14 "spare" days in Santiago - what to do.

BarbaraW · May 1, 2023

I had allowed myself plenty of time to walk the Caminho Portugues, so that in Santiago I would be able to meet up with a friend who first introduced me to the Camino, and who was walking her final section from O Cebreiro to Santiago. Shortly before leaving her doctor advised her not to walk. I then decided to speed up the Portuguese so that I would have time to walk that section for her.
As I approach Santiago (arriving 3 May) my elderly hips and feet are telling me that that is not a good idea.
My transport home from SdC is booked for 19 May and the tickets cannot be changed.
I'd appreciate ideas about using this time. I'd happily do some voluntary work if that were possible but imagine that my basic Spanish would mean that I wouldn't be very useful.

C clearly · May 1, 2023

Here is a thread with some ideas on what to do in Santiago. However, I realize that with 14 days, you might want to take a different approach. I think I would want to build in a trip or two, perhaps a few days, in a nearby town - Muxia would be nice, or somewhere else in Galicia that is off the Camino.

Bradypus · May 1, 2023

I just asked a friend in Santiago for ideas. He suggests asking if Pilgrim House could use some help. Or the pilgrim office. Or Camino Companions.

J Willhaus · May 1, 2023

Maybe go to school a couple of weeks? We have attended Ira Flavia Language School in Santiago. I went for 2 weeks and improved a lot a few summers ago.

Academia Iria Flavia – Cursos de español en Santiago de la Compostela

ifspanish.com

Josefus · May 1, 2023

What about some happy days on the galician beach? I‘d recommend you Carnota. It has wide and clean beach, about 8 km long and 100 to 200 m deep (depending on tide). And outside of the spanish summer holidays and may be a sunny weekend you virtually have it on your own. Take the bus to Finisterre and in an hour you will be there.

Adhemar78 · May 1, 2023

BarbaraW said:
I had allowed myself plenty of time to walk the Caminho Portugues, so that in Santiago I would be able to meet up with a friend who first introduced me to the Camino, and who was walking her final section from O Cebreiro to Santiago. Shortly before leaving her doctor advised her not to walk. I then decided to speed up the Portuguese so that I would have time to walk that section for her.
As I approach Santiago (arriving 3 May) my elderly hips and feet are telling me that that is not a good idea.
My transport home from SdC is booked for 19 May and the tickets cannot be changed.
I'd appreciate ideas about using this time. I'd happily do some voluntary work if that were possible but imagine that my basic Spanish would mean that I wouldn't be very useful.

There’s some tour companies based in Santiago (Tour Galicia, Toxo Tours, etc.) who offer a bunch of day trips on coaches to see various nearby places. These include trips to the Costa da Morte including Finisterre and Muxia, Rias Baixas, La Coruna, Lugo, etc. I think one even does a day trip to Porto. And of course if you want to go see some of the nearby towns on your own rather than on an organised tour you can get buses and/or trains from Santiago to those places. So that’s a potential way to make use of your time as well.

Adhemar78 · May 1, 2023

BarbaraW said:
I had allowed myself plenty of time to walk the Caminho Portugues, so that in Santiago I would be able to meet up with a friend who first introduced me to the Camino, and who was walking her final section from O Cebreiro to Santiago. Shortly before leaving her doctor advised her not to walk. I then decided to speed up the Portuguese so that I would have time to walk that section for her.
As I approach Santiago (arriving 3 May) my elderly hips and feet are telling me that that is not a good idea.
My transport home from SdC is booked for 19 May and the tickets cannot be changed.
I'd appreciate ideas about using this time. I'd happily do some voluntary work if that were possible but imagine that my basic Spanish would mean that I wouldn't be very useful.

And here’s another idea if you feel up to another day of walking - Johnnie Walker Santiago has devised a 14km ‘Route of Routes’ walk in and around Santiago which incorporates sections from five of the Camino routes: http://www.xacobeo.fr/ZE2.06.Sant.routes_JWalker_en.pdf

Vacajoe · May 1, 2023

Porto, Fatima, Lisbon if you head south. Bilbao and San Sebastián if you head northeast. And plenty of other fabulous places if you hard in any other direction! Bud, train, or Blablacar - life is too short to simply hang out for that long in a city doing nothing. If the volunteering falls through, go explore!

