Appreciation

[johnBCCanada]

Hi

I just wanted to express my appreciation to the volunteers who run the albergues and to the unnamed and unseen people who waymark the routes. I don't think it gets said enough and too many people's efforts get taken for granted.

John

 

[Anna-Marie]

I'll second that!

And also to all the people living along the Chemin du Puy who leave out coffee and other treats, donativo, for pilgrims. It was so amazing to realize that strangers--people I'd probably never meet--was looking out for me.

Anna-Marie

 

[Gailsie]

I agree, everyone was so kind to this non-Spanish speaking pilgrim. I could not get over the kindness of the Spanish people and how they went out of their way to assist, give directions, etc. I want to return to Northern Spain again to walk as I loved it so much.

 

[JoyAnderson]

Hi John, when you refer to the north are you referring to the Del Norte? I am planning to walk del Norte and Primitivo June and July next year and am now collecting all info etc, Do you have anything important to pass on. I am also hoping to find an albergue that will accept me as a Volunteer Hospitalero.
Joy :?:

 

[johnBCCanada]

Hello Joy

I did the Primitivo to Lugo and then bussed to the Inglise and walked it to Santiago. Most of the information I could give you with respect to albergues etc would be found in the guides and maybe out of date by next summer. I can try to give you my impressions and some considerations I would keep in mind if I did it again. And I would do it again. I found, especially the Primitivo, was quite beuatiful and relatively untravelled although we did end up staying in overflow facilities more than once. Untravelled compared to my memories of the Camino France. I flew in to Oveido and started from there and at the end of a long first day I stayed at a very well run volunteer hostel about 3 k past Grado. I understood that there was a albergue in Grado but was told when I arrived that there hadn't been for years and I would have to walk a further 3 k (which turned out to be steeply uphill as I remember). Further there was nowhere to buy food at the albergue in St. John de Villapanada (as I remember the name of the hamlet). I was tired and not happy but the albergue was very good and I joined the people who were already there for dinner and ended up walking to Lugo with many of the same people and parting with some of the same people in Santiago with teary eyed hugs.

My memory of the Primitivo route is that it had much more steep up and down than the Camino France as I remember that route. This means, I think, that any inadequacy in the fit of your footwear will more likely cause problems. There were fewer albergues and services in general which means that, unlike the Camino France, when leaving your albergue in the morning you will not have multiple options at different distances of where to stay that day depending on how far you go and how you feel. As there are fewer peregrinos you tend to meet and remeet the same people along the route which I enjoyed as I got to know them. If my memroy serves me well the route is more demanding than the Camino France and when we did it in the begining of September was also quite warm so if I was going to do it again I would make sure I was fit.
Our group did the alternative route (hospitales) and the weatehr was very good and I thought the scenery was magnificent. It was one of the hi-lights of the route although, havign said that, in poor condtions it could be very demanding and even dangerous if someone had a problem as there are no favcilities of any type for quite a distance in an area where the weatehr could be quite severe. To be enjoyed but with caution and care.
I hope that this is of some help
John