vegoodrich
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances (October 3-18, 2015)
Frances w/2 Daughters (Sept 22 - Oct 20)
Hello everyone,
After enjoying the wonderful help provided by this forum when planning my Camino trip I thought the least I could do was post a few of my thoughts on returning last Wednesday from walking the Camino France's from StJPdP to Santiago in 16 days. Before anyone starts thinking I'm crazy, that pace was what felt good and right to me (the meaning of a very personal pilgrimage) as I had planned for the whole month of October if needed.
Here are some pictures from the trip (scroll to first ones to start at the beginning):
https://instagram.com/vegoodrich/
And without further waiting a few thoughts:
- It was overall a wonderful journey and I was reminded time and time again that people are beautiful and wonderful
- As wonderful as the very popular guide books are, I really enjoyed my stays in the smaller towns and less popular albergues more than the popular stopping points.
- October was a beautiful time for walking, not too hot and not too cold. I did enjoy spectacular weather for most of the journey. It was not too busy in the least.
- Learn some Spanish before you go. I have some basic Spanish down and can understand a lot more and I thought it was critical to me having a really nice, relaxed, time. If for no other reason than to learn more from the locals and ask questions!!
- If you need any special accomodations (dietary/sleeping/etc), please learn to ask for these things in Spanish. On more than one occassion I, with my passable but not great Spanish, stepped in to help pilgrims who were concerned about something that they could not communicate to someone at a restaurant or albergue.
- Don't worry too much about the details (where are you going to stop/sleep/eat/etc). Overall the Camino frances is very easy to find things on and you are rarely far from these things. There are a few exceptions and be aware of those.
- Walk your own journey, not someone else's
- Enjoy the company of different people every day from all over the world. While getting in with a 'group' that is on the same 'schedule' as you can be wonderful I enjoyed meeting amazing people every day because I didn't have a group I was primarily socializing with. It was wonderful. A lot of us called them one day 'Camino friends'. People who can hear your life story in one day and become your best friend for that same day.
- Sunrise, sunrise, sunrise...sigh, it is what I miss the most
- It can really be a very affordable trip with just a little bit of thought.
- Pack light - simple is better and if you really end up needing something, Pamplona is a big town stop in the first few days
- I saw a crazy amount of hiking boots strapped to backpacks
- I am a runner and mountain hiker and am not sure I would walk the Camino France's again but It was perfect one time and I am so glad that I did it. It has made me think about other long walks that I think would be wonderful too.
Let me know if there are any questions!
Buen Camino,
Val
After enjoying the wonderful help provided by this forum when planning my Camino trip I thought the least I could do was post a few of my thoughts on returning last Wednesday from walking the Camino France's from StJPdP to Santiago in 16 days. Before anyone starts thinking I'm crazy, that pace was what felt good and right to me (the meaning of a very personal pilgrimage) as I had planned for the whole month of October if needed.
Here are some pictures from the trip (scroll to first ones to start at the beginning):
https://instagram.com/vegoodrich/
And without further waiting a few thoughts:
- It was overall a wonderful journey and I was reminded time and time again that people are beautiful and wonderful
- As wonderful as the very popular guide books are, I really enjoyed my stays in the smaller towns and less popular albergues more than the popular stopping points.
- October was a beautiful time for walking, not too hot and not too cold. I did enjoy spectacular weather for most of the journey. It was not too busy in the least.
- Learn some Spanish before you go. I have some basic Spanish down and can understand a lot more and I thought it was critical to me having a really nice, relaxed, time. If for no other reason than to learn more from the locals and ask questions!!
- If you need any special accomodations (dietary/sleeping/etc), please learn to ask for these things in Spanish. On more than one occassion I, with my passable but not great Spanish, stepped in to help pilgrims who were concerned about something that they could not communicate to someone at a restaurant or albergue.
- Don't worry too much about the details (where are you going to stop/sleep/eat/etc). Overall the Camino frances is very easy to find things on and you are rarely far from these things. There are a few exceptions and be aware of those.
- Walk your own journey, not someone else's
- Enjoy the company of different people every day from all over the world. While getting in with a 'group' that is on the same 'schedule' as you can be wonderful I enjoyed meeting amazing people every day because I didn't have a group I was primarily socializing with. It was wonderful. A lot of us called them one day 'Camino friends'. People who can hear your life story in one day and become your best friend for that same day.
- Sunrise, sunrise, sunrise...sigh, it is what I miss the most
- It can really be a very affordable trip with just a little bit of thought.
- Pack light - simple is better and if you really end up needing something, Pamplona is a big town stop in the first few days
- I saw a crazy amount of hiking boots strapped to backpacks
- I am a runner and mountain hiker and am not sure I would walk the Camino France's again but It was perfect one time and I am so glad that I did it. It has made me think about other long walks that I think would be wonderful too.
Let me know if there are any questions!
Buen Camino,
Val