OBSOLETE COVID THREAD Camino in times of Covid

[Deleted member 95769]

Hello everyone,
I was wondering if people would still recommend embarking on the camino (from SJPdP) in these times? I read somewhere that the social spaces in albergues were all closed and so I am wondering whether it is difficult to meet people? This is quite an important aspect for me. Are there other tips I need to be aware of? I am hoping to start next week.
Many thanks in advance for your advice

 

[Kanga]

@clementinegrace see this video and thread started by Ivar, who lives in Santiago and runs this forum. He would not walk at present.

 

[aussie62]

Gee I wouldn't be going now . If ever there was a time to meet people it wont be now! I just would not find it enjoyable having worry about who's contagious and who's not , just saying

 

[Antonius Vaessen]

@clementinegrace see this video and thread started by Ivar, who lives in Santiago and runs this forum. He would not walk at present.

I remember from an earlier post/video that Ivar never walked a Camino anyhow,

 

[Kanga]

I remember from an earlier post/video that Ivar never walked a Camino anyhow,

Correct, but irrelevant to the contents of the video and his advice.

 

[Antonius Vaessen]

Correct, but irrelevant to the contents of the video and his advice.

It was a joke of course, "provoced?" by the last sentence of the post. I agree with the contents of the video and have skipped my intended camino in september.

 

[Mark McCarthy]

You will still meet people along the way even if the albergue kitchen's are closed. Conversations often start along the way or at cafes when you take a break. Because of the increasing risk of COVID in Spain I suspect numbers will be way down but small numbers like in winter tend to make pilgrims more social not less. If you do go ahead, please remember to wear a mask both indoors and outdoors even in the small villages and towns.
¡Buen Camino!

 

[Jomas]

Hello everyone,
I was wondering if people would still recommend embarking on the camino (from SJPdP) in these times? I read somewhere that the social spaces in albergues were all closed and so I am wondering whether it is difficult to meet people? This is quite an important aspect for me. Are there other tips I need to be aware of? I am hoping to start next week.
Many thanks in advance for your advice

this yours request in this particular hectic period, in this forum "full" of posts and opinions on whether or not to make a pilgrimage to Spain, I think it has stiffened several people here .
Because the situation is very critical. And you can't be unaware of it.
In Spain the infections are growing and I am very sorry.
But it is a legitimate and free question. it is right to link to a video that warns that it is not the time to make a pilgrimage. There are other interventions of the same notice. But it is also fair to tell you that there are those who have done it and who are doing it now (there are a couple of interesting "live cammino") and who has published a sort of diary of the general situation of a journey in covid time. It is right to warn you that you will find many closed structures and in the open ones you will have to follow very specific health procedures. it is fair to tell you that you must take all possible information for the current situation, arranged by the Spanish authorities. it is fair to warn you that you may be subjected to a swab test when you return home, or even to a period of quarantine. it is also fair to tell you that if by chance ..... it will change your program a lot.
personally I have already decided in April that this year is not the year for a pilgrimage on the "ways" of Saint James. The responsibility for the choice is only yours.
Go as you go.

 

[LTfit]

Correct, but irrelevant to the contents of the video and his advice.

I am not sure about that. As I mentioned in that particular thread, and in response to the video, those walking at the moment or have completed their Camino recently as several Forum members have, tend to have a different opinion about walking the Camino at this time. I personally put more weight on someone with hands-on experience walking the Camino during COVID times than someone sitting in Santiago (of course no offense intended).

 

[Canche]

@clementinegrace see this video and thread started by Ivar, who lives in Santiago and runs this forum. He would not walk at present.

Neither would I

 

[lauraocl]

Hello everyone,
I was wondering if people would still recommend embarking on the camino (from SJPdP) in these times? I read somewhere that the social spaces in albergues were all closed and so I am wondering whether it is difficult to meet people? This is quite an important aspect for me. Are there other tips I need to be aware of? I am hoping to start next week.
Many thanks in advance for your advice

I'm also hoping to start next week. Have been searching for hours for a thread with information rather than personal opinions on whether to go or not.
Let me know if you find anything!

