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LIVE from the Camino Lots of Peregrinos

Avromal

Member
Time of past OR future Camino
CF 2017, VF (Fidenza to Rome) 2019, CP 2019, VF (Besancon to Ivrea) 2020
Hola from Zariquiegui!

Seems to be a lot of pilgrims on the trail currently. No rooms available in Cizur Menor today, so with wonderful help, we booked ahead for Zariquiegui. Thankful that we did, as they were turning people away from here ahead of us.

Been great talking with so many peregrino's from so many different countries. This is being a really awesome experience, so looking forward to day 4 tomorrow as we continue our journey.

Buen Camino!
 
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That sounds very busy, do you think the Easter holidays is the reason for this ( though well over by now) ?
 
Hard to be sure on that Fleur. I would have thought this week would have been a lull, post Easter, but before it starts ramping up in May. Hence our planning to leave at the time we did. Perhaps someone else could add their view?

Cheers,

Mal.
 
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
Monday - May 1st - is a national holiday in Spain and it is very likely that a large number of people are walking for a long weekend, or choosing to incorporate the holiday into a longer vacation.

Thanks Bradypus.
 
It's not bad some days ahead of you. I'm in Boadillo del Camino and it's far from full.
 
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Thanks Cher. Tomorrow should see us in Villatuerta.
 
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I think it's always busy on the Frances! But that's what makes it!

Never a truer word spoken! Have been blessed to speak with many different Peregrino's from many countries such as America, Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Australia...And even fellow Kiwi's. Simply awesome!
 
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
IMG_5459.JPG
I just completed the Camino Del Norte. The crowds of pilgrims on the Frances were quite a shock after the caminos converged for the final leg into Santiago.
 
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I just completed the Camino Del Norte. The crowds of pilgrims on the Frances were quite a shock after the caminos converged for the final leg into Santiago.
A question, Ahhhs - did you go through Sobrado dos Monxes and if so, was it difficult to find your way to Arzua or Santa Irena? I'm doing the Norte/Primitivo in a couple of weeks and wondered about doing this track from Lugo.
 
The first edition came out in 2003 and has become the go-to-guide for many pilgrims over the years. It is shipping with a Pilgrim Passport (Credential) from the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.
A question, Ahhhs - did you go through Sobrado dos Monxes and if so, was it difficult to find your way to Arzua or Santa Irena? I'm doing the Norte/Primitivo in a couple of weeks and wondered about doing this track from Lugo.

I did go that way and it was not difficult to find the way marks.

Buen Camino
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
We loved the Santa Irena albergue.
 
A weather warning from Del Norte/Primitivo: There are not that many pilgrims on these route(s). Albergues are virtually empty. I have had two albergue stays alone. This The weather has been very nice to " very bad" to walk. Rainy, cold, and windy. In the mountains we had hail. Hard to keep hands warm. Gloves don't help even if you have them because they get wet.
Passed Colunga this morning and saw people run (30km run) in steady rain with 6 degree temp.

Two exceptions to virtually empty albergues. A few days ago I stayed in San Vicente de la Barquera. It was almost full. The last time I went there two years ago, I could not even get in.
Yesterday I arrived in Ribadesella (a touristic town in Asturias) in the evening after 28 km walking to find out that this is a long holiday weekend in Spain. No rooms were available except in a four-star hotel in town. I barely managed to get out of the town by bus in the evening.

This is my fourth Camino and have never had this cold weather in late April before.
 
Lorca today. One Albergue already full, and the other had a couple of beds left which went very quickly. Really great to see the people who run the albergue's working hard to help the weary peregrino's find somewhere else.
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Buen Camino from a fellow kiwi. You have some wonderful days ahead of you. It does sound very busy though.
 
Lorca today. One Albergue already full, and the other had a couple of beds left which went very quickly. Really great to see the people who run the albergue's working hard to help the weary peregrino's find somewhere else.
Fantastic help from the lady behind the bar at Lorca when a few years ago we arrived LATE! She called a taxi which took us to Casa Magica at Villatuerta. The kindness of strangers.
 
