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I wouldn't worry too much about where to stay. There are lots of options along the way. I walked from St Jean Pied de Port to Finisterre in May / June of this year (2013). I only had a couple of occasions where I had problems finding a place to stay and generally speaking the next village is only a few kilometers further. I never made a reservation along the way and things always worked out as they should. I never even had a guide book, I just followed my heart and the yellow arrows. Don't stress yourself out needlessly. You will be fine. Relax and enjoy your Camino.I have been speaking with someone who did the Camino in the spring. At first it was reassuring and I thought I would just figure everything out. They booked hotels for each leg of the walk so they didn't have to worry about accommodation. He said that some women friends who are doing it now are finding all the albergues full and even had to keep walking to the next town to find a place to stay. This makes me incredibly nervous as I don't know how far I can walk in a day so I don't know what towns to book a room for. Does it ever happen that you can't find a place to stay in a town? I am not married to the idea of only staying in albergues, in fact I prefer to stay in the private hostels in the smaller towns.
Also he said he met a woman who got lost on the trail to Samos and was cut up and it sounded horrible. I am planning on taking the train from Madrid to Sarria then a taxi to Samos and spending my first night there then start walking from Samos. But now I'm not so sure that is a good idea. I will be alone (although of course hope to find others to walk with) and don't have reliable backwoods experience. I would also love a recommendation for where to stay my first night in Samos.
Any advice would be much appreciated. I leave next Wednesday and have turned into a nervous wreck over this?
I have been speaking with someone who did the Camino in the spring. At first it was reassuring and I thought I would just figure everything out. They booked hotels for each leg of the walk so they didn't have to worry about accommodation. He said that some women friends who are doing it now are finding all the albergues full and even had to keep walking to the next town to find a place to stay. This makes me incredibly nervous as I don't know how far I can walk in a day so I don't know what towns to book a room for. Does it ever happen that you can't find a place to stay in a town? I am not married to the idea of only staying in albergues, in fact I prefer to stay in the private hostels in the smaller towns.
Also he said he met a woman who got lost on the trail to Samos and was cut up and it sounded horrible. I am planning on taking the train from Madrid to Sarria then a taxi to Samos and spending my first night there then start walking from Samos. But now I'm not so sure that is a good idea. I will be alone (although of course hope to find others to walk with) and don't have reliable backwoods experience. I would also love a recommendation for where to stay my first night in Samos.
Any advice would be much appreciated. I leave next Wednesday and have turned into a nervous wreck over this?
I have been speaking with someone who did the Camino in the spring. At first it was reassuring and I thought I would just figure everything out. They booked hotels for each leg of the walk so they didn't have to worry about accommodation. He said that some women friends who are doing it now are finding all the albergues full and even had to keep walking to the next town to find a place to stay. This makes me incredibly nervous as I don't know how far I can walk in a day so I don't know what towns to book a room for. Does it ever happen that you can't find a place to stay in a town? I am not married to the idea of only staying in albergues, in fact I prefer to stay in the private hostels in the smaller towns.
Also he said he met a woman who got lost on the trail to Samos and was cut up and it sounded horrible. I am planning on taking the train from Madrid to Sarria then a taxi to Samos and spending my first night there then start walking from Samos. But now I'm not so sure that is a good idea. I will be alone (although of course hope to find others to walk with) and don't have reliable backwoods experience. I would also love a recommendation for where to stay my first night in Samos.
Any advice would be much appreciated. I leave next Wednesday and have turned into a nervous wreck over this!
Be careful that you do not pack up a bunch of artificial rules about what a pilgrimage should be -- distance you should walk, places you should stop, no buses, no taxis, etc. They can make your pilgrimage an unpleasant ordeal.wouldn't have thought of that one.
