Camino de Santiago de Compostela

[Whalleyranger]

Only slightly less exciting than the fact that I'm getting married next Saturday is the thought that following the big day we'll be heading to Spain for our honeymoon. After a couple of days in Madrid we're taking the night train to Santiago; we'll stay 2 nights there then we're picking up a hire car and making our way across northern Spain before flying back home from Bilbao.
We were thinking of spending the first two days re-visiting our favourite Camino places between Santiago and Leon (we've both walked the Camino separately and it would be wonderful to share them together), but given the luxury of a car, are there any "off camino" places you could recommend that would be worth visiting for lunch / sightseeing? We'd already thought of going to see the Medulas, but is there anywhere less touristy?
I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to staying in a nice hotel in Santiago, and not the Seminario Menor.

[miguel_gp]

Felicitaciones in advance of your big day.

Will it not be quite dangerous to reverse along the Camino Frances route? Make sure you take out the All Inclusive insurance cover .

Seriously, your plans sound great. All the very best for the future.
Mig

[Whalleyranger]

Ha! Well done.

[tyrrek]

Hey, don't diss the Seminario menor!

Congratulations to you both!

[sillydoll]

In 2007 my husband joined me for the last bit of the Camino from Sarria.

We hired a car (from DoYouSpain) and drove to Fistera, then up to Lugo where we spent a night. Then we spent four nights - at Oviedo, Catrojeriz, Santo Domingo do Silos and Roncesvalles - and left the car at Pamplona before flying home a couple of days later.

[sulu]

are there any "off camino" places you could recommend that would be worth visiting for lunch / sightseeing?

It depends on your interests, but whilst you're in Galicia there is the Ribeira Sacra, famous for its ancient monasteries, but also its wine There is a website with an english translation, the english translation is a laugh in itself, mostly that needs translating as well. There is a monastery near Portomarin, but most are in the Sil valley. Whatever you do: Congratulations!
Sue

[annakappa]

All The best for next Saturday. Regarding Las medulas, I would give It a try! My brother met up with us near Ponferrada ( with car) and drove us up to Las Medulas. We didn't see any other visitors (agreed it was end September) and the site is really fantastic. Well worth the visit! Anne

[duncan pm]

congratulations!
Cacabelos area - valle del silencio - smaller places around maragateria - puebla de sanabria - going over towards Braga. all good.
go north of Leon - in to the picos de europa. visit fuente de parador, potes, garganta de cares, riano.
we too spent much of our honeymoon on and around the camino but in navarra and pyranees.
all the best,
Duncan.

[na2than]

may i congratulate you both firstly

secondly, the picos, potes, and funte de are excellant ideas.Also the monastry neer potes...one of the 5 most holy sites in Christianity!
Oviedo...and cider street are fun...the contrast of thier cider pouring in austuria comparded to cantabria is incredible. You may take a day or two in LLanes...good beach.Also google cavadonga...and the white madonna half way between oviedo and potes....theses are all things where a car is best....before you get to Bilbao...a romantic night in Santilla del mar?

all in all...a great taster to go and do the canino del norte together one day