A hopeful (and intimidated) pilgrim!

[mondrus]

Hello, I am an American college student currently studying in Rome for the semester, and am applying for a scholarship that would give me the funding to walk the Camino beginning at the end of April. I don't know much about it, and am considerably intimidated by the idea, but this website has been extremely helpful! I wouldn't have a lot of time to walk, probably only 2-3 weeks... is this worth it? Also, any suggestions on routes/starting points would be greatly appreciated! What type of weather will I be experiencing, etc?

God Bless!
Mary

 

[eimear_rose]

Dear Mary,
I'm walking the Camino in 19 days, but I will be skipping sections out by bus. Still it means I can do the best bits, ie, crossing the Pyrenees, and I get to see Pamplona, Burgos and Leon. We are starting in Lourdes, arriving there in the evening and then leaving Lourdes for St. Jean Pied du Port the necxt afternoon, arriving there in te evening and starting the Camino the next day. We will walk to Pamplona and then take a bus to Burgos, were we will stay before going to Leon and then walk to Ponferrada, and another bus journey then to Sarria, from there we shall walk to Santiago, and arrive there either late on a thursday and on the friday morning, and we won't leave until the monday. So if you went straight to St. Jean and didn't stay as long in Santiago, you could do a good bit of the Camino in just over 2 weeks. If you don't want to take any trains or buses, if you start from Burgos, you'll do it in 3 weeks, but that's not counting getting there and any time you might want to stay in Santiago. If that's too much, you could always get a train from Burgos to Sahagun and start there- that would be about 15 days.
And of course, there are direct flights back to Rome from Santiago- very handy! By the way, what university are you studying in in Rome?
All the best with the Camino!
God bless you too
Eimear Rose.

 

[mondrus]

Thanks for all the tips and info! I would really prefer to not take any buses, I feel that it would just me a lot simpler to find a starting point and walk the entire way... but we'll see...

I am studying at the John Felice Rome Center, run by Loyola University Chicago, which is where I attend in the U.S.

Ciao!
Mary

 

[eimear_rose]

I wasn't so keen on the bus-taking at first, but I really wanted to do the Pyrenees, so I had to compromise. I'm hoping to do the whole thing again, so I suppose this first one is getting a taster. However, if you don't want to bus it, I suggest you don't, and just find a starting point and walk. As I said, Burgos or Sahagun would be good, depending on just how much time you have. Walking from Leon would be 13 days walking, your best bet is to fly into Valladolid.
All the best!