VintageCowgirl
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- September, 2023
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I would not mind about these tourist's.
They will come and go.
Do they really occupy the same albergues like the pilgrims ?
Please explain your photo. Thanks.Happens a lot!
Hi Bert45!Please explain your photo. Thanks.
Oh! I see. I didn't realise it was a video. Thanks.Hi Bert45!
At the time i posted it seemed an appropriate follow up comment from VintageCowgirl's post above mine about the number of coaches unloading loads of pilgrims (in this case about 80 teenagers).
I had just walked down the hill from Portomarin when the coach started unloading them so i lent on the railings and waited for them to walk on for a bit ; before i started walking!!
It's a video clip not a photo!
Hope that helps .
All the best
Woody
That's good to know. I wonder how early in the year you would have to go for it to be quieter. While the weather is still good?This is how it was on the Portuguese after Tui when I went in April. Lots of groups.
Ohh… I’m sorry… you are running into that…. But You figured out-what i couldn’t… I felt like I was seeing ppl in “weird waves”— and I looked around and I expected to see a Greyhound type bus… but you are right… I thought Huge buses can’t get into littke towns… and now I remember seeing “mini vans” full…Due to the influx of tour operators plus hundreds of teenagers on the Camino leaving Sarria today it wss hard to find an albergue in Portomarin (5 direct tries then I went to Booking.com) but I did and that’s not really the point. The big tour buses can’t get into the smaller towns after Sarria so they book mini buses. Spotted the mini buses - seat around 25- on the first town and then a couple of hours later. Took a picture. Those pilgrims had completely clogged a cafe so I continued on and down the road a bit found a nice cafe for lunch.
This nan came in and walked over to a couple and told them he discovered this cafe 25 years ago. While I was eating I saw one of the mini buses drive down the Camino. I saw it again 45 minutes or so later parked in a pull out. The other mini bus pulled up just as I approached and the man who ate at that cafe 25 years ago hops out snd then boards the waiting bus. I guess he didn’t want to eat at tye same cafe as his hus mates and walked down the hill to the cafe from 25 years ago. These mini buses must shuttle the pilgrims between each other and then on to Portomarin where I saw 2 larger tour buses waiting. Interesting. Its not like pilgrims wear a pedometer thatbis checked in Santiago. They have buses to shuttle them to where they can get stamps.
Due to do many on the Camino I’ve booked my beds up to Santiago. I hate doing that but with the rain and bed shortage its peace of mind.
We got swamped by a tour bus dropping off about 80 obnoxious clients who smoked and shuffled their way along the trail. Making it hard for people like us to actually walk.Ohh… I’m sorry… you are running into that…. But You figured out-what i couldn’t… I felt like I was seeing ppl in “weird waves”— and I looked around and I expected to see a Greyhound type bus… but you are right… I thought Huge buses can’t get into littke towns… and now I remember seeing “mini vans” full…
Brilliant adviceWe particularly enjoy young groups walking. The kids we met were always polite and respectful. I also appreciate the student who said "It (the Compostela) is for the resume".
I always recall the guided tour group, compete with Credentials, sweat bands, gourdes, day packs, scallop shells and trekking poles for the 230 meter trek from the bus/van parking to the Igrexa de San Xoán de Portomarín.
Tour groups that reserve virtually the tables in cafes & restaurants, particularly on rainy days, are almost as disappointing those who place daypacks on benches that people need to rest.
I've actually seen several people put off by having their bags removed from a bench needed by a woman waiting for an ambulance.
I remind myself that: 1) many people can't or don't care to walk without support, and 2) avoid Sarria to SdC during tour bus season.
I had the same trouble, hundreds and teenagers and they too clogged the cafes . it was a terrible experience from Sarria after enjoying my peaceful Camino.Due to the influx of tour operators plus hundreds of teenagers on the Camino leaving Sarria today it wss hard to find an albergue in Portomarin (5 direct tries then I went to Booking.com) but I did and that’s not really the point. The big tour buses can’t get into the smaller towns after Sarria so they book mini buses. Spotted the mini buses - seat around 25- on the first town and then a couple of hours later. Took a picture. Those pilgrims had completely clogged a cafe so I continued on and down the road a bit found a nice cafe for lunch.
This nan came in and walked over to a couple and told them he discovered this cafe 25 years ago. While I was eating I saw one of the mini buses drive down the Camino. I saw it again 45 minutes or so later parked in a pull out. The other mini bus pulled up just as I approached and the man who ate at that cafe 25 years ago hops out snd then boards the waiting bus. I guess he didn’t want to eat at tye same cafe as his hus mates and walked down the hill to the cafe from 25 years ago. These mini buses must shuttle the pilgrims between each other and then on to Portomarin where I saw 2 larger tour buses waiting. Interesting. Its not like pilgrims wear a pedometer thatbis checked in Santiago. They have buses to shuttle them to where they can get stamps.
Due to do many on the Camino I’ve booked my beds up to Santiago. I hate doing that but with the rain and bed shortage its peace of mind.
I had the same trouble, hundreds and teenagers and they too clogged the cafes . it was a terrible experience from Sarria after enjoying my peaceful Camino.
Having walked Sarria to Santiago roughly a month ago with my wife's brother and sister in law, who were first timers, I concur that the last 100 k into Santiago is a bit of a zoo now.
My wife and I were simply astonished how busy and packed everything was.
We use to be those that promoted no pre-booking of albergues, but that simply isn't possible now unless sleeping under the stars is your thing.
Fortunately our walk to Finistere was more relaxed and less busy.
Our love of Caminos is undiminished, but after six Compostelas, our feeling is we will never do the last 100 k into Santiago again from any direction.
Next year we will likely walk from Lisbon to Porto and won't feel bad about not reaching Santiago in the least.
Been there, done that.
September-october? I just did that - it was a river of tour busses from around Sarria.Just wondering when "tour bus season" starts. My son walked the Camino Frances mid-May to June and only saw the students at the end from Sarria. My husband was thinking of doing it next September-October. Advice on when it's less busy and can find albergues?
I had the same trouble, hundreds and teenagers and they too clogged the cafes . it was a terrible experience from Sarria after enjoying my peaceful Camino.
I’m sure tour bus season is year round. I first ran into tour group on Sept 25 in Puente La Reina. The albergue had 38 beds. Me, 2 Swiss men, and 35 from a bus. Other tour groups in town. 4 big tour buses idling at the curb when I wslked out in the morning. Need to book a bed ahead of time. Sometimes took 2 hours and many full albergues. Used Booking.com more than I wanted. Even trouble on small towns. On Oct 10 I got the last private room in La Laguna in El Burgo Ranero. Me, an Italian man, and the rest a bus tour.Just wondering when "tour bus season" starts. My son walked the Camino Frances mid-May to June and only saw the students at the end from Sarria. My husband was thinking of doing it next September-October. Advice on when it's less busy and can find albergues?
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