Camino de Santiago de Compostela

[caminocalling]

Does this sound doable?
5-6 weeks

JFK to Lourdes - departAug 30/31 from NY- stay Lourdes until Sept 2/3
take train on 2/3 to St Jean stay 1-2

Camino begins 4-5 Sept

1 rest a day a week atleast as needed

God Willing SDC arrival by around Oct 8-10 stay 1/2 overnight
Finisterre 3 days walking- stay 1/2
Bus/train to Fatima on Oct 12
Fatima to Lisbon Airport Oct 15 headed back home evening flight

Please share with me any feedback or concerns regarding this flexy plan...Need to book soon, and hope this is realistic..

Thank You for input, its a little tricky to figure out how many days etc.

[tyrrek]

Hi!

It sounds quite reasonable, but as you say flexibility is important.

A lot of the transatlantic flights are overnight, so depending how well you sleep on planes you might be a bit tired for the first day or two.

How will you feel if you fall behind schedule? Would you be willing to drop the Portuguese part of the trip, for example?

You'll become part of a 'pilgrim family' and may well find yourself wanting to stay with the group rather than taking rest days. Just go with the flow even if your schedule gets shot down in flames. It will all still be there to go back to.

Buen Camino!

[mralisn]

After I walked the Camino Frances, I made my way back to France to visit Lourdes. I used Pau as my base and spent the day in Lourdes. One day was enough for me. I enjoyed.

After I walked the Camino Norte, I went to Fatima. I found this more engaging than Lourdes. I spent the day there and didn't leave until nearly 23:00 as there was an incredible candlelight mass and procession that night. This was one of my most favorite travel days ever. I stayed the night at a simple hotel after. Only the one day was needed. I spent almost two weeks in the north of Portugal visiting Porto, Fatima, Cintra, Cascais, and Lisbon. I loved all of it.

Your 5 weeks of walking sounds quite nice. The extra 3 days to Finisterre is absolutely worth it!

Your body, spirit, Camino family will lead you.

Trust in the arrows.

[caminocalling]

Hi Tyrrek,

Thank you for responding!

I am laughing at the "go with the flow, even if your plans get shot down in flames" ! So funny and kind of what I what I was thinking when I was making plans - I just love how you stated it! I figured I should throw in some extra rest days just to add some flex. Im not so much worried about falling behind schedule- just wanted to make sure I have enough days but not too many, but I did want to build in some days for rest because that is essential to my recovery etc. I hear you about the pilgrim family--I hope I find some camino sis/bro's along the way that are flexy and dont want to rush towards blisterdom!Can I have an Amen?! But then again- who knows what pace I can or can't keep until I begin. I would just love to start & end Camino with visit to Our Lady.

If I book return flight from Lisbon and dont make it to Portugal then what? Do you think I should plan my ticket to depart from different locale to be safe?

Too Blessed to be Stressed,
Lisa

PS I recognize your pic and I really enjoyed your book! I just read it a week or so ago and then realized it's you!

[caminocalling]

Hi ralisn!

Thank you for confirming my plans with your own experience and personal little yellow arrows! When I hear of others experience it brings me joy and makes me so eager to join you all!

It would be great to volunteer at the healing waters in Lourdes and go for a dip myself..and a friend of mine just told me her aunt is in a convent in Fatima where I may be able to stay for a night or two. Im hoping to get rest while staying in Lourdes as I will be flying directly there. Do you think it would be better to stay/fly in Pau?

Regardless, I will try to find a quieter place to stay near the shrine in Lourdes I have heard it can be a little bit chaotic. Sleep is essential for me to regulate the first two days after landing-this I def. know about myself!

Any other pointers or ideas based on your visits to Fatima or Lourdes?

Oh and yes, Body, Mind & Spirit are all eager to be joined in TRUST with pilgrim fam.

Pace Bene,
Lisa

PS
I wish I could see the running of the bulls too..your description in the other post sounds so exciting!

[tyrrek]

PS I recognize your pic and I really enjoyed your book! I just read it a week or so ago and then realized it's you!

Not me, although some would say my posts are so rambling they could have read a book in the same time.

Stick with your plans to return from Lisbon. If you had to adapt your trip you could do it in different ways (e.g. the Finisterre leg) so you can still end at Fatima.

Buen Camino!

p.s. The only book with my name on it is the 'Annual Abstract of Statistics (2001 edition)'. I assume that's not the one you read because it didn't have my picture in it. Otherwise it's a great read for insomniacs. Buen Camino!