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Thanks for the detailed updateMy husband and I have been on camino since Pamplona and are currently in El Acebo de San Miguel. We've had a pleasant experience so far but each stage and each town have varied. Some days we hardly see another soul and other days we will see between 20-25 others. Overall it's been really quiet. There are lots of places that remain closed or sadly out of business. Small towns with few accommodations are tougher to find a bed (2 for us) but larger towns have been a bit easier. We've found that reserving a day ahead has been really helpful and a lot less stressful. We've struggled a bit with finding meals, especially pilgrim menus. Many albergues aren't doing menus and even keep the kitchen access closed. The more public facilities provide only plastic covered mattresses and if lucky a paper sheet. Some have required your own sleeping bag on top of the paper sheet. The more private places have provided sheets and pillows. The level of disinfection has also varied from being overwhelmed with bleach and disinfectants to smelling like stinky boots and sweat. Some places advertise as meeting covid measures but it seems inconsistent.
As for masks, it also varies. Generally most people wear masks in public as well as indoors (except when eating) even so, most people are trying to keep distance from each other as much as possible. Toilets and shower rooms have limited access as well.
The best part of being on camino is that there is almost no talk about covid, pandemic or anything related to what's going on with all of that. Conversations are blissfully and wonderfully about people and our daily experiences and topics of that nature. It feels like being in a bubble and we love it! We've met people from all over Europe, America and Mexico but so many other countries seem absent.
We've had some intensely hot days that we thought we would melt and others, like today, that we nearly froze our buns off. We thought the rocky descent after Pamplona was tough but today we have experienced the truly difficult after descending from the Cruz de Ferro...those rocky gullies are brutal!
**We've been asked by many businesses to pass along that they miss the pilgrims and are longing for their return! Those that are open are really struggling.
Hope these bits help anyone preparing to come on camino soon.
I wish you all the best and "future" buen camino.Thanks for the detailed updateReally useful since I am starting from SJPDP on 12 Aug .
Thank you for the update! I will start the Camino from SJPDP in September.My husband and I have been on camino since Pamplona and are currently in El Acebo de San Miguel. We've had a pleasant experience so far but each stage and each town have varied. Some days we hardly see another soul and other days we will see between 20-25 others. Overall it's been really quiet. There are lots of places that remain closed or sadly out of business. Small towns with few accommodations are tougher to find a bed (2 for us) but larger towns have been a bit easier. We've found that reserving a day ahead has been really helpful and a lot less stressful. We've struggled a bit with finding meals, especially pilgrim menus. Many albergues aren't doing menus and even keep the kitchen access closed. The more public facilities provide only plastic covered mattresses and if lucky a paper sheet. Some have required your own sleeping bag on top of the paper sheet. The more private places have provided sheets and pillows. The level of disinfection has also varied from being overwhelmed with bleach and disinfectants to smelling like stinky boots and sweat. Some places advertise as meeting covid measures but it seems inconsistent.
As for masks, it also varies. Generally most people wear masks in public as well as indoors (except when eating) even so, most people are trying to keep distance from each other as much as possible. Toilets and shower rooms have limited access as well.
The best part of being on camino is that there is almost no talk about covid, pandemic or anything related to what's going on with all of that. Conversations are blissfully and wonderfully about people and our daily experiences and topics of that nature. It feels like being in a bubble and we love it! We've met people from all over Europe, America and Mexico but so many other countries seem absent.
We've had some intensely hot days that we thought we would melt and others, like today, that we nearly froze our buns off. We thought the rocky descent after Pamplona was tough but today we have experienced the truly difficult after descending from the Cruz de Ferro...those rocky gullies are brutal!
**We've been asked by many businesses to pass along that they miss the pilgrims and are longing for their return! Those that are open are really struggling.
Hope these bits help anyone preparing to come on camino soon.
Here’s his Inst to follow him. https://instagram.com/derekcullenoutdoors?utm_medium=copy_linkDerek Cullen, videographer from Ireland just left Pamplona this morning, so, he and his companion may catch up.
Well written and good update. Fantastic. Thanks for taking the time to write it.My husband and I have been on camino since Pamplona and are currently in El Acebo de San Miguel. We've had a pleasant experience so far but each stage and each town have varied. Some days we hardly see another soul and other days we will see between 20-25 others. Overall it's been really quiet. There are lots of places that remain closed or sadly out of business. Small towns with few accommodations are tougher to find a bed (2 for us) but larger towns have been a bit easier. We've found that reserving a day ahead has been really helpful and a lot less stressful. We've struggled a bit with finding meals, especially pilgrim menus. Many albergues aren't doing menus and even keep the kitchen access closed. The more public facilities provide only plastic covered mattresses and if lucky a paper sheet. Some have required your own sleeping bag on top of the paper sheet. The more private places have provided sheets and pillows. The level of disinfection has also varied from being overwhelmed with bleach and disinfectants to smelling like stinky boots and sweat. Some places advertise as meeting covid measures but it seems inconsistent.
As for masks, it also varies. Generally most people wear masks in public as well as indoors (except when eating) even so, most people are trying to keep distance from each other as much as possible. Toilets and shower rooms have limited access as well.
The best part of being on camino is that there is almost no talk about covid, pandemic or anything related to what's going on with all of that. Conversations are blissfully and wonderfully about people and our daily experiences and topics of that nature. It feels like being in a bubble and we love it! We've met people from all over Europe, America and Mexico but so many other countries seem absent.
We've had some intensely hot days that we thought we would melt and others, like today, that we nearly froze our buns off. We thought the rocky descent after Pamplona was tough but today we have experienced the truly difficult after descending from the Cruz de Ferro...those rocky gullies are brutal!
**We've been asked by many businesses to pass along that they miss the pilgrims and are longing for their return! Those that are open are really struggling.
Hope these bits help anyone preparing to come on camino soon.
Here's an update: We left Sarria this morning and wow, what a change in numbers of pilgrims! It was nearly impossible to find a quiet moment on the path or even a seat in the limited places that were open for coffee or food. I waited in line about 10 minutes to order coffee. At times it felt like crowds at the mall and about as noisy.My husband and I have been on camino since Pamplona and are currently in El Acebo de San Miguel. We've had a pleasant experience so far but each stage and each town have varied. Some days we hardly see another soul and other days we will see between 20-25 others. Overall it's been really quiet. There are lots of places that remain closed or sadly out of business. Small towns with few accommodations are tougher to find a bed (2 for us) but larger towns have been a bit easier. We've found that reserving a day ahead has been really helpful and a lot less stressful. We've struggled a bit with finding meals, especially pilgrim menus. Many albergues aren't doing menus and even keep the kitchen access closed. The more public facilities provide only plastic covered mattresses and if lucky a paper sheet. Some have required your own sleeping bag on top of the paper sheet. The more private places have provided sheets and pillows. The level of disinfection has also varied from being overwhelmed with bleach and disinfectants to smelling like stinky boots and sweat. Some places advertise as meeting covid measures but it seems inconsistent.
As for masks, it also varies. Generally most people wear masks in public as well as indoors (except when eating) even so, most people are trying to keep distance from each other as much as possible. Toilets and shower rooms have limited access as well.
The best part of being on camino is that there is almost no talk about covid, pandemic or anything related to what's going on with all of that. Conversations are blissfully and wonderfully about people and our daily experiences and topics of that nature. It feels like being in a bubble and we love it! We've met people from all over Europe, America and Mexico but so many other countries seem absent.
We've had some intensely hot days that we thought we would melt and others, like today, that we nearly froze our buns off. We thought the rocky descent after Pamplona was tough but today we have experienced the truly difficult after descending from the Cruz de Ferro...those rocky gullies are brutal!
**We've been asked by many businesses to pass along that they miss the pilgrims and are longing for their return! Those that are open are really struggling.
Hope these bits help anyone preparing to come on camino soon.
Thank you for this. I am walking early Sept. and am watching those walking now to think of strategies.Well written and good update. Fantastic. Thanks for taking the time to write it.
I might be walking out of Pamplona in early October
Thanks so much!!Distance calculator https://godesalco.com/plan/frances
Thank you! It was an amazing experience and I will be back next year to finish and then maybe go to St. Jean and start again. I think after climbing the beast in such nasty weather prepared me for the Pyrenees!586km; 364miles; 316.5 nautical miles; 106 Leagues.
Of course all dependent on which of the several variants available that you actually walked.
https://www.gronze.com/camino-frances and a pocket calculator should give you a definitive answer.
And congratulations on a happy Camino
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