Hi everybody,
I have just discovered this wonderful forum and spent a few hours reading through these wonderful, inspiring posts.
My husband and I are very time-poor with our hectic lives, however have managed to find 10 days in Sep/Oct to walk a portion of the Camino.
The issue is - which part should we do? I'm not desperate to get the pilgrim passport so unless the last section was unmissable above other sections, that's not an issue for us. We are fit, active 28 year olds who are eager to breathe in as much of this wonderful part of the world as possible. We have easily walked 200km tracks in 10 days previously, of varying terrain.
Thank you in advance for your advice (and yes, I know doing the whole thing would be best, but at this stage it really is 10 days or nothing at all).
Sorry to answer this obliquely, but what do you want to get out of your Camino?
When you have finished, what would have made it a 'wow' experience for you? For example:
- We met awesome people who we really connected with.
- We were awestruck by the wonderful scenery.
- We loved the old churches and sense of history.
- The sense of community in the Albergues was great.
- The food was amazing.
- Being able to just slow down, smell the roses and feel closer to nature.
- The sense of accomplishment we got from covering huge distance and difficult terrain.
- Feeling closer to God or 'something' out there.
- We loved the isolation on the path each day, just us and nature.
- We love the moving community, having others around all the time.
Maybe you are starting to get the idea?
Each Camino and different sections of the Camino may offer you the chance to experience different things.
Are you just wanting to go for a nice long walk, or more?
I have only done 2 Caminos. From St Jean and from Sarria. Both were great.
If I had 10 days only. I might do a Hybrid. For example, start at St Jean and experience the excitement of setting out with others. Perhaps go as far as Pamplona or Puenta La Reina or even Los Arcos.
Then maybe travel forward to sample a few key places.
With my wife Pat last time, she only wanted to walk a short distance to get a Compostela. (she was carrying an injury). So we planned to walk from Sarria, but I wanted her to experience some of the earlier landscape. It took a bit of planning. But
We trained to Astorga.
Got a car up to Foncebadon (over nighted)
Walked over past the Cruz de Fero to the cafe caravan past Monjardin.
Got a car down to Molinaseca and up to O'Cebriero for lunch.
Then on to Sarria.
Then started our walk proper.
That walk over the mountains near Cruz de Fero was the best part for her
Darn! Another old thread........... Never mind I'll leave the post here
Must remember to read the dates..........
Now I'll have to search to find out what route they walked..........
She never came back to the Forum.........