to your stepping off point. No doubt you enjoyed a sample of French cuisine as well!! May the road rise to meet you, but not too steeply!! Buen camino, Neils

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ian McL11 October 2023 at 11:20

    Hi Mike,sounds and looks like a great adventure so far. Missed you at the Star.
    Water clearing up and great temp. Bunnings have a Christmas Magpie.”$240 how many will I get for you!!How are the legs going?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Az12 October 2023 at 02:46

    Excellent work aka El Bloggo! A good read. Nice work, hope all is going well

    ReplyDelete

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