sugargypsy
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- CF 2019
Planning: CP / CF or CdN 2022
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I just recently decided to walk the Camino Frances, reasoning -because being a newbie - the infrastructure would be making it easier to begin with.
But: The more I’ve been reading here and elsewhere, doubts grow, because the Frances seems to be very crowded and I’m not sure if I’ll like it, that there are always pilgrims walking before, aside and behind me. I'll start walking first days of September, walking slowly, probably arriving 50 days later in SdC during the middle of October.
I also love the coast in general, so at the moment I’m thinking about doing the Camino el Norte, but not sure, whether it is doable for me, since it’s got more height meters to outdistance.
For those who have already walked both Caminos: How much harder is the del Norte compared to the Frances in your opinion? Is it possible to walk short stages (anything between 14 to 20 kilometers) and have no problems finding alburgues?
At the moment I’m quite indecisive – but I’ve got a few more weeks to go before I have to decide ;-).
Yes, my first thought, when starting to think about walking the Camino at all, was to walk the coastal CP. But to start from Lisboa seems to be not that easy, starting from Porto is "short" of kilometers, considering the timespan which I have available this year. Seems to be a pity not to take advantage of that, especially since I ususally don't have that much free time on my hands.
I feel pretty much the same. The Norte does feel more like a "hike" than a Camino, but the scenery is gorgeous. I miss walking into a town or city and knowing that I just needed to find the square around the church to find other pilgrims. I'm alone in Santander tonight and feel more like a tourist than a pilgrim at the moment.I have walked both, Frances in 2015 & 2017, the Norte/Primitivo 2016 and walked them in mid April thru May. I love both, each for different reasons.
I'm glad I walked the Frances first, for its uniqueness, and a more "pilgrimage" spiritual feeling. I thought much of the terrain lovely. If you are walking alone, it will be somewhat easier to find a bed each night. And of course you can always book ahead if needed. When I walked it in 2017 I was with three other family members and we managed the bed race by reserving the "morning of" our proposed day's end as assurance we could stick together.
The Norte is more difficult, but offers many beautiful views as a reward. It definately has the feeling more of a hike and yes, there is far less infrastructure. Because of this I planned and calculated much more before I left home to get a handle on how far I would need to walk each day. That said, I rarely booked ahead and it still worked out. Although I rarely saw others while walking, the lodgings were usually quite full at night. The coastal towns were nice and "touristy", but most were not as charming as the ancient villages and churches on the Frances, which I sometimes longed for.
Both great experiences...just different!
Thanks for that idea, something similar came up mind yesterday evening, but I forgot. I thought then about changing at Ponferrada to the Camino Invierno to avoid the last 100 kilometers from Sarria to SdC.While I can see why you will want to finish the Camino that you started there is no rule saying that you have to. You could start on the Frances until you feel comfortable with everything you do on a Camino and then switch to a spot on the Norte that meets your time, companionship and scenery desires.
One reasons that I encouraged her to go is because there really is something to taking things one step at a time over a very long haul to learn to trust in oneself for the other big projects of life (whether it's school, or career-building, a life transition, etc).
I decided to make this more of a rest day, so I booked a room at a hostal. I've no idea where the other pilgrims are, and I'm okay with that. In the past I would have felt lonely, but I don't feel like I've really met "my" people yet. I'm not going to fret about it. Actually, I have met several people that I "clicked" with, but they finished their Camino at Bilbao or took a rest day, causing us yo be on different schedules. But the great thing about the Camino is every day there's a new opportunity to make a friend.@trecile, I stayed at the Albergue de Peregrinos in Santander and it was not very full. It was an "ok" experience. I did take a city bus out to Palacio de la Magdalena, which was a lovely experience, since I'd arrived in town by 1pm.
I keep meeting people on the Norte who chose it because of the "crowds" on the Frances. I think that they are imagining an 800 km walk four abreast all the way.I wouldn't worry too much about the CF. I walked it the last two years, often alone for hours, the only time it got busier was in the last 100 kms which you may also get with other Caminos. More people do the last 100kms than walk the entire distance. I love the Frances for the Camino spirit, and in fact everything about it. But you choose whether you want company or not.
Only 4 abreast; they aren't imagining that first bit after Sarria thenan 800 km walk four abreast all the way.
I don't understand the posts about crowds. Sure, there are lots of pilgrims, but really! Spread across 790 km the crowds are not a problem.I just recently decided to walk the Camino Frances, reasoning -because being a newbie - the infrastructure would be making it easier to begin with.
But: The more I’ve been reading here and elsewhere, doubts grow, because the Frances seems to be very crowded and I’m not sure if I’ll like it, that there are always pilgrims walking before, aside and behind me. I'll start walking first days of September, walking slowly, probably arriving 50 days later in SdC during the middle of October.
