Prentiss Riddle
Aprendiz de todo, maestro de nada
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Português and/or Francés in 2023
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I have walked the Frances a few times, but never in mid-May. The times I did walk it was during the so called busiest months, but I always found "room at the inn" so to speak.We’ve resumed our slow multi-year camino where we left off in Burgos. Things seem pretty busy on the trail. I can’t say what it’s like in the albergue bunkrooms, but we’ve been calling ahead to book a private room and having to try 2-3 places before we find a vacancy.
Today a desk clerk in Castrojeriz claimed that mid-May is always the busiest time of the year. How is that possible? I thought that June-September was the high season, with the peak in August. This particular establishment isn’t just for pilgrims; is mid-May a hot time for non-Camino-related tourism in northern Spain? Even if the hostales claim to be booked up, the lobbies and restaurants are quiet, so we can’t figure out where all the people are.
As for the Meseta itself... after all the warnings about the flat and monotonous Meseta, we’ve been surprised that so far it is none of those things. The stretch from Hontanas to Castrojeriz has had some of the prettiest scenery we’ve seen in Spain. We keep thinking maybe the monotony starts around the next bend, but not yet!
Stop.....nnnnooooo
Yes, not everything is on Booking.com. We’ve also been shocked at the markup between the walk-in rate and the Booking rate - close to 100% in one case.Just finished the meseta and it was spectacular!
As for booking private rooms, there are a lot of tour groups around right now and they’ve been swallowing up the rooms (bunk beds have been available every night for us). We’ve heard pilgrim complaints that “everything’s booked in town” when what they really meant was that booking.com didn’t show rooms. Remember, space MAY still be available even if it doesn’t show online.
We try to avoid the ends of “stages” in the books but sometimes our tired feet and the guidebook happen to agree...Out of curiosity were you staying in the guide book recommended towns?
Yes, not everything is on Booking.com. We’ve also been shocked at the markup between the walk-in rate and the Booking rate - close to 100% in one case.
Higher on Booking.com.Higher rate on Booking.com or walk-in?
San Bol?
Thank you so much for the piccies. Looks beautiful and dry? Will be starting on Sunday.
We also loved the Meseta and have been trying not to book accomodation but have got to the point where we have had too in order to secure a bed for the night. Unfortunately we will arrive in Leon on Saturday and there is virtually no accommodation. We know a number of people taxiing through and a avoiding Leon altogether.We’ve resumed our slow multi-year camino where we left off in Burgos. Things seem pretty busy on the trail. I can’t say what it’s like in the albergue bunkrooms, but we’ve been calling ahead to book a private room and having to try 2-3 places before we find a vacancy.
Today a desk clerk in Castrojeriz claimed that mid-May is always the busiest time of the year. How is that possible? I thought that June-September was the high season, with the peak in August. This particular establishment isn’t just for pilgrims; is mid-May a hot time for non-Camino-related tourism in northern Spain? Even if the hostales claim to be booked up, the lobbies and restaurants are quiet, so we can’t figure out where all the people are.
As for the Meseta itself... after all the warnings about the flat and monotonous Meseta, we’ve been surprised that so far it is none of those things. The stretch from Hontanas to Castrojeriz has had some of the prettiest scenery we’ve seen in Spain. We keep thinking maybe the monotony starts around the next bend, but not yet!
I disagree totally! I had some great homemade soups and pizzas along the meseta, plus I thought the hospitaleros were extra warm and friendly—maybe because so many pilgrims just rush by without checking out some of the charming garden cafes not visible from the path.The meseta is a mind-numbing slog across and incredibly boring landscape. Besides that there are only tiny towns with no good restaurants. You won't like it. At all. Take the bus, everyone, and leave it for the purists to struggle across.
I disagree totally! I had some great homemade soups and pizzas along the meseta, plus I thought the hospitaleros were extra warm and friendly—maybe because so many pilgrims just rush by without checking out some of the charming garden cafes not visible from the path.
I disagree totally! I had some great homemade soups and pizzas along the meseta, plus I thought the hospitaleros were extra warm and friendly—maybe because so many pilgrims just rush by without checking out some of the charming garden cafes not visible from the path.
More “monotony.”
Ahhh... that pool was a wonderful respite for sore feet late one afternoon in September of 2013. I still have a picture of it in my scrapbook (yes, those out of date things that preceded digital albums).
View attachment 42409
We had the same view today, stunning, and kept waiting for the dry flat plains I have read about. Blessed that we had overcast cool weather. Where does The Meseta finish? Wendy
...Just out of curiosity....was that section of the Frances dubbed "meseta" by locals, or is it simply the product of something like the Brierley guidebook?
No, I knew that already. I meant the section of the Frances commonly referred to as the "meseta", which is in actuality north/northwest of what is called the meseta on maps of Spain.It is the actual, official geographical designation of that area of Spain; it is usually listed as "Meseta Central". I was just reading about this in"The Concise History of Spain" a few weeks ago.
No, I knew that already. I meant the section of the Frances commonly referred to as the "meseta", which is in actuality north/northwest of what is called the meseta on maps of Spain.
I thought perhaps some recent writer about the Frances dubbed it that for dramatic reasons. For those reasons broke the Frances into sections, each of which can have its own name or description, making them easier to turn into metaphors and such, when in fact it is not actually part of what is known as the meseta officially so to speak.
Very good question!Just out of curiosity....was that section of the Frances dubbed "meseta" by locals, or is it simply the product of something like the Brierley guidebook? I know what "meseta" means. A plateau, and I know that "mesa" means table, but researching maps of Spain, the section known as the "meseta" is actually further south (reference attached image).
Anybody know the story behind it? Specifically on the Frances, I mean. Who started calling that section of the Frances the meseta.
View attachment 42430
Hey, good research. Thanks.Very good question!
I did some googling and found some maps and descriptions that are more general and some that are more specific. Here is a fairly specific one. The accompaning text says that the “Meseta Central” is divided into northen and southern “sub-mesetas,” divided by the mountainous ridge of the “Sistema Central.” The northern sub-meseta is dominated by the watershed of the Duero River and bounded on the north by the Cantabrian Cordillera.
The Camino Francés definitely crosses the northern Meseta. If I were on my computer I could try to superimpose this Meseta map and a map with the trail and major cities to see where geographers would say it begins and ends, but I don’t have the tools for that on my phone.
https://www.entrecumbres.com/sistemas-montanosos/meseta-central/
View attachment 42433
Yes, not everything is on Booking.com. We’ve also been shocked at the markup between the walk-in rate and the Booking rate - close to 100% in one case.
I'm wondering the same thing, too.I'm just starting to plan for next year. Are you saying the walk-in rate is higher?
Thanks
I'm just starting to plan for next year. Are you saying the walk-in rate is higher?
Thanks
So tedious! So ugly!View attachment 42468
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