St Jacques provides Málaga style

An inauspicious start to this Camino as I kept juggling my thoughts.

Frantic is usually how I find myself As I get off a plane and through customs in search of the train or bus to town.

The clock was ticking As it usually does and I was happy in the knowledge I had 10 minutes As I chased the train.

I found the station in the pouring rain and juggled with the ticket machine. Then I was completely baffled by the lack of a slot for my ticket. After trying more barriers I used the ticket like a card.

Surely non, surely Si. 

On arrival at my stop I thought follow the air crew, they'll probably be in a pod and then I forgot and started walking hurriedly as if I knew where to go.

As usual there's two door to the train station and I took the wrong one, crossed the boulevard turned right crossed another boulevard, then right again and crossed the one I just crossed, but at least I was now on the right side.

I carried down this road, turned left, went through three junctions and there it was. M pods, my home for 10 hours.

The pods are interesting. Slightly more refined than an ordinary bunk bed but with the sounds of silence broken by the roller blind, I sensed a fundamental flaw.

Having considered my options I decided I would definitely use my boots and not bare feet to climb the longest ladder ever for a bunk bed. The lower bunks do benefit from a good height.

I showered and wandered out having a wine at my local. It would become my local as I was back there an hour later.

First I wandered the streets up to the bus station and got my ticket for tomorrow. Ironically I ended up using my phone as the over 60's €5 off deal must only work if you've registered.

I had a glass of vino in the bus station cafe with ensaladilla rusa. The wine was a big glass and it tasted like big glasses usually do. I considered getting up for the toilet through the night and left it.

Back down to my local. Small wine but very nice it was and the little tapa for €3 blew the bus station's €6 off the road.

Another visit to the toilet ensued and I hoped that the fruitless strolling round the roundabouts and up the narrow streets were not in vain and indeed my bladder would not feel the need to rain.

When I got in all the pods were busy and shutters down. I tried another visit before climbing to the bed and trying to work the shutter with my toes.

I wouldn't turn the TV on but I did get to sleep and only really woke when I was shouting in a dream. When I saw my surroundings I appreciated it was indeed a dream, gave a glakit stare and went back to sleep.

Camino mozarabe 2024

Over the years Stu and I have migrated to different times of the year for the Camino and last year we were shocked and delighted about the Camino to Finisterre in January.

Granted, there was not a lot open but the weather and the lighting from the winter sun was transformational. We kept asking ourselves that question why had we not done this before.

January was often a golfing holiday with Simon and Iain to Stu's place near Alicante. There was always a day when we walked the 20km into the city and got the tram home but we never put 2+2 together until the flights to Santiago appeared.

Readers of the blog will know we enjoyed it so much we went back with Simon for a week at the end of April and I went out again on the ill fated trip in June.

I don't know if I wrote up the June trip but St Jacques was providing answers before we left but I didn't listen. Jimmy paid attention and he pulled out when Ryanair cancelled our flight out. I pushed on and flew to Santander then got the bus to all the places we'd booked before the other saint, Jackie reported in with a broken ankle and both our summers were cancelled.

So enough of the back story we had a month doing the Norte and the Frances so now we are heading to Almeria for a week doing the mozarabe. It should be fun.

This year we've got a few live from the Camino videos planned for you tube. The shorts were quite successful on the Norte especially one that we took in Guernica so that's the plan for the Camino Mozarabe.

First up it's all about walking but getting to walk involves transport so it's Ryanair and flying to Málaga. As you know I fly on Tuesday, quite simply it's quieter. I'm flying back on the Saturday which is rare but when your paying £20 each way from Edinburgh it just makes sense. Next up is the bus to Almeria. There's an early bus at 9 and it takes 2 hours. That works for me so I'll stay on Tuesday in Málaga probably at M-pods as £20 is ok. When Simon arrives Friday we'll book a flat as apartments are available for £50 and if it's any good we'll ask the owner about booking it direct for the following week when we are flying back.

When we did the Norte and the Finisterre Camino's I built a wee network of flats and phone numbers where the owners were happy to deal direct. Sometimes we book one night and ask if we can stay on for another 2. It lets us see the accommodation and the owner see us. Moat of the time it works out well for both.

I'll work out the local buses in Almeria and my plan is to do the first 2 days of the Camino before returning to base and meeting Simon on the Friday. Hopefully there will be a bus I can get back down from the mountains but if not I might just walk out and walk back. I'll have an hour in Almeria before setting off so will get my passport etc and then head off about 1pm so it won't be a full shift.

 Accommodation will probably drive it and therefore I will defer to St Jacques who always provides something.