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  1. Portia1

    Requesting some thoughts (re starting point) from experienced pilgrims, please?

  2. Portia1

    What Was The Camino Like Pre-Resurgence in Popularity?

    1999 was my first Camino and on the Frances. I only met 5 Americans between SJPP and Santiago. You could walk for many miles all by yourself. i walked it again three years ago and I was dumbfounded by the huge numbers of people, many not carrying packs, who were both noisy and complaining...
  3. Portia1

    Reservations cancelled at private albergues

    I contacted the albergues directly to make reservations. That way I got to talk with them and determine appropriate spaces (I was with a small group of women with some specific requests). When we arrived, the owners were gracious and remembered our conversation. I used Camino resouraces to...
  4. Portia1

    A plea to all women on the Camino Frances: ‘Take your toilet tissues with you’!

    We have been picking up trash. Tissues, candy and bar wrappers, soda cans, and toilet paper. Filled six bags in an hour! Please respect the landowners and other pilgrims by taking your trash with you. A Spanish man stopped and took our picture and then thanked us for doing what most pilgrims...
  5. Portia1

    Ten years ago today

    We were on the CF at the same time! I started September 8, 2009. Be back the end of this week.
  6. Portia1

    Start in the rain

    In early September 2009, I walked in what turned out to be wind and sleet over the Pyrenees the day after a spectacular sunny, warm day. Almost anything in weather is possible.
  7. Portia1

    What time to arrive to secure bed in pomplona pilgrim hostel

    Good luck! Many, many albergues have opened in Pamplona. I was astonished by the change since my first Camino in 2009. If the albergue is completo, there is a tourist center—Calle San Saturnino, 2–they should be able to help you find a bed. They are open until 17:00 and I’ve found them to be...
  8. Portia1

    What time to arrive to secure bed in pomplona pilgrim hostel

    I think they open around 13:00? Be there around that time and you should be fine. Where are you coming from? I know I arrived there around 12:00 and sat on the step with a young woman from Germany. We watched each other’s packs so could leave and get some food. We were assigned bunks 1 and 2...
  9. Portia1

    If you had time to explore

    Leon Cathedral! But then I loved Burgos. It’s worth a full day.
  10. Portia1

    Monastery of San Xulián de Samos

    I was there 2009.
  11. Portia1

    Monastery of San Xulián de Samos

    I loved the evening service and chant. The walk to Samos was lovely. The only challenge was the next morning when I encountered arrows pointing right and left. Went right but later I learned I should have gone left. The right arrow was the cyclist way and all on pavement.
  12. Portia1

    Municipal albergues allowing large group to reserve 😡

    I’m still trying to get my head around having 30 children/teens in 2 bed rooms where they cannot possibly be supervised by five adults. I know the layout of that albergue. I’ve led teen groups for adventure trips and if it was at all possible, we certainly opted for a large room where everyone...
  13. Portia1

    Municipal albergues allowing large group to reserve 😡

    I’ve stayed in this lovely albergue. Why put children in rooms for two? Is the overflow a large room? Seems to me supervision would be easier if everyone was visible. Bummer.
  14. Portia1

    Avoid Albergue Monasterio de Samos so cold and humid!

    I stayed over the bar across the street. I was cold and tired and the monastery albergue was not what this old body needed. I loved the worship service however. I am glad for the detour as it was a beautiful walk out. Got lost on the way to Sarria—where arrows on the road pointed in both...
  15. Portia1

    Skipping a big part on car - driving in Spain?

    Two cautions: one, Spain takes mpr limits VERY seriously—don’t exceed. Two, rent a car with GPS—tend to be the most updated and makes cities much easier to navigate. Cities are old and streets can begin and end in challenging ways.
  16. Portia1

    Walking with friends

    I’ve done both. Walking alone was the most meaningful but walking with friends is an opportunity to know them and yourself better—plus having memories (and funny photos) to share. Is there a way to have some of both? Yes! We set up the rule that we knew where we were ending up each day. If...
  17. Portia1

    Steep (really steep) descents on unsealed surfaces - how to avoid them?

    I found that steep scree was best dealt with for me by serpentine back and forth across—similar to skiing down a steep slope. Poles are extremely useful to give an anchoring and turning point. I watched young pilgrims running down some of these who were then shocked when they took a nasty...
  18. Portia1

    Sarria - May 21

    Mid-seventies and going again this fall. Take it slowly and savor! I did many miles a day on my first Camino and no rest days. This time going to take my time and explore side trips and spend time in villages that intrigue me rather than plow ahead.
  19. Portia1

    Carry On Question?

    Three fellow pilgrims experienced this first hand. Not a nice way to begin. Read reviews from several years ago. Not only was their lost luggage percentage high but customer service was terrible if you were not Spanish. Once you been one of the unlucky ones (or witnessed the crisis of a lost...
  20. Portia1

    Sunday transportation from Sarria to O’Cebrerio

    There are five of us (ahem) “mature”women walking the Camino together. For two, O’Cebrerio was the ending point so we want to start there. It doesn’t look like there is bus service from Sarria to O’Cebrerio on Sundays. Any suggestions? We will be doing this in mid-September of this year. Is...

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