Looking for a walking companion

[Frank Mestre]

Hi My name is Frank I am Spanish but live in England I am bilingual so might be helpful on the Camino de la Plata. I am looking for an easy going not too deep none smoker/drugs pleasant person to walk the camino with starting towards the end of may. I am a young 60 year old restaurant owner who is hoping to spend some quality time away from the rat race. I am easy going guy who loves a laugh, walking, eating, drinking. I've reached a cross road but not sure which way to go so am looking for answers. Not sure how this forum works but hey. Message me on Face book \thanks Frank Mestre

 

[SYates]

Hi and welcome to the forum @Frank Mestre

As a native Spanish speaker, and bilingual in English, you will have a great time on the Via de la Plata! And don't forget, there are not only other pilgrims to speak to, but also the neighbors that live alongside the way!

Buen Camino, SY

 

[Frank Mestre]

It'll be my first Camino with a companion or not I'll be off. Thanks SY

 

[SYates]

And you will be in much demand as a translator/interpreter/'can you please call the next albergue for me to see if it is open/has a free bed'

Have fun and a Buen Camino, SY

 

[notion900]

You don't need to fix a walking companion, you will be mobbed! I am walking from Merida starting at Easter so I won't coincide with you, but feel free to contact me via PM on this site if you want to chat or have a drink in london.

 

[MTtoCamino]

Have fun Frank, please keep us in mind on your return. It is nice to get new perspectives.
Buen Camino
Keith

 

[JillGat]

Would love to walk with you. Unfortunately I am not able to head off this year until September so can't, this time. Have a wonderful time!

 

[DeniseT]

I think i am fun, however according to my kids I am not....
Hope to bump into you, I am leaving 1 June SJPDP

 

[Pruden]

Don't worry about getting companion before your starting day , this is something that would happen probably the first day at the albergue.
Is going to be difficult to know if the person you meet is going to be your companion all the way through ,( maybe hi or she is going faster than you or slowly or maybe want to stop for a coffee or a sandwich here and there , maybe his walking distance journey is only 20 kilometers or more or less ), I think time and journeys will probably put things together for you , maybe you would like to find your self in the silence walking .( difficult to say it now.
Don't worry just go if you feel the call or the urge to go ), go and enjoy your journey on the Camino.
I have made Camino Frances all the way through and sometimes is good to walk alone and sometimes is good to be walking with other pilgrims.
Enjoy !!
Buen Camino!
By the way I'm Spanish from Madrid ,( but that is not important).

 

[Antonius Vaessen]

In march 2015 I started alone on the Via de la Plata,for me it was my first Camino too. It was no problem at all, most of the time I walked alone during the day and met up with other pilgrims in the evening in albergues. After about 4 days I started to know a group of people, which developed into a kind of "Camino family" Contacts were easy and enforced by the fact that on the Via de la Plata there are less possibilities to find an albergue or cities.
When I walked sometimes the albergues were full, so it was not a lonely walk. Speaking Spanish is a big advantage, you can make yourself very useful, as SYates allready said. Being able to talk to Spanish people is an important part of walking a Camino I think (I met a lot of people who walked 3,4,5 Camino's and still hardly didn't know any Spanish. I think that that is strange)

 

[tillyjones]

As they say, Frank, 'The Camino provides'. Just like packing your bag, I would say don't worry about planning for all the things you think you might need. Once you're on the Way, and you find yourself in need of something, the Camino will surely provide it. So, if find you are in need of company, someone will appear. That's the magic of the Camino.

 

[trecile]

I have to say that I'm always puzzled by people who want to find a stranger to walk with prior to starting the Camino. While I'm sure that I would love to meet everyone here, and we would likely get along fine, I wouldn't want to commit to walking with someone I don't know! That's one f the great things about the Camino. You can meet lots of people and walk with them or not, and not feel a sense of obligation.

 

[Frank Mestre]

Thanks guys your posts make total sense and give me lots of confidence. Looking forward to it.

 

[Kanga]

Welcome to the forum @Frank Mestre - I'll be on the Vdlp from mid April so will miss you, but I'm sure you will have a great time. As the others have said, you will never be short of a companion, if you want one - the albergues are a great way of meeting and making friends. It is also good to start your first Camino solo. You will find great freedom in being able to make your own decisions, not being answerable to anyone, meeting the Camino day by day, and having some good thinking time when you want it. Go without expectations and trust yourself - you will be amazed at what you can do. When in doubt - walk.

Buen Camino!

 

[Pruden]

Thanks guys your posts make total sense and give me lots of confidence. Looking forward to it.

Yes Frank!
Don't get compromised before you start your Camino and know the person you would like to share your journey on the Camino , it's like getting married with someone you don't know , first spend some time together and later you take the decision to keep going together or on your own.
Seguro que lo pasaras bien y no te sentirás atado a nadie con quien no te sientas cómodo .
Cada tarde al llegar a los albergues tendrás ocasión de confraternizar con los peregrinos , también a lo largo de la etapa , siéntete cómodo y con libertad ara ir más despacio o más de prisa que los demás , márcate tu propio tiempo de andar o parar y no fuerces ir fuera del ritmo que te pida tu cuerpo ,( el exceso o el defecto suelen pasar factura y más en un camino tan largo como el Vdlp.
Buen Camino!

 

[Paddy Brock]

Hi My name is Frank I am Spanish but live in England I am bilingual so might be helpful on the Camino de la Plata. I am looking for an easy going not too deep none smoker/drugs pleasant person to walk the camino with starting towards the end of may. I am a young 60 year old restaurant owner who is hoping to spend some quality time away from the rat race. I am easy going guy who loves a laugh, walking, eating, drinking. I've reached a cross road but not sure which way to go so am looking for answers. Not sure how this forum works but hey. Message me on Face book \thanks Frank Mestre

Hi Frank , enjoy finding yourself and good luck at the crossroads. the answers will come . Paddy, Dublin Ireland, 4th Camino, starting from Seville on 26th April, Vaya con dios

 

[DeniseT]

Hi Frank,
I leave SJPDP 1june, I speak Australian and English, some French when the conversations permits lol
Looking forward to first Camino but also little anxious. Maybe we will x paths
enjoy