LIVE from the Camino Last minute jitters

[Veena]

Am walking from Sarria to Finisterre in a couple of weeks. I'm walking alone, and while I believe that there will be a lot of pilgrims till Santiago, I'm worried about getting lost in the route up to Finisterre. Is it well marked?
Also, I don't speak Spanish, and even though I've been working with a phrasebook for several weeks now, am afraid I won't be able to understand what is spoken to me. How difficulty would this make things?

Thanks.

 

[Tincatinker]

The route from Santiago to Fisterra is, these days, well trod and well marked. Brierleys guide, readily available in Santiago, is accurate and easy to follow. The Galician Tourist Office close to the Pilgrims Office provides a credencial and excellent information on facilities en-route. You can get lost anywhere if you try hard enough but the Camino Finisterre is pretty easy to follow.

 

[Robo]

We all get jitters before our first Camino.

I am 400 km into mine right now.

I would only say this.......

All of the anxiety and fear you have bottled up.....will evaporate within the first hour of walking. .... you have nothing to worry about.

 

[JaneI]

We walked the Camino Ingles last week with not a word of Spanish/Portuguese/Galician between us. We found that all along the camino people understood why we were there, where we were going, and what we might need, and went out of their way to help us. You can get a long way with smiles, gestures and pointing when all you are looking for is food, water, accommodation or directions!

And for everything else - if you have a smartphone, download Google Translate. And then be prepared for the hysterical laughter when you share its sometimes-too-literal translations of what you are trying to say

 

[KinkyOne]

Am walking from Sarria to Finisterre in a couple of weeks. I'm walking alone, and while I believe that there will be a lot of pilgrims till Santiago, I'm worried about getting lost in the route up to Finisterre. Is it well marked?
Also, I don't speak Spanish, and even though I've been working with a phrasebook for several weeks now, am afraid I won't be able to understand what is spoken to me. How difficulty would this make things?

Thanks.

Well, ragrdless of previous post I think even ............... [insert at will] could remember ans say at least three simple things:
- Hola! - Hi!
- Buenas dias/Buen dia/Buenas tardes - Good morning/Good day/Good day( in the afternoon)
- Gracias - Thank you.

If you combine these with your smile it means you're nice person who at least try to learn at least 7 (yes, only 7 in this case) Spanish words without depending on a stupid machine to translate your wishes. Believe me, the locals you'll meet will know every basic thing you might need, but for me those would be meaningless without their smile after some Spanish/Gallego words spoken from me.

All will be well

 

[JaneI]

Couldn't agree more, @KinkyOne - I didn't mean to imply any rudeness, just to reassure that a lack of common language is no barrier on the camino. By the end of day one I had your seven words plus auga (water), helado (ice cream) and of course por favor (please) off to a tee. By the end of day 2 I was starting to get the gist of what was being said back to me in very rapid Galician ... ;-)

 

[MTtoCamino]

It is quiet or at least it was in May of last year, only saw 10-15 others walking in the 3 days it took. All places wiith just a few words of spanish I got along fine. But I walked with an Aussie family of 3. You can always post on this site to see if there are others walking during the same time.
It is a very rewarding walk. Especially once your reach the ocean.
Depending on your conditioning or how far you want to walk 2 of those days of the the 3 were over 30K.
Of those other pilgrims walking All but 2 were taking 4 days to walk to Finnesterre. If you go to Muxia add a minimum of 2 days to continue from there to Finnesterre. Unless of course you are someone who can do those 40-50 k days
Keith

 

[KinkyOne]

... If you go to Muxia add a minimum of 2 days to continue from there to Finnesterre. Unless of course you are someone who can do those 40-50 k days...

Not true. If you go to Fisterra via Muxia you have to add 1 day and no need to walk such long stages as 30, 40 or 50kms.
Very doable stages can be:
- SdC to Negreira = 24,4km
- to Santa Marina = 21km
- to As Carizas (Dumbria) = 22,1km
- to Muxia = 22,9km
- to Lires = 15,7km
- to Fisterra = 13,6km (or 29,3km without overnight in Lires)
All of the mentioned stops have at least 1 albergue.

Ultreia!

 

[Veena]

Not true. If you go to Fisterra via Muxia you have to add 1 day and no need to walk such long stages as 30, 40 or 50kms.
Very doable stages can be:
- SdC to Negreira = 24,4km
- to Santa Marina = 21km
- to As Carizas (Dumbria) = 22,1km
- to Muxia = 22,9km
- to Lires = 15,7km
- to Fisterra = 13,6km (or 29,3km without overnight in Lires)
All of the mentioned stops have at least 1 albergue.

Ultreia!

This is what I'm doing.
Negereira
Albeiroas
Cee
Finisterre
That's not too bad right?

 

[KinkyOne]

It's OK if distances suits you
But I don't know for acommodation in Abeleiroas. Have you find a Pension or Casa Rural there?

 

[Veena]

It's OK if distances suits you
But I don't know for acommodation in Abeleiroas. Have you find a Pension or Casa Rural there?

i've been booked into one, yes...fingers crossed.

 

[dougfitz]

If you go to Muxia add a minimum of 2 days to continue from there to Finnesterre. Unless of course you are someone who can do those 40-50 k days

Where did 40-50km come from? I did the direct route, Muxia-Lires-Finisterra and it was only about 30km and a day's walk. Splitting it is possible, just not necessary.

 

[MTtoCamino]

Not true. If you go to Fisterra via Muxia you have to add 1 day and no need to walk such long stages as 30, 40 or 50kms.
Very doable stages can be:
- SdC to Negreira = 24,4km
- to Santa Marina = 21km
- to As Carizas (Dumbria) = 22,1km
- to Muxia = 22,9km
- to Lires = 15,7km
- to Fisterra = 13,6km (or 29,3km without overnight in Lires)
All of the mentioned stops have at least 1 albergue.

Ultreia!

Obviously I am not communicating clearly, my walk took me to Finesterre in 3 days. Not that I am saying anyone has to do that. I think your stages are very well thought out. The next walk when I go back I will use it To walk to Muxia & then on to Finnesterre . The 40-50K a day was more to point out some people do walk that far. Not I.
I think the stages Veena picked out will be good.
Keith

 

[auburnfive]

i've been booked into one, yes...fingers crossed.

Hello,
Can you give me the name/ contact info of accommodation in Abeleiroas? Thank you

 

[dougfitz]

Hello,
Can you give me the name/ contact info of accommodation in Abeleiroas? Thank you

I don't recall there being any pilgrim accommodation there. I checked the Gronze site and my 2014 Brierley Guide to the Camino Finisterre, and couldn't find anything listed in either. Brierley shows an option with a detour into A Picota where there is a hotel (Casa Jurjo 981852015) .