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Oh, my goodness! Please erase should from your camino vocabulary. There are enough shoulds in everyday life. Soak up your lessons from your most recent experience and then, with whatever hindsight you can muster - make a fresh decision. You are the author.You may know that my partner and I have been doing our first Camino, the Frances, in stages: Aug/Sept 2021 was SJPDP to Belorado; this May/June (2022) was Belorado to Sarria, and our plan is to reach Finisterre next year.
We intended to walk the rest of the Frances, Sarria to Santiago then on to Finisterre.
But now we’re wondering… do we really want to return as part of the ‘100km crowd’?
To clarify, I think in many ways, the ‘100km crowd’ must be very interesting to experience and be a part of. I imagine we’d meet many people with profound reasons to walk. However, I also think it might be a much busier experience for us and I’m not sure how important that would be.
That said, on our last day walking—just last week!—we found Sarria very quiet! I was surprised. And then again, we spoke with just one new pilgrim there, a lady from Iceland who was there with a group of friends and pretty unprepared for everything to do with the Camino. Suddenly the next sections seemed a long way from the Camino we’d experienced so far.
Long and short of it… we’re also now looking at next year doing the Invierno instead of the Sarria to Santiago bit. We’d have to skip back to Ponferrada, of course.
We have to stay in private rooms because of my health condition, so that’d be a consideration.
What do you think? Should we do the last bit from Sarria, because it would complete the Frances, and maybe everyone should walk it once?
Or should we forget the ‘should’ and walk the Invierno, because we love the landscape and culture, and because I enjoy using my Spanish whilst there?
(Edit: Just to add… when I say ‘finish this thing’ I really mean “Reach Santiago so that I can get started on the Via de La Plata”Although that dream seems logistically a long way off).
Very true. Sarria on an average Wednesday looks like an average town in Galicia with a few long-distance hikers wandering through. Most of the bars & restaurants will be open. They are "cerrada para descansar" Monday & Tuesday. With luck the Junta clean-up crews will have been through and the astonishing volume of litter along the trail will have vanished. For the next few days the mid-week wanderer will be behind one surge and well in front of the next. The Camereros will have lost that wild-eyed look and may even enjoy trying to improve your Spanish as you order Poyo (a dry sink-hole in Karst Limestone landscapes) rather than that chicken you were looking forward to. You'll get to eat Pulpo without 24 astonished Spaniards watching your every forkful.Most of the people who walk from Sarria are locals and start on a weekend.
I left Sarria on a Monday late September and it was a serious conga lineUp to you but if you choose Sarria to Santiago then as long as you don't go in August and you leave Sarria mid-week then it won't be any more crowded than the rest of it.
Most of the people who walk from Sarria are locals and start on a weekend.
You will always wonder if you don’t ‘finish it off ‘.What do you think? Should we do the last bit from Sarria, because it would complete the Frances
This is true! Most are locals who start on a weekend, hoping to reach Santiago by Fri/Sat, go to Sunday mass then go home.Most of the people who walk from Sarria are locals and start on a weekend.
I’m writing this from an albergue on a Saturday evening in June between Sarria and Santiago. This part of the Camino bears very little resemblance to earlier segments. Groups of friends out for a weekend of fun together and families. I’m not dissing them, it’s just different. Different from the people I met on the first third of the CF who were here for the sense of community, the spirituality, the silence, and for meeting people. This is my third CF. If I walk again, I won’t do the final 100-130 km’s.You may know that my partner and I have been doing our first Camino, the Frances, in stages: Aug/Sept 2021 was SJPDP to Belorado; this May/June (2022) was Belorado to Sarria, and our plan is to reach Finisterre next year.
We intended to walk the rest of the Frances, Sarria to Santiago then on to Finisterre.
But now we’re wondering… do we really want to return as part of the ‘100km crowd’?
To clarify, I think in many ways, the ‘100km crowd’ must be very interesting to experience and be a part of. I imagine we’d meet many people with profound reasons to walk. However, I also think it might be a much busier experience for us and I’m not sure how important that would be.
That said, on our last day walking—just last week!—we found Sarria very quiet! I was surprised. And then again, we spoke with just one new pilgrim there, a lady from Iceland who was there with a group of friends and pretty unprepared for everything to do with the Camino. Suddenly the next sections seemed a long way from the Camino we’d experienced so far.
Long and short of it… we’re also now looking at next year doing the Invierno instead of the Sarria to Santiago bit. We’d have to skip back to Ponferrada, of course.
