- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2024 Le Puy - Cahors + Saint-Jean - León
Hello!
In mid-September I plan to walk a Camino for between two and three weeks. I am hesitating between the Camino de Madrid (CdM) and the Cami catala (CC) via Huesca and finishing in Somport. I would welcome the comments of those of you who have already walked both.
The arguments I see in favour of the Camino de Madrid are:
- not too long
- path well signposted and mostly off-road
- no major problem as regards eating and sleeping
- nice mix of scenery and interesting towns
- not crowded but not solitary, chance of meeting other pilgrims/walkers
My main argument against this Camino concern the start and finish. I like these to be symbolical and clear-cut. That would mean my starting in the centre of Madrid and spending two days walking out of the city, which does not attract me. Also, I would have no clear-cut finishing point. I fear my walk would just peter out.
The Cami catala seems to have much the same advantages as the CdM but with the following additional benefits:
- Montserrat and Somport would provide satisfying start and finishing points
- the scenery would be much nicer than on the CdM
- more interesting towns than the CdM
- possibilities of eating and sleeping seem better than on the CdM
The only downsides I see to the CC compared to the CdM are:
- perhaps more rain in the Pyrenees
- less chance of meeting other pilgrims
I am more attracted to the CC but I could still be persuaded to do the CdM.
If I opt for the CC, an additional question is would it be better to start in Somport or Montserrat? The advantage of starting in Somport as I see it would be that I would be walking towards the sun and warmth, whereas if I start in Montserrat I would be heading towards the cold and clouds as autumn settles down on the Pyrenees. Any comments?
(I’ll post this text also on the CdM forum.)
In mid-September I plan to walk a Camino for between two and three weeks. I am hesitating between the Camino de Madrid (CdM) and the Cami catala (CC) via Huesca and finishing in Somport. I would welcome the comments of those of you who have already walked both.
The arguments I see in favour of the Camino de Madrid are:
- not too long
- path well signposted and mostly off-road
- no major problem as regards eating and sleeping
- nice mix of scenery and interesting towns
- not crowded but not solitary, chance of meeting other pilgrims/walkers
My main argument against this Camino concern the start and finish. I like these to be symbolical and clear-cut. That would mean my starting in the centre of Madrid and spending two days walking out of the city, which does not attract me. Also, I would have no clear-cut finishing point. I fear my walk would just peter out.
The Cami catala seems to have much the same advantages as the CdM but with the following additional benefits:
- Montserrat and Somport would provide satisfying start and finishing points
- the scenery would be much nicer than on the CdM
- more interesting towns than the CdM
- possibilities of eating and sleeping seem better than on the CdM
The only downsides I see to the CC compared to the CdM are:
- perhaps more rain in the Pyrenees
- less chance of meeting other pilgrims
I am more attracted to the CC but I could still be persuaded to do the CdM.
If I opt for the CC, an additional question is would it be better to start in Somport or Montserrat? The advantage of starting in Somport as I see it would be that I would be walking towards the sun and warmth, whereas if I start in Montserrat I would be heading towards the cold and clouds as autumn settles down on the Pyrenees. Any comments?
(I’ll post this text also on the CdM forum.)