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Yes:Any opinions?
Yes:
9) Excellent pinchos (tapas) in its local bars and
10) a most competent organist and choir in its cathedral.
not necessarily in this order.
Amen. At least to #9. Especially on Thursdays (at least in 2011) when you could get a pintxo and glass of wine for 2 euros. In the pedestrian streets around the pinto bars, there were small groups of college kids, elderly couples walking arm in arm, families with small children playing soccer.... Life was happening in the streets. Pamplona is yet another great example of the wonderfully lively and livable mid-sized cities spread across Spain.
Pamplona will be the starting point of my next Camino. And why not? SJDPD is in no way an "official" or "authentic" starting point for the Camino. According to the Authentic Pilgrim's Guide™ (http://www.caminodesantiago.me/comm...lgrims™-guide-to-the-camino.12810/#post-86176), there is only one authentic starting starting point. And although I did meet a few people who started from their front door (a beret-wearing elderly gentleman from Luxembourg and a little person from Germany), most of the rest of us choose an arbitrary staring point and make it ours. Pamplona is a great one.
Al, I feel exactly the same.Drop me right now anywhere on the Camino to start and I would be happier than sitting here missing being there
Many threads on this forum deal with SJPDP as THE Camino starting point (11.5 % of the Pilgrims start from there), how to reach the place and about the strain and perils of crossing the Pyrenees. Are there any historic reasons that compel some Pelegrinos to even take taxis from Pamplona toward «the wrong direction» in order to commence in SJPDP?
Imho, these eight reasons would rather speak for Pamplona:
1. - In easy reach by air and by train from Madrid, Barcelona, Biarritz, Bilbao.
2. - A choice of 100 accommodation-options in every category, with several albergues and places to obtain Credencials
3. - A perfect place to shake off the jet lag and to acclimatize to Northern Spain
4. - To do last minute shopping (SIM cards, electric adaptors, medicines, banks, etc)
5. - To have direct postal services (to forward luggage to Santiago)
6. - Offering great sightseeing; this town has a beautiful medieval centre, an impressive Citadel, the Cathedral, Spain’s second largest bullring and many spots of interest.
7. - A great gastronomy, wines and lots of parks
8. - Getting an easy start of the Camino
Any opinions?
Many threads on this forum deal with SJPDP as THE Camino starting point (11.5 % of the Pilgrims start from there), how to reach the place and about the strain and perils of crossing the Pyrenees. Are there any historic reasons that compel some Pelegrinos to even take taxis from Pamplona toward «the wrong direction» in order to commence in SJPDP?
Imho, these eight reasons would rather speak for Pamplona:
1. - In easy reach by air and by train from Madrid, Barcelona, Biarritz, Bilbao.
2. - A choice of 100 accommodation-options in every category, with several albergues and places to obtain Credencials
3. - A perfect place to shake off the jet lag and to acclimatize to Northern Spain
4. - To do last minute shopping (SIM cards, electric adaptors, medicines, banks, etc)
5. - To have direct postal services (to forward luggage to Santiago)
6. - Offering great sightseeing; this town has a beautiful medieval centre, an impressive Citadel, the Cathedral, Spain’s second largest bullring and many spots of interest.
7. - A great gastronomy, wines and lots of parks
8. - Getting an easy start of the Camino
Any opinions?
Yes, I cxan relate to that, and maybe I'll start from SJPdP next spring, just for the border crossing. But I am not a hardliner, and Pamplona is a great starting point, for many reasons.2. Crossing the French-Spanish border still has a certain magic. I suppose not all will share it, and it's not the boundary it was before the EC, but it was one reason for my "start" in Bayonne and SJPP.
On a related note, I'll add that I don't quite get the enthusiasm some have for SJPP itself. I've now passed through twice without being tempted to stay more than a few hours.--Bill
If it is true that the animosity is always there just under the surface, will not taking a stand really avoid it?I'm just wondering: if this thread had been titled "Eight reasons why starting from Pamplon is a GREAT option" (rather than the best), might the animosity have been avoided?
If it is true that the animosity is always there just under the surface, will not taking a stand really avoid it?
- Shorten the trip so I can take my time but still fit it into the 37 (with travel) days I've managed to get off from work
!
You are right, in hindsight I would change the title; I would edit it now, if I could. On the other hand, my starting-choice was BEST for me at the time and I was merely trying to share my reasons with future peregrinos, politely. If this caused animosity, it is time to start twice about posting on this site; sad, for it is an invaluable source of information for any new peregrino.I'm just wondering: if this thread had been titled "Eight reasons why starting from Pamplon is a GREAT option" (rather than the best), might the animosity have been avoided?
You are right, in hindsight I would change the title; I would edit it now, if I could. On the other hand, my starting-choice was BEST for me at the time and I was merely trying to share my reasons with future peregrinos, politely. If this caused animosity, it is time to start twice about posting on this site; sad, for it is an invaluable source of information for any new peregrino.
Thankfully, Ivar eliminated some of the violent postings.
tack så mycket SusannaThe thread title is now changed.
Susanna/Mod.
Hola, to all of you so graciously responding in this thread, I tremendously enjoy the diversity of your posts.
Praising Pamplona is my way of saying 'thank you' to this lovely town and its people for the warm welcome I received on my first arrival day on the Camino; I meant to vote for Pamplona and certainly not against any other starting point.
Many threads on this site deal with logistic questions concerning SJPdP, of how to get there, of SIM cards (those purchased in France are not very good in Spain), of electric connectors, of different languages, etc., indicating that prospective (overseas-) pilgrims are often challenged to start their journey in a place hard to find on the map and in a country substantially different from Spain. Not to omit the steep physical challenge of crossing the Pyrenees often ending up in injuries causing a return to home when the journey has barely started.
To them, –not to the savvy backpackers and globetrotters –, I wanted to point out that there is nothing written in any scripture, that they could simplify things substantially by starting in Pamplona. (And yes, the same goes for Burgos, Leon, Sarria…..except that the Camino still retains much of its awesome length from Pamplona)
As for myself, knowing my neighbouring country France well enough, I wanted my Camino to be an entirely Spanish experience; but I absolutely understand others seeking exactly the opposite, a «multinational experience». There, I however would join Thornley’s and Newfydog’s thesis to start in Le Puy to get a real taste of France. (Be aware of the added distance to SdC, though!)
Thank you once again for a lively discussion!
Pierre aka Don Pedro
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