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That's exciting, Bettyvel! Would you mind providing some updates on the Albergue situation - or sharing anything the tourism office told you? I hear that many municipal albergues are closed and that reservations are recommended for the others. I'm just curious how tough it is to find reasonably-priced places to stay. I'll be starting my Camino in mid August. Buen Camino!Just arrived to SJPP from Brussels by train. Looking forward to my first Camino Frances tomorrow morning!
The welcome at the pilgrims’ centre was great. Good advise included: take a good sleep, no need to start super early tomorrow morning as weather is mild. I’ll follow it..
Buen Camino !Just arrived to SJPP from Brussels by train. Looking forward to my first Camino Frances tomorrow morning!
The welcome at the pilgrims’ centre was great. Good advise included: take a good sleep, no need to start super early tomorrow morning as weather is mild. I’ll follow it..
Buen CaminoJust arrived to SJPP from Brussels by train. Looking forward to my first Camino Frances tomorrow morning!
The welcome at the pilgrims’ centre was great. Good advise included: take a good sleep, no need to start super early tomorrow morning as weather is mild. I’ll follow it..
Buen Camino peregrina.Just arrived to SJPP from Brussels by train. Looking forward to my first Camino Frances tomorrow morning!
The welcome at the pilgrims’ centre was great. Good advise included: take a good sleep, no need to start super early tomorrow morning as weather is mild. I’ll follow it..
The pilgrim centre gave me a list of albergues and recommended to call the night before to book. This first night I stayed in a hotel, so cannot say much. But will keep posting news next days.That's exciting, Bettyvel! Would you mind providing some updates on the Albergue situation - or sharing anything the tourism office told you? I hear that many municipal albergues are closed and that reservations are recommended for the others. I'm just curious how tough it is to find reasonably-priced places to stay. I'll be starting my Camino in mid August. Buen Camino!
Arrived at Orisson after a steep walk of just 3 hours. Plenty of time to rest, watch the wonderful landscape and talk to other pilgrims. We are just six at the auberge, so very quiet.So excited for you. Please keep us posted on your progress and thoughts. Hugs
Buen viaje y buena suerte.Bettyvel,
What happy news this is; you must be so very excited tonight.
Enjoy tomorrow and all the days ahead as your camino unfolds.
Carpe diem and, in the truest sense, Ultreia!
I’m so excited for you and know exactly where you are. Trust in the arrows and enjoy the journey. Happy St James Day!!It’s going to be hot out there. May I suggest to start early, finish early, take care of your feet and hydrate. Buen Camino!
I’ll go, thank you for the tip!Bettyvel,
Thanks for your update. "Tired but happy" is the way to go!
Leaving Roncesvalles tomorrow in nearby Burguete on N135/ the camino on your left is a church, next to it a small plaza and at the back of the plaza the Bar Fronton at Calle Zubiarte, 13. It is open early every morning and very pilgrim friendly; within their complex is the local fronton court.
I always stopped there on my way down from Roncesvalles usually before dawn in late winter starlight. If by chance it is still dark as you leave Roncesvalles be sure to wear or carry your head torch.
Carpe diem!
Thanks for these updates, Bettyvel. It's very helpful. It sounds like you are already having a "buen camino!"The pilgrim centre gave me a list of albergues and recommended to call the night before to book. This first night I stayed in a hotel, so cannot say much. But will keep posting news next days.
Arrived at Orisson after a steep walk of just 3 hours. Plenty of time to rest, watch the wonderful landscape and talk to other pilgrims. We are just six at the auberge, so very quiet.
It is to note that there is a new hostel just 1km further up, perhaps this also contributes ?
Ambience is anyway wonderful, I’m not taking just of landscape… I’m happy to be here
Arrived to Zubiri, again tired but still very happy. I found the descent hard, specially because the path was made by stone, difficult to stay stable & needed to look down all the time to avoid falling or
twisting my ankles !
There is a river with a small side (see pic) where to relax with your feet in the water.. lovely lovely.
Some more peregrinos now, most of them Spaniards.
Cannot say anything about the alberghe as
I’m staying in a small pension. Actually I alternate…but saw lot of “free places available” notices in the village.
If you visit the Pamplona Cathedral, be sure to ASK to see the Bellringer's House!Today is Wednesday and I’m in Pamplona. Walked yesterday Tuesday… without being able to have a coffee or eat on our way from Zubiri because bars close on Tuesdays. All of them. The good news is that there is an alternative path to Pamplona in the most difficult part following a cycling path. It’s indicated in the app”Buen Camino”. I did not follow it, and had a more difficult way ( with more ups and downs) but with wonderful views.
