Rest day recommendations

[tsetsgee]

Walking the Camino Frances where would you recommend to stop for rest days. Not just the popular places but are the some places you wish that you had of spent that extra day..
We are planning to start in SJPDP around 13 oct 2013 and I realize that is not the high season for the Camino but I am just trying to gather information at the moment about some places worth spending an extra day along our way.

 

[rickster]

I spent rest days at Burgos and Leon, since they were larger cities with many things to experience. In Lyon, I rewarded myself with a stay at the Parador, which was fantastic. The stop in Burgos was unplanned, to treat blisters and give my feet a day of rest to heal. In future Camino, I might opt for Logrono and Lyon to spread the rest days out more. Some pilgrims prefer not to even spend one night in
large cities, but for me, this worked out very well.

 

[fortview]

Two places spring to mind, where you could spend a rest day other than Burgos or Lyon.
Najera, which is big enough, or Astorga. We didn't stop in Astorga, as the Gaudi museum and cathedral were closed , but would have loved to visit them. Worth checking which days things are open, to avid disappointment !

 

[wayfarer]

I also choose Burgos and Leon for rest days. Two beautiful cities and great to relax in. I opted for hotels in both for a bit of pampering. No other rest days till Santiago only short days now and then.

 

[William Marques]

Leon is a must stop in my opinion. There is so much to see.

Other places worth tarrying in are Pamplona, Estella, Logrono, Astorga and Villafranca and try and make some time to stop in the vineyards of Navarra, Rioja or Bierzo such as Bodegas Castillo de Monjardín. There is no need to stay the whole day but not every sector has to be 20km.

Molinaseca is a nice place to stop for a swim in the river if the levels are right and it is warm enough.

 

[camino-david]

I liked Santo Domingo de Calzada which has an interesting cathedral with it's own live cockeral inside, a couple of good albergues and plenty of bars and eating places to relax. Suggest you also stay at a place from where you can walk to somewhere interesting that is not on the Camino, such as the the small village of Canas, just 6 km from Azofra, and where the wonderful Cisterncian Monastery of Santa Maria is situated. And try some of the alternative routes to the main Camino, such as the beautiful one via Pradela just after Villafranca del Bierzo, or via Samos just before Sarria. David

 

[Deleted member 3000]

There is a nice side trip to Vilar de Donas before Palas de Rei from Portos. There are two albergues in Portos in season, but both are closed outside the high tourist season.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Palas+de ... 3,,0,11.88

It is a bar and albergue now!

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Palas+de ... .72,,0,7.4

The road to Vilar is right across the street from the bar, which open all year. The albergue is in back, and has two nice rooms and large showers, but closes when the hospitalera is weary.

 

[scruffy1]

tsetsgee Buen Camino
Rest Days are difficult to plan especially if you are walking causally as part of a group walking and meeting together along the way. My recommendation? Don't rest on a rest day but get out and walk about. The day off may throw your rhythm off so bad that the next day is a disaster, not enough distance and a tired feeling. The opposite is also true, once one hits a good comfortable personal distance of 20-25-30 kilometers a day and suddenly you walk 30-35 even forty, the next day is also a disaster-lucky to do 20 kilometers. Listen to your body and pick a nice spot for a day off or better, half a day off, leave after lunch and stop at your usual time, much better for the overall effort.
S

 

[Stacy08]

Like many other people I did Burgos and Leon. Pamplona felt too early to stop, although a lot of people I knew were struggling with blisters at that point so it made sense for some. Astorga seemed nice also, but the place I would have liked to have stayed longer was Villafranca del Bierzo. Something about that place was great (although it may have been the weather). But keep in mind a lot of your rest day decisions may become dependent on the opinions of the people you are walking with. It is easy to say you don't plan to stop until everyone you've met along the way so far decide to stay - it's hard to leave everyone behind (or vice versa). Best to stay flexible.

 

[oursonpolaire]

While I am a fan of short days over rest days, I would think that a good spot (other than Leon, which has so very much going for it) would be Estella. By that point, the St Jean PdP pilgrim will be on day 4-5 and the adrenalin burn which has kept one staggering through Zubiri and Pamplona and Cezur Menor and Puente la Reina will have faded slightly, blisters will need tending, and the Camino-shocked pilgrim might benefit by a day of siestas, visits to the local gallery (with the Gustavo de Maeztu paintings), and the churches of San Miguel (up the steps for the evening Mass) and San Pedro (nice cloister and garden). Watch the swans in the Rio Ega, and enjoy a non-pilgrim meal. This break will keep one going for quite a while.

