lissie45
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Planning to walk CF 2020 - once my partner recovers from cardiac surgery
Hi,
My name is Lis, I'm 56 and from New Zealand. My partner (Paul 65) are hoping to walk the Caminio Frances in 2019. There's a moderator here who is partly responsible for this... @SYates I think she introduced us to the idea years ago, and of course we've since seen the movies. We have been to Spain and Portugal years ago and they are some of our favourite parts of Europe. I once spent 6 weeks walking to and from Everest Base Camp, so I know I like long-distance walking - what I don't like is carrying a heavy pack, so although NZ has some pretty walks, we have a sad lack of towns, cafes, and bars along the way so you have to carry all your gear!
I had always some of the long distance footpaths in the UK would be what we'd do - but Spain has better food and climate (I can say that I have a UK passport LOL) . In no way are we Pilgrims as such - we're both typical kiwis- no religion - though I know how to behave in a church.
Albergue or Hostale?
Which leads to me to my first question. I've travelled and backpacked a LOT - the first time I was in Europe I could only afford the cheapest dorm - and only about every 2nd or 3rd night. Now we're lucky - we have more money - we can afford to pay up to about Euro50, more if necessary. But I also liked the camaraderie you get staying in dorms. But is staying in an Albergue appropriate for an old, relatively rich, atheists? Or should we stay in Hostales and Pensions and leave the cheap beds for those who can't afford anything else? If we do that will we meet others - or will be it be more just walking with each other? I know we can make a choice as we go along (I have no intention of pre-booking much apart from the first night - these old lazy bodies won't want to be constrained as to when they get to stop for the day) but it does make a difference as to whether we bring a sleeping bag or not
When to Walk
Typically we will need to book flights by the end of the year at the latest - so temperatures and, more importantly, rain. We can deal with heat and cold but neither of us like the rain very much. I'm a bit shocked to hear how bad the weather is at the moment as initially I was thinking about leaved St Jean early April. I also want to allow 6 weeks to walk because we will be slow at the start, and between bad knees (both) back (him) and heart issues (him) we ain't hurrying..
I'd also like 10 days or so to be a tourist in Spain at the end so it has more appeal walking in spring into good weather than walking September into bad weather. Would starting May aiming to be SdC by mid June be sensible compromise on weather and crowds ? Major holidays to avoid?
Sellos
I think the sellos are just gorgeous - to be honest they make a better souvenir to me that the certificate at the end. My question is - if we end up staying in non-albergue accommodation will our accommodation still give us a stamp if we've walked? What if we "cheat" and take the bus for parts of some days - I'm guessing then no? From what I've read there's spaces for about 6 stamps and you need to get 2 a day for the last 100km - so it's a bit marginal that they would all fit in one pasporte - can you get another one along the way? I'd love to get a stamp from every place we stay or eat in as a record - but that won't all fit in one.
WIFI and Cellular Data
I know, I know , but I'm not retired (my partner is) - I own a business, I'll be carrying a device and I need to be able to connect every few days. I have an unlocked phone so I expect I can buy a SIM and tether - but how are the data speeds? 3G? Better? Recommended providers that have better coverage on the CF?
Thanks - I'm sure I'll have more questions!
My name is Lis, I'm 56 and from New Zealand. My partner (Paul 65) are hoping to walk the Caminio Frances in 2019. There's a moderator here who is partly responsible for this... @SYates I think she introduced us to the idea years ago, and of course we've since seen the movies. We have been to Spain and Portugal years ago and they are some of our favourite parts of Europe. I once spent 6 weeks walking to and from Everest Base Camp, so I know I like long-distance walking - what I don't like is carrying a heavy pack, so although NZ has some pretty walks, we have a sad lack of towns, cafes, and bars along the way so you have to carry all your gear!
I had always some of the long distance footpaths in the UK would be what we'd do - but Spain has better food and climate (I can say that I have a UK passport LOL) . In no way are we Pilgrims as such - we're both typical kiwis- no religion - though I know how to behave in a church.
Albergue or Hostale?
Which leads to me to my first question. I've travelled and backpacked a LOT - the first time I was in Europe I could only afford the cheapest dorm - and only about every 2nd or 3rd night. Now we're lucky - we have more money - we can afford to pay up to about Euro50, more if necessary. But I also liked the camaraderie you get staying in dorms. But is staying in an Albergue appropriate for an old, relatively rich, atheists? Or should we stay in Hostales and Pensions and leave the cheap beds for those who can't afford anything else? If we do that will we meet others - or will be it be more just walking with each other? I know we can make a choice as we go along (I have no intention of pre-booking much apart from the first night - these old lazy bodies won't want to be constrained as to when they get to stop for the day) but it does make a difference as to whether we bring a sleeping bag or not
When to Walk
Typically we will need to book flights by the end of the year at the latest - so temperatures and, more importantly, rain. We can deal with heat and cold but neither of us like the rain very much. I'm a bit shocked to hear how bad the weather is at the moment as initially I was thinking about leaved St Jean early April. I also want to allow 6 weeks to walk because we will be slow at the start, and between bad knees (both) back (him) and heart issues (him) we ain't hurrying..
I'd also like 10 days or so to be a tourist in Spain at the end so it has more appeal walking in spring into good weather than walking September into bad weather. Would starting May aiming to be SdC by mid June be sensible compromise on weather and crowds ? Major holidays to avoid?
Sellos
I think the sellos are just gorgeous - to be honest they make a better souvenir to me that the certificate at the end. My question is - if we end up staying in non-albergue accommodation will our accommodation still give us a stamp if we've walked? What if we "cheat" and take the bus for parts of some days - I'm guessing then no? From what I've read there's spaces for about 6 stamps and you need to get 2 a day for the last 100km - so it's a bit marginal that they would all fit in one pasporte - can you get another one along the way? I'd love to get a stamp from every place we stay or eat in as a record - but that won't all fit in one.
WIFI and Cellular Data
I know, I know , but I'm not retired (my partner is) - I own a business, I'll be carrying a device and I need to be able to connect every few days. I have an unlocked phone so I expect I can buy a SIM and tether - but how are the data speeds? 3G? Better? Recommended providers that have better coverage on the CF?
Thanks - I'm sure I'll have more questions!