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There are some statistics somewhere from the pilgrim office that state where people started their Camino.
"I feel as though this would be cheating (although I know everyone says you walk your own Camino) since I didn't start in France."
If you aren't starting at your front door it is cheating.
The idea that one must start from SJPP is modern and arbitrary. The "half way" monument on the Camino Frances just before Sahagun actually marks half way from Roncesvalles (and presumably the half way certificate available in Sahagun commemorates the same).
That said, it is your Camino. The Camino Portugues is the second most popular Camino, so if you are looking for one that isn't the Frances, you could try that one, starting in Valença in Portugal or somewhere a day or two before that. It seems to me that if it gets more pilgrims than the other non-CF routes, it is likely to have more infrastructure.
Thank you!There are some statistics somewhere from the pilgrim office that state where people started their Camino.
From that you can see that people start in many different places, don't feel pressured to start at any particular point (although you do need to walk the necessary kms to get a Compostela)
As said before, starting is France is completely arbitrary, and only became popular in recent yers. For centuries, people just started at their own doors. So, really, DON´T feel like cheating for starting anywhere. There is no more or less 'pilgriness' regarding your starting point.
The Pilgrimage has to suit your time and belief. For the cathedral to give you a Compostela, as long as you walk 100km (or bike 200km) with faith, it's fine. Many other cities are popular starting points, that have good structure for pilgrims.
1-2 days before Sarria would probably place you around Cebreiro, which is an amazing and challenging place to start.
If you opt for another route, the Portuguese Caminio is also beautiful and has good infrastructure.
Whatever you decide, we are here to help!
Howdy @Drew1578
Once you’re bitten, I think you want to scratch it .
I’d grab one of those cheap flights you mentioned and walk one of the suggestions made above. (The Inglés., or last 6 or 7 days of camino Portuguese or Camino frances.). Planning distance from how many klms you expect or want to walk daily).
Stacks of places to check on stages (look up site:
www.gronze.com
Answering your question of getting 2 stamps daily on your credencial... : I know that definitely on the last 2 routes quoted above .. you won’t have a problem ... you can get stamps at pretty much any bar., tourist info office ., many churches etc etc .. some panaderias ., plus where you sleep. Just ask if they have a stamp (sello). Shouldn’t have a problem on Inglés either.
Then, if you need to scratch that itch some more ., you could plan another longer camino at later date.
Go for it!!
Buen Camino
Annie
Welcome to the forum. This is the best place to get all of the information you need. I used this to plan my first camino and the advice was just about perfect for me.
I'd plump for walking the end of the Frances. The Frances is the classic and the most popular for a reason. You will probably get hooked and come back to walk other ways.
Here you go: https://oficinadelperegrino.com/en/statistics/
If you scroll down to 'lugar de salida' you'll see the range of starting places. If you change the date to November 2017 at the top of the page ('ver estadisticas') you'll get an idea of pilgrim numbers on the camino paths ('camino seguido') followed in November last year.
I'd probably second NomadBoomer's advice to walk the end of the Frances. Not only is the infrastructure great, but there's also a wonderful sense of camaraderie and camino spirit.
Hi, In 2015 I made a promise to myself that if I survived my life-threatening illness I would go and complete the Camino Frances. I started in September 2016 giving myself six weeks to complete the walk. Ten days in and my father was taken ill so I had to return home. I went back the same time in 2017 and after two weeks of walking my foot became infected and I had to return home. I am now planning my 2018 adventure. The moral of this story is to take life as it comes and do not over think things. My pilgrimage is not the one I planned whilst I was recovering but I am still here to tell the tale. As long as you get what you want out of the experience do not worry about what other people think.....it is your pilgrimage, your experience and ultimately your memories. Go, do what you can and just enjoy the experience. You will meet some fascinating people and have good and bad days but above all learn to be flexible.
Buen Camino
Shirley
You won't have any problems with accommodation and getting two stamps per day on any of the last 100km into Santiago Caminos in November:
- Norte
- Primitivo
- Frances
- Invierno (Monforte de Lemos)
- Sanabres (Ourense)
- Portugues (Valenca/Tui)
- Fisterra/Muxia circuit (or vice versa)
- Ingles (Ferrol)
Buen Camino!
I NEED a break from this crazy rat race here!Anyone who would take the 101 to the 10 to the 405 for another person needs to walk the Camino... for so many reasons... (all good ones)!
Hey I’m seriously thinking of walking the Ingles in November. It will be my third. My dates are flexible so maybe our paths will cross. PM me if you want to chat it out.
I can only reiterate what others have said. The Camino begins at your front door. For their own (reasonable IMHO) purposes, the Cathedral's Pilgrimage Office asks that you do the 100km on foot/200km on bicycle to receive a compostela.
In your post, you mention that you are walking the Camino as a pilgrimage. Often Canadian churchgoing pilgrims will begin their pilgrimage with a blessing from their priest and their first sello from their home parish. Any of the Caminos for the 100km leading into Santiago are well-supplied with infrastructure and there are lots of places to get sellos on the way-- town halls, restaurants, churches, bars, etc. After churches, which usually had great designs on their sellos, I liked library or police station sellos, but I can never beat Rebekah Scott's sello from a rabbit abbatoir.
Thank you for the info. I think I'm going to head over in May - prices for flights won't be a good but there will be more daylight hours and hopefully better weather (trying for the Camino Ingles).I walked the Frances in the fall, arriving in mid to late November in 2015 and 2016. Both times I had trouble with accommodation and meals as I approached Santiago when albergues and some restaurants and food stores were closing for the season. I suggest that you book ahead. For a short walk, this should be possible to do at a reasonable price and will remove any concern about where to stay. November is comfortable for walking, but with early evenings. You don't want to have to look for a place to stay or eat in the dark.
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