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I am currently starting here at the beginning of Semana Santa. We are paying around 50 euros per night. There hotel fits are needs very well. I would stay here again although the lack of air conditioning might be a problem in the summer.
For someone new to long walks, I would recommend starting with the Frances in Pamplona or SJPDP. There will be relatively few walkers/pilgrims on the Catalan Way and additionally this option does not have a good system of cheap lodging/albergues. it is more “hard core”.
If you want to get to...
Estació del Nord (Barcelona Nord) It is close to Arc de Triomf.
This is the main bus station in the city.
Buses can also leave from Sants Estació, the main train station.
When it was difficult to book a seat in a train from Barcelona to Burgos, you can always use Logroño as an intermediate point. I have taken the train the Logroño, stopped there for lunch at Calle Laurel, and then taken one of the numerous buses to Burgos.
Try a carajillo from time to time. It is a café solo with your choice of alcohol. Try un carajillo de baileys or un carajillo de brandy or coñac. They only cost an about a euro more than a coffee.
I live in Barcelona, a city that is known to be more expensive than most of Spain. Some cafés here do a breakfast special of a coffee plus a croissant or pastry for 2-3 euros. The addition of an orange juice can move it to around 4 euros. Camino cafés in larger towns and cities can have specials...
The Camino can be done with very little if one especially if the person is from Spain or France. One just had to accept many hardships. I have attached a link to a series of videos showing a young man walk from Roncevalles to Santiago with less than 20 euros in his pocket.
El Camino de...
As many have written, at lunchtime the menú del día often far superior to the pilgrims menú.
For specialties,
Pamplona- Chuleton, Pintxos, and Pacharán
Logroño-Pintxos in Calle Laurel
La Rioja Region- Bean Soups
Burgos- Morcilla, Cordero/Lamb, Cochinillo, Pintxos/Tapas, Alpargatas de Jamon
La...
The station at Benifallet does a nice dinner menu. The albergue rooms also have air conditioning. The walk from Benifallet to Gandesa can be quite challenging on a hot humid day in my opinion.
Midday meant from 14:30 to 16:30. That is what the website states. I actually think that they might even have extended the midday break from 13:30 to 16:30. Coming from Catalonia, it is weird that a world-class museum still has these hours.
Burgos Is indeed special. The city center is one of the best preserved in northern Spain. Hotels and hostals are also great value. On each pass through the city I try to go to El Morito. It is one of my favorite restaurants in Spain. The warm “salad” with calamares and mushrooms a la plancha...
Just some additional information about the Francés this year. I stayed in St. Jean on Sunday, July 12 and it was packed with tourist. It was quite a surprise to see so many people mulling around the streets.
The walk to Roncevalles was quiet and my walking companion and I more mostly alone...
I had a great two-day walk on the Ruta del Ebro from Tortosa to Gandesa. The 42+ kms covered were quite challenging due to the 36°C (97°F) days and the large distances between fountains. Luckily, my umbrella provided some constant shade.
Tortosa to Benifallet
Via Verde all the way. From...
Thank you Laurie and Stephen for your blogs. Tomorrow morning I am off to Benifallet. They no longer have tents at the old train station so I hope to get a bunk bed.
I am in Tortosa at my father-in-law's for 10 days. I think spending a few days on the Ruta del Ebro is a good excuse to get out and about. I have read the forum journals and feel ready to hit the trail. The 17 L backpack that accompanied me on the Francés will get me by with 6 pounds of...
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