Off The Beaten Path en España

Let’s go back in time about a year, give or take. Rather unexpectedly an invite arrives from Chris’ sister, a most seasoned world traveller…“Come spring, let’s go to Spain!” Tales of hiking and adventure, travelling the legendary “El Camino”, getting out, seeing the country, touching on what it’s all about and keeping the touristy stuff at a minimum…with a little pampering along the way in the cards. Come and make the most amazing memories.

Oh yeah! That’s how we like to roll and without so much as a moment’s hesitation, a big “yes please” from both of us. Sounds like the trip of a lifetime (and it was – you’ll see).

It’s now June 2018, all the details have been long finalized, arrangements made, bags packed, we’re in the air sipping champagne – which helps my “not-a-fan-of flying” slightly frazzled nerves – and we daydream about what’s in store for us in the coming weeks. Some eleven or twelve hours in the air, one big leap over the ocean and then a connecting flight, we’re on the ground in Madrid. Glad that’s behind us (then it hits me…in no time we’ll have to do it again – yikes).

Next it’s jump in a cab (scenes from the game Crazy Taxi), zipping through Madrid as though an Indy Car. Jump in this lane, then that. Into a tunnel. Traffic’s insane…yet, it seems to work. In spite of the congestion and down right chaos, it flows well, and interestingly no one here seems to use a horn.

Arrive at the Hotel – the Iberostar Las Letras Gran Vía if it means anything – what a dump. And sleep. That jet lag is an evil bastard. But before it all a couple quick photos out the balcony – can already see it…what a city! Yawn…more…more…tomorrow. Eyes close…zzzzzzzz. A few hours later, awaking, a couple more photos and it’s back to bed. Adventure awaits…but it’s for tomorrow. And the next day. And every one that follows till we head home. No beaches for us, no flip-flops, no zip lines, it’s getting to know a country with a genuine curiosity. The real side of Spain.

So watch this page. As each new “España” articles gets published, we’ll post the link. We’ll break it down by day (and did we kept busy – it was amazing!), publishing a new post perhaps once every two weeks or so. We don’t want to bore or overwhelm you. With that, you’ll be seeing these well into next year!

We’ll take in Madrid for a couple days, hit the El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage Trail for a good week, then hit the coast up near Spain’s most western edge, never sitting still. And along the way we’ll see ancient buildings, impressive cathedrals that tower to the sky going back eight or nine hundred years that took two centuries to build and many small county churches. And there’s castles, monasteries, fine old stone homes, farm houses, quiet back streets, remote villages, all of it simply spectacular. And most all of it old.

So stay tuned. And in the meantime, enjoy the first photo we ever shot in Spain and a couple that followed and take in that most amazing Spanish Vibe. It begins…

Days that followed…
España Day 1: Wandering Madrid – getting to know the city.
España Day 2: Toledo Cathedral – prepared to be wowed!
España Day 3: Hello Astorga – a gateway to adventure.
España Day 4 – Scruffy Peregrino – the walk begins!
España Day 5 – Up & Over – joy and love…
España Day 6 – Buen Camino – as though in a dream.
España Day 7: Lost & Loving It – don’t want it to end.
España Day 8: Walking the Cows – things seen and passed.
España Day 9-10: Santiago! – a chapter closed.
España Day 10: Evening in O Pindo – Peregrinos no more.
España Day 11: Porto de Quilmas – a “lazy” day.
España Day 12: Cabo Finisterre/Fisterra – the end of the world.
España Day 13: A Taste of Portugal – one final day.

Stuff you might like to do:
Shoulder Season @ Dino Provincial Park – hanging with dinosaurs.
Twilight Train – a most amazing adventure.
Keeping the Faith – time for a little pinball!

If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!

Date: June, 2018.
Location: Madrid, plus the regions and provinces of Toledo, Leon & Galacia Spain.
Article references and thanks: My sis & brother in law whom we owe a huge debt.

Team BIGDoer gets blown away.

Our very first photo on touching down in Spain.

We’re in Old Town Madrid and soon we’ll be ready to explore.

It’s BIGDoer.com in España 2018…lots more to come.