Camino Diaries: Planes, Trains, Sleep and the Road Ahead

Off we go ………. After so much planning, we have finally embarked on our trip of a lifetime.

You might remember that I have said, in the past, I am frightened to fly but I am happy to report I was uncharacteristically calm. (Thank you Tai Chi ladies!) At takeoff, which is my least favorite part, I closed my eyes and pictured myself in my Tai Chi class, with Margaret leading. Anne was there as well as Susan, Tracy and Aubrey. I ran through the Yang 24 in my head as I recited the names of each pose until the end. It seems to be the meditation I have needed to keep me from spiraling during flights.

Our first stop on our Camino adventure was Nîmes, a city about three hours south of Paris by train. This is where my sister has been living for the past two and a half years. She currently has a charming one-bedroom apartment, but she’s getting ready to move into a two-bedroom place right in the heart of downtown Nîmes. What started as a nine-month adventure turned into a revised lifestyle. She loved it so much she’s staying and, after experiencing one day in “The Life of Sister Suzy,” I totally get it! It’s absolutely lovely here.

We had a delicious dinner last night—complete with cocktails and then off to a very nice restaurant where we ate on the rooftop. We started with a bottle of wine, two appetizers, then a shared main dish of roasted duck with fries, and two desserts. After being awake for nearly 30 hours due to travel, Poo and I finally crashed and slept for a solid 12 hours.

We will be exploring the sights of Nîmes before we head north to Irún, Spain where we will begin the trek across the northern coast, ending in Santiago de Compostela.

The city of Nimes has not disappointed as Wednesday we experienced the streets of a quaint French town—just like something out of a romantic rom-com. Even though Nîmes is technically a city of 150,000 people, it didn’t feel that way.

Our day started with a trip to the market, followed by a picturesque walk through a stunning park. We ate gelato, toured the Arenes de Nimes and even stopped by the public library.

The night ended with a fabulous meal my sister cooked, made even better by the delightful company of her friend, Christine.

It. Was. A. Perfect. Day!

Xoxo, Katy