Holy Week

[J F Gregory]

We are walking our Camino during Holy Week and past Easter. Should we nightly reservations now during Holy Week?

Ultreya
Fred

 

[HeidiL]

We always walk that week - no need for reservations, but it might be smart to carry a little bit of extra cash (not relying on cards), since we've had encounters with empty cash machines at Easter!

 

[Tincatinker]

Hi Fred,

Holy week will be busy. That said walking in 2012 I never failed to find a bed, even in Logrono on Good Friday. Many Spanish pilgrims walk at this time and the Semana Santa processions in some cities - Pamplona, Logrono, Seville, Burgos, Leon in particular attract tourists as well as pilgrims. You haven't said where which Camino you are walking or where you are likely to be during Holy Week.

Bear in mind that you cannot make reservations for publicly run Albergues though most private ones will take reservations. http://www.gronze.com/ is a reliable source of information on which Albergues do accept reservations. If you are thinking in terms of Hotel accommodation then Booking.com is a probably more reliable authority on availability than this forum.

Buen camino

 

[J F Gregory]

Hi Fred,

Holy week will be busy. That said walking in 2012 I never failed to find a bed, even in Logrono on Good Friday. Many Spanish pilgrims walk at this time and the Semana Santa processions in some cities - Pamplona, Logrono, Seville, Burgos, Leon in particular attract tourists as well as pilgrims. You haven't said where which Camino you are walking or where you are likely to be during Holy Week.

Bear in mind that you cannot make reservations for publicly run Albergues though most private ones will take reservations. http://www.gronze.com/ is a reliable source of information on which Albergues do accept reservations. If you are thinking in terms of Hotel accommodation then Booking.com is a probably more reliable authority on availability than this forum.

Buen camino

We will be walking the Camino Frances. Thank you for the information.

 

[SYates]

We are walking our Camino during Holy Week and past Easter. Should we nightly reservations now during Holy Week? ...

The good news is that nearly all albergues on the Camino Frances will be open by then, the bad is that not all of them do accept reservations. Realistically, if you don't walk the (Brierley) stages everybody else does and are a wee bit flexible which albergue you are staying in, you will do fine even without reservations. Buen Camino, SY

 

[VNwalking]

Realistically, if you don't walk the (Brierley) stages everybody else does and are a wee bit flexible which albergue you are staying in, you will do fine even without reservations. Buen Camino, SY

This has been my experience, on the CF during the last 2 semana santas.

 

[purplesage]

I will be arriving Santiago on holy saturday.... can't do better because of work. But hey, will be in the Cathedral for EASTER !!! Am sooooooo looking forward to the splendor (as it always is in the Cathedral). And then.... haven't decided where to walk from... yet. Have done a fair bit of walking this year and my lower back is........... quite near kaput. But I'll get there... it always happens. Am doing some exercises and am using some amazing Ayurvedic oil ... and its helping. Buen Camino

 

[jbear]

I was on the CF during Semana Santa this spring (2015) and had no issues finding lodging. I had a great experience and met many Spaniards who were just walking for the week.

One of my best memories was seeing the processions in Navarette. So different than Sevilla, and an absolutely moving evening. I had almost stopped that night in Logroño to stay with some of my new Spanish friends, but moved on only because I had visited the city a couple years ago.


In Logroño I was able to see the work involved in getting ready for the processions. At one point while inside a church I was feeling a little bad about being so dirty, keeping to the sides and away from the crowds, and looked into an open door. A man inside invited me into the room and we talked a little. He was kind enough to to speak slowly and enunciate (a sure sign someone wants to talk with you) while I tried my best to conjugate properly. I don't know how many pilgrims have walked into that church, but he made me feel as though it was important that I was there, at that moment.



Finally, while walking alone on Easter morning I came upon a cross. It held more meaning than I can convey.

 

[scruffy1]

Was in Cirauqui during Semana Santa, a wonderful village procession. No tourists only the villagers and we pilgrims. All the statues from the church were taken out for a ride around the alleys almost like processions in Japan, stopping at the important squares (both of them) and by the homes of invalids (how kind). The larger heavier ones carried by burly men in their KKK robes and hats lit by car batteries powering headlights, the lighter more delicate Virgin Mary carried by the young girls - average age 12, no comment, the albergue remained open until 1130 as a kind gesture and a good time was had by all. Better and more truly spiritual and joyous than any I've witnessed in larger towns.