sugargypsy
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- CF 2019
Planning: CP / CF or CdN 2022
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...Are the locals still interested in interacting with pilgrims - especially on the CF? Since there are so many pilgrims turning up year after year - specially during springtime, summer and autumn - are they patient with someone who's not really fluent in their language or do they - understandably - get tired of it and keep any conversation sort of short?
It varied. In Navarre and La Rioja, in October, I got the definite impression that the locals were just over it & ready for the season to end. They'd speak Spanish with pilgrims with a good command of Spanish, but I didn't meet anyone who had any patience for an intermediate-level speaker until well into the second week.Since there are so many pilgrims turning up year after year - specially during springtime, summer and autumn - are they patient with someone who's not really fluent in their language or do they - understandably - get tired of it and keep any conversation sort of short?
On the other hand on the VDLP I really missed out being unable to communicate properly
I'm 2800 km along the Via Francigena at the moment in Puglia but have walked Caminos in France, Spain and Portugal too. I have reasonable Italian, fair French and learned Spanish two years ago. I walk alone and prefer the "lonelier" routes. Every word of the language you can muster will repay you tenfold and perhaps one hundred fold I think. I love speaking to farmers and fishers and "ordinary" people. For me, this is much more rewarding than a "Camino family". If I wanted to speak.to English speakers I'd stay at home! 99% of people are happy that you make the effort.
€100 euros of lessons is a great investment and you really can learn the rest off YouTube. And I keep saying this : there are no discounts on Bookingdotcom, but if you ring up your accommodation you'll get your 100 euros back very quickly.
I have no idea how that truncated reply, apparently from me, got in there. But, as I am sitting in the sun in Puerto Vallarta before my first margarita of the day, I am not at my best. Nor is my iPhone, which is behaving very oddly indeed. Maybe the humidity is getting to it. The lack of internal humidity is certainly getting to me. If I could work up the energy, I “would” get back to my Spanish study, which is what I am supposed to be doing here. I have walked a few kilometres today, and with that and the Spanish I tell myself I am preparing for my fall camino. This morning’s -20C in Calgary has nothing to do with it. Buen camino to all.Would, could, should.
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