Travel Day #1

 Well I can’t believe it is final the day I leave for my Camino. I have been planning and preparing for this Camino for the past 6 months. This one is going to be different for sure, not just the more miles than our last Camino walk, but not having Maryann with me by my side every step of the way. In one sense, it will be good for me to be making all my own decisions, learning to communicate in another language  etc…but I will miss her dearly. 

So I left my house at 10:30am on Tues the 14th. Rent a car, for $41, I am really liking this one way car rental we have been using lately. Made the dive to LAX, in 2:45 min. Dropped the car off, caught the shuttle to International Terminal, walked right to the ticket counter, got checked in, then up through security/TSA screening and to my gate in about 1 hr tops. That never happens. Grabbed a bite to eat and proceeded to load on to the plane around 4:45. I flew Iberia Airlines because they had a non stop from LAX to Madrid, and it was only $645 one-way. I sat in seat J36, it was nice because there was a wall behind me so I didn’t have someone also kicking my chair and it was close to the bathroom. A plus as you get older!!!. The best thing is I had the seat next to me empty, whoohoo, that never happens. 

The flight was good but long. Actually we got in 45 min early, another plus. They fed us, watched 3 movies, read my book a bit, only slept, maybe an hr, topical for me. Had the middle of the night screaming infant that last for about an hr🤬🤬. But the over all flight was good, a solid B+

After about a 9:50 hr flight we all deboared  and headed for the upcoming nightmare, Customs. Now they have a new screening process for non Europeans, it’s called EES. So basically what EES does, it eliminates human interaction. You go up to this machine that scans your passport, you take a photo, remember to remove your glasses if your passport does not show then, and it fingerprints your right hand.. then once you do that you go to another self automated machine, and scan your passport and then take a photo. If everything matches the little gate open up and you are through. That whole process took me less than 30 min, that included the wait time. 

Next step was to go wait for my bag at baggage. I put my backpack in an IKEA zip up bag, just makes it easy to transport. I noticed other people took there packs on the plane, but I don’t mind mine going through baggage. Actually waiting for my bag was the longest wait time of everything I did.

Next was the train ride from Madrid Airpot to where my Hostel is in Madrid. I couldn’t figure how to use the kiosk to get my ticket so I just went to customer service center to get my ticket. I went down one fight of stairs and my train was there waiting, score, no wait times. After 3 stops I had to exit the train and go up a level to catch another train that dropped me off at Close to my Hostel. I even asked two strangers if I was on the correct train, 🤣🤣, out of my comfort level for sure.

After about 25 mins of train rides I just had a shot walk to my Hostel. I knew from looking online as to where the Hostel was. That was good because my phone was not cooperating at that time do to ESIMs problems.

Got checked in, made it to my room on the 3rd floor, actually overlooking the back side of the train station. My room has 6 beds, and as of writing this, they all look to be filled. The first thing I did was jump into the shower, washed me and my socks and my underwear. That’s probably a thing most of you will never have to experience🤣. Then I went down to a bar that is right next to my Hostel. Sat outside, beautiful weather, had a smash burger, fries and two beers. Sat there people watching, thinking to my self, only just a few hrs I was at home getting ready to leave and now I am in Madrid Spain sitting, enjoying the beautiful weather and drinking beer, how awesome is that.

I think I got the ESIM’s thing resolved on my phone. For people who don’t know ESIMS are what allow me to operate my phone in Europe and not have to buy an AT&T travel plan. It’s so much cheaper..

Well I think that pretty much sums up my long but not so bad travel day. Tomorrow I take an afternoon Train to Pamplona.  Thanks for reading!!