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First time - planning jitters

DebW59

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Frances 2019
Hi there, I am in the midst of planning my solo trip on the Camino Frances for May - June 2019. (I have not done much solo travel at all) I will be travelling from Vancouver and want to do the most direct flights as possible. This leads me to Paris for my arrival from and departure back to Vancouver. There are other direct flights to Europe from Vancouver but CDG (Paris) seems to be the easiest way to get to Biarritz and back from Santiago. I have seen on the Canadian government website that they are advising travellers to exercise a high degree of caution due to terrorist threatsin France. Yikes! Everything else about this journey has me excited and positive but I have spent hours on this flights business and have come to an abrupt halt. Help! Am I overthinking this?
 
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Hi, Deb, and a warm welcome to the Forum. Let me share something which I have posted before:

------------------------------------------

FAQs about a pilgrimage on a Camino

The good news is, you are in a forum with a wonderful group of people. Most are here to help people like you to achieve their pilgrimage goals. We can offer you encouragement, knowledge, and point you in the direction that will help you help yourself.

My suggestion to start is this:
  1. Take a deep breath. Write down in large letters the reasons why you want to go on Camino. Place that piece of paper where you can see it every day. That way, if anxieties and fears threaten to overwhelm you as you plan, you can just breath, read what you have written, and focus on those reasons until the negative stuff fades.
  2. Make a list of questions and concerns that you have.
  3. Go to the Search Engine at the top of the Forum pages.
  4. Enter the words or phrase that you want more information about. You will get a huge amount of information to explore.
  5. If you find that you need help with anything, post a new thread so that your question or concern can be readily seen. If you post a question within someone else's thread, you won't receive as big of a response.
  6. Remember that perfect timing as it relates to how you feel, scheduling, and day to day life issues, seldom align themselves perfectly. If one waits for such to occur, doing something like a pilgrimage will always be in danger of taking a back seat while you wait for that perfect alignment to happen.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

As to terror threats and strikes, and transportation delays, and so many other seemingly big logistical concerns, I would keep things into the perspective of what is a tiny possibility vs what is the large probability.

Except for a minuscule aberrations which have occurred, terror threats are not likely a probability during your travels. Exercising caution when traveling is equivalent to saying, "be aware of your surroundings". Actual acts of terrorism are infinitesimal in comparison to the vast amount of normalcy in Europe. Being aware of things around you is just part of normal observation and commonsense, anyway.

Personally, I wouldn't spend any time worrying about terrorism during your trip. No more than I would worry about terrorism while at a mall, theater, sports arena, or other public venue. And with security on a heightened state of awareness, that means to me, anyway, that I have even less to worry about.

There are many things I cannot control and have guarantees over. I find that focusing on those things to which I do have control tends to push the other stuff into the background noise of life. :)
 
I think the Canadian Government has had a travel advisory for France for years. If you look closer at the site it mentions not to get involved in the yellow vest demonstrations. So don't worry, you are just passing through there. I have landed at CDG three times and taken the train once and connected to other flights twice. Its a really nice airport - nothing to worry about. Keep working on your plans! Have you decided how to get to the Camino from CDG?
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
I have seen on the Canadian government website that they are advising travellers to exercise a high degree of caution due to terrorist threatsin France. Yikes! Help! Am I overthinking this?

Welcome to the forum! And, yes, I think you are. There has been sporadic terrorist activity in most of Europe for the last 120 years at least. Not to mention two major internecine wars, a civil war or two and a tendency toward trying to solve problems by vigorously avoiding discussing them and relying on shouting, marching and tear-gas to express our differing viewpoints.

Of course there is a chance that you might get caught up in something. As Dave suggests the same applies for you at home or travelling anywhere in the world. The odds are the same; whether you are heading for Camino or shopping for your supper. Stuff happens. The chances of it actually happening to you are very, very small.