Today I’m in Pamplona and will take a day off. Continuing tomorrow from Puente La Reina.
Thanks so much for all this information Bettyvel. Hoping to start on 14 September and I’m carefully saving your helpful tips! Continued safe journeyOops I saw only now your message, and lost it but I could enjoy the visit to the museum, really very well done. I learnt a lot!!!
I stayed in the Hostel Ibarrola and loved it. It’s a small capsule hotel like the Japanese ones, very clean and with all the facilities needed. So could do my washing and drying, breakfast was free (but do not expect too much from the coffee machine). The owner is super kind! We were 5, 4 men and myself so I had the women’s facilities all for myself!
Nice to start the day reading your message.Thanks so much for all this information Bettyvel. Hoping to start on 14 September and I’m carefully saving your helpful tips! Continued safe journey
Sometimes the Windows stay open, depends on the pilgrims you are with.I appreciate the up to date information as I will be walking in August. Is it possible to let us know what you think of air circulation in the bedrooms in the various places you stay?Are there windows open?
I'll be starting my Camino mid-August and am curios also.That's exciting, Bettyvel! Would you mind providing some updates on the Albergue situation - or sharing anything the tourism office told you? I hear that many municipal albergues are closed and that reservations are recommended for the others. I'm just curious how tough it is to find reasonably-priced places to stay. I'll be starting my Camino in mid August. Buen Camino!
I'll be starting my Camino mid-August and am curios also.
Thank you
I may have assumed incorrectly that you were starting I sjpdp or Roncesvalles.I'll be starting my Camino mid-August and am curios also.
Thank you
Yes Betty! This is your Camino! Take a deep breath, shake off the negativity he tried to dump on you. Fortunately the Camino has an abundance of wonderful Pilgrims with whom to enjoy your journey. Enjoy and Buen CaminoIn the Camino Frances I see that my pilgrim friends find places without any difficulty booking the same day. There are no many pilgrims indeed. Today in my way from Los Arcos to Viana I met 4 people, the rest were Spaniards doing one day walks.
I’m staying in Pension San Pedro in Viana and sincerely it is a mistake. The place does not worth the price they charge (40€), it is dirty!! Avoid Pension San Pedro in Viana.
Anyway, today is Saturday 31 July and I started late (7:30) so found few pilgrims… Everybody got up very early to do the long stage up to Logroño. Not a bad idea.
Lot of time to think. A pilgrim passing by commented that I had stoped also soon before, that I was doing many stops to seat.
I got so angry that wanted to shout at him bad words about walking without a backpack etc. But I didn’t. This man made me feel bad, being judged, feeling hurt, and wanting to defend myself. But this time I let it go, it was just somebody I do not know and do not care about. This is my camino, at the pace and with as many stops as I want!
Mspath,......
Tomorrow in Torres del Rio the camino passes a small octagonal Romanesque church, Santo Sepulcro. Some historians link this to the Knights Templar who protected the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem; others link it to the nearby monastery at Irache. Whatever, it is a small gem. Looking up into the ceiling of the central cupola crossed by ribbed vaults is mesmerizing. Do visit if you can.
Carpe diem!
ICOSTA,Mspath,
I noticed that in your posts you suggested some tips that go beyond the usual Way´s scripts. I'm starting Camino Fances on the next 14th, so I'm recording your valuable suggestions. However, why don't you compile all your suggestions and post them on the forum? I leave this tip.
Beautiful, thank-you for sharing. 🐿We had this lovely moment today on the way to Navarrete
Bookmarked.ICOSTA,
Thanks for your kind suggestion.
For years of personal commentary/tips regarding CF walking see my Camino Gazetteer blog.
Wherever/whenever you go
Bom caminho!
This is a better link for theBookmarked.
11 caminos!!! It will be a precious help.
Obrigado.
Changed. Thank you.This is a better link for the
Camino Gazetteer
Good on you for flicking his words off and not letting them stick. Thank you for posting--I quickly checked my upcoming reservation in Viana---that is not the one I have booked. Enjoy your walk---just imagine the weight of the stones that man is carrying to throw at others--as we say in Texas--bless his heart.In the Camino Frances I see that my pilgrim friends find places without any difficulty booking the same day. There are no many pilgrims indeed. Today in my way from Los Arcos to Viana I met 4 people, the rest were Spaniards doing one day walks.
I’m staying in Pension San Pedro in Viana and sincerely it is a mistake. The place does not worth the price they charge (40€), it is dirty!! Avoid Pension San Pedro in Viana.
Anyway, today is Saturday 31 July and I started late (7:30) so found few pilgrims… Everybody got up very early to do the long stage up to Logroño. Not a bad idea.
