Steffan
New Member
Hello everyone!
What an exciting prospect! My first Camino, and I am going all alone!
I will arrive in Lourdes at 9am on the 2nd of July 2011 and then have the entire month at my disposition. I haven't booked a return flight yet and can stay anything between 1 day and 4 weeks! Yippeee! I am quite fit, but not an experienced hiker at all!
I chose the Lourdes starting point as it is in easy reach from London with Ryan Air, and it looks like Lourdes is on the 'Voie du Piemont', which leads to Oleron Ste Marie.
From there I don't really know yet which direction to take towards Pamplona - either South via Jacca, or West via St. Jean Pied de Port.
Can anyone please advise me about the two alternatives, or other options?
I am not decided on any particular route yet, and perhaps walking from SJPDP the Camino Baztan to Biarritz or Bayonne is another possibility, especially as I have to consider form where to take my return flight to London.
I have a tendency to staying in France, because I speak French rather well, but no Spanish (I am originally from Germany), but besides this it is more important to walk a not too difficult, not too overcrowded, but a scenic route.
Also, I read somewhere of a 'Camino-office' in Lourdes, where one can register for the Camino? Does anyone here have this information? I plan to stay in Lourdes for the first day or two, to acclimatise and to experience the more 'serious' religious vibes there, before heading off West
Another question regarding gear: I got a 30L backpack, which I don't plan to fill with more than 10kg in total (including water and food), so every decision what to take counts:
I believe one should have a silk liner for the hostels to sleep in, but I also came across a very light weight hammock, which could double as liner. Do you think such a hammock is a good thing to have in order to have the choice to sleep under the stars in case there is no bed to be found anywhere? Is it safe to sleep outdoors like that? (I heard of dogs and even bears in the Pyrenees!)
I am so excited and at risk of making romantic rather than practical decisions, so any advice from experienced Camino-istas is very welcomed!
Thanks in advance!
Steff
What an exciting prospect! My first Camino, and I am going all alone!
I will arrive in Lourdes at 9am on the 2nd of July 2011 and then have the entire month at my disposition. I haven't booked a return flight yet and can stay anything between 1 day and 4 weeks! Yippeee! I am quite fit, but not an experienced hiker at all!
I chose the Lourdes starting point as it is in easy reach from London with Ryan Air, and it looks like Lourdes is on the 'Voie du Piemont', which leads to Oleron Ste Marie.
From there I don't really know yet which direction to take towards Pamplona - either South via Jacca, or West via St. Jean Pied de Port.
Can anyone please advise me about the two alternatives, or other options?
I am not decided on any particular route yet, and perhaps walking from SJPDP the Camino Baztan to Biarritz or Bayonne is another possibility, especially as I have to consider form where to take my return flight to London.
I have a tendency to staying in France, because I speak French rather well, but no Spanish (I am originally from Germany), but besides this it is more important to walk a not too difficult, not too overcrowded, but a scenic route.
Also, I read somewhere of a 'Camino-office' in Lourdes, where one can register for the Camino? Does anyone here have this information? I plan to stay in Lourdes for the first day or two, to acclimatise and to experience the more 'serious' religious vibes there, before heading off West
Another question regarding gear: I got a 30L backpack, which I don't plan to fill with more than 10kg in total (including water and food), so every decision what to take counts:
I believe one should have a silk liner for the hostels to sleep in, but I also came across a very light weight hammock, which could double as liner. Do you think such a hammock is a good thing to have in order to have the choice to sleep under the stars in case there is no bed to be found anywhere? Is it safe to sleep outdoors like that? (I heard of dogs and even bears in the Pyrenees!)
I am so excited and at risk of making romantic rather than practical decisions, so any advice from experienced Camino-istas is very welcomed!
Thanks in advance!
Steff