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Walking the Camino Frances during a busy period is a choice which has consequences.As more and more people make the choice to pre-book, the more pressures it puts on others to do the same. Pre-training is choice. Early rising is a choice. Stopping before major congestion points is also a choice (one I will definitely use). One thing I have learned on this earth is that choices have consequences, many of which are unseen at the time they are made. The consequence may not be to yourself but to someone else. Part of my path in life is to be the change I want to see in the world.
I think you have misinterpreted the responses. Your post certainly doesn't induce any guilt in me.I apologize to those feel like my post... may induce a wee bit of guilt
Unfortunately, starting a thread does not give any control over the responses.I respectfully ask that all who comment further heed my earlier request to discuss the question "Is Courtesy Alive?"
The first two weeks of May and the first two weeks of September are the absolute busiest periods in the section starting in Saint Jean Pied de Port. July and August are the absolute busiest periods in the section ending in Santiago.@C clearly May is not the busy season June, July and August are.
You started with a rant and strong opinions, inviting us to reprimand and admonish you.I am continued to be attacked for posting an unpopular viewpoint that deserves legitimate discussion
Not any more. There was a discussion on the forum about a year and a half ago that they had to start limiting the number of beds at the Monastery to 183.Once you get to Roncesvalles, the Monestary has over 400 beds.
Busy months: May and September are very busy - I think the busiest. I set off on 1st September 2016, and was told we were the largest group of pilgrims arriving in Ronsesvalles that they could recall in any day. (And in my blissful ignorance I hadn't booked, but there were more beds then). They were putting people in taxis for nearby villages, and there was overflow lodging in containers in the yard.@Jo Rose Because Brierly is John the Baptist of the Way. @C clearly May is not the busy season June, July and August are. Mainly because people want to hit the holy days of obligation would be my guess. May is busy granted. And while humbly and asking people to move on from the original post to the original question does not guarantee people actually will, I hope that for discussions sake, people will exercise some common courtesy and do so. I'm actually interested in people's experience of common courtesy. Others might be too.
Apparently alot of people have missed that I have posted twice since my original post. Whatever. I opened the door to the discussion. I will however post again that I humbly thank all who have provided alternatives, some less than desirable than others, and again ask that that the discussion to focus on areas of courtesy you have been shown or did show along the way, your "lovely" pictures from your trek along the Valcarlos path, verify from your personal and recent experience that the offroad path to Valcarlos was both passable and safe, especially for women walking alone, refrain from making assumptions about me based on one post read and two (probably three) NOT read and discuss your direct experience along alternative routes from SJPP that would be useful.(I will request to admins to close my thread if I am continued to be attacked for posting an unpopular viewpoint that deserves legitimate discussion or if one more soul encourages me to stay at home.) I have not voiced what a true pilgrim is. I've refrained from attacking anyone personally and I would appreciate it if people did the same. And if this continues despite my fourth posting, I will prebook everything from St Jean to Santiago and give away beds to those whom I choose and deem worthy!!And I snore loudly and profusely. So accept that pilgrims! LOL
I'm only joking but seriously people lighten up. In no way could what I have posted stepped on your toes unless you pre-book and even if I did, I already apologized. I owned my crap in the original post. I warned that it was a rant. I told you it was coming from fear. My second post I thanked everyone for sharing. My third post I shared my findings along Valcarlos from this forum and asked people with direct experience of the route to share their experience not snarkiness.
I may have missed a few points on this thread but I can assure you July/August are NOT the busy season on the camino francés! And long may it last@Jo Rose Because Brierly is John the Baptist of the Way. @C clearly May is not the busy season June, July and August are.
I am not trying to dispute this but since we’ve been asked for our own experience: I’ve “met” tour groups only on this forum in the form of sometimes heated discussions about their existence.Tour groups [...] seem to be growing fast on the Frances........