J Willhaus · May 2, 2023

Vacajoe said:
Porto, Fatima, Lisbon if you head south. Bilbao and San Sebastián if you head northeast. And plenty of other fabulous places if you hard in any other direction! Bud, train, or Blablacar - life is too short to simply hang out for that long in a city doing nothing. If the volunteering falls through, go explore!

Also take a few train/bus trips. Zamora is a great city to visit and close on the train. Lugo is also supposed to be very cool although I have not been there yet.

henrythedog · May 2, 2023

There’s a recent ‘amateur traveller’ podcast entitled ‘travel to Galicia in Spain’ (to differentiate it from all the other Galicias I suppose) which may be useful. Slightly against the run of play the contributor to this episode actually knew what she was talking about

CanadianBarb · May 2, 2023

Have you considered bussing out to Muxia and Fisterra if you are not able to walk it? Beautiful and amazing also!

MurrayBruceStewart · May 2, 2023

Take a train or bus to Bilbao (a long journey, admittedly) and then San Sebastian. Bilbao has the Guggenheim and the Old Town with its great Plaza Nueva square stuffed with tapas (pintxos) bars. San Seb has beaches, a great bar scene and much more. Or what about Salamanca?

David Tallan · May 2, 2023

henrythedog said:
There’s a recent ‘amateur traveller’ podcast entitled ‘travel to Galicia in Spain’ (to differentiate it from all the other Galicias I suppose) which may be useful. Slightly against the run of play the contributor to this episode actually knew what she was talking about

I believe there is a Galicia in eastern Europe.

LindaH · May 2, 2023

In 2018 I had a week ’spare’ at the end so took the high speed trains to Madrid and Cadiz. The weather was warm, the beaches great but the highlight was the incredible old town of Cadiz, the history and architecture. Not to mention the seafood. So many wonderful alternatives in Spain and Portugal. Seville also wonderful!

trecile · May 2, 2023

David Tallan said:
I believe there is a Galicia in eastern Europe.

Yup

Galicia (Eastern Europe) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

DwainS · May 3, 2023

Adhemar78 said:
And here’s another idea if you feel up to another day of walking - Johnnie Walker Santiago has devised a 14km ‘Route of Routes’ walk in and around Santiago which incorporates sections from five of the Camino routes: http://www.xacobeo.fr/ZE2.06.Sant.routes_JWalker_en.pdf

Thanks for posting this. I decided to stay 3 nights in Santiago at the end of my camino so I might check this out.

AnaRosario · May 3, 2023

BarbaraW said:
I had allowed myself plenty of time to walk the Caminho Portugues, so that in Santiago I would be able to meet up with a friend who first introduced me to the Camino, and who was walking her final section from O Cebreiro to Santiago. Shortly before leaving her doctor advised her not to walk. I then decided to speed up the Portuguese so that I would have time to walk that section for her.
As I approach Santiago (arriving 3 May) my elderly hips and feet are telling me that that is not a good idea.
My transport home from SdC is booked for 19 May and the tickets cannot be changed.
I'd appreciate ideas about using this time. I'd happily do some voluntary work if that were possible but imagine that my basic Spanish would mean that I wouldn't be very useful.

Take the bus to Lisbon and enjoy a few days there, or some resort on the coast of Spain..it’s beautiful and relaxing

Jim · May 3, 2023

BarbaraW said:
I approach Santiago (arriving 3 May).
My transport home from SdC is booked for 19 May and the tickets cannot be changed.
I'd appreciate ideas about using this time. I'd happily do some voluntary work if that were possible but imagine that my basic Spanish would mean that I wouldn't be very useful.

I would suggest going by bus to Oviedo to see the cloth used to cover the face of Christ, located in the cathedral in that city. ALSA made the bus run when I went there (saw it twice). Would recommend using Hotel Felix within walking distance (about 3 blocks or so away form the bus station), inexpensive-- I'm sure there's also an albergue in that city but have no experience with it. It's a lovely city and worth 2 to 3 nights without spending too much money.