We have to stay in private rooms because of my health condition, so that’d be a consideration.
What do you think? Should we do the last bit from Sarria, because it would complete the Frances, and maybe everyone should walk it once?
Or should we forget the ‘should’ and walk the Invierno, because we love the landscape and culture, and because I enjoy using my Spanish whilst there?
(Edit: Just to add… when I say ‘finish this thing’ I really mean “Reach Santiago so that I can get started on the Via de La Plata”Although that dream seems logistically a long way off).
I walked through Melide onto Santiago from the Primitivo, in early September. There were still BIG crowds and school groups with boom boxes etc… so I would not underestimate crowds into September. That said, a little further off season might well solve the crowding issue. The infrastructure issue is, however, more durable. Bars, vendors and many more buildings along the way, make it a different experience than you are used to.Up to you but if you choose Sarria to Santiago then as long as you don't go in August and you leave Sarria mid-week then it won't be any more crowded than the rest of it.
Most of the people who walk from Sarria are locals and start on a weekend.
I always think of the last 100 kms as integration back to everyday life, taking what you've learned in the quieter days and applying it to the noise and busyness of life. But maybe since you've been walking in stages you have already done that. The Invite o looks pretty.You may know that my partner and I have been doing our first Camino, the Frances, in stages: Aug/Sept 2021 was SJPDP to Belorado; this May/June (2022) was Belorado to Sarria, and our plan is to reach Finisterre next year.
We intended to walk the rest of the Frances, Sarria to Santiago then on to Finisterre.
But now we’re wondering… do we really want to return as part of the ‘100km crowd’?
To clarify, I think in many ways, the ‘100km crowd’ must be very interesting to experience and be a part of. I imagine we’d meet many people with profound reasons to walk. However, I also think it might be a much busier experience for us and I’m not sure how important that would be.
That said, on our last day walking—just last week!—we found Sarria very quiet! I was surprised. And then again, we spoke with just one new pilgrim there, a lady from Iceland who was there with a group of friends and pretty unprepared for everything to do with the Camino. Suddenly the next sections seemed a long way from the Camino we’d experienced so far.
Long and short of it… we’re also now looking at next year doing the Invierno instead of the Sarria to Santiago bit. We’d have to skip back to Ponferrada, of course.
We have to stay in private rooms because of my health condition, so that’d be a consideration.
What do you think? Should we do the last bit from Sarria, because it would complete the Frances, and maybe everyone should walk it once?
Or should we forget the ‘should’ and walk the Invierno, because we love the landscape and culture, and because I enjoy using my Spanish whilst there?
(Edit: Just to add… when I say ‘finish this thing’ I really mean “Reach Santiago so that I can get started on the Via de La Plata”Although that dream seems logistically a long way off).
You may know that my partner and I have been doing our first Camino, the Frances, in stages: Aug/Sept 2021 was SJPDP to Belorado; this May/June (2022) was Belorado to Sarria, and our plan is to reach Finisterre next year.
We intended to walk the rest of the Frances, Sarria to Santiago then on to Finisterre.
But now we’re wondering… do we really want to return as part of the ‘100km crowd’?
To clarify, I think in many ways, the ‘100km crowd’ must be very interesting to experience and be a part of. I imagine we’d meet many people with profound reasons to walk. However, I also think it might be a much busier experience for us and I’m not sure how important that would be.
That said, on our last day walking—just last week!—we found Sarria very quiet! I was surprised. And then again, we spoke with just one new pilgrim there, a lady from Iceland who was there with a group of friends and pretty unprepared for everything to do with the Camino. Suddenly the next sections seemed a long way from the Camino we’d experienced so far.
Long and short of it… we’re also now looking at next year doing the Invierno instead of the Sarria to Santiago bit. We’d have to skip back to Ponferrada, of course.
We have to stay in private rooms because of my health condition, so that’d be a consideration.
What do you think? Should we do the last bit from Sarria, because it would complete the Frances, and maybe everyone should walk it once?
Or should we forget the ‘should’ and walk the Invierno, because we love the landscape and culture, and because I enjoy using my Spanish whilst there?
(Edit: Just to add… when I say ‘finish this thing’ I really mean “Reach Santiago so that I can get started on the Via de La Plata”Although that dream seems logistically a long way off).