 

[David]

This is a nice thread, finding out where people stopped for a break, and all seem to be pleasant memories.
I like Logrono - well, I like most towns on the Camino .. except Burgos ... but, Logrono is a pleasant 'cafe society' town with a central area that is quite lovely. I think I would choose Logrono as for those who start at St Jean when one gets there the body has just about become used to the daily stresses - many people drop our at Logrono as their bodies fail (instead of stopping for a day and then going on) - so a day to relax, stroll around without pack, give the body a 24 hours gold star ..then back onto the Camino ....
why not ... :wink:

 

[wayfarer]

This is a nice thread, finding out where people stopped for a break, and all seem to be pleasant memories.
I like Logrono - well, I like most towns on the Camino .. except Burgos ... but, Logrono is a pleasant 'cafe society' town with a central area that is quite lovely. I think I would choose Logrono as for those who start at St Jean when one gets there the body has just about become used to the daily stresses - many people drop our at Logrono as their bodies fail (instead of stopping for a day and then going on) - so a day to relax, stroll around without pack, give the body a 24 hours gold star ..then back onto the Camino ....
why not ... :wink:

Funny you should mention Logrono David, We didn't stop there overnight, just walked through, we did stop for about an hour at a lovely cafe just of the plaza that has the pilgrim statues. The staff were lovely and filled our water bottles. What I remember the most about Logrono is how friendly everyone was, everyone we passed wished us a Buen Camino and even pointed the way without being asked. This was especialy noticeable in the park area on the way out of Logrono. It had to be the friendliest place we passed through on the whole camino.

 

[David]

Hi Wayfarer - yes, I find it friendly too .. lovely town. If I had to live in Spain I would love to live there. A benefit is that fairly close to the park going out is a large shopping district mall thing - there is an Al Campo hypermarket (French Auchan) where you can buy almost anything and also a Decathlon - great place to replace dodgy kit! (or change to a bike!) :wink:

 

[tyrrek]

This was especialy noticeable in the park area on the way out of Logrono. It had to be the friendliest place we passed through on the whole camino.

I noticed the same in that park on both my Caminos! Buen Camino!

 

[tsetsgee]

Wow, what a great list of responses. Thanks everyone. It is nice to hear some stories of places people have stopped and I am sure it has brought back some nice memories. We are hoping to be able to have the time for a side trip or two that are not on the Camino, but like most people we seem to be restricted by time. And yes like pointed out we will be restricted by our bodies and mind also. We will just see what happens.

Reading other people's experiences definitely does build excitement

Buen Camino

 

[ncali12]

Well, i would just like to add one thing that helped me with the Camino and also rest stops: no planning other than allowing more time than necessary to walk the Camino. This was very helpful. That way when I felt drawn to stay extra time somewhere--as in Santo Dominego, Leon or Rabinal, etc--there was no pressure to keep moving. Having time gave me freedom to follow interior promptings. A couple of places that i will want to leave more time for next time though are: SJPP, Eunate, Leon and maybe Rabanel and Foncebadon.

 

[supersullivan]

There is a nice side trip to Vilar de Donas before Palas de Rei from Portos. There are two albergues in Portos in season, but both are closed outside the high tourist season.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Palas+de ... 3,,0,11.88

It is a bar and albergue now!

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Palas+de ... .72,,0,7.4

Although I didn't manage to make the detour trip to Vilar de Donas I can say I spent a very pleasant relaxing night in the 2nd of these albergues, Casa a Calzada, last September, just myself and my partner there, very cosy new albergue, just 5 bunk beds but 2 showers and toilets, plenty of washing line space and lovely gardens to sit out in and the menu del dia went down a treat and an easy 1 hour walk the following morning into Palas de Rei for breakfast.

The road to Vilar is right across the street from the bar, which open all year. The albergue is in back, and has two nice rooms and large showers, but closes when the hospitalera is weary.

 

[nreyn12]

Well, i would just like to add one thing that helped me with the Camino and also rest stops: no planning other than allowing more time than necessary to walk the Camino.

Excellent recommendation! If you have extra time you can stop along the way, make diversions, or just have plenty of time to enjoy Santiago or Finesterre at the end. It also allows for time to recover if blisters or illness turn up, and for a slower pace at the start of the walk while one builds up strength and endurance.