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Yallah updated A Village to Village Guide to Hiking the Camino de Santiago with a new update entry:
Camino de Santiago (Village to Village Guide): Camino Frances: St Jean - Santiago - Finisterre
Read the rest of this update entry...
Now fully updated in 2017, 20% lighter and 30% thinner!
This Village to Village Guide to the Camino de Santiago is a comprehensive guidebook to walking the Way of Saint James, from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostela (the Camino Frances), and also the Camino Finisterre to Muxia...
This is neither here nor there, but the places I'd love to see a cozy private albergue are O Cebreiro and Astorga. I assume there's a very good reason there aren't more options in those spots (given how saturated with albergues some villages are), but I'm still hopeful. :)
Perhaps also worth talking with Ashley Weaver from Casa Licerio in Samos (a casa rural rather than albergue, and from reading her story it looks like she rents rather than having bought). https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/resources/casa-licerio-a-casa-rural-in-samos.490/
I believe that...
Somewhere I saw that Albergue Maralotx in Cirauqui was for sale. I stayed there in 2009 and thought it was lovely.
I'd love to see a private albergue open in O Cebreiro! Considering how saturated some areas are, I've always been surprised nothing has opened there, though maybe there is a good...
All three have pilgrim menus, and Zubiri and Valcarlos both have small grocery shops. Roncesvalles does not have a shop, but the albergue has a big kitchen and I recall there were vending machines with grocery items (yogurt, microwave meals, etc.). Going in reverse, you can also pick up...
Since medieval times, more than a million pilgrims have followed the Way of St. James across northern Spain take a journey on the Camino de Santiago and become a part of this ongoing story.
Hiking the Camino de Santiago contains all the information you need to walk the 800km (500 miles) Camino...
Yallah submitted a new resource:
A Village to Village Guide to Hiking the Camino de Santiago - Camino Francés and Finisterre
Read more about this resource...
I thought Villafranca Montes de Oca was the most treacherous road crossing. Trucks came racing through the town full speed and there was no crosswalk.
The bridge before Puente Castro entering Leon used to be terrible, but thankfully a new walker footbridge was installed.
Sounds challenging!
I second the others who have suggested getting private accommodations. I think staying in dormitories with small children and children with special needs would be stressful both for the children and the other pilgrims in the dorm. It sounds like you have the time to keep...
There's a nice gear store called Huracán Astorga on Plaza Santocildes. Owner is really nice and speaks good English, and they have a good selection of outdoor gear.
I've been happy to take the top bunk ever since I saw a pilgrim return to his (lower bunk) bed at the Nájera municipal albergue and the board holding his mattress fell through the frame to the floor with him on it. He was fine and took it in stride (though the whole dorm was awakened), but ever...
I thought this place was great! Excellent meal and beautiful grounds. Really lux bathroom and shower in the dormitory. The dorm is a little small, but perfectly adequate. The place does have more the feel of a resort than an albergue, but I found that kind of refreshing. :)
I get the...
Personally, I think walking alone is a great experience, very empowering to handle the challenge alone and freeing to not have to worry about any one else's schedule or needs. I think walking alone also helps one be more open to meeting new people. My boyfriend (now husband) and I walked...
I had a bit of a rough experience with the reception at San Martin Pinario last fall as well. Nothing too drastic, but the receptionist was obviously stressed and quite curt. I was shocked at how packed the place was, a very far cry from staying there 6 years ago when there were few guests and...
A practice that I have found helpful is Ignatius of Loyola's "Consciousness examen" which is a simple exercise of reviewing one's day, often in the evening before bed.
There are many variations, but the general idea is:
Recall that you are in the presence of God. Remember your day in a spirit...
The emergency phone number in Spain is 112. Spain has a good system of emergency response and medical care. Even if you don't have a phone, someone near you likely would.
Have a great trip!
Hi friends,
I've removed my previous posts and offer sincere apologies to anyone they offended.
Here's the list of market days we found in our book research. Corrections and additions welcome!
SJPP: Monday
Puente la Reina: Thursday
Estella: Thursday
Los Arcos: Saturday
Logroño: Sunday
Santo...
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