... your "lovely" pictures from your trek along the Valcarlos path, verify from your personal and recent experience that the offroad path to Valcarlos was both passable and safe, especially for women walking alone, ....My third post I shared my findings along Valcarlos from this forum and asked people with direct experience of the route to share their experience not snarkiness.
Or ... you could type Valcarlos and Napoleon into the search field and explore the many comments and pictures that have already been posted on this topic on the forum. Otherwise one of the moderators may consider this as serious thread drift and close the threadagain ask that that the discussion to focus on areas of courtesy you have been shown or did show along the way, your "lovely" pictures from your trek along the Valcarlos path, verify from your personal and recent experience that the offroad path to Valcarlos was both passable and safe, especially for women walking alone
I hope you are able to let go of your self-identified fear of not being able to secure a bed. Viewing those who book ahead as the discourteous frustration of others is in my opinion misjudged. Albergue or Parador, weighed down or pack shipped ahead, we are all doing what we think we can cope with and the biggest courtesy we can afford to others is not to judge them or attribute them blame for what we might perceive as a negative to our journey. I happily give up my seat at a busy cafe to someone who might need it or share my water, carry another's pack for a time or stop to ensure someone's welfare and have experienced the same courtesy's given to me countless times.
I book ahead and this year when I begin my 9th Camino I will also book ahead. Because without that freedom I simply wouldn't be able to walk. I have paranoid schizophrenia and it is vital to my wellbeing that I know I have secure self-contained accommodation that I do not have to share. Not because I am anti-social but because after a day walking and trying to ensure my mind is not disturbed I need to eliminate triggers and be in a controlled space.
I'm sorry if I made you sad with my second post in this thread. In my defense, I had read and taken to heart all of your posts in this thread, not just the first, and was responding directly to the immediately preceding post you had made. I only posted it because, despite all of what you had taken from the various responses, you still seemed to hold on that booking ahead at places that permit it was discourteous. I would certainly not advise you (or anyone) to remain home except under doctor's orders.@Jo Rose Because Brierly is John the Baptist of the Way. @C clearly May is not the busy season June, July and August are. Mainly because people want to hit the holy days of obligation would be my guess. May is busy granted. And while humbly and asking people to move on from the original post to the original question does not guarantee people actually will, I hope that for discussions sake, people will exercise some common courtesy and do so. I'm actually interested in people's experience of common courtesy. Others might be too.
Apparently alot of people have missed that I have posted twice since my original post. Whatever. I opened the door to the discussion. I will however post again that I humbly thank all who have provided alternatives, some less than desirable than others, and again ask that that the discussion to focus on areas of courtesy you have been shown or did show along the way, your "lovely" pictures from your trek along the Valcarlos path, verify from your personal and recent experience that the offroad path to Valcarlos was both passable and safe, especially for women walking alone, refrain from making assumptions about me based on one post read and two (probably three) NOT read and discuss your direct experience along alternative routes from SJPP that would be useful.(I will request to admins to close my thread if I am continued to be attacked for posting an unpopular viewpoint that deserves legitimate discussion or if one more soul encourages me to stay at home.) I have not voiced what a true pilgrim is. I've refrained from attacking anyone personally and I would appreciate it if people did the same. And if this continues despite my fourth posting, I will prebook everything from St Jean to Santiago and give away beds to those whom I choose and deem worthy!!And I snore loudly and profusely. So accept that pilgrims! LOL
I'm only joking but seriously people lighten up. In no way could what I have posted stepped on your toes unless you pre-book and even if I did, I already apologized. I owned my crap in the original post. I warned that it was a rant. I told you it was coming from fear. My second post I thanked everyone for sharing. My third post I shared my findings along Valcarlos from this forum and asked people with direct experience of the route to share their experience not snarkiness.
The premise seems to be that by booking a bed you are having a negative effect on your fellow pilgrims who do not choose to book ahead by reducing the number of beds available. Having this negative effect on pilgrims who are doing nothing wrong is presented as discourteous in the original, fear-driven "rant" and in some of the subsequent responses. I don't agree with it myself, but I can follow the argument.I'm still looking for the connection implied in the thread title--that booking ahead is discourteous. What did I miss?