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A weather warning from Del Norte/Primitivo: There are not that many pilgrims on these route(s). Albergues are virtually empty. I have had two albergue stays alone. This The weather has been very nice to " very bad" to walk. Rainy, cold, and windy. In the mountains we had hail. Hard to keep hands warm. Gloves don't help even if you have them because they get wet.
Passed Colunga this morning and saw people run (30km run) in steady rain with 6 degree temp.

Two exceptions to virtually empty albergues. A few days ago I stayed in San Vicente de la Barquera. It was almost full. The last time I went there two years ago, I could not even get in.
Yesterday I arrived in Ribadesella (a touristic town in Asturias) in the evening after 28 km walking to find out that this is a long holiday weekend in Spain. No rooms were available except in a four-star hotel in town. I barely managed to get out of the town by bus in the evening.

This is my fourth Camino and have never had this cold weather in late April before.
Thank you, Tom, and please post when you can. I'm starting in 19 days from Bilbao and was concerned about the lodging in Ribadasella as the place on the sea - Albergue Roberto Frasinelli, is booked solid for what looks like weeks in later May. Good to hear it's not too bad in the other towns right now. Happy hiking and hope the weather improves for you!
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Lots of "peregrinos" on the Camino Francés would be normal on various stretches over a long week-end. The increasing number of arrivals in Santiago at this early stage of the "season", compared to previous years, promises ever longer trails of walkers as one approaches Santiago de Compostela. Probably to the joy of the equally increasing "albergue" operators :cool:
 
I'm concerned about this part of the Camino as my friend and I will be walking during San Fermin, so we'll have to get past Pamplona, as I expect many other pilgrims will too. I'm hoping to be walking from Larrasoaña, and ideally spend the night at Cizur Menor, but I don't believe that there is an albergue there that takes reservations.
 
Fantastic help from the lady behind the bar at Lorca when a few years ago we arrived LATE! She called a taxi which took us to Casa Magica at Villatuerta. The kindness of strangers.
I've also been super grateful in Lorca too. Suffering badly from the heat, no beds left in town, the guy behind the bar rang ahead to Casa Magica to book me and my friend some of the last beds for the day. I couldn't have walked that extra 5km not knowing if there was a bed.
 
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I'm concerned about this part of the Camino as my friend and I will be walking during San Fermin, so we'll have to get past Pamplona, as I expect many other pilgrims will too. I'm hoping to be walking from Larrasoaña, and ideally spend the night at Cizur Menor, but I don't believe that there is an albergue there that takes reservations.
In Cizur Menor Maribel Roncal takes reservations at her albergue. See more here.
http://www.elalberguedemaribel.com/
 
Thank you, Tom, and please post when you can. I'm starting in 19 days from Bilbao and was concerned about the lodging in Ribadasella as the place on the sea - Albergue Roberto Frasinelli, is booked solid for what looks like weeks in later May. Good to hear it's not too bad in the other towns right now. Happy hiking and hope the weather improves for you!
I am sure in 19 days you will be dealing with better weather and more crowd. One of the reasons why they say CdN and CP are more difficult is, in addition to the terrain, not many albergues are available forcing you to walk more than you'd like to. Like anything else in life everything has its cost. The scenery along the cost is stunning! I tried the Coastal route option of CP, but there is no comparison.
Buen Camino.
 
Thank you, Tom, and please post when you can. I'm starting in 19 days from Bilbao and was concerned about the lodging in Ribadasella as the place on the sea - Albergue Roberto Frasinelli, is booked solid for what looks like weeks in later May. Good to hear it's not too bad in the other towns right now. Happy hiking and hope the weather improves for you!
Hi, HighlandsHiker,

The thing about albergues like the one in Ribadesella is that it is not a pilgrim albergue, it is a youth albergue that takes pilgrims. There are many school and church groups that fill up places like this with their reservations. You may sometimes find that they have a bed or two available as you walk in, but then you have to share the albergue with 50 exuberant teenagers, which may not be a recipe for deep sleep.

