HallOfFreedom
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- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Francés April 26, 2016
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My intent is to go on my first Camino in the fall, and I'm curious what the social atmosphere I can expect will be. I'll be traveling solo for a few reasons, but am not in anyway opposed to making friends along the way. Do people tend to group up (except for those who want solitude, obviously), or is it more likely that you just run in to some of the same folks in this town or that one?
Some people form fast friendships and stick together constantly, and others like to be alone all the way. The majority of independent pilgrims seem to develop loose relationships with a number of people who they encounter frequently (or occasionally). Many people prefer to walk alone during the day but join a group that forms at the albergues in the evenings to eat together. It is very easy to join the group or not, depending on your preference that day.
Sounds like a smart planMy goal is to find someone that can speak English and Spanish and follow them *nod*
Fix dinner communally or eat out. A bottle of Navarra, Rioja, or Bierzo wine depending on your geography will cement a budding friendship.
Villafranca del Bierzo is the place can be found in grocery stores on into Galicia if you look for it.As a fan of Ribeira del Duero wine I have been wondering whether they should redirect the Camino.
Easy, avoid the Rioja and Navarra offered in cafe/bars by the glass-mostly rotgut. Spring for a bottle at a grocery chain 5-6 Euro will be more than good enough to sample at dinner time. In Santiago go big, look for an Albariño, a wonderful wonderful white wine starts off at 10 Euro for something passable but the sky is the limit.I have yet to find a variety of wine here in the States that I like, but I am looking forward to trying some there
I have yet to find a variety of wine here in the States that I like, but I am looking forward to trying some there
Villafranca del Bierzo is the place can be found in grocery stores on into Galicia if you look for it.
...A bottle of Navarra, Rioja, or Bierzo wine depending on your geography will cement a budding friendship.
why embarrassed??If you start in Switzerland, you'll also walk through wine regions on Lake Geneva, in the Rhone river valley, in Cahors, other small wine areas and of course through the Armanac region. I am a little embarrassed to admit that two of my rest days in France were unplanned, caused by the the in-depth study of local wines.
why embarrassed??
sounds to me, that is a very sensible reason to choose rest days. Well done! and i 100% endorse the wine-tasting in the region of Lac Leman (lake geneva) - but of course, i am clearly biased! saluti! c
Or even a glass of hot tea will do it! Years ago in winter a young Spanish fellow, Carlos, and I were the only pilgrims on the cold albergue floor at Granon. Outside it was sleeting. We chatted for many hours in English, French and my then very limited Spanish. He was curious about 'finding himself" and wanted to know how I had 'found my way'. Morning came and after tea and toast we wished each other 'Buen camino' and continued our solitary journeys. Days passed and eventually I arrived at Castrojeriz in snow and sleet. Imagine my delighted surprise when I saw Carlos waving to me from the San Esteban albergue. He said "Hola Margaret what about another tea?" Served boiling hot in an old jam jar it was more than delicious...Simple comfort of basic shelter, serendipity of chance encounter, and sincere generous sharing can be so memorable.
My goal is to find someone that can speak English and Spanish and follow them *nod*
Don't expect anything. Just let it happen.My intent is to go on my first Camino in the fall, and I'm curious what the social atmosphere I can expect will be.
Absolutely. This was never a concern of mine. Just walk and see what happens. If you want friends, reach out. If you don't: run! ;0)Don't expect anything. Just let it happen.
Thanks for the heads upHey There
You may or may not know...but just out of Estella there is a winery that offers free wine (and water) from a tap. Until it runs out. I saw pilgrams filling up there bottles there and then adpoting a gentle sway on the way to Los Arcos.
I dont drink...mainly because I dont like the taste of alcohol. But I have to admit I did enjoy the red's that came with my Pilgrams meals on occasion.
I think the company helped as well.
☺
If I recall correctly there is a great deal of difference between the wine available in North America from that which is available in Spain, as discussed by our fellow Forum members in the following link (if you are interested) ://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/wine.30071/#post-255702. Had I known then what I know now, I might have imbibed a bit when I was there. I'm glad to hear that you are planning to give the Spanish wine a try.I have yet to find a variety of wine here in the States that I like, but I am looking forward to trying some there
Hey There
You may or may not know...but just out of Estella there is a winery that offers free wine (and water) from a tap. Until it runs out. I saw pilgrams filling up there bottles there and then adpoting a gentle sway on the way to Los Arcos.
I dont drink...mainly because I dont like the taste of alcohol. But I have to admit I did enjoy the red's that came with my Pilgrams meals on occasion.
I think the company helped as well.
☺
Spring for a bottle at a grocery chain 5-6 Euro will be more than good enough to sample at dinner time.
I love it how this thread changed from socialising with people to socialising with wine...
I love it how this thread changed from socialising with people to socialising with wine...
I love it how this thread changed from socialising with people to socialising with wine...
My intent is to go on my first Camino in the fall, and I'm curious what the social atmosphere I can expect will be. I'll be traveling solo for a few reasons, but am not in anyway opposed to making friends along the way. Do people tend to group up (except for those who want solitude, obviously), or is it more likely that you just run in to some of the same folks in this town or that one?
