Pre-Camino

Another clear blue sky to start the day. A local train today, from Bayonne to the charming town of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (SJPP) in the foothills of the Pyrenees. Both towns are in Basque country and it’s great seeing the language alongside French on most signs etc. Also noted a graffito calling for “Independentzia!” – the culture and…

Another relaxed day today. Up at four o’clock – the bad four o’clock – for Eurostar check in. A train from London to Paris that takes about as long as the train from Auckland to Hamilton (sob), metro across Paris, and then four hours across the French countryside by TGV to Bayonne. Now settled on…

Another quiet day in London, this time just laundry, more walking around, and repacking for travel – and an early night for the 6am train tomorrow, yikes. Highlight of the day was reading my Camino guidebook under the clear spring sunlight flooding the plaza of the British Library.

Heathrow to Kings X this morning, lots of walking around the Royal Parks this afternoon to keep jetlag at bay, and dinner with a friend this evening.

Sunday, irrelevant o’clock. Many hours in transit in Singapore Changi, probably my favourite airport lately. Ate a meal that was dinner food but at breakfast time? Seemed appropriate. Congee, pictured – a savoury ricey-porridge dish with spring onions, soaked peanuts (?), pickled onions and an indeterminate black paste. And nasi lemak – Malaysian specialty with…

Left NZ today… very sad to say goodbye. The road goes ever on and on.