You ranted. You received a lot of replies. You responded. Then you got more replies. Now?This post is going to contain some ranting. It's coming from fear. I've waited 7 years to finally have my opportunity for the Camino. I am hoping to leave in May but given what I've seen in all the FB groups on the Camino, there is a new trend that wasnt around in 2012 when I first got the call.
Pre-bookers. There were tour companies in 2012 for sure. I remember older pilgrims complaining about them. There was bag service (Maybe not as many now). But the boatloads of pre-bookers for Orrison who are also pre-booking additional albergues for days following Orrison is creating ALOT of fear in me. May is definitely pre-booked for Orrison.
So all those pilgrims who have been told "It's your Camino. Walk it any way you want..." Well given that I have a spinal condition but am otherwise fit I'm having to assess if I can make the push straight to Roncesvaille. And if I get there, there is no given I will have a place to sleep because all the other May pre-bookers will likely have left the day before and pre-booked there as well.
The mean judgy side of me wants to say "Don't they trust God?" The mature side of me asks me "Do you?" I know this is an internal struggle with fear and trust. I mean I don't even have my ticket to leave yet. But all this talk about "It's your Camino. Walk it however" might lead to some issues for others. Like how I despite my physical limitations might have to walk the alternate path from SJPdP just because some weren't sure how they were going to feel once they reach Orrison. Or how I despite my pain might be forced to carry on to Roncesvaille, bed availability still uncertain. I'm not techy and if you tell me to reserve ahead for Roncesvaille I might scream. I've waited seven years to do this. But I might not be able to do the "It's your Camino. Walk it like you want." thing because I do want to see the pinnacle. That's been part of my dream. Not walking some roadway to Valcarlos. I just wish people would stop telling people that it's okay to pre-book because it's really not. I mean you don't even know if you'll have to stop. In my opinion, pre-booking is okay if you are travelling with more than two in your party and especially if you have seniors or kids. Otherwise, you're leaving out that God the Universe whatever you believe in might be drawing people with needs to the Camino.
First come, first served. That's what people were b*tching about 7 years ago. The tours, the bag service, the clusterclod in Sarria, the race for a bed. At least early bird gets the worm is fair. This pre-booking thing has thrown me a curve ball. I'm actually considering that despite the money and freedom I now have that I should post-pone. I can barely figure out how to arrange my arrival because I've never traveled abroad. Before I knew that if I traveled that I might have to early rise, I might have to expect congestion the closer to Santiago I got but this is a whole other predicament. I barely use my phone's capability in my own life!
I went to my local chapter meeting of APOC. I paid my dues for two years, just as I have here on the forum. The presenter was discussing how in a Camino basics lecture you can send your bags ahead, you can pre-book your stays in albergues. I cringed when he couldn't tell the backpacker bent on the Alps what was so special about the Camino Frances. This was Tuesday. At REI. (also of which I'm a member).
"Because it's a pilgrimage." I wanted to scream. According to the Pilgrim's Office in Santiago, "Groups organised with support car or by bicycle are requested to seek alternative shelter to the pilgrim hostels. " https://oficinadelperegrino.com/en/pilgrimage/the-credencial/
I think this should be taught to individuals as well. Why? Because of common courtesy. If you have a credencial from Santiago (available in the forum store for a 2 E donation), you AGREE TO ABIDE BY IT. The spirit of this if you are booking ahead, do so at a hotel! Not a hostel or albergue!
So I hope people can help me to shed these fears Will I like and others like me, the technologically challenged, follow in the footsteps of Jesus? ""Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
I'd love to hear your stories. Reprimand me. Admonish me. But if you say to me "Book ahead" I will start another thread about bringing back pilgrim values.