Last week it was quite crowded but not unpleasant. And the walk to Finisterre has been quiet and contemplative. I met several people on group tours (Sarria to Santiago) who were very thoughtful and interesting.You may know that my partner and I have been doing our first Camino, the Frances, in stages: Aug/Sept 2021 was SJPDP to Belorado; this May/June (2022) was Belorado to Sarria, and our plan is to reach Finisterre next year.
We intended to walk the rest of the Frances, Sarria to Santiago then on to Finisterre.
But now we’re wondering… do we really want to return as part of the ‘100km crowd’?
To clarify, I think in many ways, the ‘100km crowd’ must be very interesting to experience and be a part of. I imagine we’d meet many people with profound reasons to walk. However, I also think it might be a much busier experience for us and I’m not sure how important that would be.
That said, on our last day walking—just last week!—we found Sarria very quiet! I was surprised. And then again, we spoke with just one new pilgrim there, a lady from Iceland who was there with a group of friends and pretty unprepared for everything to do with the Camino. Suddenly the next sections seemed a long way from the Camino we’d experienced so far.
Long and short of it… we’re also now looking at next year doing the Invierno instead of the Sarria to Santiago bit. We’d have to skip back to Ponferrada, of course.
We have to stay in private rooms because of my health condition, so that’d be a consideration.
What do you think? Should we do the last bit from Sarria, because it would complete the Frances, and maybe everyone should walk it once?
Or should we forget the ‘should’ and walk the Invierno, because we love the landscape and culture, and because I enjoy using my Spanish whilst there?
(Edit: Just to add… when I say ‘finish this thing’ I really mean “Reach Santiago so that I can get started on the Via de La Plata”Although that dream seems logistically a long way off).
Thank you so much for this lovely response! Somehow, along with the other ideas people have posted here, this really helped to pull it all together for me. I do forget that it’s been difficult, largely because I’m aware that many people on the Camino have things much harder than I do!Hi Lindsey! that's my answer as well. It's up to you!
(Whether you choose to walk Sarria or Invierno it will be your choice; if great you will think great decision.
If it's awful your more likely to accept what comes your way and carry on.)
Only you know what you want from the Camino?
I think after all you have been through just to get to the starting line your a winner!
But to walk and finish is an amazing achievement!
Who knows what the experience will bring to you; good or bad it will defo leave it's mark !
I only walked the Coastal but walking into the cathedral square was the icing on my cake!
All the best Woody
The thing about the Inglés vs the Invierno is that, whereas the Invierno connects directly with the part of the Frances we’ve already done, just branching at a different angle to reach SdC, the Inglés is a completely different route. But we’ll look at it for a future Camino!Pick your time. The first and last quarters of the year are when you’ll find me on Camino. Accomodation takes a bit more planning; but there’s enough and if you’re looking for private rooms - as do I - it’s not an issue.
I love Santiago; but never again will I arrive via the Frances. There are lots of other options.
Try the Ingles - but don’t tell everyone.
It's really up to you. There isn't a "should" except to do what you want. I can tell you what I'd want to do, but it isn't necessarily applicable to you at all.You may know that my partner and I have been doing our first Camino, the Frances, in stages: Aug/Sept 2021 was SJPDP to Belorado; this May/June (2022) was Belorado to Sarria, and our plan is to reach Finisterre next year.
We intended to walk the rest of the Frances, Sarria to Santiago then on to Finisterre.
But now we’re wondering… do we really want to return as part of the ‘100km crowd’?
To clarify, I think in many ways, the ‘100km crowd’ must be very interesting to experience and be a part of. I imagine we’d meet many people with profound reasons to walk. However, I also think it might be a much busier experience for us and I’m not sure how important that would be.
That said, on our last day walking—just last week!—we found Sarria very quiet! I was surprised. And then again, we spoke with just one new pilgrim there, a lady from Iceland who was there with a group of friends and pretty unprepared for everything to do with the Camino. Suddenly the next sections seemed a long way from the Camino we’d experienced so far.
Long and short of it… we’re also now looking at next year doing the Invierno instead of the Sarria to Santiago bit. We’d have to skip back to Ponferrada, of course.
We have to stay in private rooms because of my health condition, so that’d be a consideration.
What do you think? Should we do the last bit from Sarria, because it would complete the Frances, and maybe everyone should walk it once?
Or should we forget the ‘should’ and walk the Invierno, because we love the landscape and culture, and because I enjoy using my Spanish whilst there?
(Edit: Just to add… when I say ‘finish this thing’ I really mean “Reach Santiago so that I can get started on the Via de La Plata”Although that dream seems logistically a long way off).
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