Ariel Mallett
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino del Norte
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I am hoping that there will be the occasional internet cafe where I can let the world know that I am alive, are they fairly common (once every week or so?) along the Camino del Norte? ... Also, does anybody know if albergues in San Sebastian may not be open on Easter Sunday.
Ariel:Hello all!
Today marks one month till I arrive in Spain and begin my Camino! I will be flying into Madrid on March 31st, then travelling to Seville for Holy Week. I plan to leave Seville on Saturday 4/4 so that I can arrive in Irun and embark on my pilgrimage on Easter Sunday--hopefully after mass at the local church. I am going to book my accommodation at a local hostel before hand, and am also trying to buy my train tickets from Seville to Madrid but am having trouble doing so on the Spanish website and plan to buy the ticket when I arrive in Madrid.
I have also decided that I am not going to take anything digital on my camino. I have bought an old film camera and will be bringing several rolls of film with me. It also means I will not have a smart phone or wifi device with me. I am hoping that there will be the occasional internet cafe where I can let the world know that I am alive, are they fairly common (once every week or so?) along the Camino del Norte?
I do plan to bring an old basic cell phone and get a Spanish sim card when I arrive so that I can call ahead to hostels or if there is an emergency on the trail. I also hope to be able to make occasional calls to the USA with this cell phone but am having trouble finding international phone cards in this day an age. Does anybody know how I can get one? What about a Spanish sim card--I assume I will just ask my hostel in Madrid about how/where I can get one but any advice is helpful.
I also posted another thread about feminine hygiene on the camino--but I may as well as ask here too. What have women taken in terms of tampons/diva cup options while on the trail? What works best/is most potable but also practical (rinsing out a diva cup every few hours seems unrealistic)?
Also, does anybody know if albergues in San Sebastian, my first stop, will be open on the eve of Easter Sunday (considering it's such an important Catholic Holiday)? I figure if I arrive and things aren't open, I will try to stay in a church. I plan to pick up my credential in Irun--though it may be easier to get it in Seville before hand because the office may not be open on Easter Sunday.
I am also a little worried about how cold it will be in the north in April. Should I bring a light jacket or is a fleece and a rain jacket sufficient? I am actually considering switching to the Via de la Plata route if it will be too cold to walk in the north in April and May (I have heard conflicting opinions on this--some say it's far too rainy and cold, but I don't think a low of 40 and a high of 60 is really that cold). Thoughts?
Thank you for your input!
Ariel
I walked the Frances and Norte. Let me tell you Norte is a stunning walk. But, expect a lot of up and down compared to Frances or vdlp. When I walked the Norte in June, i faced a lot of rain, mud specially between Irun and Bilbao. You are attempting in April, expect the similar or worse conditions. Yes you would need good walking boots, walking poles, an insulating mid layer, wool cap and gloves in addition to a poncho/rain shell.Hello all!
I have also decided that I am not going to take anything digital on my camino. ..
I am also a little worried about how cold it will be in the north in April. Should I bring a light jacket or is a fleece and a rain jacket sufficient? I am actually considering switching to the Via de la Plata route if it will be too cold to walk in the north in April and May (I have heard conflicting opinions on this--some say it's far too rainy and cold, but I don't think a low of 40 and a high of 60 is really that cold). Thoughts?
Ariel
Hi Ariel,
A few answers for you. I walked the Norte with no way of accessing the internet, but managed to log on every few days. Some albergs have computers, often the local tourist information has free access, and if you head for the local library or municipal offices they often have computers. Ask at the alberge and the hospitalero can usually direct to local access.
There are a couple of hostels in San Sebastion, one in town, another up on the ridge about 2 kilometers east of town. There is also a donitivo alberge run by a christian group about three kilometers east of town, I stayed there and found it very pleasant for one night.
Either on the Norte or Via de la Plata you will need clothes to keep warm and decent rain gear at this time of year. It can pour with rain and you must be prepared for this. The rain and cold are not a problem if you are equipped for it. As suggested by Anniesantiago above, layers of clothes make sense and are lighter to wear and carry.
You can get your credencial at the alberge in Irun, or from the tourist information, and I have heard that you can get them from the main church but I have no personal experience of this.
The Norte is a great route, I loved walking it, and hope you do too.
You don't need a guide, but if you want a bit of background information on the places you are walking through, and if you can read some Spanish, I would recommend Camino de Santiago: Camino del Norte (Costa y Primitivo) edited in May of 2014, so very current. This being said, as you will not find an albergue every 5 km as you will on the CF, and since you are walking in April, your options will likely be limited. The list of albergues you speak of, where do you think you will get it from? I would suggest a hand made list based on various sites like Eroski, to ensure it is relevant.Thank you for the advice!
I am also curious if I need to invest in a real guide book for the camino del norte. At this point, I just planned on taking a map and a list of albergues along the route. I plan to choose my destination each morning rather than having set stopovers before I am on the trail. Do I need to do more planning than this?
..... I will not have a smart phone or wifi device with me. I am hoping that there will be the occasional internet cafe where I can let the world know that I am alive, are they fairly common (once every week or so?) along the Camino del Norte?
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