Safe journey and Buen Camino
 
Hi Deb- We flew Vancouver to Barcelona (via Toronto-arrived ~9 AM), and then the train from Barcelona to Pamplona, walked around town for a few hours. From there we took the bus to San Sebastian, but there were hourly buses (at least in mid May) from Pamplona to SJPP.
 
Am I overthinking this?

Yes, you are overthinking it. Paris is great. Plan to spend a day in Paris, at least, after you get there to recover a bit. Dust off your highschool French, and you will have a great time there. I assume you are looking at the Air France straight shot from YVR - CDG, and if not, you should be. Done this a bunch of times, and its the way to go. Take the bus from CDG to your hotel near Montparnasse, and go catch the train down to Bayonne the next day.

Fly back to Paris from Santiago, and head home from there. I don't buy my Santiago - Paris ticket until I know where I'll be. Its a cheap flight anyway......

Buen Camino
 
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Hi, Deb, and a warm welcome to the Forum. Let me share something which I have posted before:

------------------------------------------

FAQs about a pilgrimage on a Camino

The good news is, you are in a forum with a wonderful group of people. Most are here to help people like you to achieve their pilgrimage goals. We can offer you encouragement, knowledge, and point you in the direction that will help you help yourself.

My suggestion to start is this:
  1. Take a deep breath. Write down in large letters the reasons why you want to go on Camino. Place that piece of paper where you can see it every day. That way, if anxieties and fears threaten to overwhelm you as you plan, you can just breath, read what you have written, and focus on those reasons until the negative stuff fades.
  2. Make a list of questions and concerns that you have.
  3. Go to the Search Engine at the top of the Forum pages.
  4. Enter the words or phrase that you want more information about. You will get a huge amount of information to explore.
  5. If you find that you need help with anything, post a new thread so that your question or concern can be readily seen. If you post a question within someone else's thread, you won't receive as big of a response.
  6. Remember that perfect timing as it relates to how you feel, scheduling, and day to day life issues, seldom align themselves perfectly. If one waits for such to occur, doing something like a pilgrimage will always be in danger of taking a back seat while you wait for that perfect alignment to happen.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

As to terror threats and strikes, and transportation delays, and so many other seemingly big logistical concerns, I would keep things into the perspective of what is a tiny possibility vs what is the large probability.

Except for a minuscule aberrations which have occurred, terror threats are not likely a probability during your travels. Exercising caution when traveling is equivalent to saying, "be aware of your surroundings". Actual acts of terrorism are infinitesimal in comparison to the vast amount of normalcy in Europe. Being aware of things around you is just part of normal observation and commonsense, anyway.

Personally, I wouldn't spend any time worrying about terrorism during your trip. No more than I would worry about terrorism while at a mall, theater, sports arena, or other public venue. And with security on a heightened state of awareness, that means to me, anyway, that I have even less to worry about.

There are many things I cannot control and have guarantees over. I find that focusing on those things to which I do have control tends to push the other stuff into the background noise of life. :)
Thanks so much for your encouraging words. I think I just need to take a deep breath, step away and come back in a bit.
 
Like @Tincatinker I live by the % reasoning - works for me. The % likelihood that you'll be caught up in a terrorist incident is very small. You'd likely have a higher chance of a car accident in Canada. I think if you check the statistics- supermarket car parks don't rate well. Of course be vigilant as always, "Trust in God and tie up your camel"
 
Yes, you are overthinking it. Paris is great. Plan to spend a day in Paris, at least, after you get there to recover a bit. Dust off your highschool French, and you will have a great time there. I assume you are looking at the Air France straight shot from YVR - CDG, and if not, you should be. Done this a bunch of times, and its the way to go. Take the bus from CDG to your hotel near Montparnasse, and go catch the train down to Bayonne the next day.

Fly back to Paris from Santiago, and head home from there. I don't buy my Santiago - Paris ticket until I know where I'll be. Its a cheap flight anyway......