Bradypus · May 3, 2023

Jim said:
I would suggest going by bus to Oviedo to see the cloth used to cover the face of Christ, located in the cathedral in that city.

The Sudarium is only on public display three times each year: on Good Friday, on the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross (Sept. 14), and on the octave of the feast (Sept. 21).

https://thecatholictravelguide.com/...-the-sudarium-of-oviedo/?utm_content=cmp-true

Sherpa47 · May 3, 2023

BarbaraW said:
I had allowed myself plenty of time to walk the Caminho Portugues, so that in Santiago I would be able to meet up with a friend who first introduced me to the Camino, and who was walking her final section from O Cebreiro to Santiago. Shortly before leaving her doctor advised her not to walk. I then decided to speed up the Portuguese so that I would have time to walk that section for her.
As I approach Santiago (arriving 3 May) my elderly hips and feet are telling me that that is not a good idea.
My transport home from SdC is booked for 19 May and the tickets cannot be changed.
I'd appreciate ideas about using this time. I'd happily do some voluntary work if that were possible but imagine that my basic Spanish would mean that I wouldn't be very useful.

Take the bus up to

BarbaraW said:
I had allowed myself plenty of time to walk the Caminho Portugues, so that in Santiago I would be able to meet up with a friend who first introduced me to the Camino, and who was walking her final section from O Cebreiro to Santiago. Shortly before leaving her doctor advised her not to walk. I then decided to speed up the Portuguese so that I would have time to walk that section for her.
As I approach Santiago (arriving 3 May) my elderly hips and feet are telling me that that is not a good idea.
My transport home from SdC is booked for 19 May and the tickets cannot be changed.
I'd appreciate ideas about using this time. I'd happily do some voluntary work if that were possible but imagine that my basic Spanish would mean that I wouldn't be very useful

Take the bus to Fisterra. The albergue there is lovely enjoy a couple of days on the beach, walk up to the lighthouse and arrive at the ‘end of the earth’ a lovely completion of the Camino.
In Santiago, try the cathedral roof tour, visit the wonderful market, say hello to Ivar!

DwainS · May 4, 2023

Sherpa47 said:
Take the bus up to

Take the bus to Fisterra. The albergue there is lovely enjoy a couple of days on the beach, walk up to the lighthouse and arrive at the ‘end of the earth’ a lovely completion of the Camino.
In Santiago, try the cathedral roof tour, visit the wonderful market, say hello to Ivar!

I was going to walk to Fisterra but instead decided to spend 3 nights in Santiago to absorb the atmosphere and then take the bus to Fisterra were I have a room booked for 2 nights. Need the rest and relaxation before going back to the 10 hour days in the hot kitchen at our restaurant at the start of the summer rush. Have to see the "end of the earth".

BarbaraW · May 6, 2023

Thank you for so many helpful suggestions. I have taken the bus to Cee, walked to Finisterra and will walk short stages back to Santiago - a good option given the bus strike. And will explore more of Santiago when I get back.

DeansFamily · May 6, 2023

Keep walking to Muxia and Finisterre. Spend some time at the seaside and relax. Then walk back to Santiago. That's if you're up for more walking...

WGroleau · May 7, 2023

David Tallan said:
I believe there is a Galicia in eastern Europe.

It's the southwest part of Poland where my first wife's grandparents came from. After centuries of coexistence, they suddenly kicked out all the Jews—the people who could read and write—and the economy collapsed, sending all four of Monica's grandparents to USA.

maruska89 · Tuesday at 5:29 AM

Hello, so my plans have slightly changed after completing the Coastal Portuguese and Finisterre/Muxia caminos on June 13. I now have 2 extra days in Santiago and was wondering where I should head...

Bradypus · 2024-05-03T19:44:23+0200

The Santiago pilgrim office issued 3,171 Compostelas today. The second time so far this year when the total has been over 3,000. The first was on Good Friday when 3,193 Compostelas were handed out.

Brennie · Monday at 5:42 PM

Hi my name is Bren I have started a daily AA English speaking meeting At 3Rua da Porta da Pena Casa Anglicana 6-7pm daily. Spread the word

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