I am going to do the Camino Primitivo part 2 from Lugo in May with four of my school friends. We are ladies of a certain age, have a variety of ailments and limited time. We have pre-booked accommodation and baggage transfers. All of our accommodation is privately owned hotel or guest house. We are paying hard earned cash which will go back into the Galician economy. I feel no guilt at what we are doing, we have been friends for 49 years and want to do our Camino together.This post is going to contain some ranting. It's coming from fear. I've waited 7 years to finally have my opportunity for the Camino. I am hoping to leave in May but given what I've seen in all the FB groups on the Camino, there is a new trend that wasnt around in 2012 when I first got the call.
Pre-bookers. There were tour companies in 2012 for sure. I remember older pilgrims complaining about them. There was bag service (Maybe not as many now). But the boatloads of pre-bookers for Orrison who are also pre-booking additional albergues for days following Orrison is creating ALOT of fear in me. May is definitely pre-booked for Orrison.
So all those pilgrims who have been told "It's your Camino. Walk it any way you want..." Well given that I have a spinal condition but am otherwise fit I'm having to assess if I can make the push straight to Roncesvaille. And if I get there, there is no given I will have a place to sleep because all the other May pre-bookers will likely have left the day before and pre-booked there as well.
The mean judgy side of me wants to say "Don't they trust God?" The mature side of me asks me "Do you?" I know this is an internal struggle with fear and trust. I mean I don't even have my ticket to leave yet. But all this talk about "It's your Camino. Walk it however" might lead to some issues for others. Like how I despite my physical limitations might have to walk the alternate path from SJPdP just because some weren't sure how they were going to feel once they reach Orrison. Or how I despite my pain might be forced to carry on to Roncesvaille, bed availability still uncertain. I'm not techy and if you tell me to reserve ahead for Roncesvaille I might scream. I've waited seven years to do this. But I might not be able to do the "It's your Camino. Walk it like you want." thing because I do want to see the pinnacle. That's been part of my dream. Not walking some roadway to Valcarlos. I just wish people would stop telling people that it's okay to pre-book because it's really not. I mean you don't even know if you'll have to stop. In my opinion, pre-booking is okay if you are travelling with more than two in your party and especially if you have seniors or kids. Otherwise, you're leaving out that God the Universe whatever you believe in might be drawing people with needs to the Camino.
First come, first served. That's what people were b*tching about 7 years ago. The tours, the bag service, the clusterclod in Sarria, the race for a bed. At least early bird gets the worm is fair. This pre-booking thing has thrown me a curve ball. I'm actually considering that despite the money and freedom I now have that I should post-pone. I can barely figure out how to arrange my arrival because I've never traveled abroad. Before I knew that if I traveled that I might have to early rise, I might have to expect congestion the closer to Santiago I got but this is a whole other predicament. I barely use my phone's capability in my own life!
I went to my local chapter meeting of APOC. I paid my dues for two years, just as I have here on the forum. The presenter was discussing how in a Camino basics lecture you can send your bags ahead, you can pre-book your stays in albergues. I cringed when he couldn't tell the backpacker bent on the Alps what was so special about the Camino Frances. This was Tuesday. At REI. (also of which I'm a member).
"Because it's a pilgrimage." I wanted to scream. According to the Pilgrim's Office in Santiago, "Groups organised with support car or by bicycle are requested to seek alternative shelter to the pilgrim hostels. " https://oficinadelperegrino.com/en/pilgrimage/the-credencial/
I think this should be taught to individuals as well. Why? Because of common courtesy. If you have a credencial from Santiago (available in the forum store for a 2 E donation), you AGREE TO ABIDE BY IT. The spirit of this if you are booking ahead, do so at a hotel! Not a hostel or albergue!
So I hope people can help me to shed these fears Will I like and others like me, the technologically challenged, follow in the footsteps of Jesus? ""Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
I'd love to hear your stories. Reprimand me. Admonish me. But if you say to me "Book ahead" I will start another thread about bringing back pilgrim values.