Buen Camino
Thanks. My flights YVR-CDG-YVR are with Airtransat and then flying Easyjet CDG -BIQ and Santiago to CDG with Vueling. I haven't booked anything yet though.
 
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Thanks. My flights YVR-CDG-YVR are with Airtransat and then flying Easyjet CDG -BIQ and Santiago to CDG with Vueling. I haven't booked anything yet though.
One of the quick and easy options to go from Biarritz airport to St jean is with Express Bouricott. They are a van shuttle service which is reservation only. The total cost of the 45 minute ride is split among the passengers, which with a full shuttle is around 20 Euro.

https://www.expressbourricot.com/persons-transport/
https://www.expressbourricot.com/contact-and-booking/
 
I flew Air Transat each time. I have returned to Toronto from Barcelona and from Porto rather than going back to Paris for my flight home. Air Transat lands at Terminal 3 at CDG and then you just have to find terminal 2 to get the Easy Jet flight. I reserved the Express Bouricott and it was so nice to be picked up at the airport in Biarritz. Happy planning!
 
Join our full-service guided tour and let us convert you into a Pampered Pilgrim!
@DebW59
I would have only one caution about flying to CDG and changing there. It is a very busy airport and it takes a long time to get through the lineups when you arrive there. If you are flying on with a separate airline and are responsible for making your own connections, this could be a problem, particularly if there are any security alerts. I don't think that those airlines you mentioned have a code sharing arrangement and either could make changes at any time. If you want to spend time in Paris, you can give yourself a day or two, to see the city and to be confident of not missing your on-going flight. I flew through CDG when heading for the south of France to start walking the last few days of the Camino d'Arles towards Somport. But if you are not interested in complex arrangements or in sightseeing in Paris, you might consider flying to Madrid and taking the bus to St Jean pied de Port from the airport. Yes, you have to change once, but you can do so with a code-sharing airline. KLM has a sale on right now: just under $1,000 return from Vancouver to Madrid in May/June, one transfer each way. You might consider this option before you make your booking. It is cheaper than what I can get from Calgary and I have found KLM very reliable. Buen camino.
 
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Do an exercise that I do, whenever I start to get nervous about whether I will be able to get through a challenging situation. Think about how many way stupider people than you do it all the time.
Good one. Thanks
 
I agree with @Albertagirl 's auggestion. It removes the risk of missing connecting flights. If you have the whole air trip on a single ticket, the airline get you there without extra cost. With separate tickets, if the first flight is delayed and you miss the connection, you will have to buy a new ticket.
 
Do an exercise that I do, whenever I start to get nervous about whether I will be able to get through a challenging situation. Think about how many way stupider people than you do it all the time.
I love this.😂😂😂
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Hi there, I am in the midst of planning my solo trip on the Camino Frances for May - June 2019. (I have not done much solo travel at all) I will be travelling from Vancouver and want to do the most direct flights as possible. This leads me to Paris for my arrival from and departure back to Vancouver. There are other direct flights to Europe from Vancouver but CDG (Paris) seems to be the easiest way to get to Biarritz and back from Santiago. I have seen on the Canadian government website that they are advising travellers to exercise a high degree of caution due to terrorist threatsin France. Yikes! Everything else about this journey has me excited and positive but I have spent hours on this flights business and have come to an abrupt halt. Help! Am I overthinking this?

You ARE WAY OVERTHINKING THIS. You are going from one very secure airport and flying to an even more secure airport (CDG) and then to Biarritz Airport - all have security personnel - and then to St-Jean Pied de Port. Your biggest worry will be fatigue from crossing the time zones and the travel. So relax and enjoy.

