athenaanne
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- Time of past OR future Camino
- June/July 2015
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Hi, you can use your 2014 guidebook no problem at all. Wish you a Buen Camino, Peter.Hi,
I'm starting my Camino next week and have the 2014 version of John Brierley's Camino Frances guidebook but just discovered that he released a new 2015 version in March.
I'm wondering whether buying the updated version is warranted? Do the albergue lists or any other details change much year by year?
If so, since it's a bit late for me to order it in before I start, are English language guidebooks readily available in St Jean?
Thank you very much in advance.
P.s I'm sorry if this is a silly question or if it's been asked before!
Get the maps book on Kindle! Just as good with no additional weight!A far better book, in my view, is Brierley's Camino de Santiago Maps:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S348OBW/?tag=casaivar02-20
It is far lighter than his Guide and has none of the spiritual witterings and detailed descriptions of monuments and churches that take up so much space and add so much weight to the bigger tome.
If you just want to know the route and the main sights to look out for, go for the Maps. And as Tincatinker wisely suggests above, don't be a slave to Brierley's recommended daily distances - going another few kilometres often results in plenty of available albergue space.
Yeah, other than the weight of the kindle....et the maps book on Kindle! Just as good with no additional weight!
It does have ruled note section for most but not all maps. Some are very small though.If anyone has the 2015 Brierley maps only book, can you please tell me if it has a ruled note section on the page opposite each map? I just realised the one for the Portuguese has this very useful addition. Thank you.
Amen to that. Although I used the guide for the Portuguese route from Lisbon, I had never heard of it before walking the French route. I saw many other people on the first few days with their noses in it and wondered what it was. When I borrowed a copy to browse one day, I was not overly impressed. I thought to myself at the time, why do I want to know what is around the corner before I get there? I was already enjoying my walk without getting lost, enjoying the spontaneity and enjoying the experiences where the Camino led me. I can't say the same for the other routes but the French one definitely does not require a guidebook.The Camino Frances is almost excessively signposted, and there are plenty of restaurants and albergues. You know, there are pilgrims that don't carry any guide, they just go and start walking; when they are hungry look for a restaurant, and when they are tired ask for the nearer albergue, and have a great experience anyway. There is not a perfect Camino, as there are not perfect lifes...So, coming back to your question, I think your old guide is as good as any "updated" edition.
I would not buy the new one. He has changed some optional to recommended routes that left me baffled partcularly changing the route from Villar de Mazarif to the uninspiring boring trek to Villadangas. He gives a good report of an albergue in Valverde that is closed and up for sale. Judging by the overgrown gardens, it has been closed for quite some time. Where he has not made changes, which are few and strange, it is identical to my 2013 edition so keep your money and use the old one unless you particularly want a smaller and slightly lighter editionHi,
I'm starting my Camino next week and have the 2014 version of John Brierley's Camino Frances guidebook but just discovered that he released a new 2015 version in March.
I'm wondering whether buying the updated version is warranted? Do the albergue lists or any other details change much year by year?
If so, since it's a bit late for me to order it in before I start, are English language guidebooks readily available in St Jean?
Thank you very much in advance.
P.s I'm sorry if this is a silly question or if it's been asked before!
Hi,
I'm starting my Camino next week and have the 2014 version of John Brierley's Camino Frances guidebook but just discovered that he released a new 2015 version in March.
I'm wondering whether buying the updated version is warranted? Do the albergue lists or any other details change much year by year?
If so, since it's a bit late for me to order it in before I start, are English language guidebooks readily available in St Jean?
Thank you very much in advance.
P.s I'm sorry if this is a silly question or if it's been asked before!
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