 

[Antonius Vaessen]

I'm also hoping to start next week. Have been searching for hours for a thread with information rather than personal opinions on whether to go or not.
Let me know if you find anything!

The question in the original post was if readers of this forum would recommend "embarking on a Camino in these circumstances" To me that question concerns a personal opinion. I get the feeling that you are looking for opinions that confirms you in your decision to start a Camino.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

I just finished a walk from Leon to Santiago de Compostela. Pilgrim numbers are way down, but "pilgrim families" still form up. There's no trouble getting a bed, but you often have to walk a bit farther to find an open albergue. Lodgings are consistently spotless and hygiene rules enforced with some consistency. Some pilgrims and locals do not wear masks within towns, even though signs on the outskirts tell them to "mask up." Some locals are clearly afraid to get near to pilgrims. And some pilgrims keep well away from everyone else.
It is a weird time to walk.

 

[Mournes]

I'm also hoping to start next week. Have been searching for hours for a thread with information rather than personal opinions on whether to go or not.
Let me know if you find anything!

Hi Laura
On this forum under 'Live from the Camino'
'Gareth from Dublin on Camino Part 2' you will find this excellent account with photographs of the Camino Frances by Gareth.He will be in Santiago in the next few days .Ivar who set up this Forum has invited Gareth to meet up with him in Santiago and I assume he will post a video of that meeting on this forum.
Wishing you all the best in your decision making .May the road rise up to meet you.
Buen Camino.

 

[SafariGirl]

I'm also hoping to start next week. Have been searching for hours for a thread with information rather than personal opinions on whether to go or not.
Let me know if you find anything!

Hi Laura,
I’m on the Camino Francés now and would say ‘it depends where you start’. I’ve just finished working for a month as a volunteer Hospitalera in the parroquial albergue in Ponferrada and we were hosting 60-70 pilgrims daily in early August (mostly Spanish, Italian & French) and 20-30 daily by the end of the month (a mix of overseas pilgrims from UK, Holland, Germany, Hungary etc and also Italy, France Spain).
It’s my opinion (but based on my experience of walking the Camino this year and now, and observing pilgrims in the albergue) that you will meet people who are open and willing to socialise and talk, just far fewer in number than usual. You’ll also meet more from León onwards and less before and, it seems to me, many more people are walking as couples, family groups or with friends than as individuals.
Hope this helps with your decision-making. Best of luck and Buen Camino

 

[lauraocl]

The question in the original post was if readers of this forum would recommend "embarking on a Camino in these circumstances" To me that question concerns a personal opinion. I get the feeling that you are looking for opinions that confirms you in your decision to start a Camino.

Eh I'm afraid not! I'm still on the fence, and the opinions I've seen of these threads have gone both ways! I was already stuck in Spain for 3 months during the lockdown without being able to fly home, not looking to do that again. I am looking for information from people actually on the camino or who have done it recently enough and know what the story is at the moment. & by information I mean what is required when I cross borders, how the hostels are, etc.

When I decide what to do, it's going to be based on my own circumstances and the information I have, it's unlikely that a stranger online telling me I should/shouldn't do something will have much sway.

 

[lauraocl]

it seems to me, many more people are walking as couples, family groups or with friends than as individuals.
Hope this helps with your decision-making. Best of luck and Buen Camino

Thank you! I'm mostly looking for solitude so that would be okay. Do you know if there's anything required when crossing into Spain from France? Like a test or a form?

 

[lauraocl]

Hi Laura
On this forum under 'Live from the Camino'
'Gareth from Dublin on Camino Part 2' you will find this excellent account with photographs of the Camino Frances by Gareth.He will be in Santiago in the next few days .Ivar who set up this Forum has invited Gareth to meet up with him in Santiago and I assume he will post a video of that meeting on this forum.
Wishing you all the best in your decision making .May the road rise up to meet you.
Buen Camino.