Carpe Diem
 
Hi there, I am in the midst of planning my solo trip on the Camino Frances for May - June 2019. (I have not done much solo travel at all) I will be travelling from Vancouver and want to do the most direct flights as possible. This leads me to Paris for my arrival from and departure back to Vancouver. There are other direct flights to Europe from Vancouver but CDG (Paris) seems to be the easiest way to get to Biarritz and back from Santiago. I have seen on the Canadian government website that they are advising travellers to exercise a high degree of caution due to terrorist threatsin France. Yikes! Everything else about this journey has me excited and positive but I have spent hours on this flights business and have come to an abrupt halt. Help! Am I overthinking this?
Hi and welcome and just relax. You know where I live? Mexico. You think there are travel warnings about Mexico 🇲🇽? You got that right! Do you think I worry. If you said no, you got that right. Wherever you go, even to the store for eggs, you use your common sense.
So plan your Camino, it’s fun. Worry about everything, it’s natural! Ask questions we will answer them.
In conclusion remember this/
YOU HAVE A MUCH BETTER CHANCE OF GETTING HIT BY LIGHTNING ON THE MESETA THEN GETTING hit by a terrorist!
Live your life looking forward not over your shoulder. (Except of course to check out a beautiful sunrise as you walk to Santiago.)
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
sometimes things don't work out the way you planned. We had that experience last Sept.
We flew into Madrid with a connecting flight to Biarritz. Our flight was late arriving from Chicago (our first mistake) so we missed our flight to Biarritz. Seems there is only one flight per day. Since we missed it we were told we could re-book our $75 connecting flight for $375 the next day. Not their fault we missed the flight even though it was their airline which caused us to be late.
So we decided to take the train. No sweat train from Madrid to St Jean at 11:00 arriving at 5:00. Great but I forgot we were in Spain and dealing with 24 hour clocks. But there was a train to Pamplona. And Pamplona is close to St Jean - right? So we found our way to the underground and on to the central station in Madrid. Once we figured out the computer driven ticket machine (there were only 40 - 50 people ahead of us in the ticket line) we were off to Pamplona. Great train ride.

Once there what to do. There is a bus, but it was getting late and my Spanish is very bad. But the Camino provides. We met two other pilgrims on their way to St Jean so we shared a cab. 90 minutes later we were checking into our hotel.

So in the end, we met two new friends, had a great train ride, our trip insurance reimbursed us for the delay, and a day later we enjoyed one of the best days on the Camino I have experienced.

Buen Camino - Bob
 
Blisters will be more of a threat than terrorists, billions of dollars made by evil Corporations and politicians in the fear business.

Kill your TV and live your life, as the quote from W.M Lewis says “the tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it."
 
Hi there, I am in the midst of planning my solo trip on the Camino Frances for May - June 2019. (I have not done much solo travel at all) I will be travelling from Vancouver and want to do the most direct flights as possible. This leads me to Paris for my arrival from and departure back to Vancouver. There are other direct flights to Europe from Vancouver but CDG (Paris) seems to be the easiest way to get to Biarritz and back from Santiago. I have seen on the Canadian government website that they are advising travellers to exercise a high degree of caution due to terrorist threatsin France. Yikes! Everything else about this journey has me excited and positive but I have spent hours on this flights business and have come to an abrupt halt. Help! Am I overthinking this?
Hi Deb! You’re going to LOVE the Frances! I found so many great packing lists for the Camino on Pinterest, I consolidated the best of them and began a checklist of what I thought I would really need. I only had two things I never used: my headlamp (I stayed in pensions - felt like I was too old at 65 for a top bunk in an albuergue!) and my lightweight camp shovel (I never had to poop on the Camino till I got where I was going - you can train yourself to do this). My pattern was to eat and down my coffee first by 6am, then leisurely get ready to “go” before leaving about 7. I walked in September when it wasn’t light before 7:30, and tried to get where I was going by about 2:30 to avoid the intense sun.
 
