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Arrived on the morning train (full but everyone had a seat) at 930am and in and out of the pilgrims office at 1000am. Starting walking the low route around 1100 am to Valcarlos. Not a cloud in the sky and temps around 35c by noon. Didn't see a single Pilgrim the whole way from SJPdP. When I...
I delayed my arrival from Figeac on the GR65 Podiensis to SJPdP to arrive on the morning train this Sunday morning. I've been following booking.com to gauge traffic tomorrow (Saturday night) and it has been completely sold out everywhere since a couple of days. It does clear up for Sunday...
Coming off the GR65 Chemin du Le Puy Via Podiensis I had originally planned to hit SJPdP on Saturday September 10th, but it looks like a side trip to Rocamadour and a night on the beach in Bayonne are in order. By delaying a few days, all my favourites up to Estella are now available on my...
If Roncesvalles is really busy/full during peak times there is always the option to take the Valcarlos route and stay at the very nice Albergue in Valcarlos itself. It is a fairly easy 3 hour walk from SjPdP and an excellent option if arriving on the noon train at St Jean where lack of beds...
Big thumbs up for the Taberna Antigua in Malaga. Favoured by the locals... pouring your beverage of choice from the cask and when ready to pay la cuenta, the bartender will write what you owe with chalk on the bar. Very civilized. Just around the corner from the very good "Lights" Hostel and...
Yep will do. It would be my 3rd Primitivo so know the bed situation. Will probably drop an email to David at Bodenaya to see how busy he is... plus hopefully Easter crowds will have already passed through Oviedo through Lugo.
Thirteen days in from an April 1st start and onward to the Meseta. When planning my camino I screwed up my dates and realized in horror that my arrival in Burgos was Saturday and the start of Easter week holidays. So staying in Burgos is not an option (hotels 3x the price if you can find one)...
It is after 7pm in Logrono and was preparing to head out to my favourite tapas and wine in Spain, but big claps of thunder kept me in to blog for a few minutes. Staying at the Winederful Hostel in Logrono which I wrote about on the CF forum last year. Without a doubt the best hostel on the...
Im not saying prebook weeks in advance... If I know the place that day i want to get to is a noted choke point (ie limited beds), i call ahead that morning and see how busy they are. If it is a favourite albergue and they are busy then i book for that night. If i dont care i can just walk to...
Just shows you how much can change up in the mtns in a couple days. Monday and Tuesday had some very small patches of old snow on Roncesvalles side of the Napoleon trail, but clear. At least Orisson will have a few more days to compete their renovations. A few snow showers and drizzle...
A wonky knee had me stopping in Uterga following the climb and descent from Mt Perdon (I would normally stop in Puente de la Reina). The albergue was almost full. I had forgotten that the bar/albergue is the center of attention for the locals Friday evening and the noise from downstairs almost...
I didnt wander through Laragosa, but experience is that there is nothing open in the am. There are washrooms in the park along the river and of course several water fountains just no food or coffee. The semi famous Juan wa at his usual spot with "donation" fruit and pop (just b4 the tunnel at...
Sign of the times. We all like to harken back to the days when muni albergues were the only options but you knew you could take your time, walk without running and get a bed. Not so these days even with all the privates popping up. And since privates run on profits, many are not open b4...
Quick live update today as I procrastinate at the foot of Mt Perdon at the brilliant"our little secret" coffee shop and bakery just past Cezar Menur.
Stayed at the Plaza Cathedral albergue in Pamplona, beside the cathedral last night. Very nice host and unlike the Jesus y Maria albergue has...
Subjective title here, but I normally do April Caminos and this one is a busy one. Arrived on the noon train on April 1st and after checking into the pilgrim office headed up to Orisson. Orisson has a renovation underway with an additional 16 beds (underneath the outdoor patio... quite the...
I'm starting my 10th anniversary camino (6th from SJPdP) on April 1st, starting when I arrive on the noon train and will make my way for a short walk to either Valcarlos or Orrisson that afternoon. And as the case with every early April camino I walk, always curious anout the conditions on the...
Late to the party on this thread, but since I'll throw in my 2 cents since I'm doing yet another Camino this year and plan to stay in Orisson. I'll arrive on the train that arrives in SJPdP at around 1300h on April 1st, head directly to the Pilgrim Office to get a passport and find out the...
You'll be walking during one of the busiest weeks on the busiest sections so highly recommend that if you can delay your arrival in Sarria a few days, most of the crowd will be a few days ahead of you. Many schools and universities have the week off before Easter, along with everyday work folk...
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