Multipurpose
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- March/April (2018) maybe 2017
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Hi , this is my first post! I do not live in Sacramento. I live in Oregon but lived in Fresno area many years. I am looking forward to start my Camino Frances next year also. I havn't quite decided which month but April might work. I'm also Catholic and my Church is St. Francis as well. I'm 62 -working on getting in shape. I live in beautiful hiking terrain in Central Oregon. I'm looking into flights-best route, prices etc. flying from JFK to Paris then taking train to Spain looks cheaper than flights to Madrid. Maybe we can share info?Just wondering how many Sacramento CA pilgrims are out there. God willing I plan to start my El Camino in April 2017. Would be interested in hearing about your journey to Barcelona, which is where I plan to fly into and then take the train to France to start my journey. Or perhaps if you are starting the same time as me we can journey there together. I approach this part of my journey with a little trepidation as I haven't flown commercially since before 9/11, although I don't have a fear of flying. Keep in mind I will be 69 next year, but I'm still in pretty good shape for the shape I'm in. I hike every weekend, sometimes in Desolation Vally, the Lake Tahoe area and near Lake Natoma on weekdays. Sometimes I hike entirely around the lake (11 miles) at a 2 1/2 mph pace. I already have all the hiking gear I'll need for the El Camino, so I'm not worried about that. I am Catholic and my church is St. Francis, that renegade Catholic church on 26 & K. Anyway would be interested in hearing from Sacramento pilgrims on a variety of subjects.
I am planning for a Spring Camino as well. Although I am traveling from TX, connections to & from Europe and trains are essentially the same. After researching numerous combinations the best total cost with shortest layovers going and coming ended up being on American Airlines via Boston to Madrid then Bordeaux then short train to Bayonne & quick change to SJPdP. From Houston I have a connection in SC. Flying to Bordeaux saves the cost of the TGV from Paris, makes a nice jet lag stop & short trip to SJPdP. Other options I checked (Paris + train, Paris + flight to Bordeaux or Biaritz, Barcelona + train, United Airlines, Air France), all involved long return layovers and from $300 - $400 increase in cost due to train tickets. I haven't booked, but cost Houston to Bordeaux is around $1300 for next May leaving on Thursday flying back on a Friday.
Just offering some options in case they work for either of you.
Regarding air travel since 9/11, I have done my share without concern, but feel hesitant since more recent activity in Europe. I was a little relieved that my best travel option doesn't go thru NY, DC, O'Hare or Paris. I lived in Paris for several years and flew back to the States quarterly. If you end up behind a flight from certain countries going thru Immigration can take hours. Getting from CDG or Orly to one of the train stations is not difficult but is time consuming plus could be delayed due to any number of things. A delay going wouldn't be a huge impact
I appreciate your information Suzi. That seems like a good price. The prices I found to Madrid out of Redmond, OR are much higher. How did you find your fares. I'm so new to all of this but have plenty of time to work it out. I think I would rather go late May or September. I prefer cooler weather. I've read it can rain a lot in May.
Sacratomato. The city of no water meters (back in the day). A fantastic place. A few treks in the Sierra Nevada will get you in shape. Barcelona is a bit far from SJPdP, but it is a lively city. Your choices will be to take a train up into France and head for Toulouse/Bayonne or head for Pamplona and the bus to SJPdP. Either will be an experience. Buen camino.how many Sacramento CA pilgrims are out there
Round trip? While I was searching I also saw ads for 'round trip' at low prices, but when I went to the sites the fare quoted was for each direction.last night I came across an add for Kayak which had round trip flights from Portland to Madrid for 700 dollars round trip. Sounds to good to be true. I'm still deciding on month. If you only have three weeks, how far do you plan to go?
Kgilliam, thanks for the reading suggestions! Between the forum, reading materials and watching 'The Way' and "Six Ways to Santiago' more times than I will admit to, I am keeping my Camino mindset flowing. If you haven't already, get SYates book, Pilgrim Tips & Packng List: Camino de Santiago. It's on Amazon. Might save you money to know what to get up front rather than appeasing Camino enthusiasm with near miss bargains. Although, who doesn't need another pair of SmartWool socks?! The guide I like the best (so far) is a newer one by Anna Dintamin, AVillage to Village Guide to Hiking the Camino de Santiago: Camin Frances. She outlines stops for a slow Camino & a fast one. I think there is a way to share Kindle books, isn't there? Maybe you can preview? Somewhere on the forum is a FF video of the Napoleon Route that makes it look very doable. I don't have the knees to do it in a single jaunt. Also want to savor the SJPdP to Orisson to Roncesvalles adrenalin rush and camaraderie at the start. Love your avatarHi Suzi, I'm not sure what I'm doing!LOL, but I'd like to go all the way to coast. Maybe I'll start at Pamplona or get brave and start from Sjpdp. I don't think I want to take Napoleon route. At this time I have no time constraints so I'm open. I'm reading books about other pilgrims camino experience. They are so good. I can't wait to go. One was A Million Steps and the one I'm reading now is A walk in Sunflowers or close to that. I've started shopping. I found a pair of Smartwool hiking socks at TJMax for half price.. I love a bargain.