Join our full-service guided tour and let us convert you into a Pampered Pilgrim!
Hi Deb, I flew Vanc to Pamplona and then took a bus to SJPdP, super easy. I was traveling solo as well, for the whole Camino and didn’t experience any problems at all, there was never a moment where I felt afraid. You will meet many wonderful people who will make you feel part of a bigger whole. I wish you happy walking, buen camino!
 
Thanks everyone, for your encouragement. I have booked my flights YVR-CDG-YVR! :)Now I'm committed and looking forward to planning all the other details. :p
 
sometimes things don't work out the way you planned. We had that experience last Sept.
We flew into Madrid with a connecting flight to Biarritz. Our flight was late arriving from Chicago (our first mistake) so we missed our flight to Biarritz. Seems there is only one flight per day. Since we missed it we were told we could re-book our $75 connecting flight for $375 the next day. Not their fault we missed the flight even though it was their airline which caused us to be late.
So we decided to take the train. No sweat train from Madrid to St Jean at 11:00 arriving at 5:00. Great but I forgot we were in Spain and dealing with 24 hour clocks. But there was a train to Pamplona. And Pamplona is close to St Jean - right? So we found our way to the underground and on to the central station in Madrid. Once we figured out the computer driven ticket machine (there were only 40 - 50 people ahead of us in the ticket line) we were off to Pamplona. Great train ride.

Once there what to do. There is a bus, but it was getting late and my Spanish is very bad. But the Camino provides. We met two other pilgrims on their way to St Jean so we shared a cab. 90 minutes later we were checking into our hotel.

So in the end, we met two new friends, had a great train ride, our trip insurance reimbursed us for the delay, and a day later we enjoyed one of the best days on the Camino I have experienced.

Buen Camino - Bob
Hello Bob - I'm planning my solo Camino trip in September '19 and would like to fly into Madrid from Florida. I can't seem to locate flights to Biarritz that do not go through France? I'm doing something wrong. I don't mind taking a train 11-5 - would you share where you located that ticket?
 
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
Hello Bob - I'm planning my solo Camino trip in September '19 and would like to fly into Madrid from Florida. I can't seem to locate flights to Biarritz that do not go through France? I'm doing something wrong. I don't mind taking a train 11-5 - would you share where you located that ticket?

Since September I believe that the only airline flying directly from Madrid to Biarritz has stopped flying that route. I took that same direct flight in last September as well. From now on, I will be flying Seattle to Paris like I did in 2017, and catch the flight from Paris to Biarritz.
 
I'm an over-thinker, too, and I suffer from anxiety -- everything has to be perfect! One of the reasons I chose to walk the Camino (and there are many, bigger reasons) was that from what I'd been told and what I'd read, the entire walk is kind of ABOUT not having to worry; there's always an answer and things work out, even when it seems like they're not.

In fact, my entire Camino's motto was "…Which Turned Out To Be A Good Thing" - this began before I even left home! Where something seemingly bad or uncomfortable would happen but later on down the road it would turn out to of been PERFECT.

For instance - you're worrying about Paris; don't. Ditto to what everyone above said. I flew into London so I could visit an old friend and then I chose to take trains all the way to SJPdP for fun. The morning I went to board the Eurostar to get to Paris I found out that the French rail workers were on strike and our train was canceled. But the French know how to do these things and there was a later train we could catch. I made reservations to stay in Paris overnight, bumped my SJPdP reservation up a night, and when we got to Paris, the second train I was to of taken that day was easily re-scheduled for the next day; they were prepared for the influx of people needing to reschedule.

AND! All of that turned out to be a good thing because the Napoleon route I think was closed the day I WOULD of arrived and I'd had hopes of walking that route but because of my delay I was able to walk it. :)
 
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.
I just went to Paris over Christmas and New Year’s with my kids and worried about that, too. However, I felt safe everywhere I went. We went to all the popular places. We did stay away from the planned protests and did not see any protestors because of it. It’s a gorgeous city, not to be missed.
 
