True to form we managed to get lost walking from our hotel to the airport bus stop, but hey, what’s a few kms, a few more hills and stairs, when you have just walked 800kms!
We sat for an hour or so at the airport cafeteria, listened to an English family chattering about the holiday they had just had, how different their holiday was to ours. I was somewhat miffed by the guy who went on at some length about the mass he went to and all they did was talk about these pilgrims and what was so special about them anyway. Hmmmm let me think about that for half a second, perhaps because we walked 800kms to get there and he took a plane (yes, I know its the second time I have mentioned we just walked 800 kms, but I’m sorta proud of it)
And so we bid a very sad farewell to Spain, but on to London and Miss Saigon. London is my favourite city in this whole wide wonderful world. There is something about London that makes me feel so comfortable, like I am coming home. Must be my British heritage!
I love exploring the city, walking along the Thames, taking the tube to Picadilly Square to to buy tickets for a show, having a beer in the Punch & Judy in Convent Garden and watching the world go by, eating spaghetti and meatballs in Bella Italia, visiting the Tait and other galleries….so much to do!

Liz and I stayed near Camden, our first evening was spent at The Cock Tavern , obviously the local for that area. We discovered after a few minutes why the only empty table was empty. We made this discovery when a gentleman went through the door next to us and we were treated to the smell of the utility. Unfortunately it was 9:00pm, there were no other tables and we were waiting for the arrival of our landlord who had been delayed by a late train, so we spent the evening hoping the guys didn’t drink too much beer.

Despite this we loved exploring the high street of Camden, spent hours looking for English sim cards for our phone, the very very tiny sim card, eventually found one in a tiny, very dodgy looking shop, we never did manage to get those sim cards to work!!
We spent a wonderfully relaxing afternoon at another very English pub, popped in to use the thankfully clean toilets and were seduced by the smell of the roast pork. After 5 weeks of Spanish fare, we couldn’t resist a good old English roast dinner.

Miss Saigon was just as heartbreakingly sad as I remembered from 15 years ago, although I didn’t recall the pingpong balls from the bar scene in Bangkok back then. Times change!

Miss Saigon
On our last day we had breakfast in Kings Cross station. Liz was relieved I didn’t tell the waiter that the advertised crispy prosciutto wasn’t crispy, and I was sorry the pianos in the station were being played, even though I can only play half of Baby Elephant Walk or Fur Elise. (About half way down my bucket list is an entry to learn to Land of Hope and Glory and play it on one of the pianos at Kings Cross Station) And we were both sad to leave London, always a special place for me.
The Eurostar to Paris, a day wandering the streets, stopping for wine and crepes, and all too soon we were on the Metro to Charles de Gaulle airport for our flight home.

Love looking at the French countryside from Eurostar

Crepes and wine on the streets of Paris

Our last week was so busy that I haven’t really had time to miss the Camino. I was told by a pilgrim that the real Camino starts when you get home, so that adventure lies ahead. We still have one part of the Camino to do, the climb up the mountain to place a stone at the Cruz de Ferro. So it’s not goodbye; thank you to everyone who followed and supported us along the Way,and Buen Camino to all our fellow pilgrims out there on the track, we will be back to join you.