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At present I have marked, mentally, the following cities/towns for rest days:
Pamplona, Logrono, Burgos, Leon, Sarria. Thanks
Next question – I am going to be a “hotelegrino” most of the time and for the main meal of the day intend to eat in restaurants/bars and therefore do not plan on cooking but will be shopping for “snack” en route food. The question is which days of the week do shops shut and should I consider timing my rest days with the shut shop days or for the weekends or just whenever?
Thanks
Your rest days seem pretty logical for me. I mean in these cities is really lots to see and to splurge. Maybe I have a second thought abour Sarria. Personally I would rather make rest day in Portomarin or Melide at that leg of CF. But it depends on how you want to spend your rest day. Just ordinary sightseeing? Food? Culture? Architecture? Or just plain rest, with some reading and watching locals do what they do everyday while you drink a glass of wine? Later might be interesting in smaller towns too, like Carrion de los Condes, Najera (yes, too close to Logrono, I know), Sahagun, Fromista etc.
If you're interested in the list of recommended culinary experiences on CF I've gathered here on the forum I can send it to you (for I don't know what reason I can't upload .pdf files...). Just send me your e-mail address via PM.
I remember most shops, even in the smallest villages, were opened during weekends. For a few hours at least. Or somebody point the right house for me to ring the owner
Ultreia!
I agree with Kinkyone, good/natural choices, except perhaps for Sarria. I don't even remember what Sarria looks like. As for Sundays ... Zip, as in the good old days.
But food in Burgos is super at luch time with all the tapa bars. (When I went by the 2nd time Burgos was Gastronomy Capital of the Wold - for a reason!)
Logrono is also an interesting, modern, city with good tapas options: capital of the wine industry after all. There's a church where you can enjoy beautiful gregorian chants - hopefully someone else can tell you which one it is - well worth a detour.
Pamplona: follow in Hemingway's footsteps, but with more moderation.Tuesday, I think, is the 'tapas crawl' day.
As for Leon, if you want nice rest, what about the Hospederia monastica Pax - next door to the albergue, and a walk through the bario humedo but also to the west of the cathedral. And do get the audio guide for the cathedral and cloister - well worth it, very well done.
Just a quick reminder. The Parador in Leon is on the way out of the city and a bit of a walk back to the Cathedral and city center. We stayed right near the Cathedral in a little gem called La Posada Regia complete with a big soaking tub.Anemone, thank you for your suggestions.
As to Leon, I will reconsider my own "treat" which was the Parador. I also have listed in Leon, if there isn't a waiting list, the Cocinandos restaurant.
In Gaudi house, which is former Bishops palace is now Museum of Transportation through age and I was very eager to see it. I've heard that it's really interesting. First time I was there in 2011 it was Monday and most of museums, galleries and such are closed in Spain. Second time, last year, it was Monday again, so I guess I'll have to visit Astorga for the third time. Maybe when walking VdlP?Instead, I'd recommend Astorga.....take in the Gaudi house, the cathedral, the chocolate museum (a fun thing to do, though Astorga chocolate isn't very good......the great camino chocolate is in Estella). But don't do Sunday for your layover, everything is closed or closes early.
We stayed right near the Cathedral in a little gem called La Posada Regia complete with a big soaking tub.
Hi @bystander. No-one else seems to have, so I do have to question why you are routing Paris / Barcelona / Pamplona / SJdP when there are perfectly good trains from Paris to Bayonne and on to SJdP and probably saving you an entire day of travelling if not two. Taking the overnight sleeper from Paris to Bayonne gives you a nights rest (in Albergue conditions) and gets you to St Jean in plenty of time to walk to Valcarlos to arrive about 24 hrs after you left London St Pancras. While I can fully appreciate the desire to pursue a slow camino that looks more like prevarication
Buen (try not to plan to hard) camino
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