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
I wouldn't worry about the terrorist stuff. Most of Western Europe is on a Level 2 Security threat. I even went to Ukraine solo last year and had a great time. I do get you though with the stress. Since I officially decided a last week to do the Camino, I keep dreaming about it. I keep thinking about everything I have to get and finishing on time, etc. We can all do this!
 
Since September I believe that the only airline flying directly from Madrid to Biarritz has stopped flying that route. I took that same direct flight in last September as well. From now on, I will be flying Seattle to Paris like I did in 2017, and catch the flight from Paris to Biarritz.
Thank you for the confirmation on Madrid. Question - I have the option of flying in to CDG as well, there seem 2 options:
  1. Only see direct flights on Air France to Biarritz flying out of Orly - so I'd have to transfer airports with Le Bus Direct. Does that seem right?
  2. Or, Le Bus Direct to Paris-Gare Montpanasse for the train to Bayonne?

Thoughts?
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Thank you for the confirmation on Madrid. Question - I have the option of flying in to CDG as well, there seem 2 options:
  1. Only see direct flights on Air France to Biarritz flying out of Orly - so I'd have to transfer airports with Le Bus Direct. Does that seem right?
  2. Or, Le Bus Direct to Paris-Gare Montpanasse for the train to Bayonne?
Thoughts?
Thank you for the confirmation on Madrid. Question - I have the option of flying in to CDG as well, there seem 2 options:
  1. Only see direct flights on Air France to Biarritz flying out of Orly - so I'd have to transfer airports with Le Bus Direct. Does that seem right?
  2. Or, Le Bus Direct to Paris-Gare Montpanasse for the train to Bayonne?
Thoughts?
Hi there,
I am arriving CDG May 5th and am flying Easyjet direct to Biarritz a few hours later. I arrive in Terminal 3 from Vancouver and then transfer to Terminal 2D for my flight to Biarritz. There is a shuttle between Terminals. You may want to check out Easyjet. Hope this helps.
 
Hi there,
I am arriving CDG May 5th and am flying Easyjet direct to Biarritz a few hours later. I arrive in Terminal 3 from Vancouver and then transfer to Terminal 2D for my flight to Biarritz. There is a shuttle between Terminals. You may want to check out Easyjet. Hope this helps.
thank you!!! Buen Camino 😅
 
Thank you for the confirmation on Madrid. Question - I have the option of flying in to CDG as well, there seem 2 options:
  1. Only see direct flights on Air France to Biarritz flying out of Orly - so I'd have to transfer airports with Le Bus Direct. Does that seem right?
  2. Or, Le Bus Direct to Paris-Gare Montpanasse for the train to Bayonne?
Thoughts?

Deb already answered the question. I'll just add that in addition to Easy Jet, Air France operates a regional commuter type airline -- Hop! -- which also fly out of CDG to BIQ, but with fewer scheduled flights than Easy Jet.

I also mentioned this in an earlier post, that my favorite way of getting from Biarritz to St Jean Pied de Port is using the shuttle service Express Bouricott. They are dependable, comfortable, and a quick option for travel. The drive is very scenic, too.

Altogether, my travel time from Paris to St Jean Pied de Port via flying and using Express Bouricott has been less than 2 hours.

Securing a seat is by reservation only, and because the shuttles are a popular option and tend to be fully booked, it is better to make a reservation sooner than later. Definitely at least 7 to 10 days prior to your arrival, although I've always made mine several months in advance. :)

EB seems to answer email requests fairly quickly, usually within 12 to 24 hours; and given the time difference between Washington State and France, that's pretty good.



There are additional and other favored methods of travel from BIQ to SJPdP. My choices are based purely on getting to SJPdP in the quickest manner, and with comparative comfort. As with other transport options, using EB has always been a great way to start getting to know other pilgrims and sharing the excitement of starting a new journey.
 
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Deb already answered the question. I'll just add that in addition to Easy Jet, Air France operates a regional commuter type airline -- Hop! -- which also fly out of CDG to BIQ, but with fewer scheduled flights than Easy Jet.