There's also Kayola, 1km before Orrison, run by the same folks, and "only" €15/night. A night there followed by breakfast at Orrison works for me. €35/night to sleep in a dorm doesn't.Hi Lizlane,
Another option is to have a first night in Hunto (we did). Yes, it's a bit lower than Orisson, but it cuts quite a chunk out of this big SJPDP-Roncesvalles stage.
Here are the details about the gite : http://www.gites-de-france-64.com/ferme-ithurburia/
There's also Kayola, 1km before Orrison, run by the same folks, and "only" €15/night. A night there followed by breakfast at Orrison works for me. €35/night to sleep in a dorm doesn't.
I apologize to those feel like [...] my POV may induce a wee bit of guilt
I think you have misinterpreted the responses. Your post certainly doesn't induce any guilt in me.
This is an interesting topic I feel: Do you feel guilty or defensive because you pre-book or don't stay in albergue dormitories?We are paying hard earned cash which will go back into the Galician economy. I feel no guilt at what we are doing
And into the economy of the other regions in Northern Spain of course.We are paying hard earned cash which will go back into the Galician economy.
You may be surprised to learn that during the last Holy Year (2010), the number of pilgrims who passed through Roncesvalles was 6% less than in the previous year 2009.
Well I do hope they come up with a gameplan for the Holy Year in Roncesvaille.
I never felt guilty when I pre-booked. It never would have occurred to me. I also never felt guilty when not staying in albergues. On my first camino (1989) I don't think I was that aware of albergues. On my second camino, I slept in hotels on rest days. My impression was that was the "thing to do". Albergues were for one night and moving on. If you were going to hang around, any additional days should be elsewhere. On my third camino, I only slept in albergues.This is an interesting topic I feel: Do you feel guilty or defensive because you pre-book or don't stay in albergue dormitories?
It's not often discussed but I feel that it's there when posters refer to "splurging" or "spoiling" themselves when staying a night in a parador or hotel, or cite reasons related to their health or age for their choices. And others of course are trying to instil a sense of guilt, a sense of not doing it the right way, if you don't stay mostly in dormitory style albergues without booking ahead. It has to do with preconceived ideas of what a contemporary pilgrimage must be like but as I like to point out, unlike in the Middle Ages, there is no higher authority of the religious-feudal kind that makes the rules for everyone on the pilgrimage roads anymore.
When I set out on the long road to Santiago (I don't walk it all in one go), I was totally outside of any "camino bubble". I had not seen the movies, had not read the books, wasn't a member of a camino-pilgrim association, and internet forums like this one barely existed, YouTube and FaceBook had not yet been invented. I didn't even know that there was a network of municipial and parochial albergues of the kind you find in Spain and in particular in Galicia, and to a much lesser extent elsewhere on the many roads leading to Santiago. I had never heard of the contemporary donativo concept. Without a care in the world, I stayed in small hotels or pensions and even in modern chain hotels. I stayed a few times in dormitory style accommodation but only because there was no other option. The later did not make me grow and it did not give me a feeling of freedom and I was not out of my personal comfort zone because I had stayed in similar or "worse" accommodation many times before while hiking or trekking.
To cut a long story short, once I had reached Spain and learnt more about contemporary camino-ing, I became defensive about my chosen accommodation style and several times I packed the silk sleeping bag liner and vowed that I'll give it a go with the bunkbeds. I never did, although I enjoy staying in private rooms in albergues. I thought it through and I ended up feeling happy with my choices. It is me who makes the pilgrimage rules by which I abide. And I don't feel that others ought to feel bothered by my choices. If you meet me on the road, you will not be able to tell that I put my head to sleep at night on a pre-booked pillow .
PS: My rule number one is "every step of the way". My second rule is "not one step too many".
simple..don't do the overcrowded, over rated CF. You'll find it much easier on any other routeThis post is going to contain some ranting. It's coming from fear. I've waited 7 years to finally have my opportunity for the Camino. I am hoping to leave in May but given what I've seen in all the FB groups on the Camino, there is a new trend that wasnt around in 2012 when I first got the call.