There are so many beautiful coastal towns on the Norte that are extremely popular with tourists, and that means that pilgrims are not the only game in town (nor the ones with the fattest wallets). Lots of pilgrim albergues are popping up on the norte but they are in non-touristy towns. That means giving up a night in a beautiful beach town, but it is more likely to mean you'll find a bed with no hassle. Any way you do it, I hope you have a wonderful Norte, buen camino, Laurie
 
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I've also been super grateful in Lorca too. Suffering badly from the heat, no beds left in town, the guy behind the bar rang ahead to Casa Magica to book me and my friend some of the last beds for the day. I couldn't have walked that extra 5km not knowing if there was a bed.
Did Casa Magica have their huge pan of black olive vegetarian paella when you were there? They cobbled together a female room out of the odds and ends of us who arrived in 1's and 2's.
 
Hi, HighlandsHiker,

The thing about albergues like the one in Ribadesella is that it is not a pilgrim albergue, it is a youth albergue that takes pilgrims. There are many school and church groups that fill up places like this with their reservations. You may sometimes find that they have a bed or two available as you walk in, but then you have to share the albergue with 50 exuberant teenagers, which may not be a recipe for deep sleep.

There are so many beautiful coastal towns on the Norte that are extremely popular with tourists, and that means that pilgrims are not the only game in town (nor the ones with the fattest wallets). Lots of pilgrim albergues are popping up on the norte but they are in non-touristy towns. That means giving up a night in a beautiful beach town, but it is more likely to mean you'll find a bed with no hassle. Any way you do it, I hope you have a wonderful Norte, buen camino, Laurie
Thanks so much, Laurie! Yep, that word "Juvenil" was a bit concerning, but the recommendation came from someone over 50, and it sounded like such a nice place. I'm now cured of interest in staying there:))). I'll re-work the tentative stages I'd worked out to include the less touristy small towns - very helpful information, as always!
 
I am sure in 19 days you will be dealing with better weather and more crowd. One of the reasons why they say CdN and CP are more difficult is, in addition to the terrain, not many albergues are available forcing you to walk more than you'd like to. Like anything else in life everything has its cost. The scenery along the cost is stunning! I tried the Coastal route option of CP, but there is no comparison.
Buen Camino.
Thanks, Tom! I was hoping to avoid the onslaught of vacationers in July and August by going in May/June, but will be aware of the potential for lodging challenges in the larger coastal towns. Thanks for the comparison with the coastal Portuguese - it was the other path on the table for this trip. Are you finding the waymarking alright, and are you taking the GR/red-white paths when possible?
 
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
Did Casa Magica have their huge pan of black olive vegetarian paella when you were there? They cobbled together a female room out of the odds and ends of us who arrived in 1's and 2's.
We didn't manage to book for dinner and ended up eating somewhere in town. I have no idea who slept in that room I was so wiped out. My main memory is sitting in a patch of green outside the church eating ice creams and marveling at the bright red heat rash all over my legs :)
 
Nice place to stay and there's a decent supermarket about 10 minutes away for supplies.

Like Jeff Cawley I, too, like Maribel Roncal's albergue at Cizur Menor having stayed there more than 10 times. It is open every month except November when Maribel takes her well-earned vacation. Nearby is the Asador El Tremendo, a fine spot for a tasty Menu del Dia. See more here http://www.asadoreltremendo.com/
 
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In Cizur Menor Maribel Roncal takes reservations at her albergue. See more here.
http://www.elalberguedemaribel.com/
Thanks. I thought that I had read somewhere that they didn't take reservations, so I'm happy to hear that I was wrong about that. I have emailed Mariel now.
I'd normally prefer to "wing it", and go without reservations, but my friend only has ten days to walk, and I really want to maximize her time. And I'm especially concerned about lodging around Pamplona during San Fermin. After that I'm not so worried.
 
We didn't manage to book for dinner and ended up eating somewhere in town. I have no idea who slept in that room I was so wiped out. My main memory is sitting in a patch of green outside the church eating ice creams and marveling at the bright red heat rash all over my legs :)
Oh no! By all accounts, the bed situation sounds tough in places on the Frances at the moment. Hope that heat rash subsides with a night of legs resting and elevated in bed and that tomorrow is less of a slog!
 
