P
PANO
Guest
I know, this is the camino-forum and my suggestion might be considered blasphemous by some.
Last September I packed my 2013-camino-gear to redo the CF on short notice, starting in Pamplona. The weather was exceptionally hot, climbing up to 40°C and I did not drink enough water.
Shortly before Viana, the heat struck me unconscious and I was forced to abandon the trail. (Even without this, I realised that the repetition –for me– was not a good idea, the déjà-vu was dreadful)
Anyway, I rented a car and explored the country, crossing the Pico’s de Europa down to the north-coast and along to Bilbao; then back to Logroño and by train to Barcelona. Even amongst Europeans, this gem of a region enjoys a somewhat shadowy existence next the glamorous Mediterranean tourist spots.
Admittedly, it was at first a bit strange to cover a ›Peregrino-distance‹ of up to a week, –say from Logroño to Leon in only a leisurely few (air-conditioned) hours. But parting toward the breathtaking mountain-range and the deep-blue lakes offers ample compensation. Descending toward the coast and then along a wild and mostly unspoilt seaside with quaint fisher villages, friendly locals, history and great food made this an unbelievable holiday-experience I surely would have missed without that camino-incident.
The experience is of a totally different kind of course, but I’d like to take up the cudgels on behalf of this great country and commend it as a true, albeit little known touristic jewel offering outstanding value for money.
I recommend this alternative experience to those peregrinos longing to re-visit but fearing repetition or the physical hardship.
And thank you for not condemning my trolling on this valuable site too harshly.
Last September I packed my 2013-camino-gear to redo the CF on short notice, starting in Pamplona. The weather was exceptionally hot, climbing up to 40°C and I did not drink enough water.
Shortly before Viana, the heat struck me unconscious and I was forced to abandon the trail. (Even without this, I realised that the repetition –for me– was not a good idea, the déjà-vu was dreadful)
Anyway, I rented a car and explored the country, crossing the Pico’s de Europa down to the north-coast and along to Bilbao; then back to Logroño and by train to Barcelona. Even amongst Europeans, this gem of a region enjoys a somewhat shadowy existence next the glamorous Mediterranean tourist spots.
Admittedly, it was at first a bit strange to cover a ›Peregrino-distance‹ of up to a week, –say from Logroño to Leon in only a leisurely few (air-conditioned) hours. But parting toward the breathtaking mountain-range and the deep-blue lakes offers ample compensation. Descending toward the coast and then along a wild and mostly unspoilt seaside with quaint fisher villages, friendly locals, history and great food made this an unbelievable holiday-experience I surely would have missed without that camino-incident.
The experience is of a totally different kind of course, but I’d like to take up the cudgels on behalf of this great country and commend it as a true, albeit little known touristic jewel offering outstanding value for money.
I recommend this alternative experience to those peregrinos longing to re-visit but fearing repetition or the physical hardship.
And thank you for not condemning my trolling on this valuable site too harshly.
