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I carried a Taylor GS Mini (6lbs) on two caminos, just attached the gig bag to my backpack with bungies and straps. It is extra weight, but I'm glad I took it. I would often stop during the day and practice for an hour. I only played it for other people if they asked me to. That has pluses...
I stayed at Casa Fernanda's last summer, and I don't understand some of these comments. "An after-dinner show?" That did not happen the night I was there. There were drinks in the garden before dinner, and then dinner inside the house, and then some people sang a few songs afterward. None of...
Hospitales is very beautiful (if it isn't raining) with amazing views and I highly recommend it, but it is a long day of walking without any villages between your start and finish. I'd recommend booking ahead pretty much everywhere on the Primitivo, because it is very crowded compared to...
The Cicerone website publishes annual updates on the webpage for the book, and the author Dave Whitson also posts updates in a spreadsheet on this site.
But I second what @dougfitz wrote. I have found the most up-to-date information to be on the gronze.com website. I used the Cicerone guide...
For what it's worth, I never had any problem finding a place to get something to eat or drink at some point in the day. (Unlike the Primitivo, where the Hospitales day is all in the wilderness.)
Your shoes should be fine. If it has rained, portions of the Camino will be muddy, but if you have a pole or two, it's sufficient stability (I just used a walking stick). As I mentioned above, I'd recommend an umbrella that covers you and your pack, because you can unfurl it in a second and...
I did the Norte in June 2021. There was a lot of rain, particularly in the Basque Country. I would highly recommend a lightweight umbrella (like the Euroschirm ones that Ivar sells), because you can pull it out and unfurl it in a second, and a poncho for you and your pack, because at some...
When I walked the Primitivo, I, with my trusty high school Spanish, had to act as interpreter for Italians and Germans who had no Spanish and wanted to make reservations or ask directions. They had assumed that the Spanish people they encountered would know enough English for them to get by...
I did the Norte to the Primitivo last year, and did not find the Primitivo difficult - in terms of ups and downs, the first week of the Norte was more work (though of course I was in much better shape by the time I got to the Primitivo.) The Primitivo also very beautiful, though not as...
My two cents: I did the Norte in the summer of '21, and there were plenty of pilgrims on it, and the only problem with infrastructure was albergues closed or at half-capacity because of Covid (which is not a problem now). In the summer, you are also competing with tourists for beds in the...
I walked a good bit of the Norte last year with a guy who did it with his dog. He was camping outside of albergues, and never had a problem. Eventually the dog got tired of walking so far every day, so he had his parents come pick up the dog (he lived in Pamplona). On the other hand, I met a...
Irun to Bilbao is a little more difficult than Bilbao to Santander, but it is also much more beautiful and has much better food (food in the Basque Country is leagues above the standard Spanish fare in Cantabria). Gronze has 7 stages for this part, but you can easily do it in 6 days. I would...
I would also recommend starting in Irun or Hondarribia, for me the views from Mt. Jaizkabel were probably the best of the whole camino, though it was also the hardest day for me as I was out of shape and carrying too much stuff (much of which I mailed from San Sebastian to Santiago). As...
But the most beautiful (and delicious) part of the del Norte is the first week from Irun to Bilbao.
Even with counting a day each to fly in to San Sebastian (or wherever you are flying) and out, and a day after and before each flight to accomodate the time change and rest, you should have time...
The most beautiful part of the del Norte is from Irun to Bilbao, which takes about 7 days. (It is also the most strenuous, but I was pretty out of shape when I started and it did not kill me.) The food is also much better in the Basque Country than elsewhere on the del Norte. If you only have...
The short answer is "no, but". A lot depends on Covid restrictions and how many albergues are open and what the capacity restrictions on them are. Last summer, on the del Norte and Primitivo, it was advisable to book a day or two ahead because many albergues were closed (all of the public ones...
I would check gronze.com to see which albergues are open - last summer it was the most up-to-date source. Also, it was advisable to book a day or two in advance last summer, but that was with Covid restrictions in full force and the coastal towns full of student groups booking up private...
I don't know why people don't fly into San Sebastian - the airport is literally just outside of Irun (about a 30 min drive to San Sebastian), just a couple of km from Mt. Jaizkabel.
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