Lot of time to think. A pilgrim passing by commented that I had stoped also soon before, that I was doing many stops to seat.
I got so angry that wanted to shout at him bad words about walking without a backpack etc. But I didn’t. This man made me feel bad, being judged, feeling hurt, and wanting to defend myself. But this time I let it go, it was just somebody I do not know and do not care about. This is my camino, at the pace and with as many stops as I want!
I hope the acronym does not come back to bite you, Richard of York.Thanks for the updates, very useful. It looks like booking ahead isn't really necessary. Part of my reason to do the pilgrimage is to relinquish control, have no plans to get stressed over, so this is encouraging. I'm flying to Biarritz on Friday, starting from SJPdP on Saturday.
Masks are no longer a rule in the UK, so I'm not looking forward to having to wear one again. And outdoors? Really? I might miss that memo.
The use of masks outdoors is advised, but not compulsory. In any case I see many people wearing masks when streets are crowded. Not a bad idea, actually. Remembering how much Spaniards suffered due to restrictions during COVID picks, I understand.Thanks for the updates, very useful. It looks like booking ahead isn't really necessary. Part of my reason to do the pilgrimage is to relinquish control, have no plans to get stressed over, so this is encouraging. I'm flying to Biarritz on Friday, starting from SJPdP on Saturday.
Masks are no longer a rule in the UK, so I'm not looking forward to having to wear one again. And outdoors? Really? I might miss that memo.
Hi, hope your Camino is going well. Can I ask a question. I am planning to walk from St Jean to Roncesvalles on my first day. From your posts this looks like it will be a 6 hour trek? Is that about right? I initially allowed myself 7 hours but your experience suggest it might be a little less. Also did you stay in the monastery at Roncesvalles? If so how did you find it, and did it feel Covid safe??Arrived in Roncesvalles after 3 hours of steep up and down paths. Tired but happy. The view along the way is gorgeous and more than compensates the effort!!!!! It was lovely to find the food track and have a coffee, a nice chat with Jean Michel and a stamp!!
Arrived here I noticed everybody wears a mask while walking outside…. so followed the example. Apparently there are many cases in Navarra. Later I’m going to try the cider from here, it is quite famous.
There are few pilgrims, I crossed just two, the rest were people tracking across the Pyrenees. Lot of tourists.
Hi, it’s about 6-7 hours depending on your pace and in what way you take. I did the « fast » one and it took me less than 5 hours!! But it was steep and definitely slipperyHi, hope your Camino is going well. Can I ask a question. I am planning to walk from St Jean to Roncesvalles on my first day. From your posts this looks like it will be a 6 hour trek? Is that about right? I initially allowed myself 7 hours but your experience suggest it might be a little less. Also did you stay in the monastery at Roncesvalles? If so how did you find it, and did it feel Covid safe??
Thanks. Your advice is super helpful. Sorry for all the questions ! Prevailing more, Is it a requirement to wear face masks when walking and also when sleeping in dormitories?Hi, it’s about 6-7 hours depending on your pace and in what way you take. I did the « fast » one and it took me less than 5 hours!! But it was steep and definitely slippery
Sounds wonderful! Thank you for the updates, can I ask are hostels providing blankets this year with the you-know-what restrictions? Debating on bringing a sleeping bag this time. Thank youI have left San Juan de la Calzada, a small village of 20 inhabitants (now 18 apparently), where I spent a funny afternoon/ evening chatting with people from France and drinking many beers with my pilgrim friend Andreas, Anais, Susana, David and Marta. I listed their names because it’s almost a miracle that after so manyI remember their names!!! . We have a very funny evening in a cosy auberge (see picture), which plays nice old pop and rock music (specially my so loved Bruce Springsteen ). Back to tips: the way from Belorado was not as terrible as described. Just the beginning (uphill but short) and the end (no shadow) we’re a bit tough. Be sure to have breakfast in Belorado as bars on the way are closed until 10.
Finding more English speakers (from US and Ireland) than before. Still easy to find a place to sleep in the spot or by calling the same day. I would advise the later to be sure.
Today I’m taking a rest in Altapuerca before my last day of walking to Burgos.
I feel I need to be on my own a day to reflect about the experience so far. I find it so enriching. Perhaps I will restart soon from Burgos to the end, as my holidays has been cancelled due to Covid.
It took me 8 hours the only time I've walked it without stopping at Huntto or Orisson. And that was 20 years ago.Hi, it’s about 6-7 hours depending on your pace and in what way you take. I did the « fast » one and it took me less than 5 hours!! But it was steep and definitely slippery
Thank you for sharing your journey with us!My journey is finished
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