I also love the coast in general, so at the moment I’m thinking about doing the Camino el Norte, but not sure, whether it is doable for me, since it’s got more height meters to outdistance.
For those who have already walked both Caminos: How much harder is the del Norte compared to the Frances in your opinion? Is it possible to walk short stages (anything between 14 to 20 kilometers) and have no problems finding alburgues?
At the moment I’m quite indecisive – but I’ve got a few more weeks to go before I have to decide ;-).
The good infrastructure was one of the important points which drew me to do the Frances. What put me off - after reading a lot about the different Caminos - was that the majority of pilgrims are going to do the same thing ... how could they have exactly the same idea like meThere will be a good infrastructure, plenty of opportunity to experience the pilgrim camaraderie that many find to be the highlight of the experience, and a wide variety of landscapes and regions.
I do actually seek both. Walking on my own - because I'm slow - and to meet and to get to know other pilgrims. The latter will probably be an interesting experience for me.There will also be plenty of opportunity for solitude, if that is what you desire, although, many have gone thinking that what they want is solitude and then fell in love with their pilgrim "families".
I'm sure that you'll find plenty of other pilgrims that walk at your pace to form a "family" with if you want.The good infrastructure was one of the important points which drew me to do the Frances. What put me off - after reading a lot about the different Caminos - was that the majority of pilgrims are going to do the same thing ... how could they have exactly the same idea like me...
But like some others pointed out already, there are about 800 kilometers to walk - quite a long distance to sort of disperse all those pilgrims on the way.
I do actually seek both. Walking on my own - because I'm slow - and to meet and to get to know other pilgrims. The latter will probably be an interesting experience for me.
I'm neither shy nor insecure, but the last couple of years I rather led a solitary life - except keeping contact with some scarce friends and familiy -, due to different reasons. But I do want to mingle with other people and I must admit, I already felt a bit sad prematurly, when reading about the pilgrim families, because I probably won't be able to join, because I'm a slow walker. As far as I understand - at least I've read that quite a few times here - lots of pilgrims cover quite some kilometers each day which I won't be able to do - at least in the beginning.
But again, I'll have to wait - that is walk- and find out for myself: No use about fretting/crying already about not yet spilt milk.
Your profile states that you're planning to walk in Sept and Oct. I walked the Frances during those months in 2015. I didn't find the crowds to be a problem. The Summer holiday months seem to be the biggest issue when it comes to crowds. I wouldn't hesitate to do another Fall Camino Frances.I just recently decided to walk the Camino Frances, reasoning -because being a newbie - the infrastructure would be making it easier to begin with.
But: The more I’ve been reading here and elsewhere, doubts grow, because the Frances seems to be very crowded and I’m not sure if I’ll like it, that there are always pilgrims walking before, aside and behind me. I'll start walking first days of September, walking slowly, probably arriving 50 days later in SdC during the middle of October.
I also love the coast in general, so at the moment I’m thinking about doing the Camino el Norte, but not sure, whether it is doable for me, since it’s got more height meters to outdistance.
For those who have already walked both Caminos: How much harder is the del Norte compared to the Frances in your opinion? Is it possible to walk short stages (anything between 14 to 20 kilometers) and have no problems finding alburgues?
At the moment I’m quite indecisive – but I’ve got a few more weeks to go before I have to decide ;-).
I recommend the Frances for your first. More services. 20k is possible except at the end on Del Norte. We had a 30k day. Consider why you are walking. Frances is more traditional and religious. Norte is more mature, but lots of pavement and next to no religious focus, in my opinion.I just recently decided to walk the Camino Frances, reasoning -because being a newbie - the infrastructure would be making it easier to begin with.
But: The more I’ve been reading here and elsewhere, doubts grow, because the Frances seems to be very crowded and I’m not sure if I’ll like it, that there are always pilgrims walking before, aside and behind me. I'll start walking first days of September, walking slowly, probably arriving 50 days later in SdC during the middle of October.
I also love the coast in general, so at the moment I’m thinking about doing the Camino el Norte, but not sure, whether it is doable for me, since it’s got more height meters to outdistance.
For those who have already walked both Caminos: How much harder is the del Norte compared to the Frances in your opinion? Is it possible to walk short stages (anything between 14 to 20 kilometers) and have no problems finding alburgues?
At the moment I’m quite indecisive – but I’ve got a few more weeks to go before I have to decide ;-).
I loved the Norte. The Frances can't compare and too crowded and boring for meI have not yet walked the Frances, but walked the Norte in 2010 age 70, my first camino. I loved it and found it perfectly doable with stages of around 20 km. Have heard that the infrastructure has improved a lot and there are many more people walking it now because they want to avoid the "crowd" on the Frances.
Whichever way you decide, buen camino!
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