Another Camino?

I’ve come to the conclusion (very reluctantly) that I’m no longer fit enough to attempt another Camino.

My friend V gave me a newspaper article entitled Camino Lite whereby you could follow the line of the Camino Frances by train and this set me thinking about various possibilities. I know the area well enough to conclude that the train line isn’t the best idea as it doesn’t follow the route closely. Sometimes the bus would be be the better option. Also, at the end of the day I would be meeting pilgrims and wishing I was one of them.

Spain is still calling me, so I’m toying with the idea of a trip around Andalucia by train and bus. My research has included a series on YouTube by Michael Portillo, in which he takes in the major cities like Cordoba and Granada, as well as some places off the beaten track (though these require a car). Portillo himself owns a house in Carmona, which he visits often. I can visualise myself enjoying a cafe con leche  at a pavement cafe and seeing him walk past!

A highlight of my trip will be a few days in Gibraltar. This is a British Overseas Territory which has a strategic position guarding the entrance to the Mediterranean. In my 20’s, when we used to camp all over Spain, I remember stopping the car by a huge fence which blocked entry to Gibraltar. At that time, General Franco allowed no-one to cross the land border. It was closed between 1969 and 1985.

Nowadays the border is open and many Spaniards cross every day to go to work. I want to see this little piece of England with red letter boxes and phone boxes, British plugs and British coinage. Most of all, I want to visit Marks and Spencers to buy a couple of bras! Online shopping for lingerie is just not the same. I hope I’m not disappointed with the selection; I’ve heard that Gibraltarians like to shop in Spain for more choice.

What I’ve learned so far from my research is that Brexit has confused the issue and things are not getting any easier at the border. Sometimes there are long queues and long delays as officials check documents. Tourists often leave their vehicles on the Spanish side at La Linea and walk across. It’s not far, so that’s what I’ll be doing: crossing on foot, that is.

One other (amazing) thing that I’ve discovered concerns dog poo. Because Gibraltar is such a densely packed place, all dogs have to be chipped. If an owner fails to clean up after their pet, the dog poo can be tested for DNA and a fine is issued. Now that is a good idea!

Aerial view of Gibraltar