Waking up before my alarm clock—sorry, I mean my phone—usually has me unleashing a delightful array of expletives that could make a sailor blush. I mean, I could’ve had an extra 15 to 20 minutes in dreamland, frolicking with unicorns or outrunning my responsibilities—fantasies that seem much better than my actual to-do list.
But this morning? Oh, joy! I woke up a solid 15 minutes early, ahead of the first of my alarm symphony.
Naturally, I decided to seize the moment like a caffeinated squirrel and get a head start on breakfast, because nothing says "I'm a responsible adult" like a meal on the go. Forget overpriced airport food—hotel wending machines are like a buffet of budget delights…compared to their airport siblings, that is.
I was set to indulge in that tasty plan of a quick bite before boarding the tram to the land of overpriced muffins and questionable bagels. So there I went, ready to turn into a breakfast superhero… hoping that having conquered the world of cereal bars would aid me in grappling with the real challenge of the day—finding a power outlet at the gate!
First flight
BGO - CPH
Made my way to the airport, breezed through check-in, and now I'm snug as a bug in my airplane seat for the first flight of the day.
So far, so good—knock on wood!
On my way to the tram, I passed my favorite tattoo studio in Bergen. After this adventure, it's off to "my" place to add to the ink collection. Now if you find yourself in Bergen and looking to get some art on your skin do check out New Roots Tattoo and Art Collective.
But for now, it's all about focusing on the adventure ahead. Staying present is one of the best parts of the camino for me. Just need to take that first step, and then I'll be firmly 'in it.'
Fingers crossed for no turbulence!
Second flight
CPH - LIS
Transfer went fine, 30 minutes between landing and taking off. But with the gates being less than a 2 minute walk apart in the terminal it was trivial getting there on time. It was just enough time to recharge my headset and snap a few photos of Kjell and send them to my niece (via my sister.)
So we are now a short flight away from Lisbon and I've made a tentative plan for my arrival.Transfer went smoothly, just a quick 30 minutes between landing and taking off. With the gates a mere two-minute stroll apart, it was practically a leisurely jog. I had just enough time to give my headset a little juice and snap a few silly pictures of Kjell to send to my niece via my sister. Now, we’re only a hop, skip, and a jump away from Lisbon, and I’ve hatched a loose plan for my arrival.
Grab taxi to hotel ✅️
Check in✅️
Dump baggage✅️
Taxi to cathedral✅️
Get my pilgrim's passport stamped✅️
Explore / Take some photos.✅️
Maybe some food✅️
Sleep❓️
Let's see how well I can stick to this plan, or if I'll end up taking a scenic detour through the land of spontaneous decisions.
As my impressive list suggests, I managed to tick off most items—now I'm just waiting for food, which my friends know will definitely be a burger. It hasn't arrived yet, but the beer is top-notch and the vibe is chill, so I’m not throwing any tantrums… yet.
I used the magic of Google to find the closest "great burger" and strolled (well, shuffled more like.. need to save rubber on my shoes) to a quaint little joint about 20 minutes from the cathedral in the general direction of my hotel.
Getting to the cathedral was another story. I tried to catch a ride using Bolt—think Uber but with more cancellation drama. Three drivers ghosted me, which should have been a big ol’ red flag. Instead, I just waved it off like a harmless fly. Walking would have taken about an hour, but a driver finally showed and we suffered a 35-minute car ride which should have been 10 if not for traffic.
My driver was a gem, though. She pointed out the quirkiest things despite our extensive language barrier—at one point, I think she tried to tell me me something and I understood nothing. Suddenly we were surroundedby police…on their way to the football stadium it turned out. Finally made it to the cathedral, which was stunning.
However, my dreams of becoming the next Instagram photographer were dashed by a harsh "No Photos" sign. Le sigh. Only for the art, artifacts, and old books… So you know, nothing that I’d like to take photos of.
Tomb of Doña Maria Vilalobos
Steps taken today: 12,000, and I haven’t even kicked off the real camino yet.
Now, on to dessert, then back to the hotel to repack my bag, take a luxurious soak, and crash. Catch you all tomorrow on the official camino adventure—fingers crossed there will be plenty of photo ops without any signage drama!
Addendum
I need to extend a big shout-out to my past self. Seriously, that guy was a genius. He had the foresight to order an in-flight meal from CPH to LIS, knowing I’d probably be too busy counting my pennies instead of enjoying a meal when travelling to my destination. I mean, why spend money on food when I could save it for a souvenir fridge magnet or overpriced gelato, right?
So there I was, all suave until the cabin crew shows up with my meal. I’m waving them off like I’m in a magician's act, saying, “I haven’t ordered anything!” They glance at me like I’ve just declared my life’s ambition to be a professional mime and say, “You did when you bought your ticket, sir.” Cue the moment of realization—oh yeah, that’s right. A classic case of brain fog at 30,000 feet!
And to top it all off, the dessert was carrot cake. Perfect.