For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation)
The Franciscan albergué in Léon is huge and not particularly popular because it is super-modern and rather soulless. I'd be astonished to see it fully booked, ever.
I was 66 years old, of about average fitness when, in a state of severe depression, I decided to try the Camino as an alternative to suicide. I left the next day. I started in Burgos, timing my trip to arrive in Santiago for Santa Semana. The first few days were hard, but doable. I arrived in...
Above, various men telling a lone woman to embrace the solitude. Seriously? Wake up guys. Our experience of solitude is nothing like that of a woman alone on an empty road in a foreign country. Have some sympathy.
The other replies are correct - to a point. It's a harsh, rocky walk but if you are using nordic poles perfectly safe. The extra stability provided by the poles I would say is almost essential for older legs and perhaps diminished balance. I was 73 when I walked it two years ago and would not...
Why do people perennially trot out this 'natural' and entirely wrong piece of advice? As anyone with an understanding of human biology, and every doctor, knows, healing is a cellular process. Your body marshals a highly sophisticated response to damage, bringing leukocytes (white blood cells) to...
Oh man So grateful for this info. I'm setting off next Tuesday, double vaccinated and confident, my main concern being availability of beds in albergués, so this is exactly the kind of info i need. Thanks a million.
Thanks for these posts. I want to start my fourth Camino from Logroño next Wednesday. I land in Bilbao and am worried that Alsa seems to be running much diminished services, such that I can't seem to book a coach trip Bilbao to Logroño. Does anyone know what is going on?
In 2016 I had to find somewhere outside to spend the night because I took my time and arrived to find the albergués full. And my budget doesn't run to hotel rooms. Has anyone done this recently on the Francés? Planning to start about 600 kliks out, maybe Logroño, next week.
I have walked both, and I must say I found the Norte slightly dispiriting as compared to the Francès, for two reasons. A lot of the way consists of serial 'ballotas', a word that specifically describes a descent to a beach or waterfront town and a stiff climb out again. You might do this six or...
Thanks Ivar. Just to be clear, is the Compostela the certificate issues at Santiago or the Credencial? I'm assuming the former, since credenciales can be issued in so many places.
Planning to start at St Jean 7th or 8th May. Historical info on traffic and albergué activity in previous years seems inconsistent. Probably influenced by Holy Year, etc. How busy was it today?
I just followed your Unitarian Franciscan link, David. I've often contemplated joining the Third Order. Especially when walking I felt a very strong call to engage in the faith in some more organised and committed manner, but of course daily life took over pretty quickly when I returned. At O...
Great to hear from you. I'm green with envy. The weather must be just about perfect now – I had snow, gales, the lot, although I must say walking in cool, overcast conditions, which is how it was for most of my walk, is very comfortable. I'm looking for somewhere to live and it's such a drag...
This site is run by Ivar at in Santiago de Compostela.
This site participates in the Amazon Affiliate program, designed to provide a means for Ivar to earn fees by linking to Amazon