Pre-bookers. There were tour companies in 2012 for sure. I remember older pilgrims complaining about them. There was bag service (Maybe not as many now). But the boatloads of pre-bookers for Orrison who are also pre-booking additional albergues for days following Orrison is creating ALOT of fear in me. May is definitely pre-booked for Orrison.
So all those pilgrims who have been told "It's your Camino. Walk it any way you want..." Well given that I have a spinal condition but am otherwise fit I'm having to assess if I can make the push straight to Roncesvaille. And if I get there, there is no given I will have a place to sleep because all the other May pre-bookers will likely have left the day before and pre-booked there as well.
The mean judgy side of me wants to say "Don't they trust God?" The mature side of me asks me "Do you?" I know this is an internal struggle with fear and trust. I mean I don't even have my ticket to leave yet. But all this talk about "It's your Camino. Walk it however" might lead to some issues for others. Like how I despite my physical limitations might have to walk the alternate path from SJPdP just because some weren't sure how they were going to feel once they reach Orrison. Or how I despite my pain might be forced to carry on to Roncesvaille, bed availability still uncertain. I'm not techy and if you tell me to reserve ahead for Roncesvaille I might scream. I've waited seven years to do this. But I might not be able to do the "It's your Camino. Walk it like you want." thing because I do want to see the pinnacle. That's been part of my dream. Not walking some roadway to Valcarlos. I just wish people would stop telling people that it's okay to pre-book because it's really not. I mean you don't even know if you'll have to stop. In my opinion, pre-booking is okay if you are travelling with more than two in your party and especially if you have seniors or kids. Otherwise, you're leaving out that God the Universe whatever you believe in might be drawing people with needs to the Camino.
First come, first served. That's what people were b*tching about 7 years ago. The tours, the bag service, the clusterclod in Sarria, the race for a bed. At least early bird gets the worm is fair. This pre-booking thing has thrown me a curve ball. I'm actually considering that despite the money and freedom I now have that I should post-pone. I can barely figure out how to arrange my arrival because I've never traveled abroad. Before I knew that if I traveled that I might have to early rise, I might have to expect congestion the closer to Santiago I got but this is a whole other predicament. I barely use my phone's capability in my own life!
I went to my local chapter meeting of APOC. I paid my dues for two years, just as I have here on the forum. The presenter was discussing how in a Camino basics lecture you can send your bags ahead, you can pre-book your stays in albergues. I cringed when he couldn't tell the backpacker bent on the Alps what was so special about the Camino Frances. This was Tuesday. At REI. (also of which I'm a member).
"Because it's a pilgrimage." I wanted to scream. According to the Pilgrim's Office in Santiago, "Groups organised with support car or by bicycle are requested to seek alternative shelter to the pilgrim hostels. " https://oficinadelperegrino.com/en/pilgrimage/the-credencial/
I think this should be taught to individuals as well. Why? Because of common courtesy. If you have a credencial from Santiago (available in the forum store for a 2 E donation), you AGREE TO ABIDE BY IT. The spirit of this if you are booking ahead, do so at a hotel! Not a hostel or albergue!
So I hope people can help me to shed these fears Will I like and others like me, the technologically challenged, follow in the footsteps of Jesus? ""Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
I'd love to hear your stories. Reprimand me. Admonish me. But if you say to me "Book ahead" I will start another thread about bringing back pilgrim values.
That is not an option for me as a first-time solo pilgrim, first time abroad person. This was mentioned as a suggestion and I addressed my needs and reasons in previous responses.. Part of my confusion was hearing albergue and thinking this applied to ALL the hostels but this was cleared up by other members.simple..don't do the overcrowded, over rated CF. You'll find it much easier on any other route
It sounds like you are planning to pack way to many expectations.My Camino, the one I've waited seven years to do, is the Frances route. If I wanted to walk a different way I could have done a shorter route years ago. I desire to go, immerse myself and come back changed, spend as much as necessary. Another route may be in my future but the call I feel is specific to the French Way. Every picture I see of someone on the meseta speaks deeply to me. I have a divine appointment with my Creator on that stretch but shortening my experience in ANY way doesnt sit well with my soul.