You can BYO but why worry when it is freely flowing when you are are served your meal.
What they serve you is just fine, and the alternative is the grocery store which won't be much better in a all towns and villages. As for sangria, have not seen it once in 4 caminos (CF and Norte).Just curious...Only that someone mentioned the House Wine is often 'gut rot' or words to that effect
I am more than happy to 'splurge' on a decent bottle in a store if that is allowed. Happy to skimp on food quality, but not the wine!
As for sangria, have not seen it once in 4 caminos (CF and Norte).
Just curious...Only that someone mentioned the House Wine is often 'gut rot' or words to that effect
I am more than happy to 'splurge' on a decent bottle in a store if that is allowed. Happy to skimp on food quality, but not the wine!
Just curious...Only that someone mentioned the House Wine is often 'gut rot' or words to that effect
I am more than happy to 'splurge' on a decent bottle in a store if that is allowed. Happy to skimp on food quality, but not the wine!
I found an equal proportion of good to bad for both colors. If you move up a step from the house white to an albarino, I do not think you will be disappointed in Spanish whites (rated 90 by "experts" at $15 in the USA).the red house wine seems to be ok, but the white ones, some of it looks like dishwatera and the one person said it tastes lik it too
I've seen so much sangria on the camino, you could probably fill a swimmingpool with it. It is widely available, all you have to do is......order it.What they serve you is just fine, and the alternative is the grocery store which won't be much better in a all towns and villages. As for sangria, have not seen it once in 4 caminos (CF and Norte).
BYO in Spain? In dont think this is normal. I have never seen it. Maybe when you get the pilgrim menu, they dont care if you drink the already paid for included wine or not, but if you just order a meal and pull out your own bottle....no normal restaurant would be ok with that.
I've seen so much sangria on the camino, you could probably fill a swimmingpool with it. It is widely available, all you have to do is......order it.
BYO in Spain? In dont think this is normal. I have never seen it. Maybe when you get the pilgrim menu, they dont care if you drink the already paid for included wine or not, but if you just order a meal and pull out your own bottle....no normal restaurant would be ok with that.
Guess I have never seen anyone order it either.I've seen so much sangria on the camino, you could probably fill a swimmingpool with it. It is widely available, all you have to do is......order it.
Glad that extended to me when we met mate.If you are out going, open to new friendships and new people and cultures then you will be fine.
A Spanish woman we met introduced my companions to tinto de verano, red wine with fruit juices added. She explained it by saying that during the summer many Spaniards prefer a drink that is a little more refreshing and the fruit juices made it so. Would that be along the same lines as sangria?Guess I have never seen anyone order it either.
A Spanish woman we met introduced my companions to tinto de verano, red wine with fruit juices added. She explained it by saying that during the summer many Spaniards prefer a drink that is a little more refreshing and the fruit juices made it so. Would that be along the same lines as sangria?
Orange juice ..............daring? Now, that makes me smilePretty much. Sangria is Generally red wine, fresh fruit and occasionally a small amount of Brandy.
I sometimes add a bit of orange juice if I'm feeling particularly daring..
Glad that extended to me when we met mate.
The topic of this thread is 'Socializing with other pilgrims on the Camino.' I believe many persons feel that socializing and imbibing alcohol beverages are mutually inexclusive. Personally, I don't feel it is necessarily so but, since I accept that even a little alcohol does 'grease the wheels' and can make socializing easier, I am willing to respect this opinion ... and I am happy to see people drinking, in moderation, and having a good time. I just don't like the taste of beer and wine, the two most popular alcoholic beverages, I believe, on the Camino ... and red wine in particular has been known to give me the most diabolical headaches, something I was not willing to chance on the Camino.This has definitely become an alcohol thread lol
I've seen so much sangria on the camino, you could probably fill a swimmingpool with it. It is widely available, all you have to do is......order it..
I believe, on the Camino ... and red wine in particular has been known to give me the most diabolical headaches, something I was not willing to chance on the Camino.
There is a product called Pure Wine that is preservative free and neutralizes the sulphites in wine that causes allergy headaches. .
Ahhhh. Cheap Red plonk does that. Not the good stuff
You will get a bit of everything. You will make friends, you will join groups and just as quickly leave them. You will meet people you will really like and then watch as they walk out of your life forever. You may walk on your own but will never be alone. My camino buddy and I had a good routine. Some days we would walk together and on other days we agreed in advance where we would meet each night. Seldom was I more than 30mins behind him, I am slow, he was always out frontMy intent is to go on my first Camino in the fall, and I'm curious what the social atmosphere I can expect will be. I'll be traveling solo for a few reasons, but am not in anyway opposed to making friends along the way. Do people tend to group up (except for those who want solitude, obviously), or is it more likely that you just run in to some of the same folks in this town or that one?
