Another Camino

[Don's Brother]

Having completed my first Camino Frances in August and September of this year, I am already preparing to return in April, 2018. My one regret with my first was only allowing myself 37 days, including travel to and from the US. Next spring I have planned a 56 day trip. I want to do the Frances again (with some variations) and also walk to Finisterre and Muxia. I would like some suggestions on how to use my remaining time...1. Camino Portuguese from Porto? 2. Camino Ingles from Ferrol? 3. Take days off on the Frances and lengthen it? 4. Some other possibilities I haven’t considered? Being older and retired, I hope there are many more Caminos in my future. Thanks for your input!

 

[Rebekah Scott]

why not just wait until you get here to decide? There's plenty of advice out there on the camino... let it be a full-on adventure!

 

[nycwalking]

There is a detour from El Acebo to Ponferrada. It takes you through the Valley of Silence; an old monastic pueblo. I've forgotten name of this detour. Hopefully, someone on this forum knows a bit more about it.

 

[mspath]

There is a detour from El Acebo to Ponferrada. It takes you through the Valley of Silence; an old monastic pueblo. I've forgotten name of this detour. Hopefully, someone on this forum knows a bit more about it.

Check the posts/links in this earlier thread.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/valley-of-silence.44567

 

[Former member 49149]

Check the posts/links in this earlier thread.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/valley-of-silence.44567

Mspath, you are like a map of the forum! So helpful, always to the point.

 

[Praorn]

Having completed my first Camino Frances in August and September of this year, I am already preparing to return in April, 2018. My one regret with my first was only allowing myself 37 days, including travel to and from the US. Next spring I have planned a 56 day trip. I want to do the Frances again (with some variations) and also walk to Finisterre and Muxia. I would like some suggestions on how to use my remaining time...1. Camino Portuguese from Porto? 2. Camino Ingles from Ferrol? 3. Take days off on the Frances and lengthen it? 4. Some other possibilities I haven’t considered? Being older and retired, I hope there are many more Caminos in my future. Thanks for your input!

I am planning la Via de la Plata in March 2018 and I am also calculating about 55 days (my own plan), starting from Sevilla. I will stop more days in visit the cities such as Caceres, Salamanca (just to name a few). Perhaps you might want to try la Via de la Plata. It will be my first of this route and I am also not very young.
My experience with Camino frances: I used each time, except the first one, I walk around 50 days as I stopped at a place like Pamplona for 3 days and many places. I just took my time. The first time I did, I did not give myself time and walked many kilometres a day. I realized that I did not enjoy that much, so second time I just had more time and more enjoyable Camino.

whatever your decision: Buen Camino!

 

[linkster]

Ah a plan ... I had a rough plan for 2 months. I thought a week in Madrid, 6 weeks on the Camino (including Finestere, Muxia), and a week in Barcelona. I spent several days in Madrid, about 6+ weeks on the Camino (NOT including Finnestere, Muxia), and never made to Barcelona. I took one day at a time on the Camino, and listened to...whatever? I would not have changed a thing. It's OK to be free again. Be open to whatever the Camino provides ... a beer, or bottle of wine with fellow peregrinos, getting locked out of your albergue, taking the alternate route, whatev! Embrace YOUR wanderlust!

 

[CdnDreamer]

On my first Camino, sitting across from the Episcopal Palace in Astorga, a British pilgrim told me all about Gaudi, the architect. He told me to go to Barcelona and see all the works by Gaudi. When I arrived in Santiago, I changed my flight and went to Barcelona early and really enjoyed seeing all the Gaudi buildings and park. You never know what you might learn, or decide to do. It is good to have open days - trust that they will get filled. You could take a small book of maps for another camino, but if you plan all of your 56 days, then you may feel rushed again on the camino.

 

[rappahannock_rev]

If you can do a 56 day Camino you are a very lucky man, my friend!

Why not start at Lourdes? Cross the Somport Pass to Jaca, walk west to Puente la Reina, link up with the Frances there, and head west....

 

[gypsy9]

You could start at Lourdes and walk to St Jean Pied du Port...you have time, no rushing....there are challenging days, but very very beautiful.

 

[kayagee66]

The Chemin du Puy En Velay, Via Podiensis, GR65. Is the most popular Camino in France, It starts in Le Puy and finishes in St Jean Pied de Port. It is a little bit shorter than the Frances and takes about the same time. There are same lovely towns & villages. The food is nearly always communal (go demi-pension, half-board) and was excellent, a real delight. Beds in dorms are very rarely bunk beds. The way is well marked (but not as in your face as the Frances) It is a popular route but there are far less people than the Frances, it is very picturesque. From St Jean, you could walk on, take a bus or train to wherever, go to Irun and walk the Norte.
I really enjoyed the walk from Santiago to Finisterre.