Day 2 of the Camino de Santiago takes pilgrims from Orisson to Roncesvalles across the misty Pyrenees, trading clear views for a mysterious hike through clouds, grazing horses, and quiet farmland. After a steady climb and a welcome stop at a small roadside food van, the sky briefly clears at the summit before the descent into Spain. The day ends at the historic monastery of Roncesvalles, where weary pilgrims rest, share stories, and reflect on the first major mountain crossing of the journey.
Day 1 on the Camino took us from St. Jean Pied de Port to Refuge Orisson, climbing from 90 to 800 meters through the beautiful Basque countryside. The steady uphill hike challenged us early, but stunning mountain views, café stops, and encounters with fellow pilgrims made the effort worthwhile. Along the way, we shared stories with walkers from around the world, each carrying their own reason for taking on the Camino. Arriving at Orisson felt like reaching a mountain oasis, where good food, drinks, and a communal dinner turned strangers into friends — a perfect introduction to the spirit of the Camino.
Paris to Belgium We had a wonderful stay in Paris (read our blog post Jardin des Plantes, A Day of La Seine, Cafes, and Art, and The Eiffel Tower, Cathedrals, and Gardens), but we made a small mistake. During all the stress of planning and researching the European sights and then actually going to all the […]
Versailles: Versailles is on everyone’s itinerary when they travel to Paris, so you might be a bit surprised it has taken me 4 trips before I actually made it here. And, we were lucky enough to share the experience with some friends from Chicago! Getting to Versailles from Paris is easy. Take the RER C and […]
Paris, France Today was another full day in the wonderful city of Paris. On the agenda: Musee de l’Orangerie and Sacre-Coeur. Starting the day off with hot chocolate and a pastry is great. Starting the day off with hot chocolate and a pastry from Angelina is just the epitome of French breakfast! The hot chocolate is […]
Paris, France We had a very packed day ahead of us for our second day in this lovely city of Paris (including the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Saint-Chappelle, and Luxembourg Gardens), so we made sure to get up early and hit the road at 9a.m. The first stop was the very famous and awe-inspiring […]
Paris Nisheet arrived in Paris early this morning! I’m so excited to share this part of my journey with him as Paris is one of my all time favorite cities. Here is our day in pictures. We had a lot to catch up on since we had been apart for 2 weeks and 3 countries, […]
Today I made the train trip from Lyon to Paris, explore the Jardin des Plantes, and got ready for Nisheets arrival in Paris tomorrow morning! I’m so excited! Train to Paris I took the train again, but this time I had a second class seat. It wasn’t too much different from the first class except […]
Lyon, France Lyon, France is often overlooked as a vacation destination, but is definitely worth a stop. Perhaps just a short stop though. And try to come during the summer instead of October to see the city in its best weather. It is a 5 hour train ride north of Nice, France. That might sound […]
I have definitely been neglecting the blog the past few days. Last weekend I not only said farewell to Barcelona, but I also said goodbye to my dear Nana. It was a tough decision for me, but with the support of my family I have decided to not go to her funeral and continue on my […]