When you mention in your post "In terms of socializing ...........", after speaking of neutralizing the allergy effects of alcohol, do you mean this as socializing in addition to drinking or not drinking alcoholic beverages. Because there was one occasion on my Camino when socializing and my inability to tolerate / reluctance to try alcohol caused me some discomfort.There is a product called Pure Wine that is preservative free and neutralizes the sulphites in wine that causes allergy headaches. While not being a drinker a gentleman had these and I did try the wine without allergy effects on 2 days using his drops. Just an FYI. You put 3 drops into the glass. In terms of socializing, I found that most are intuitive regarding whether or not you want to socialize at any particular time. I ran into two people on separate occasions that did not possess this sensitivity but otherwise I found most pilgrims both sensitive (intuitive) and inviting.
Tinto de verano is generally red wine with La Casera. I wondered whether it was a regional mixture as it is drunk like water in Andalucia in the summer but when I asked for it on the Camino they did not know what I was talking about, perhaps it was my accent.
La Casera with beer is the equivalent of shandy, called Clara but again perhaps that is also regional.
Ah, no. No pressure at all. Sorry to seem to run the two together. The situation was we were at the Padres, a group of us from all over different countries. We were all cold and wet and there was a huge downpour. A group of us decided to make dinner. The agreement was the ladies would cook while the men braved the weather for food and wine. Three quarters of our large table were very experienced pilgrims having walked many years. And they knew their wine for sure! I declined a glass of the excellent wine due to allergies. That's when the Aussie husband, part of a couple, said he did, too and pulled out his Pure Wine or pure wine drops (an Australian product). I took a couple sips and did not flush or get the rhinitis, etc so had my glass. It was very tasty. We can get food quality peroxide here (USA) to wash fruits and veggies. This product is apparently very diluted food grade. Haven't seen it since and not promoting it. I've never had a cheap bottle of wine in my life. Just mentioning it. Nothing to do with sociability. It was a great dinner we made together and the company was terrific - not enhanced by any wine product as by then we were fast friends. I then ran into them again. I would stop short of how my mother in law washes her fruits and veggies in pure bleach since her stage 4 cancer at 58 - but she is now 93 and still rides a bike! Apparently this gentleman carries it on all his Caminos and uses it at home so he can enjoy his wine. Which would be the best. Lovely folks who had taken the trouble to purchase great wine and offered me a way to enjoy it. That's all. ;-)When you mention in your post "In terms of socializing ...........", after speaking of neutralizing the allergy effects of alcohol, do you mean this as socializing in addition to drinking or not drinking alcoholic beverages. Because there was one occasion on my Camino when socializing and my inability to tolerate / reluctance to try alcohol caused me some discomfort.
It was on the outskirts of Sarria and my companions and I were checked into a private family run albergue. It was a lovely place, the hospitalero was very welcoming and all the pilgrim guests were invited to share the communal dinner. The usual wine was being drunk by many, and we were all having a good time trying to communicate with each other - there was no common tongue among us - and using a lot of sign language. Towards the end of the meal the hospitalero, I guess in an effort to be inclusive and to promote camaraderie, began pouring individual shot glasses of his home-brew liqueur, and placing a glass in front of each of us. When he came to put a glass in front of me, I demurred, but he placed it there anyway. As each pilgrim downed his shot of this, quite obviously, most vile-tasting concoction, the faces each person made caused great hilarity.
While this was going on I was trying to decide what, come my turn, was I going to do? Taking a swig of that stuff raised the great possibility that I would end up with a headache, my having to take my migraine meds, and being laid up in bed until at least mid-afternoon the next day - difficult to do in an albergue when they kick you out first thing in the morning. Not only that, I was walking with two cousins I had barely laid eyes on in forty years - in fact our Camino together was a sort of family reunion - and they had limited days to get to Santiago in order to make their return flights, and I did not want to separate from them. I could not risk losing a day by drinking that liqueur. Aside from that, the last thing I wanted on my Camino was a migraine headache. When it was my turn to down the shot I declined, but it pained me to do so.
I still worry that I put the hospitalero in an awkward position and / or if I broke some sacred rule about accepting hospitality. But I really feel I had no choice. I wonder what others, in my position, would have done.
And those who feel inclined, can make fun of this too! I can handle it.
Is your wine that bad?As much as love my wine I make, I would never want someone to fill at ease in trying. Plus, I have friends that will never touch a drop again for good reasons
Is there any particular significance here to "pil-grimm" that is lost on me?...............shouldn't take to be a true pil-grimm
dIs there any particular significance here to "pil-grimm" that is lost on me?I've had a quick look on the web, but can't make a connection.
autocorrect got me once again. Trying things out of my pad.Is your wine that bad?
... Taking a swig of that stuff raised the great possibility that I would end up with a headache, my having to take my migraine meds, and being laid up in bed until at least mid-afternoon the next day - difficult to do in an albergue when they kick you out first thing in the morning. ... When it was my turn to down the shot I declined, but it pained me to do so. I still worry that I put the hospitalero in an awkward position and / or if I broke some sacred rule about accepting hospitality. But I really feel I had no choice. I wonder what others, in my position, would have done. ...
Don't you just hate it when you ask for Caz Limon or Fanta Limon and they offer you Aquarius! