stayathomegypsy
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- May/June 2003, Oct 2007, Oct 2018 (?)
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I too love the Camino Frances, I found that choosing not to stay at the Brierly stages is the best way to avoid too many people.
That way we stayed in a lot of the smaller places, and found some real gems. There are so many options, you dont have to do the exact same Camino twice.
Of course in the last 100 kms there are more people, but again we stayed in the smaller laces, and avoided the bigger towns.
Have You thought of Levante or Sureste? I'm starting this year Levante and especially the central part seems to be very promising. You're passing through La Mancha crossing Quijote routes, Toledo (!) and than the land of Isabel Catolica in Castilla with fabulous sights and castels. Then you can choose whether continue with Sanabres or join Frances in Astorga. That way you'd have something new and something old alike. Levante and Sureste (here you'd join Frances in Burgos so no choice of other way finally) are quite solitary. In sept/oct the southern canicules shouldn't be a problem and for the last days (if you choose Frances option) there shouldn't be as many people as in the summer period.
You can also think taking camino Madrid (both solitary and picturesque - and the most of-road way!) and then continue with Frances. In Leon you could eventually turn on Salvator and continue with Primitivo or just stay on Frances till Santiago.
Normally I should start the early September, but I have only about 2 weeks so I will get to Toledo at most.
Hola peregrinos(as)! I walked the Camino back in 2003 (alone - fantastic!) then again in 2007 (with a partner - TERRIBLE) and I am now 40 and looking to walk the Camino again (was going to last Fall but life got in the way). However, I hesitate to walk the French way again as it seems to be so much more crowded now! In May/June 2003 when I walked, I found the 2nd half of the walk to be very busy with a race for beds and many people. I looked up the numbers and in 2003 @75K people walked the Camino and last year over 300K did! There is no way I could handle that many people. Plus, I worry if I walk the same route again, I will be trying to relive the best month of my life (2003) and forget about some of the bad moments of my 2007 walk. I don't know if I want to walk with the ghosts of my past.
But I have looked at all the other routes and none speak to me like the French way does - I loved it so much. I loved the beauty of the beginning, of the climb over the mountains, of lively Pamplona, of beautiful basque Spain. I loved the cities and I love the road and I loved entering into Galicia. The walk up to O'Cebreiro was my favorite day on both walks and I have great memories of Astorga and Melide.
I have looked at Via de la plata, the northern/primitivo, and the portuguese route and none look to be as beautiful and seeped in history as the French way. Also, they all seem to have more road walking? (I dislike lots of road walking).
I don't think I want to walk le puy as I speak no French and have less interest in the French culture/language.
I feel stuck and sad wanting so badly to walk the camino again but knowing that it would not be the same experience and I don't want to be constantly surrounded by tons of people. In 2003, I met many lovely people, but I also had many days to myself to think and relax and revel in the solitude I get so little of in life.
Any thoughts? Any suggestions as to routes for me to take? I have about a month to walk this Sept/Oct. Thank you!
@stayathomegypsy
I suggest that you order from the Forum Store a copy of the map titled "Camino de Santiago" which shows all the camino routes in Spain. Many of the routes in the north of Spain connect with the Camino Frances and would allow you to pick a route which is partially a repeat of the Camino Frances and partially one or more connecting routes. For my next camino, I am currently planning to walk the Camino de Madrid from Madrid to Sahagun on the Frances, then the Camino Frances, through Leon, Astorga, Rabanal and some of my other other favourite camino locations to Ponferrada. And from Ponferadda I will follow the Camino Invierno to Santiago. These routes combine new locations with old favourites and entirely avoid the very busy and congested Sarria to Santiago section. There are many other possible routes shown on the map, offering similar options. To find it, click on Forum Store at the top left of your screen, then on camino books and maps, Camino de Santiago Map (1:1.250.000). This map will give you all your options for camino routes in Spain. Good luck in finding something to suit you.
You're welcome.Wonderful idea about the map (plus I would love to just stare at it all the time) - thank you!
Switzerland? Germany? UK? There are so many, many routes, across so many, many cultures - there's just no need to stay in the Camino Frances rut.Any suggestions as to routes for me to take? I have about a month to walk this Sept/Oct. Thank you!
Frankly, I've got mixed feelings. Probably, because I had such a great expectations and for the first (and for a long time the only) time I could afford nearly a month, so it was supposed to be THE camino for me. What I've found great were of course the views and the camino in itself. On the other hand, I started in July and continued on August. There were crowds of pilgrims and perpetual race to get a place in albergue. It was really frustrating as what I'm looking for, is rather peace, silence and tranquility. There were a lot of one week pilgrims/tourists so it was also difficult to find the climate I appreciate on other ways. Surely, there were far less people than in Frances but the infrastructure isn't sufficient already for these numbers. I had a very limited budget, so I couldn't afford staying in private albergues and hotels. It was also difficult for me from a spiritual point of view. A lot of churches closed with no contact left (in camino de Madrid, for example, you could always call somebody who would arrange opening it). The other thing I'm always looking for are people I meet. First week, I've got a lot of luck. But then it were rather Spanish youngsters that were seeking a low-budget holiday possibility. They were really loud, making small distances 10-15 kms a day, leaving the albergue the last but arriving the first. Not to much possibility to have some serious talk. But, once more, it's something you cannot predict. And either you're lucky to meet great people, or not. That's also part of the way. And finally, I had bad luck with weather - mostly rain.I see you did del Norte last year? How was that?
I'm not quite sure where you have acquired the idea that the Primitivo is less picturesque than the Frances. And if you tag on the Salvador beforehand you get even more beauty - from rugged boulders one day to pretty mountain scenes the next.
I so understand your conflict. Feel the same! The Camino Frances meant so much to me and will always hold a special place in my memory, my heart. In some ways, I am almost afraid to repeat it for fear it won’t be like the first time. I was alone, too. And that was the best for me. I am very fascinated by the Camino Primitivo and have begun promising myself that next year I will do it. Thinking that it would be good to have a companion to walk it with and then thinking that alone is the best. This year filling two volunteer positions, one in Santiago and the other in Saint Jean Pied de Port. Anyway, understand your conflict!Hola peregrinos(as)! I walked the Camino back in 2003 (alone - fantastic!) then again in 2007 (with a partner - TERRIBLE) and I am now 40 and looking to walk the Camino again (was going to last Fall but life got in the way). However, I hesitate to walk the French way again as it seems to be so much more crowded now! In May/June 2003 when I walked, I found the 2nd half of the walk to be very busy with a race for beds and many people. I looked up the numbers and in 2003 @75K people walked the Camino and last year over 300K did! There is no way I could handle that many people. Plus, I worry if I walk the same route again, I will be trying to relive the best month of my life (2003) and forget about some of the bad moments of my 2007 walk. I don't know if I want to walk with the ghosts of my past.
But I have looked at all the other routes and none speak to me like the French way does - I loved it so much. I loved the beauty of the beginning, of the climb over the mountains, of lively Pamplona, of beautiful basque Spain. I loved the cities and I love the road and I loved entering into Galicia. The walk up to O'Cebreiro was my favorite day on both walks and I have great memories of Astorga and Melide.
I have looked at Via de la plata, the northern/primitivo, and the portuguese route and none look to be as beautiful and seeped in history as the French way. Also, they all seem to have more road walking? (I dislike lots of road walking).
I don't think I want to walk le puy as I speak no French and have less interest in the French culture/language.
I feel stuck and sad wanting so badly to walk the camino again but knowing that it would not be the same experience and I don't want to be constantly surrounded by tons of people. In 2003, I met many lovely people, but I also had many days to myself to think and relax and revel in the solitude I get so little of in life.
Any thoughts? Any suggestions as to routes for me to take? I have about a month to walk this Sept/Oct. Thank you!
In October of last year the crowds were all clumped together. There'd be hundreds of pilgrims in one town, and only half a dozen in the next. It was surreal at times.
I loved the beauty of the beginning, of the climb over the mountains, of lively Pamplona, of beautiful basque Spain
One of the variations I'm researching for 2019 that captures much of that is to start in Lourdes, and follow the Voie du Piémont & Camino Aragonés over the Pyrenees. You'd have a week walking in France (and rural French culture is far more warm and welcoming than a lot of people realize) and a week in Spain before you intersect with the Camino Francés around Puente la Reina. It's a historic route, for sure, though I think there are relatively few people on it. To my mind it sounds like a wilder, more intimate version of the Francés.
The drawback - if it is one - is that I don't think you'd make it to Santiago in a month unless you walked very long days.
If you don't speak French then I agree that the full Le Puy route wouldn't be your best choice. There are people who still manage it, but for me it would have been difficult. But ... a partial Le Puy route might work. If you started your pilgrimage a few days to a week before St. Jean you'd enter the Francés in a different mental and physical space than in 2003 and 2007. It's also Basque country, though with a different flavor than the Spanish side. And it's incredibly cool to see the wall of the Pyrenees on the horizon, and watch it slowly grow closer every morning.
But I'm also biased .... I think a town like Navarrenx makes a far more rational starting point for the C. Francés than Saint Jean! A lot of German and French pilgrims started there, at least when I passed through, but almost no one from the wider world.
Sept and Oct is a great time to walk the Frances. I wouldn’t worry about the crowds at that time of the year. The later you can push your start into Sept the less crowded it will be.Hola peregrinos(as)! I walked the Camino back in 2003 (alone - fantastic!) then again in 2007 (with a partner - TERRIBLE) and I am now 40 and looking to walk the Camino again (was going to last Fall but life got in the way). However, I hesitate to walk the French way again as it seems to be so much more crowded now! In May/June 2003 when I walked, I found the 2nd half of the walk to be very busy with a race for beds and many people. I looked up the numbers and in 2003 @75K people walked the Camino and last year over 300K did! There is no way I could handle that many people. Plus, I worry if I walk the same route again, I will be trying to relive the best month of my life (2003) and forget about some of the bad moments of my 2007 walk. I don't know if I want to walk with the ghosts of my past.
But I have looked at all the other routes and none speak to me like the French way does - I loved it so much. I loved the beauty of the beginning, of the climb over the mountains, of lively Pamplona, of beautiful basque Spain. I loved the cities and I love the road and I loved entering into Galicia. The walk up to O'Cebreiro was my favorite day on both walks and I have great memories of Astorga and Melide.
I have looked at Via de la plata, the northern/primitivo, and the portuguese route and none look to be as beautiful and seeped in history as the French way. Also, they all seem to have more road walking? (I dislike lots of road walking).
I don't think I want to walk le puy as I speak no French and have less interest in the French culture/language.
I feel stuck and sad wanting so badly to walk the camino again but knowing that it would not be the same experience and I don't want to be constantly surrounded by tons of people. In 2003, I met many lovely people, but I also had many days to myself to think and relax and revel in the solitude I get so little of in life.
Any thoughts? Any suggestions as to routes for me to take? I have about a month to walk this Sept/Oct. Thank you!
That’s my #3 in 2019 Salvador-Primitivo and I’m just back 6 weeks from the beautiful but solitary El Norte.
Hi I will not say to much regards the circumstances of my words but just to say you have to walk the Camino on your OWN . I have just got back from walking it for the second time this time with a party of many people .A frickking disaster. You will never do better than your first experience. Not saying dont go but I am saying make sure you have a reason for going. The Camino will make you or break you. Good luck God bless.Hola peregrinos(as)! I walked the Camino back in 2003 (alone - fantastic!) then again in 2007 (with a partner - TERRIBLE) and I am now 40 and looking to walk the Camino again (was going to last Fall but life got in the way). However, I hesitate to walk the French way again as it seems to be so much more crowded now! In May/June 2003 when I walked, I found the 2nd half of the walk to be very busy with a race for beds and many people. I looked up the numbers and in 2003 @75K people walked the Camino and last year over 300K did! There is no way I could handle that many people. Plus, I worry if I walk the same route again, I will be trying to relive the best month of my life (2003) and forget about some of the bad moments of my 2007 walk. I don't know if I want to walk with the ghosts of my past.
But I have looked at all the other routes and none speak to me like the French way does - I loved it so much. I loved the beauty of the beginning, of the climb over the mountains, of lively Pamplona, of beautiful basque Spain. I loved the cities and I love the road and I loved entering into Galicia. The walk up to O'Cebreiro was my favorite day on both walks and I have great memories of Astorga and Melide.
I have looked at Via de la plata, the northern/primitivo, and the portuguese route and none look to be as beautiful and seeped in history as the French way. Also, they all seem to have more road walking? (I dislike lots of road walking).
I don't think I want to walk le puy as I speak no French and have less interest in the French culture/language.
I feel stuck and sad wanting so badly to walk the camino again but knowing that it would not be the same experience and I don't want to be constantly surrounded by tons of people. In 2003, I met many lovely people, but I also had many days to myself to think and relax and revel in the solitude I get so little of in life.
Any thoughts? Any suggestions as to routes for me to take? I have about a month to walk this Sept/Oct. Thank you!
Yes, I know what you mean. I love the Frances and have completed it three times and just returned from my aborted 4th. The path may be the same as are the albergues but each time has been a different experience and not a case of trying to relive the last one. Unfortunately, the different experience this time was not good. I fell in a river and almost died. But the people who saved me were all part of a different pilgrimage for me and that really is it. Different people make for different experiences. If I go back again, I will complete that fourth one so it will be the Frances againHola peregrinos(as)! I walked the Camino back in 2003 (alone - fantastic!) then again in 2007 (with a partner - TERRIBLE) and I am now 40 and looking to walk the Camino again (was going to last Fall but life got in the way). However, I hesitate to walk the French way again as it seems to be so much more crowded now! In May/June 2003 when I walked, I found the 2nd half of the walk to be very busy with a race for beds and many people. I looked up the numbers and in 2003 @75K people walked the Camino and last year over 300K did! There is no way I could handle that many people. Plus, I worry if I walk the same route again, I will be trying to relive the best month of my life (2003) and forget about some of the bad moments of my 2007 walk. I don't know if I want to walk with the ghosts of my past.
But I have looked at all the other routes and none speak to me like the French way does - I loved it so much. I loved the beauty of the beginning, of the climb over the mountains, of lively Pamplona, of beautiful basque Spain. I loved the cities and I love the road and I loved entering into Galicia. The walk up to O'Cebreiro was my favorite day on both walks and I have great memories of Astorga and Melide.
I have looked at Via de la plata, the northern/primitivo, and the portuguese route and none look to be as beautiful and seeped in history as the French way. Also, they all seem to have more road walking? (I dislike lots of road walking).
I don't think I want to walk le puy as I speak no French and have less interest in the French culture/language.
I feel stuck and sad wanting so badly to walk the camino again but knowing that it would not be the same experience and I don't want to be constantly surrounded by tons of people. In 2003, I met many lovely people, but I also had many days to myself to think and relax and revel in the solitude I get so little of in life.
Any thoughts? Any suggestions as to routes for me to take? I have about a month to walk this Sept/Oct. Thank you!
Hi are you the person that ended up in the water on about the 12th Aug, just after ronchevares.Yes, I know what you mean. I love the Frances and have completed it three times and just returned from my aborted 4th. The path may be the same as are the albergues but each time has been a different experience and not a case of trying to relive the last one. Unfortunately, the different experience this time was not good. I fell in a river and almost died. But the people who saved me were all part of a different pilgrimage for me and that really is it. Different people make for different experiences. If I go back again, I will complete that fourth one so it will be the Frances again
I agree with others that you should follow your heart.I have looked at Via de la plata, the northern/primitivo, and the portuguese route and none look to be as beautiful and seeped in history as the French way. Also, they all seem to have more road walking? (I dislike lots of road walking).
Hi I will not say to much regards the circumstances of my words but just to say you have to walk the Camino on your OWN . I have just got back from walking it for the second time this time with a party of many people .A frickking disaster. You will never do better than your first experience. Not saying dont go but I am saying make sure you have a reason for going. The Camino will make you or break you. Good luck God bless.
While I certainly believe it is true that everyone walks their own Camino, I equally believe it is too much of a generalization to say that "you have to walk the Camino on your OWN". I won't deny the truth of that for the person who wrote that, but everyone's Camino is different.
For myself, I did my first Camino "on my OWN" and my second Camino with my son. It was much, much better than my first experience (another generalization defeated), although I loved my first experience.
Sometimes we discover our reason for being on the Camino on the Camino. Sometimes we discover it a while after we finish the Camino.
The Camino is filled with boundless potential. How that manifests and what we make of it is different for each of us.
Just my two cents. Your mileage may vary.
please dont be to critical of my comments as if you check my posts in the past you will find why I walked the first Camino and you will realize the passion and commitment I have for the Camino
Yes fair enough if I knew how to private message you I could explain. But it is enough to say I am very fragile at the moment good luck and God bless.I wasn't critical of your comments as applied to you and your experience. Just broadly generalizing from that experience and applying it to all other pilgrims, which is how it seemed to come across to me.
8th April. I assume you did mean April in your post. I went in at the last crossing before Espinal after Roncesvalles. Brierley writes about fording a gentle stream at this pointHi are you the person that ended up in the water on about the 12th Aug, just after ronchevares.
8th April. I assume you did mean April in your post. I went in at the last crossing before Espinal after Roncesvalles. Brierley writes about fording a gentle stream at this point
Yes we went through on the 13th April and it was just down enough good to hear you are OK my friend god bless.8th April. I assume you did mean April in your post. I went in at the last crossing before Espinal after Roncesvalles. Brierley writes about fording a gentle stream at this point
I agree with others that you should follow your heart.
But... I have walked the Francés, the Norte, the Via de la Plata and the Le Puy route and I found all the other caminos more beautiful than the Francés. I mean the scenery and the landscape, and I think it even counts for the amount of road walking. Which doesn't mean that the Francés isn't beautiful, but to my opinion the other caminos are more stunning and have more variety in types of landscape.
For the real Camino feeling and the cultural history you should walk the Francés. There is less of a pilgrim feeling on the other caminos. Loads of history though, but it has not much to do with pilgrims.
That is hard to tell. The Via de la Plata travels through different landscapes, because it is going from south to north. That was the most appealing part for me, scenerywise. The Norte is stunning because of the beautiful coast, and it is a very green landscape (so that also means it rains a lot). The Le Puy route is very beautiful and rather mountaineous in the first part, from Le Puy to Conques. And what also appealed to me is that it is rural and I don't recall a lot of road walk (but maybe I blurred that). Also because it is a GR, so it choses more scenic detours ;-)So which one is the most beautiful? Can't decide which to do... wavering!
I have looked at all the other routes and none speak to me like the French way does
Pray about it first, if it is meant to be, God will provide the beds, the solitude, the peaceHola peregrinos(as)! I walked the Camino back in 2003 (alone - fantastic!) then again in 2007 (with a partner - TERRIBLE) and I am now 40 and looking to walk the Camino again (was going to last Fall but life got in the way). However, I hesitate to walk the French way again as it seems to be so much more crowded now! In May/June 2003 when I walked, I found the 2nd half of the walk to be very busy with a race for beds and many people. I looked up the numbers and in 2003 @75K people walked the Camino and last year over 300K did! There is no way I could handle that many people. Plus, I worry if I walk the same route again, I will be trying to relive the best month of my life (2003) and forget about some of the bad moments of my 2007 walk. I don't know if I want to walk with the ghosts of my past.
But I have looked at all the other routes and none speak to me like the French way does - I loved it so much. I loved the beauty of the beginning, of the climb over the mountains, of lively Pamplona, of beautiful basque Spain. I loved the cities and I love the road and I loved entering into Galicia. The walk up to O'Cebreiro was my favorite day on both walks and I have great memories of Astorga and Melide.
I have looked at Via de la plata, the northern/primitivo, and the portuguese route and none look to be as beautiful and seeped in history as the French way. Also, they all seem to have more road walking? (I dislike lots of road walking).
I don't think I want to walk le puy as I speak no French and have less interest in the French culture/language.
I feel stuck and sad wanting so badly to walk the camino again but knowing that it would not be the same experience and I don't want to be constantly surrounded by tons of people. In 2003, I met many lovely people, but I also had many days to myself to think and relax and revel in the solitude I get so little of in life.
Any thoughts? Any suggestions as to routes for me to take? I have about a month to walk this Sept/Oct. Thank you!
Why do not you walk the first part that you liked so well and turn off in Leon and walk the salvador,and then walk on the primitivo,stop,or walk on the Norte as far as you want. The Primitivo is beautiful and hilly and very coolHola peregrinos(as)! I walked the Camino back in 2003 (alone - fantastic!) then again in 2007 (with a partner - TERRIBLE) and I am now 40 and looking to walk the Camino again (was going to last Fall but life got in the way). However, I hesitate to walk the French way again as it seems to be so much more crowded now! In May/June 2003 when I walked, I found the 2nd half of the walk to be very busy with a race for beds and many people. I looked up the numbers and in 2003 @75K people walked the Camino and last year over 300K did! There is no way I could handle that many people. Plus, I worry if I walk the same route again, I will be trying to relive the best month of my life (2003) and forget about some of the bad moments of my 2007 walk. I don't know if I want to walk with the ghosts of my past.
But I have looked at all the other routes and none speak to me like the French way does - I loved it so much. I loved the beauty of the beginning, of the climb over the mountains, of lively Pamplona, of beautiful basque Spain. I loved the cities and I love the road and I loved entering into Galicia. The walk up to O'Cebreiro was my favorite day on both walks and I have great memories of Astorga and Melide.
I have looked at Via de la plata, the northern/primitivo, and the portuguese route and none look to be as beautiful and seeped in history as the French way. Also, they all seem to have more road walking? (I dislike lots of road walking).
I don't think I want to walk le puy as I speak no French and have less interest in the French culture/language.
