Introduction from Somerset England

[Mendip Mike]

Hello

My name is Michael O'Shea. Aged 58. I live in the village of Banwell Somerset UK which is at the foot of the Mendip Hills hence the user name "Mendip Mike"

I plan to walk the Camino from St jean to Finisterre from Mid May 2014 to end of June 2014. I know its 2 years away but I need to get fully fit and learn some Spanish.

I guess just an introduction at this early stage not doubt I will be pestering you for information and advice over the coming months.

.


One question which has been posed to me is WHY I want to walk the Camino.
I know I WANT to walk the Camino. I enjoy long distance trail walking and have walked many of the long distance trials in the UK and Ireland. I like Spain and as a Roman Catholic I have always been aware of the Camino and perhaps it has always been in my consciousness. At present I am searching for the answer to the WHY question perhaps I will find out when I get there.

It would be good to know if anybody here in the Somerset/Bristol area is planning to or has recently walked the Camino.

What's the difference between a Refugio an Albergue and a Hospederia are they all the same thing ?

Good luck to all of you starting the Camino over the next few weeks.

Best regards

Mike

Now off to bed with a Spanish Dictionary

 

[tyrrek]

Hi Mike! Welcome.

Refugios and albergues are pretty much the same thing as far as I know (after 3 Caminos)! Someone will probably come up with a distinction, but in practical terms they're largely bunk rooms, inexpensive and exclusively for pilgrims. Hospederias are open to the general public and are low cost privately run hotels. They are private rooms so (although cheap by hotel standards) are significantly more expensive than albergues. That's my understanding of it anyway!

Enjoy your planning and keep in touch with the forum. Buen Camino!