Becky 59
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- CF 2018, 2021, 2023; CI 2019; CP 2022, 2023
I left Pamplona yesterday after two nights stay. I was surprised to see that some pilgrims were arriving at 5 pm and found beds, and some pilgrims were turned away and walked on to Puente de Reina. Many people are booking one or two nights ahead, but there are a significant number that are walking without reservations and finding beds. The beds on Booking.com disappear quickly, but by contacting the albergues directly there are more beds.
SIM cards: I picked up a SIM card through Orange; I wanted to be able to call the albergues directly to make reservations, since my Spanish is finally sufficient to do this. But some albergues, although they will take a phone reservation, won't hold it too late in the afternoon without a credit card via the internet. Most albergues have been very responsive to emails and internet requests, at least in this area. I met an American who is using something called Google Fi, which gives her unlimited international internet for $70/month. But it has to be set up before overseas travel, so no good for me while I'm here in Spain. There are lots of Americans here now without internationalo SIM cards who just use Wifi when available (which is most albergues and bars)
There are not many open bars along the way currently. Tonight I am in Cirauqui, and the bar at the Portal was completely closed when we came through at 1:30, looks permanently closed. I am relying heavily on my own provisions and snacks for meals during the day; the first open bar I saw today was at 11:00 am. Yesterday as I went through Zariquiegui, both hostels are closed, and there is only a small tienda selling snacks and pastries.
We are all carrying masks, sometimes wearing them on our elbows like the locals, and we wear them when we check in to the albergues, but once we are inside all the pilgrims take the masks off, although the albergue staff keep theirs on. I rarely hear anyone talking about Covid. It's a wonderful oasis from the rest of the world. Ultreia!
SIM cards: I picked up a SIM card through Orange; I wanted to be able to call the albergues directly to make reservations, since my Spanish is finally sufficient to do this. But some albergues, although they will take a phone reservation, won't hold it too late in the afternoon without a credit card via the internet. Most albergues have been very responsive to emails and internet requests, at least in this area. I met an American who is using something called Google Fi, which gives her unlimited international internet for $70/month. But it has to be set up before overseas travel, so no good for me while I'm here in Spain. There are lots of Americans here now without internationalo SIM cards who just use Wifi when available (which is most albergues and bars)
There are not many open bars along the way currently. Tonight I am in Cirauqui, and the bar at the Portal was completely closed when we came through at 1:30, looks permanently closed. I am relying heavily on my own provisions and snacks for meals during the day; the first open bar I saw today was at 11:00 am. Yesterday as I went through Zariquiegui, both hostels are closed, and there is only a small tienda selling snacks and pastries.
We are all carrying masks, sometimes wearing them on our elbows like the locals, and we wear them when we check in to the albergues, but once we are inside all the pilgrims take the masks off, although the albergue staff keep theirs on. I rarely hear anyone talking about Covid. It's a wonderful oasis from the rest of the world. Ultreia!