I feel stuck and sad wanting so badly to walk the camino again but knowing that it would not be the same experience and I don't want to be constantly surrounded by tons of people. In 2003, I met many lovely people, but I also had many days to myself to think and relax and revel in the solitude I get so little of in life.
Any thoughts? Any suggestions as to routes for me to take? I have about a month to walk this Sept/Oct. Thank you!
I have to disagree many days like this on the Notre and PrimitivoHola peregrinos(as)! I walked the Camino back in 2003 (alone - fantastic!) then again in 2007 (with a partner - TERRIBLE) and I am now 40 and looking to walk the Camino again (was going to last Fall but life got in the way). However, I hesitate to walk the French way again as it seems to be so much more crowded now! In May/June 2003 when I walked, I found the 2nd half of the walk to be very busy with a race for beds and many people. I looked up the numbers and in 2003 @75K people walked the Camino and last year over 300K did! There is no way I could handle that many people. Plus, I worry if I walk the same route again, I will be trying to relive the best month of my life (2003) and forget about some of the bad moments of my 2007 walk. I don't know if I want to walk with the ghosts of my past.
But I have looked at all the other routes and none speak to me like the French way does - I loved it so much. I loved the beauty of the beginning, of the climb over the mountains, of lively Pamplona, of beautiful basque Spain. I loved the cities and I love the road and I loved entering into Galicia. The walk up to O'Cebreiro was my favorite day on both walks and I have great memories of Astorga and Melide.
I have looked at Via de la plata, the northern/primitivo, and the portuguese route and none look to be as beautiful and seeped in history as the French way. Also, they all seem to have more road walking? (I dislike lots of road walking).
I don't think I want to walk le puy as I speak no French and have less interest in the French culture/language.
I feel stuck and sad wanting so badly to walk the camino again but knowing that it would not be the same experience and I don't want to be constantly surrounded by tons of people. In 2003, I met many lovely people, but I also had many days to myself to think and relax and revel in the solitude I get so little of in life.
Any thoughts? Any suggestions as to routes for me to take? I have about a month to walk this Sept/Oct. Thank you!
thank heavens I never encountered this !If you love the Frances then walk the Frances! The 'crowded' thing is really in the mind - oh, not saying other pilgrims aren't there, what I mean is one's attitude, one's response. Be uncrowded inside, centred, and let it all flow around you without judgement - just enjoy all that comes, and work it out day by day.
This is the queue for a refugio in Sarria - crowded? surely not .....
View attachment 42790
I too love the Camino Frances, I found that choosing not to stay at the Brierly stages is the best way to avoid too many people.
That way we stayed in a lot of the smaller places, and found some real gems. There are so many options, you dont have to do the exact same Camino twice.
Of course in the last 100 kms there are more people, but again we stayed in the smaller laces, and avoided the bigger towns.
Hola peregrinos(as)! I walked the Camino back in 2003 (alone - fantastic!) then again in 2007 (with a partner - TERRIBLE) and I am now 40 and looking to walk the Camino again (was going to last Fall but life got in the way). However, I hesitate to walk the French way again as it seems to be so much more crowded now! In May/June 2003 when I walked, I found the 2nd half of the walk to be very busy with a race for beds and many people. I looked up the numbers and in 2003 @75K people walked the Camino and last year over 300K did! There is no way I could handle that many people. Plus, I worry if I walk the same route again, I will be trying to relive the best month of my life (2003) and forget about some of the bad moments of my 2007 walk. I don't know if I want to walk with the ghosts of my past.
But I have looked at all the other routes and none speak to me like the French way does - I loved it so much. I loved the beauty of the beginning, of the climb over the mountains, of lively Pamplona, of beautiful basque Spain. I loved the cities and I love the road and I loved entering into Galicia. The walk up to O'Cebreiro was my favorite day on both walks and I have great memories of Astorga and Melide.
I have looked at Via de la plata, the northern/primitivo, and the portuguese route and none look to be as beautiful and seeped in history as the French way. Also, they all seem to have more road walking? (I dislike lots of road walking).
I don't think I want to walk le puy as I speak no French and have less interest in the French culture/language.
I feel stuck and sad wanting so badly to walk the camino again but knowing that it would not be the same experience and I don't want to be constantly surrounded by tons of people. In 2003, I met many lovely people, but I also had many days to myself to think and relax and revel in the solitude I get so little of in life.
Any thoughts? Any suggestions as to routes for me to take? I have about a month to walk this Sept/Oct. Thank you!
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