Planned rest day stops

[rglongpre]

Hi all - what are your suggestions for the best stops for planned rest days between SJPdP and SdC? I am hoping to take periodic stops for some R&R along the way. I anticipate leaving SJPdP on October 4th after completing the Le Puy route to SJPdP on October 2nd.

buen camino
Robert

 

[pyrofly]

i asked a similar question check out the answers i got
el-camino-frances/topic14941.html

 

[rglongpre]

i asked a similar question check out the answers i got
el-camino-frances/topic14941.html

Thanks for the link.

Buen Camino

 

[jastrace]

Hi Robert,

some suggestions, all subject to how much time you have...

• Biarritz / St Jean de Luz for a couple of days to recover from jet lag before departing St Jean Pied de Port,
  Pamplona to recover from the Pyrenees and to enjoy an awesome town,
  Logroño (also consider a taxi to Monasterio de Yuso at San Millán de la Cogolla for night 1 then back to Logroño for night 2 for tapas and wine before heading off the next day),
  Burgos,
  Leon,
  Sarria or Samos,
  Santiago de Compostela (of course)

Also there are any number of side trips you could take if you wanted, including taking taxis to the coast for some R&R.

Send me a PM if you'd like some more ideas.

¡Buena suerte!

Jason

 

[sillydoll]

Robert, the best plan is not to have a plan!
Listen to you body and take an R&R break when it tells you that you need it.
You might fall in love with a place and want to spend an extra day there. There might be a special fiesta that you could stay for.
12 October is "Dia de la Hispanidad" Spain's national day, also known as Columbus Day.
1 November is All Saints' Day, celebrated throughout the country. Shops close on this day.
Let the Camino dictate!

 

[dougfitz]

Biarritz / St Jean de Luz for a couple of days to recover from jet lag before departing St Jean Pied de Port,

Jet lag? He's walking from Le Puy and already taking a rest day in SJPP!

I think there are two basic approaches to 'rest days'. One is that you take time to explore an interesting part of the Camino without being weighed down by your pack. Cities and large towns offer good options.

The other is that it is a genuine rest day, without any or much walking, allowing time to rest, reflect, catch up on your diary, etc. In this case, a quiet place where things are close is better.

Either way, there must be a second night's accommodation. That could be a hotel, or possibly another albergue close by provided they have no restrictions that would stop you staying. For example, the albergue at Granon is only 7 km from Santo Domingo de Calzada, but is reserved for pilgrims who have travelled from further back.

 

[rglongpre]

Robert, the best plan is not to have a plan!
Listen to you body and take an R&R break when it tells you that you need it.
You might fall in love with a place and want to spend an extra day there. There might be a special fiesta that you could stay for.
12 October is "Dia de la Hispanidad" Spain's national day, also known as Columbus Day.
1 November is All Saints' Day, celebrated throughout the country. Shops close on this day.
Let the Camino dictate!

A big thanks for the "holiday" heads up. I agree that it is wisest to listen closely to the body.

 

[rglongpre]

Hi Robert,

some suggestions, all subject to how much time you have...

• Biarritz / St Jean de Luz for a couple of days to recover from jet lag before departing St Jean Pied de Port,
  Pamplona to recover from the Pyrenees and to enjoy an awesome town,
  Logroño (also consider a taxi to Monasterio de Yuso at San Millán de la Cogolla for night 1 then back to Logroño for night 2 for tapas and wine before heading off the next day),
  Burgos,
  Leon,
  Sarria or Samos,
  Santiago de Compostela (of course)

Also there are any number of side trips you could take if you wanted, including taking taxis to the coast for some R&R.

Send me a PM if you'd like some more ideas.

¡Buena suerte!

Jason

Thanks a lot, Jason. This list gives me a lot of good information to thing about. I don't have to worry about jet lag as I will have already been walking for more than thirty days from Le Puy en Velay. I will be sending a PM for the "more" as more is better than not enough.

Buen Camino.

 

[jastrace]

Good point. Missed that you'd already have been walking some.

Certainly the ideas remains relevant for others who might be reading this post and are travelling on long haul flights from overseas. Depends of course on whether jet lag is an issue for different people. It was/is for us.

 

[nreyn12]

I second Jason' suggestions for the following reasons:

Pamplona: nice selection of inexpensive pensions for a second night, vegetarian restaurant that my carnivore friends absolutely loved (Sarasate, on Calle San Nicholas), vibrant Plaza Mayor for people watching over tapas and wine

Logrono: not sure why, but there seems to always be a party on in Logrono

Leon: a lovely city with fantastic architecture and culture, plus Pizzeria La Compentencia for real pizza and the only (good) Indian restaurant I've found on the Way. Plus tapas and wine... I stay at Hostal Bayon, near the center with no curfew.

Burgos: the promenade by the river is a great place to wile away the afternoon, plus La Puebla Hotel is a worthy upgrade, and there are numerous sites to see if you have the energy

And my own addition:

Villafranca del BIerzo (23 km after Ponferrada) is a beautiful town. If you get a late start from there after visiting the many churches and walking the narrow streets, you can walk to Trabadelo, just 11 km on, and upgrade at the new-ish pension there. Look for the Fair Trade coffee sign and follow your nose to their kitchen - in other words, even if you don't stay there, be sure to stop for a meal.

Hope that helps!

Nancy

 

[rglongpre]

I second Jason' suggestions for the following reasons:

Pamplona
Logrono
Leon: Pizzeria La Compentencia for real pizza and the only (good) Indian restaurant I've found on the Way. Plus tapas and wine... I stay at Hostal Bayon, near the center with no curfew.
Burgos: the promenade by the river is a great place to wile away the afternoon, plus La Puebla Hotel is a worthy upgrade, and there are numerous sites to see if you have the energy
Villafranca del BIerzo (23 km after Ponferrada) is a beautiful town. If you get a late start from there after visiting the many churches and walking the narrow streets, you can walk to Trabadelo, just 11 km on, and upgrade at the new-ish pension there. Look for the Fair Trade coffee sign and follow your nose to their kitchen - in other words, even if you don't stay there, be sure to stop for a meal.

Hope that helps!

Nancy

It helps a lot, Nancy Thanks.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Look for the Fair Trade coffee sign

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Trabadelo,+Spain&hl=en&ll=42.648007,-6.877338&spn=0.000969,0.002642&sll=39.193844,-76.86694&sspn=0.12958,0.338173&oq=trabadel&t=h&hnear=Trabadelo,+Leon,+Castille+and+Leon,+Spain&z=19&layer=c&cbll=42.648007,-6.877338&panoid=EqB9tDpGm1Z_44Mzl5XLxA&cbp=12,8.79,,0,6.3

The pension is operated by an English-speaking Dutch couple. If the hospitalero is in the right mood (and the weather is good), he may ride his unicycle and juggle for you!