Thank you! That would have been a good place to start looking
I'll be travelling from Dublin too

 

[Mournes]

Thank you! I'm mostly looking for solitude so that would be okay. Do you know if there's anything required when crossing into Spain from France? Like a test or a form?

Hi Laura
I take it you are starting in St Jean Pied de Port and crossing over the Pyrenees.No need for any form when crossing from France to Spain.

 

[domigee]

Thank you! I'm mostly looking for solitude so that would be okay. Do you know if there's anything required when crossing into Spain from France? Like a test or a form?

There wasn’t in July... My ‘camino-mate’ walked from St Jean pde Port then and found there were more pilgrims than he had expected - still very few, though, but some! He only stayed in private rooms or hotels. Fewer places open so you can’t always choose where you end up. It can mean shorter stages or sometimes much longer ones. You have to be flexible!
He had to give up in Sahagun though, sadly, as the UK introduced the quarantine practically overnight and he had to be back at work at a fixed date.
He felt it was worth it but.. a bit surreal...

 

[SafariGirl]

Thank you! I'm mostly looking for solitude so that would be okay. Do you know if there's anything required when crossing into Spain from France? Like a test or a form?

I don’t Laura, but I’ll ask the next French person I see (I see one almost daily). And you could also try contacting the Pilgrim Office in SJPP to ask.
I do know you need to notify the Xunta of Galicia when you enter the region (as I did when I left Ponferrada and returned to Portomarín). But it’s very easy to do online and is only so they can contact you easily, should they need to trace you in relation to any Covid outbreak that may affect or involve you.
If you do decide to come we may well meet on the Way. I’m continuing my ‘Camino de Vuelta’ heading the other way (Santiago to SJPP) poco a poco.
Buen Camino with your decision-making.

 

[LTfit]

I don’t Laura, but I’ll ask the next French person I see (I see one almost daily). And you could also try contacting the Pilgrim Office in SJPP to ask.
I do know you need to notify the Xunta of Galicia when you enter the region (as I did when I left Ponferrada and returned to Portomarín). But it’s very easy to do online and is only so they can contact you easily, should they need to trace you in relation to any Covid outbreak that may affect or involve you.
If you do decide to come we may well meet on the Way. I’m continuing my ‘Camino de Vuelta’ heading the other way (Santiago to SJPP) poco a poco.
Buen Camino with your decision-making.

If you're in the area this month or next let me know. I always like meeting fellow Forum members and hospitaler@s. I'm at Albergue Villares de Orbigo (in reverse, town after Santibañez de Valdeiglesias) or about 13 km after Astorga.

 

[NancyZ]

When do you think will be a good time to walk the Camino Frances? I was planning to walk in April 2021?
Thank you for any answers!
Nancy

 

[SafariGirl]

If you're in the area this month or next let me know. I always like meeting fellow Forum members and hospitaler@s. I'm at Albergue Villares de Orbigo (in reverse, town after Santibañez de Valdeiglesias) or about 13 km after Astorga.

I spent the night at your albergue on my way to Santiago Lee but I’ll happily drop in to see you again on my way through, going back.
All the best
Michele

 

[LTfit]

I spent the night at your albergue on my way to Santiago Lee but I’ll happily drop in to see you again on my way through, going back.
All the best
Michele
View attachment 82556

Hey Michele,
Sorry, I didn't recognize you!
Are you already on your way back?
Cheers

 

[SafariGirl]

Hey Michele,
Sorry, I didn't recognize you!
Are you already on your way back?
Cheers

No worries , yes I am, but I’m taking my time and currently spending a few days in Fonfría at the albergue of friend Angela. I’ve got no fixed (or even loose) timetable...just trusting the Camino and that’s worked pretty well so far.
See you when I see you!
Mx