Hello....I walked the Camino for the month of May.2013 from Pamplona....I was by myself and it was also my first time to Europe.....I was VERY nervous to leave the safety of my Pamplona hotel room and set foot to trail. I am so glad I did.....many people on this site say the Camino will provide....and with humble agreement, I do admit that this is true.....I walked for 28 days....I Laughed and I Cried....it was the most rewarding experience that I....Lil' Ol' Me.....accomplished all on my own......I will let you know that I found myself on the trail one VERY rainy day.....No one passed me for hours.....I felt very PROUD of myself that my personal speed was picking up.....I walked along at a confident pace as the trail narrowed and became less groomed. I realized I had made a mistake....I was NOT walking Faster than the others....No one was in front of me....No one was behind me....I had made a wrong turn.....I checked my map and I checked my compass...I was still heading South West....I was just a little MISPLACED....I could have cried and felt sorry for myself but that would not have changed the fact that I was alone.....off in the very FAR distance I could see the freeway and buildings....so I plodded along and approached an older TRUCKSTOP....I spent the night at the truckstop and had a GREAT truckers breakfast of Ham and Eggs and Homemade Bread that was warm out of the oven.....After breakfast I gathered up my gear and walked along the edge of the Freeway until I saw a YELLOW ARROW.....YAY ME.....I did it! I was back on the path to Santiago....Looking back on it now.....I think that was the best breakfast of my BIG ADVENTURE....I am sooooo lucky to have made a wrong turn that lead me to a tale to tell....this is one of many stories I have shared with my children and grandchildren....Go the the Camino and bring home your own memories and laugh at your mistakes....you will have to make room in your heart for the many moments of the Camino that you will cherish....I wish you well and a part of me wishes I could be there to watch you approach that first hill....not to laugh, but to smile.....you will be JUST FINE.....Buen CaminoI have been speaking with someone who did the Camino in the spring. At first it was reassuring and I thought I would just figure everything out. They booked hotels for each leg of the walk so they didn't have to worry about accommodation. He said that some women friends who are doing it now are finding all the albergues full and even had to keep walking to the next town to find a place to stay. This makes me incredibly nervous as I don't know how far I can walk in a day so I don't know what towns to book a room for. Does it ever happen that you can't find a place to stay in a town? I am not married to the idea of only staying in albergues, in fact I prefer to stay in the private hostels in the smaller towns.
Also he said he met a woman who got lost on the trail to Samos and was cut up and it sounded horrible. I am planning on taking the train from Madrid to Sarria then a taxi to Samos and spending my first night there then start walking from Samos. But now I'm not so sure that is a good idea. I will be alone (although of course hope to find others to walk with) and don't have reliable backwoods experience. I would also love a recommendation for where to stay my first night in Samos.
Any advice would be much appreciated. I leave next Wednesday and have turned into a nervous wreck over this!
I have been speaking with someone who did the Camino in the spring. At first it was reassuring and I thought I would just figure everything out. They booked hotels for each leg of the walk so they didn't have to worry about accommodation. He said that some women friends who are doing it now are finding all the albergues full and even had to keep walking to the next town to find a place to stay. This makes me incredibly nervous as I don't know how far I can walk in a day so I don't know what towns to book a room for. Does it ever happen that you can't find a place to stay in a town? I am not married to the idea of only staying in albergues, in fact I prefer to stay in the private hostels in the smaller towns.
Also he said he met a woman who got lost on the trail to Samos and was cut up and it sounded horrible. I am planning on taking the train from Madrid to Sarria then a taxi to Samos and spending my first night there then start walking from Samos. But now I'm not so sure that is a good idea. I will be alone (although of course hope to find others to walk with) and don't have reliable backwoods experience. I would also love a recommendation for where to stay my first night in Samos.
Any advice would be much appreciated. I leave next Wednesday and have turned into a nervous wreck over this!
You will have an amazing experience, I am sure. When I rode the Camino with my husband in July, we never found problems getting beds - although, because we were on bicycles, we had to wait until there were no more walking pilgrims to cater for. We understood this because it was so much easier for us to ride on if necessary. Most albergues are also very happy to bring out extra mattresses if necessary, so you shouldn't have any problems with accommodation. Finding the next yellow arrow or shell soon becomes part of the experience. As you will definitely come back a changed person. My husband says that I have changed, although I cannot see it myself. But he has mentioned that I'm not as 'timid' or afraid to do new things as I used to be! Buen Camino and leave a 'love vibe' along the camino from me. We cannot wait to go again.Thank you all so much. It feels so good to have a large group of people to calm my nerves. And great advice to hop in a taxi and find a bed if needed, wouldn't have thought of that one.
It's funny how calm I was and feeling good about not knowing anything, then, bam! Amazing how one little thing can throw you off track. I'm sure I will return from my trip and laugh at myself and how insecure I felt. Just wish I could have that send of humor now
Thank you all!!!
I would agree with all of the above, especially "I wouldn't mind betting you come home a much less nervous person for overcoming whatever challenges you face" - This has definitely happened for me. Good luck, travel well, stay calm and may your journey be a wonderful one. Smiles.Wow, bless you, please relax! The Way is incredibly well sign posted - it is almost impossible to get lost unless your focus had drifted entirely. That story about the lady getting lost and hurt must be one in a million and I am sorry for her that she experienced such a shock at the same time you are getting the story second hand it may be no where near as bad as it sounds. You either walk at a time when it is quiet - early spring, late autumn - and you will be sure of a bed in an albergue. Or you walk at a busy time and you will be sure of company! The camino is an inner path as well as an outer one - so you will come into the experiences you need to heal. I wouldn't mind betting you come home a much less nervous person for overcoming whatever challenges you face. Any idea that external challenges are separate from our internal state is an illusion - so if you stay connected to God (the Universe, Nature, Grace, Love... whatever word works for you), to yourself and to your fellow pilgrims (in that order) then you will be sure of a smooth experience. If you are worried about not getting a bed then pace yourself, make sure you aren't running on empty when you reach your planned stop - so don't overextend yourself - build evenings off into your routine so you get to your destination early afternoon, siesta and kick back. I had miracle after miracle on my camino of kindnesses and gifts of money for hotels and great places to stay just showing up. I never went without a bed. And I was only alone when I wanted to be. All is well, go well, be at peace and buen camino xxx
I also got lost a couple of times, took a wrong turn here and there, once, ending up miles away from where I had intended to be, but suddenly, I spied a yellow arrow once again.....whew, a sigh of relief, dried my eyes and off I went again. Yes, I was scared at times, felt lost and lonely but I think that this happens to most of us at one time or another.....smilesHello....I walked the Camino for the month of May.2013 from Pamplona....I was by myself and it was also my first time to Europe.....I was VERY nervous to leave the safety of my Pamplona hotel room and set foot to trail. I am so glad I did.....many people on this site say the Camino will provide....and with humble agreement, I do admit that this is true.....I walked for 28 days....I Laughed and I Cried....it was the most rewarding experience that I....Lil' Ol' Me.....accomplished all on my own......I will let you know that I found myself on the trail one VERY rainy day.....No one passed me for hours.....I felt very PROUD of myself that my personal speed was picking up.....I walked along at a confident pace as the trail narrowed and became less groomed. I realized I had made a mistake....I was NOT walking Faster than the others....No one was in front of me....No one was behind me....I had made a wrong turn.....I checked my map and I checked my compass...I was still heading South West....I was just a little MISPLACED....I could have cried and felt sorry for myself but that would not have changed the fact that I was alone.....off in the very FAR distance I could see the freeway and buildings....so I plodded along and approached an older TRUCKSTOP....I spent the night at the truckstop and had a GREAT truckers breakfast of Ham and Eggs and Homemade Bread that was warm out of the oven.....After breakfast I gathered up my gear and walked along the edge of the Freeway until I saw a YELLOW ARROW.....YAY ME.....I did it! I was back on the path to Santiago....Looking back on it now.....I think that was the best breakfast of my BIG ADVENTURE....I am sooooo lucky to have made a wrong turn that lead me to a tale to tell....this is one of many stories I have shared with my children and grandchildren....Go the the Camino and bring home your own memories and laugh at your mistakes....you will have to make room in your heart for the many moments of the Camino that you will cherish....I wish you well and a part of me wishes I could be there to watch you approach that first hill....not to laugh, but to smile.....you will be JUST FINE.....Buen Camino
It is funny now to think how anxious and nervous I was just before we left for Spain! Easy to forget that 97% of the people who walk alongside you are new to the Camino too. Things happen on Camino. Albuergues are full or you run out of money in a place with no ATM or you get lost in thought and miss the yellow arrow and walk a mile off the path. Once, after running through a hail/lightening storm I ran to what I thought was an albuergue and walked in to a sweet, elderly lady's house. She gave me a cup of coffee and a slice of cake and we laughed about my mistake while the storm raged outside. I met one of my best Camino pals when we both managed to miss an arrow. (One piece of advice - if you are uncertain which way to go - the right way is nearly always UP hill! ) Another time I realized I had handed ALL of our money to my son who had gone on ahead AFTER I had ordered a cafe con leche and bocadillo. A pilgrim I had not yet met bought my lunch - and I bought her dinner that night to thank her. After a long (35 km) day on the Meseta, sun burned and blistered and tired beyond belief I found all the albuergues full. The local taxi driver interrupted his Sunday dinner to drive us to a lovely hotel 3 miles along. The next day he arrived at the hotel and gave us a little tour of the area before driving us back to our starting point - and refused payment.Thank you all so much. It feels so good to have a large group of people to calm my nerves. And great advice to hop in a taxi and find a bed if needed, wouldn't have thought of that one.
It's funny how calm I was and feeling good about not knowing anything, then, bam! Amazing how one little thing can throw you off track. I'm sure I will return from my trip and laugh at myself and how insecure I felt. Just wish I could have that send of humor now
Thank you all!!!
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