Oh no! By all accounts, the bed situation sounds tough in places on the Frances at the moment. Hope that heat rash subsides with a night of legs resting and elevated in bed and that tomorrow is less of a slog!
Oh I'm not currently on Camino, this was a few years back. I struggled with the heat that whole first September week as an Aussie acclimatised to years of British weather. The Frances frequently has periodic bottlenecks regarding accommodation. We hadn't actually planned to stop in Lorca anyway, so it didn't matter in the end that we carried on a bit further.
 
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Oh I'm not currently on Camino, this was a few years back. I struggled with the heat that whole first September week as an Aussie acclimatised to years of British weather. The Frances frequently has periodic bottlenecks regarding accommodation. We hadn't actually planned to stop in Lorca anyway, so it didn't matter in the end that we carried on a bit further.
"never mind"....lol. Thanks for responding anyway:0)). Greetings from the States.
 
Like Jeff Cawley I, too, like Maribel Roncal's albergue at Cizur Menor having stayed there more than 10 times. It is open every month except November when Maribel takes her well-earned vacation. Nearby is the Asador El Tremendo, a fine spot for a tasty Menu del Dia. See more here http://www.asadoreltremendo.com/
I've stayed there twice. The last time, February, 2014. I arrived very early in the morning. Only walked from Pamplona. Rose creek had begun to flood, hence need for short walk. Maribel opened up albergue at 10am, let me in, and let me rest, and turned on much needed heat.
 
I was successful in getting a reservation at Maribel's albergue! I'm concerned about accommodation in the area during San Fermin, so I've got us booked for the first 4 days of the Camino, then I'm hoping to take each day as it comes.
 
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
It's not bad some days ahead of you. I'm in Boadillo del Camino and it's far from full.
But you have probably started at least 14 days ago. That is the diference! A big, big diference on caminos!
 
@HighlandsHiker I stayed in the albergue juvenile in Ribadesilla last June and if you get the chance, sleep there. We were 4 in a room with a view of the ocean. It is definitely the best location of any albergue I have been in - that is if you love the water. In October I was back there again but the albergue was closed and only a hotel was available. I walked on to Vega de Ribadesilla which is a tiny hamlet with a beautiful, secluded beach. There is a small donativo Albergue Tu Casa.

Another alternative to a big town is rather than staying in Llanes (traditional stop before Ribadesilla) go on another 3 km to Albergue Llanes Playa de Poo.

I will be back mid June to finally complete the Norte from Gijón.

Buen Camino
 
@HighlandsHiker I stayed in the albergue juvenile in Ribadesilla last June and if you get the chance, sleep there. We were 4 in a room with a view of the ocean. It is definitely the best location of any albergue I have been in - that is if you love the water. In October I was back there again but the albergue was closed and only a hotel was available. I walked on to Vega de Ribadesilla which is a tiny hamlet with a beautiful, secluded beach. There is a small donativo Albergue Tu Casa.

Another alternative to a big town is rather than staying in Llanes (traditional stop before Ribadesilla) go on another 3 km to Albergue Llanes Playa de Poo.

I will be back mid June to finally complete the Norte from Gijón.

Buen Camino
LTfit, I'm very grateful for this information, and will be more at ease knowing there are some good alternatives. Your next trip is coming up soon, so very best wishes for a good one!
 
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Hola from Zariquiegui!

Seems to be a lot of pilgrims on the trail currently. No rooms available in Cizur Menor today, so with wonderful help, we booked ahead for Zariquiegui. Thankful that we did, as they were turning people away from here ahead of us.

Been great talking with so many peregrino's from so many different countries. This is being a really awesome experience, so looking forward to day 4 tomorrow as we continue our journey.

Buen Camino!
Which Camino are you on - the Frances?
 
Like Jeff Cawley I, too, like Maribel Roncal's albergue at Cizur Menor having stayed there more than 10 times. It is open every month except November when Maribel takes her well-earned vacation. Nearby is the Asador El Tremendo, a fine spot for a tasty Menu del Dia. See more here http://www.asadoreltremendo.com/
Looking at your years walking - looks annual, what happened in 2016 if I may ask. Take care, Walter (a wannabe - hope to walk in 2018)
 
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