The word "albergue" is generally used on the Camino to describe places that in North America would be called "hostels" - lodging where you can rent a bed in a room with other travelers.Albergues are not synonymous with hostels and many other hostels accept no pre-booking.
You may be rightIt sounds like you are planning to pack way to many expectations.
Quite remarkable - 1 May 2019 - Burguete uses their fronton (open air sports area or sports hall that is typical for the Basque country) as an emergency shelter to cope with the high number of pilgrims on the Camino Frances who are "traveling without having foreseen an accommodation, at a time when all the available places are filled and the albergues are fully occupied".If you get to Roncesvalles and there are no beds at the albergue, there are other accommodation options, or you can walk 3 km further to Burguete.
Would be very interesting to know how many of those 558 get to Santiago!Quite remarkable - 1 May 2019 - Burguete uses their fronton (open air sports area or sports hall that is typical for the Basque country) as an emergency shelter to cope with the high number of pilgrims on the Camino Frances who are "traveling without having foreseen an accommodation, at a time when all the available places are filled and the albergues are fully occupied".
Burguete adapta el frontón para acoger a un grupo numeroso de peregrinos
Los responsables del albergue de la localidad alertaron a las autoridades de la incapacidad de asumir al alto número de visitantes.www.diariodenavarra.es
Yesterday (30 April 2019), they had welcomed 558 pilgrims at the pilgrims office in SJPP. An all-time record. And Roncesvalles was full by 4 pm. And today (1 May 2019) it was reportedly full by 2 pm.
There are probably quite a few who aren't planning to reach Santiago this year.Would be very interesting to know how many of those 558 get to Santiago!
You mean: How many reach Santiago on foot? Or how many reach Santiago at the end of the month or next month?Would be very interesting to know how many of those 558 get to Santiago!
Would be very interesting to know how many of those 558 get to Santiago!
Amen to your post. Every pilgrim walking on any Camino is doing it as best suited for them at the time. Age, number of people in group, ability, injury, health, and many unseen factors play a part of people’s unique decisions. Let’s hold each other up in the fact that all pilgrims are on a journey and that is something we can support - regardless of how they are completing it.I can confirm that courtesy is alive and well on the Camino and that in my experience some of the loveliest and most thoughtful people I have met in recent years have been met on the Camino. But I can also confirm that the Camino is not a controlled utopian ideal and as such many of the frustrations we have at home will be present on the Camino. But for me, the good far outweighs the bad and the abundance of goodness shown by people is what brings me back each year.
I hope you are able to let go of your self-identified fear of not being able to secure a bed. Viewing those who book ahead as the discourteous frustration of others is in my opinion misjudged. Albergue or Parador, weighed down or pack shipped ahead, we are all doing what we think we can cope with and the biggest courtesy we can afford to others is not to judge them or attribute them blame for what we might perceive as a negative to our journey. I happily give up my seat at a busy cafe to someone who might need it or share my water, carry another's pack for a time or stop to ensure someone's welfare and have experienced the same courtesy's given to me countless times.
I book ahead and this year when I begin my 9th Camino I will also book ahead. Because without that freedom I simply wouldn't be able to walk. I have paranoid schizophrenia and it is vital to my wellbeing that I know I have secure self-contained accommodation that I do not have to share. Not because I am anti-social but because after a day walking and trying to ensure my mind is not disturbed I need to eliminate triggers and be in a controlled space.
My first Camino was done with hotels being my only type of accommodation but having experienced the wonderful aspects of socialising with other pilgrims I tried casa rurals and hostels, hoping to interact more. Last year I sought out private rooms in albergues and absolutely loved it. My journey to Santiago is an internal journey also and each time I walk I have less anxiety and time to listen...to God, the Camino and other Pilgrims.
So private room or dormitory, booking ahead might be the only way your fellow pilgrim can manage. Wishing you a safe and secure Camino.
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