thelongcamino

The Longest Fools Day

On paper it is beautiful in its simplicity, get on a plane in Sydney at 6:00am on Fools Day and arrive at Madrid at 8:30pm that same day. But what looks like 14 and a half hours is actually 23 and a half hours of travel – 14 hours to Dubai, 90 minute transit, 8 hours to Madrid.

And lockdown has meant there’s very little media content that we haven’t seen, so aside from rewatching Moana – hey it’s our thing, don’t judge us – there was little stimulation. Did I mention that Emirates decided that we had to keep the window blinds down the WHOLE WAY! We all knew there was sunshine out that window, we just weren’t allowed to see it.

In the last few hours to Madrid, James just couldn’t stay awake any longer

Despite only grabbing an hour of sleep here and there, we were actually in pretty good shape when we landed in Madrid just as the sun was setting. Madrid is a lovely airport. The passport staff smiled and made jokes as they quickly stamped our documents and waved us through. Even the health check staff were friendly and super organised which meant a whole A380 of passengers was processed in no time. I was having nightmares about past experiences where you have to wait an hour or more at passport control (thank you Heathrow).

Exhausted we took an exciting taxi ride into Madrid. Who knew a Prius could hit 130kmh? We’re staying at the NH Atocha, just apposite Madrid’s main train station. We travel by train to Pamplona tomorrow. It’s cold, 8 degrees, but we are so happy to be here in this beautiful city. After a very late dinner, James insisted we try Spanish McDonalds, we finally get to bed around 10:30pm. Tomorrow Spain awaits.

QR Codes, Vax Certificates, Tests & Tickets

After planning our Camino for several years now, James and I are finally on our way. It’s been a wet La Niña on the east coast of Australia and as we board the train, it’s bucketing down once more. Cool, clear rain to wash away the vestiges of normal life and prepare us for pilgrimage.

It’s been quite a journey just to get here. James and I were booked and excited to fly to Spain in March 2020. We had the all gear and back then James was an excited 13 year old. In The last 2 years he’s grown into a young man. I was worried that when travel once more became an option in 2022, he might not want to spend 6 weeks with his old man walking across Spain. When I mooted the idea at the end of 2021, he was reserved in his agreement to join me.

I was hopeful though, our last big adventure before he has to commit more seriously to study and then chooses to go on adventures of his own. Over the months his enthusiasm has grown. It has meant revisiting outdoor stores like Macpac to get gear for him. But there’s so much joy in planning and scheming for an adventure. As Uncle Pete always says, “every man has one more adventure in him.”

International travel has changed to adapt to COVID. For one thing, the rules around the need for tests evolves daily. Countries demand QR codes upon entry that they will only grant upon adequate evidence that you are a safe traveller. James and I both had PCR tests yesterday and anxiously awaited the results, thankfully negative. All this extra paperwork and stress, but really it’s nothing so that we can experience the privilege of travelling again.

We also realise that we couldn’t be here without the support of family & friends. Thank you!!!!