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Hi everyone, I just needed a bit of advice.
I was planning on doing the camino Frances alone when a friend told me how amazing it was, when my boyfriend a fellow walker like me heard about it we decided to go together as a first getaway together, as neither of us like the beach resort type of getaway.
Now we have just broken up I'm not sure whether it would be healthy to go alone and thinking he should be with me, the flights are booked. Flying to Paris with a nights stopover then flying down to Biarritz and from their to St James to begin.
I will/was meant to be going on the 8th May, I know it would be a great experience but I just don't want to be walking alone and sad in a beautiful place! I especially don't want to be in the city of love alone so if I do go I might buy a flight straight to Biarritz even though they are quite expensive.
Just wondering if May is busy so I can meet people or just any advice in general as I am very undecided!
Hi Leanne
you are the best judge of how you will be feeling but my instinct on this is to just GO! What better distraction than to explore a new country on foot and meet new and interesting people along the way.
My suggestion is that you mark your departure date on the calendar and see who else is going around that time. Maybe connect with them here on the forum...
Regardless of that you WILL meet LOADS of lovely people en route.... many if not most people are travelling alone like you.
When I did my camino in Sept 2012 we set up a thread for those leaving that month (I think it may have been on the other english forum) and ended up all booking into the same hostel in St Jean - the fast walkers walked together the next day and the slower paced walkers (including me!) walked together.... It worked out amazingly well and even though we made other friends and walked with different people en route at different stages after that it was reassuring to have made that initial arrangement before we left for the camino...
I didn't walk in May but it is a very popular month as far as I know so it won't be a lonely road
Hello Leanne,
Firstly your friend was right on the button......it really is amazing. Secondly your boyfriend will miss out on two counts, you and the Camino. Get on that plane but it is Biarritz to St Jean Pied de Port not St James. Yes it will be fairly busy, and you will not be walking alone unless you want to.
Make sure you book into one of the albergues in SJPDP before you arrive, just for peace of mind you have a bed for the night. You could try L'ESPRIT DE CHEMIN right opposite the pilgrims office in SJPDP.
GET ON THAT PLANE ENJOY HAVE FUN......................." In Northern Spain there is a walk of 500 miles that may well change your life "
Buen Camino Keith.
Hi, Leanne,
Welcome to the forum.
I just saw your post as I was getting ready to sign off, and thought I'd start what's likely to be a long and loud chorus . I think most of us who have walked the Francés will encourage you to strike out alone, don´t be afraid, you are never alone on the Camino unless you want to be. You will be fine and you will have lots of time to think things through, deal with the sad, and enjoy all the good things you will experience.
May is a busy month, so there will be plenty of companionship, and you will probably find that within the first few days you have become part of a Camino Family. Even people who have walked more than a dozen caminos like me always get the jitters right before starting out. So that anxious nervousness is likely not to go away, but you would probably have it even if you were still planning to walk with your ex.
Many people walking on the Camino are dealing with sadness and grief, many are celebrating happy events, many are on a religious pilgrimage, many are just there because it seems like a good thing to do, but what we all have in common after a few days of walking is that we are all just profoundly grateful to be alive and to be able to walk the Camino. So, I echo irishgurrl´s advice -- go for it! Buen camino, Laurie
I heard a phrase recently "Solvitur ambulando - It is solved by walking". Go ahead and walk the camino. You won't regret it.
There is no place along THE WAY where you will be alone go enjoy,Buen CaminoHi everyone, I just needed a bit of advice.
I was planning on doing the camino Frances alone when a friend told me how amazing it was, when my boyfriend a fellow walker like me heard about it we decided to go together as a first getaway together, as neither of us like the beach resort type of getaway.
Now we have just broken up I'm not sure whether it would be healthy to go alone and thinking he should be with me, the flights are booked. Flying to Paris with a nights stopover then flying down to Biarritz and from their to St Jean to begin.
I will/was meant to be going on the 8th May, I know it would be a great experience but I just don't want to be walking alone and sad in a beautiful place! I especially don't want to be in the city of love alone so if I do go I might buy a flight straight to Biarritz even though they are quite expensive.
Just wondering if May is busy so I can meet people or just any advice in general as I am very undecided!
Hi everyone, I just needed a bit of advice.
I was planning on doing the camino Frances . . . with my boyfriend . . . now we have just broken up I'm not sure whether it would be healthy to go alone . . .
"When you walk through a storm
Keep your chin up high
And don't be afraid of the dark.
At the end of the storm
Is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark.
Walk on through the wind,
Walk on through the rain,
Tho' your dreams be tossed and blown.Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone,
You'll never walk alone."
These timeless lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein sung to music by Richard Rodgers were written for the 1945 American musical Carousel. In the 1960s the song was adapted and adopted by fans of the Liverpool Football Club.
For all of us who need hope they continue to offer poignant encouragement.
Margaret Meredith
Thank you for the advice irish! I suppose I'm just a bit scared that I'll be alone and may not find anywhere to sleep and I guess I was gonna be 'looked after' so to speak if my bf was going. My friend always said I shouldnt be taking him along anyway as its better alone! I will post on the calender when I have made my decisionxx
I heard a phrase recently "Solvitur ambulando - It is solved by walking". Go ahead and walk the camino. You won't regret it.
Yup, that is my personal motto. Even when stuck back at home - between Caminos - I find that anything can be sorted if you just go for a walk. The problem we've had locally is a late and quite cold winter, abnormally cold. Crikes! It snowed most of yesterday. Fortunately it turned to rain and went away overnight. My next Camino starts in three weeks. I cannot wait.
Hopefully organizing the trip will keep my mind occupied untill my journey begins.
Thankyou xxxxx
Well done. You won't regret it. And you'll come back stronger, more independent. When I did the CF the lovely Brazilian who runs the albergue in Villatuerta said "The Camino will give you what you need; not what you want." And St James is a better companion than any boyfriend!Thankyou to all of you for your kind and helpful words. I feel very lost and heartbroken at the moment if I'm honest, but reading all your messages has helped me cling to the hope that things will get better. I have decided I will go alone, though I dont feel alone anymore
Hopefully organizing the trip will keep my mind occupied untill my journey begins.
Thankyou xxxxx
Kathryn-- did I met you in Calzadilla de la Cueza around 8 October 2013? I sat across a "Kathryn from Scotland" last October while having a comunal dinner at the Hostal Camino Real in Calzadilla de la Cueza and she looks like your picture!!Now back and after it being 4 months since I arrived in Santiago de Compostela (1st Decemeber)
Kathryn-- did I met you in Calzadilla de la Cueza around 8 October 2013? I sat across a "Kathryn from Scotland" last October while having a comunal dinner at the Hostal Camino Real in Calzadilla de la Cueza and she looks like your picture!!
Hi Olivares, I left on the 30th of October from Saint Jean Pied de Port, In that section I stayed in Carrion de los Condes and then Sahagun, so I must have had a twin
I am so glad you decided to go!! I am going alone May 1st and I will be stopping in Paris first as well . Enjoy Paris as well as your caminio because you deserve it !
I'm actually doing it alone . . . I originally promised family that I'd only go with a companion . . .
Hi everyone, I just needed a bit of advice.
I was planning on doing the camino Frances alone when a friend told me how amazing it was, when my boyfriend a fellow walker like me heard about it we decided to go together as a first getaway together, as neither of us like the beach resort type of getaway.
Now we have just broken up I'm not sure whether it would be healthy to go alone and thinking he should be with me, the flights are booked. Flying to Paris with a nights stopover then flying down to Biarritz and from their to St Jean to begin.
I will/was meant to be going on the 8th May, I know it would be a great experience but I just don't want to be walking alone and sad in a beautiful place! I especially don't want to be in the city of love alone so if I do go I might buy a flight straight to Biarritz even though they are quite expensive.
Just wondering if May is busy so I can meet people or just any advice in general as I am very undecided!
My suggestion is that you mark your departure date on the calendar and see who else is going around that time. Maybe connect with them here on the forum...
Hi irishgurrrl,
I'm planning my solo camino for Sept 13th and didn't know there was a calendar, I can't find it. Can you direct me to it please?
Thanks!
Thank you!On the top dark blue ban crossing the Forum page you will see three small white horizontal bars. Click on them. Next click Events. Voila there is the famous calendar!
MM
Tanya
I just sent you a post which had too many letters. I wanted to know if sharing a taxi was possible. We arrive on September 14 at the airport in Biarritz. Off to SJPP one day of rest on the 15th and then we start our Camino on the 16th. Our plan is to make our way to Roncevalles, however depending on how we feel we might not make it so we stop in Orisson for the night.
Buen Camino hope to meet you along the way. God Bless
Go for it.Hi everyone, I just needed a bit of advice.
I was planning on doing the camino Frances alone when a friend told me how amazing it was, when my boyfriend a fellow walker like me heard about it we decided to go together as a first getaway together, as neither of us like the beach resort type of getaway.
Now we have just broken up I'm not sure whether it would be healthy to go alone and thinking he should be with me, the flights are booked. Flying to Paris with a nights stopover then flying down to Biarritz and from their to St Jean to begin.
I will/was meant to be going on the 8th May, I know it would be a great experience but I just don't want to be walking alone and sad in a beautiful place! I especially don't want to be in the city of love alone so if I do go I might buy a flight straight to Biarritz even though they are quite expensive.
Just wondering if May is busy so I can meet people or just any advice in general as I am very undecided!
Go for it.
I'm starting on the 10th of May from St Jean.
Doing it on my own.
Hope to meet you on the walk.
Starting a day after you. Hope we meet somewhere. Blue bag with forum bag lifting a man probably wearing a red cap.Go for it.
I'm starting on the 10th of May from St Jean.
Doing it on my own.
Hope to meet you on the walk.
LOL! There will be no suffering!Starting a day after you. Hope we meet somewhere. Blue bag with forum bag lifting a man probably wearing a red cap.
Hope you don't have to suffer me Siobhan!))
Hopefully, you have taken everyone's advice and are on your way right now. In St. Jean, stop in at L'Esprit du Chemin, which has been renamed as it is under new owners. Their policy was to hold back a few places for walk-ins, so even though the online schedule may show no vacancy, there is a chance that there is a place for you. Otherwise, the Municipal Hostel is fine! Have a great time!Woops thanks for correcting me, I have done my research....honest! I suppose the upside of going alone is that I will be able to do the whole thing instead of just two weeks due to my exes work commitments.
Thankyou for the advice Keith, also I have looked at Chemin and its fully booked up for when I would be going!
Xx
I am in Bayonne waiting for my bus! Nearly there!Hopefully, you have taken everyone's advice and are on your way right now. In St. Jean, stop in at L'Esprit du Chemin, which has been renamed as it is under new owners. Their policy was to hold back a few places for walk-ins, so even though the online schedule may show no vacancy, there is a chance that there is a place for you. Otherwise, the Municipal Hostel is fine! Have a great time!
Go al goLanding this time tomorrow. Bag packed and sitting there with a "please pick me up" look.
By the time you've completed the Camino you may understand why the breakup happened and maybe it was a good thing. Certainly, you will have the confidence one earns from finishing something challenging.
I am in Bayonne waiting for my bus! Nearly there!
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