Sarria to Santiago in August 2013 - First Timer!

[StaceyBees]

My sister and I are going to hike our first camino this summer! We are greatly looking forward to it but only have the time to do Sarria to Santiago this August.

Any suggestions for us new-comers?
Anything we should consider being women hiking it?
What is the terrain like on this portion?
From reading the forum, august is a busy month on the camino, should we be worried about finding a place to sleep?
Also, where do you suggest to stop along the way (specifically sarria-santiago)? either must-sees, must-eats, must-stays?

We are Catholic and wish to make this a true pilgrimage. Any cool convents/churches on this portion we should see? Or a place we should try to get to mass?

Thank you all for everything! I am constantly reading posts! Special thanks to the Vets for all the great responses to the posts - We are SO excited to begin our journey!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

The terrain is gentle up and down. It will be hot, so start early and finish by 1400. Beds are easy to find at that time. Churches are generally closed, even on Sunday. Priests rotate weekly between churches in small villages in some cases, so few churches are full time. The one in Portomarin is an exception, and a chapel in Boente seems to always be open for a stamp.

Have fun!

 

[mspath]

StaceyBees,

Welcome to the Forum!

What fun it must be for you and your sister to jointly plan your summer camino.

Camino routes are usually divided into several sections. You will be walking west from Saria or from section 29 onwards. The Mundicamino website gives a good overview of the terrain along the way. See >>http://www.caminodesantiago.me/camino-frances/sarria-to-portomarin/. I have set up this Spanish site to automatically translate into English. You can read further sections by clicking their numbers.

For detailed information in this Forum regarding 'all' albergues along the Camino Frances be sure to check out Ivar's wonderful new list. This includes former pilgrims' ratings and comments. See http://www.mundicamino.com/ruta.cfm...amos&xfin=Portomarín&xne=29&quees=Descripción

What makes a good meal, of course, is a VERY personal choice! However I have always enjoyed these two simple pilgrim-friendly restaurants on your route. In Ferreios down the hill next to the local church and cemetery is the restaurant/bar, Meson Mirabilos. Last December a delicious Sunday lunch included fresh clam soup, breaded veal cutlet with cream sauce, cheese tart, thick country bread, water, wine and coffee for 10 euros! What a bargain! Just east of Palas de Rei the hotel/restaurant, La Cabana, also has an excellent daily menu and a great bar on the wide verandah with free WiFi. I have never stayed here but always enjoy their food.

Buen Camino to you and your sister,

Margaret Meredith

 

[Deleted member 3000]

This place, also east of Palas but before La Cabana, has fantastic asador meals:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=la+caban ... 58,,0,3.11

 

[JohnnieWalker]

For mass times on routes with specific information about masses from Sarria to Santiago:

http://peregrinossantiago.es/eng/prepar ... on-camino/

Go to the googlemap and down the left hand side you can scroll down to Sarria and beyond.

Buen Camino

John

 

[supersullivan]

Hi Stacey

Congrats on committing to your Camino, I was in exactly your position last August/September. as already mentioned, the small church in Boente is worth dropping into, it's beside the route so no detour. In Melide, the church about 200 yards from the municipal albergue is also worth visiting, 2 very lovely side altars and very ornate decoration.
If you want a quieter, more contemplative camino then consider staying just out of 'Brierleys' stage suggestions, day 1 rather than go all the way to Portomarin, stop in Vilache ( Casa Banderas ) 19.9 kms rather than 22.4 kms, this means you'll do the steep road descent into Portomarin on fresh legs on your 2nd morning rather than on tiring legs at end of 1st day, you'll be away from the comparative hustle and bustle of P/Marin at night. Day 2: rather than go all the way to Palais de Rei, maybe consider Casa A Calzado in Portos and then you'd have the option after you unpack of the 4.6 km round trip excursion to see Vilar de Donas.

Best wishes for a great camino

Seamus

 

[StaceyBees]

Thank you all so much for your input - We are really looking forward to our trip. Any other suggestions for new-comers? Should we invest in hiking boots?

 

[natefaith]

Hi Stacey,
Because it will be so hot in August, and because the terrain is much more gentle (although still pretty hilly in spots) than in the mountains, I think hiking boots will make you feel hot and your feet heavy. A good pair of Merrells or other trail shoes will do you just fine. You may have seen from other posts on the forum that trekking poles are a good investment and take some of the load off of your feet - those are what I would invest in instead of boots; they'll help you up and down those hills and even across a couple of small creeks.

I did Sarria to Santiago back in May of 2009. I wish I had taken a bit more time to stop and take photos! I felt the pressure to race to the next town to just be *done* with the day's walking (get the task - walking - done early and then relax the rest of the day), and now looking back it would have been great to just take it at a more relaxed pace.

ENJOY all the planning and Buen Camino!!

 

[StaceyBees]

Thanks for the suggestions!

Does it seem unrealistic to begin walking the same day we arrive in Sarria? That is the way we planned it, we could probably fudge an extra day but that would mean missing out on an overnight at the end in Santiago and missing the pilgrim mass.

 

[dduroy]

Sarria to Portomarin was one of my favorites. Restaurant at hotel Roma just off train is very good.