Hi Mike, mucho gusto! Ha! Practicing my Spanish! I have a hold on that book at the Library. I found the other two books at the library also. I'm enjoying them very much.If you are looking for books to read then you may enjoy my favorite book about the camino To the Field of Stars by (Father) Kevin A. Codd.
Hi Suzi, the book I'm reading that I am really enjoying is Sunrises to Santiago, by Gabriel Schirm. I'm going to check out the books you recommended too. I returned the Smartwool hiking socks. They were too big and had seems across toes. I bought a pair of Darn Tough hiking /trekking socks that are perfect. I'm still deciding when to go. Sales lady at REI suggested September for better weather but this September is very hot there. A pilgrim died from heat stroke. Why did you decide on April.Kgilliam, thanks for the reading suggestions! Between the forum, reading materials and watching 'The Way' and "Six Ways to Santiago' more times than I will admit to, I am keeping my Camino mindset flowing. If you haven't already, get SYates book, Pilgrim Tips & Packng List: Camino de Santiago. It's on Amazon. Might save you money to know what to get up front rather than appeasing Camino enthusiasm with near miss bargains. Although, who doesn't need another pair of SmartWool socks?! The guide I like the best (so far) is a newer one by Anna Dintamin, AVillage to Village Guide to Hiking the Camino de Santiago: Camin Frances. She outlines stops for a slow Camino & a fast one. I think there is a way to share Kindle books, isn't there? Maybe you can preview? Somewhere on the forum is a FF video of the Napoleon Route that makes it look very doable. I don't have the knees to do it in a single jaunt. Also want to savor the SJPdP to Orisson to Roncesvalles adrenalin rush and camaraderie at the start. Love your avatar
Hi KGilliam,Hi Suzi, the book I'm reading that I am really enjoying is Sunrises to Santiago, by Gabriel Schirm. I'm going to check out the books you recommended too. I returned the Smartwool hiking socks. They were too big and had seems across toes. I bought a pair of Darn Tough hiking /trekking socks that are perfect. I'm still deciding when to go. Sales lady at REI suggested September for better weather but this September is very hot there. A pilgrim died from heat stroke. Why did you decide on April.
if I had time and were in Paris, I'd spend a few days (ok or a week) there but it's up to you. There are a LOT of opinions on how to get to SJPdP, try putting train to SJPdP, or something similar in the search box. I flew DC to Barcelona so I can't help with that. You may want to check out the local Santa Barbara chapter of the American Pilgrims on the CaminoHello everyone.. I live in Santa Barbara CA and I plan to start my journey in April / May 2017. It will be my first time doing El Camino and I'm going by myself. First time in France, also. I'm on a budget and I plan on flying to Paris via LAX or SFO, and then find my way to SJPdP by train. I've been looking for cheap flights to Paris.. I found budget airline (WOW airlines), that would take you from LAX or SF to Paris for $199. Still confused about train service from Paris to SJPdP....still have to do my research about where the trains station are.. I need some guidance...like...ok..Im in Paris..now what??? hehehe..is the train station nearby? do I need to find my waif y into Paris from CGD? should I spend a couple of days in Paris?? etc.. etc..
pg 66 of this handy work by a forum member: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...avel-information-for-the-lost-pilgrim-v3.250/Hello everyone.. I live in Santa Barbara CA and I plan to start my journey in April / May 2017. It will be my first time doing El Camino and I'm going by myself. First time in France, also. I'm on a budget and I plan on flying to Paris via LAX or SFO, and then find my way to SJPdP by train. I've been looking for cheap flights to Paris.. I found budget airline (WOW airlines), that would take you from LAX or SF to Paris for $199. Still confused about train service from Paris to SJPdP....still have to do my research about where the trains station are.. I need some guidance...like...ok..Im in Paris..now what??? hehehe..is the train station nearby? do I need to find my way into Paris from CGD? should I spend a couple of days in Paris?? etc.. etc..
Hello everyone.. I live in Santa Barbara CA and I plan to start my journey in April / May 2017. It will be my first time doing El Camino and I'm going by myself. First time in France, also. I'm on a budget and I plan on flying to Paris via LAX or SFO, and then find my way to SJPdP by train. I've been looking for cheap flights to Paris.. I found budget airline (WOW airlines), that would take you from LAX or SF to Paris for $199. Still confused about train service from Paris to SJPdP....still have to do my research about where the trains station are.. I need some guidance...like...ok..Im in Paris..now what??? hehehe..is the train station nearby? do I need to find my way into Paris from CGD? should I spend a couple of days in Paris?? etc.. etc..
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