I also mentioned this in an earlier post, that my favorite way of getting from Biarritz to St Jean Pied de Port is using the shuttle service Express Bouricott. They are dependable, comfortable, and a quick option for travel. The drive is very scenic, too.

Altogether, my travel time from Paris to St Jean Pied de Port via flying and using Express Bouricott has been less than 2 hours.

Securing a seat is by reservation only, and because the shuttles are a popular option and tend to be fully booked, it is better to make a reservation sooner than later. Definitely at least 7 to 10 days prior to your arrival, although I've always made mine several months in advance. :)

EB seems to answer email requests fairly quickly, usually within 12 to 24 hours; and given the time difference between Washington State and France, that's pretty good.



There are additional and other favored methods of travel from BIQ to SJPdP. My choices are based purely on getting to SJPdP in the quickest manner, and with comparative comfort. As with other transport options, using EB has always been a great way to start getting to know other pilgrims and sharing the excitement of starting a new journey.
thank you - I've already reached out to them and they did reply quickly. I'm still far out from the date of departure but want to have all my duck in a row. Really appreciate everyone's help here. This forum rocks!
 
Hi there, Just thought I would follow up on this post. Jitters flew the coop; I have thoroughly enjoyed the planning process and am now pretty much ready to go. Just trying to get my backpack a bit lighter but that is proving to be a challenge. Love it. Anyway, I have given myself 45 days - 37 for walking with an extra day in St Jean and then a day or two to explore Santiago and rest and then some time in Paris at the end. This is an epic journey for me at a timely stage of my life. I just turned 60, and had been married for 35 years, been widowed for 5 and recently ended a relationship. I need time for myself to be with me and look forward to discovering what the Camino has to show me. Buen Camino :)
 
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
Just keep looking forward Deb, May great time of year to walk and you'll meet plenty of fellow pilgrims with positive vibes.
 
There are of course 'terrorists' on all Caminos,they are disguised as bag rustlers,snorers,bike riders,and worst of all,SOBER PILGRIMS !!!!!!! :eek:!!!!!!
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Especially when they get off a bus n waltz into a pub get the stamp n waltz back on the bus,no purchase,no thank you .
I was in a bar in Monaselica having a couple of pints after that difficult walk from Rabanal and in rushes said compulsive stamp collector and shoves his pilgrims passport on the bar in front of the owner(no intended purchase), overweight bar owner looks at it, snorts and motions him across the road. As he picks it up and rushes back out the bar the owner looks at me shakes his head and says something in Spanish which I assume was along the lines of 'what a clown'.

I had a laugh and both of us smiled, I stayed for around 6 pints but the tapas he gave me I passed on as they didn't look particular 'fresh'. I strolled out into the hot sun smiling and headed up the road to the Japanese themed Municipal Albergue run by a lovely Spanish bloke and his wife where the wife cooked a lovely dinner and I had a nice bottle of vino.

Funny things happen on the Camino at times.
 
I was in a bar in Monaselica having a couple of pints after that difficult walk from Rabanal and in rushes said compulsive stamp collector and shoves his pilgrims passport on the bar in front of the owner(no intended purchase), overweight bar owner looks at it snorts and motions him across the road. As he picks it up and rushes back out the bar the owner looks at me shakes his head and says something in Spanish which I assume was along the lines of 'what a clown'.

I had a laugh and both of us smiled, I stayed for around 6 pints but the tapas he gave me I passed on as they didn't look particular 'fresh'. I strolled out into the hot sun smiling and headed up the road to the Japanese themed Municipal Albergue run by a lovely Spanish bloke and his wife where the wife cooked a lovely dinner and a bottle of vino.

Funny things happen on the Camino at times.

Witnessed that kind of behaviour too many times. PS 6 pints eh,are we related ?? :)
 
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