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  1. M

    Roncesvalles or Burguete?

    I agree with Roland49 and the others who recommended Roncesvalles. No one seemed to mention waking up to the chanting (Gregorian?) piped into the sleeping area in the morning. It was probably Memorex, but it was a very nice touch and made a great start to the day. If you make a reservation...
  2. M

    Searching for a camino buddy May 2024!

    I have done two caminos, Frances in 2019 and Portugues in 2023. In each case I met people on the camino and we ended up "walking together." In reality some days you are full of energy and others not so much. We often left together, but after a while, one would proceed faster or one would want...
  3. M

    The dreaded plantar fasciitis - just as I’m about to start…

    If you have time, look into getting orthotics. I suffered for over a year with plantar fasciitis. Niether PT, rest, or exercises cleared it up. Just before I left or the Portuguese in May, I got orthotics. I was immediately able to walk further with less pain and by the time I got to Porto...
  4. M

    Finding my way along the route

    I too did the Frances at age 69. Health was an issue as I had a widow maker heart attack 8 months before. I used Bierley maps as mu guide. A woman I met on the camino was navigating with the offline maps of Buen Camino. She straightened us out a few times after we missed an arrow. There was...
  5. M

    Camino Souvenirs and gifts - what's popular?

    If you are on the Frances, stop at the blacksmith shop at the bottom of the hill you climb to the wine fountain. He sells small black shells. You can get then with a leather lace or without. You can make a key chain if you don’t want to wear it. They don’t take up much space in a pack.
  6. M

    Meals in Roncesvalles, worth it?

    When I was there in esrly May 2019, Roncessvalles had booked every seat at every place in town. Later some people asked about dinner and were told to walk to the next town or go to the vending machines. I thought dinner was very good and the atmosphere at the small tables was great. Breakfast...
  7. M

    shells & distances

    If you want something a little different, the blacksmith at the bottom of the hill leading to the wine fountain sell stamped b lack metal ones. At first I was not impressed with them, but as I kept seeing them on the Camino, I grew to like them. After hiking, my daughters and I took a detour...
  8. M

    Is the Albergue in Roncesvalles a “must”?

    I enjoyed waking up to the chants (Gregorian?) over the loudspeaker. It was a nice touch to begin the day. I would assume they were a recording rather than piped in from the church,
  9. M

    Pamplona to Uterga

    I do not remember the name. I believe there was only one place in Uterga where there were two albergues across from each other. There was a courtyard or patio in front with some tables. You enter into a bar. The other place was dark when you enter and the entrance was right on the street.
  10. M

    Pamplona to Uterga

    If they are open in Uterga, about midway through the town are two allergies across the street from each other. I thought the one on the left side of the street was nicer and friendlier than the one on the right side. It had a nice patio in front where a number of pilgrims gathered for a drink...
  11. M

    Puente la reina

    I did not stay in Puente la Reina, but it was a very nice town. I forgot some clothes in Pamplona so had to spend a few hours waiting outside an albergue next to the cathedral for my stuff to arrive. It was the first place I remember seeing the storks. There were a number on the roof of the...
  12. M

    COVID Restrictions and the Wine Fountain on Camino Frances

    I stopped back at the wine fountain after completing the CF in June 2022. I wanted to purchase something from the black smith shop at the bottom of the hill before you get to the wine fountain. The owner of the wine fountain gave my daughters a tour and was very gracious. We purchased wine to...
  13. M

    Roncesvalles Albergue: Booking, Availability, and COVID Restrictions

    If you are reserving a bed, include dinner. When I stayed there in early May 2019, it was packed. I did not have a reservation, but got a bed. I paid for dinner and breakfast at the same time. I was glad I did, as the Roncesvalles albergue had booked all of the sittings at the local...
  14. M

    Questions about the Napoleon Route.

    It is a weather dependent experience. I assume you mean the Napoleon route steep section, the descent from Col de Lepoeder to Roncessvalles. In SJPDP May of 1969, they warning pilgrims to take the road at that point, which seems to hook up with the Valcarlos route just before Roncessvalles...
  15. M

    Special albergues on the Meseta

    In Hornillos I stayed at the Meeting Point in 2019. It was run by a brother and sister. Dinner was an outstanding paella. The kitchen area was open if you wanted to watch her cook. I was the only American that night. On one side of me was a group of Italians and on the other a French group...
  16. M

    Where is this on the Camino?

    Only negative experience I had on the Camino Frances in 2019 was in Santa Catalina. Stayed at the first albergue which is on the right as you enter the town. It was nice, but not very friendly. After dinner I asked if they were going to show the Champions League final on the tv. There was a...
  17. M

    Short first Day? CF

    Orisson is a good first day. I did the Camino starting in SJPP 9 months after having a serious heart attack. Orisson was the perfect distance to get used to hiking up steep terrain. I had to stop a few times on the hike to take a quick break when my pulse got a bit high. At dinner they have...
  18. M

    Tacky or Cool?

    There was a poster in Burgo of a man's chest with Camino stamps. The people I was around thought it was cool.

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