Santiago to Paris

July 11: The last day in Santiago

In the morning we stopped by the Pilgrims' Office to say "hi" to Johnnie Walker, a Scottish pilgrim who lives in Santiago and organizes the office's 'welcome' greeters. This group of volunteers helps to answer questions, award Compostelas, and listen to walkers' stories of their journey. I know Johnnie from pilgrim forums and his Camino blog.

French bulldogs in Spain

There was an evening concert at Plaza de Quintana adjacent to the Cathedral.

July 12: Bonjour, Frances!

On the flight to Paris today there were other walkers, including Carol, a psychology professor from S. Africa who walked from St. Jean to Santiago, and Johnny from Sacramento, who will soon start medical school. We met Carol at the Pilgrims' Mass in Santiago and Johnny on the first day back in Navarrenx. He had walked part of the Le Puy route last year, and this year completed the trek to Santiago & Finisterre. He's also a basketball fan, so Dad was excited to talk hoops with him.

In Paris we stayed at an airbnb apartment located in Montmartre near the Sacre-Coeur Basilica (Sacred Heart Basilica). The apartment is owned by Jeff Russell, an American who lives in Paris. Jeff had bicycled Camino del Norte and the Portugese route, and his mom had walked Camino Frances. He's a photographer & documentary filmmaker who records areas of conflict, including Iraq, and recently spent time in San Diego where he met with Iraqi refugees who have resettled in the U.S. 

Streets not far from the apartment and on the way to Sacre-Coeur

Climbing up to the basilica

Montmartre's many stairs offer good Camino conditioning.

Ode to painter Wayne Thiebaud at the boulangerie/patisserie below the apartment

The bakery had lots of French bread besides pastries of course!

Cafe chanteuse

Sacre-Coeur

Neighborhood cafes were full of locals and tourists savoring a summer evening.