It would be interesting, and perhaps helpful to hear of your experiences, Davide, especially as you walked CF years ago.
What were your overall impressions? Favorite stage/albergue and why?
What would you have done differently (packing-wise or planning-wise)
What did you find difficult or challenging?
Did you walk solo?
Where will you walk next? your sixth Camino!
Hi sunflowers!! Thanks for your message!!
These are some interesting questions, I will try to answer them, but I will probably miss a lot of details, so feel free to ask follow-up questions too.
First of all let me say that I walked the following Caminos: Frances in 2013, Norte in 2019, Portugues (from Lisbon) in 2020 and Via de la Plata in 2021
My overall impression is that the
Camino Frances is still beautiful, I am still deeply in love with it for a few reasons. It is monumental, it has the folklore of the Camino, the history, the famous characters like Marcelino Lobato in Logron, Tomas in Manjarin or Jesus Jato in Villafrance del Bierzo.
These people are still there and for me they are living legends on the Camino. It was amazing to see them again, 10 years after the first Camino.
All the churches, monasteries, fountains and other buildings dedicated to Santiago make you feel like this Camino has some deep and strong historical roots.
I don't mind the larger number of pilgrims. After the Via de la Plata I was really looking forward to meeting more people. Of course there are more pilgrims compared to 10 years ago. This increase was ok and I had no issues with it, except in the last few stages after Sarria.
In those last 100Kms I deliberately avoided the main centres and slept in smaller villages (except O Pedrouzo).
Favorite stages (in geographical order):
• Pamplona to Puente la Reina - because of the sense of awe I felt on my climb to the Alto del Perdon, the visit to Eunate and the bridge of Puente la Reina. You get 3 iconic places of the Camino in one day! Such a great way to start your Camino!
• Hontanas to Puente Fitero - some say that the Mesetas are not a nice part of the Camino, but this day will make you change your mind. The Mesetas are in front of you with all their majestic beauty. It's especially true in the small
• Foncebadon to Molinaseca - another stage rich of history, there's the Iron Cross, Manjarin with its small shelter run by Tomas, the entrance to Bierzo. And you're surrounded by beautiful mountains!
Favorite albergue: it was again the Hospital de San Nicolas in Puente Fitero. A small albergue, or hospital, which is run by the Italian Brotherhood of the Friends of Saint James. It's situated in small church where pilgrims could get shelter and help in the middle ages. It's one of those places where the true spirit of the Camino is still alive.
What would I have done differently? Maybe I would have planned the Camino a bit earlier, like beginning of May. I am not a big fan of walking in the heat. During the second week of June we had a few very warm days that made the walk almost impossible. But it's a very subjective thing
What did I find challenging? This is also another personal thing, however for me the challenge this time was learning to "take it more easy". I did not want to push myself. I am a very competitive person and this side of me has gotten in the way sometimes in previous Caminos.
I have to say I did really well during this last Camino! So I can say I am proud of myself and I learned an important personal lesson. In this regard the Camino has been, again, a school of life.
Did you walk solo? First week was with my girlfriend. Then I continued solo, but I soon made my "camino family", which is one of the things I love about walking the Camino.
I did something like this also in previous Caminos, for instance in del Norte I walked the second half of the Camino with my Brother. The same for the Portuguese, where I walked with a dear friend.
Next Camino? Well, I am really thinking about coming back again soon, maybe in this same year! I am thinking about doing a short Camino, like the Camino Ingles. I love Galicia and I think this Camino would be a nice route to discover.
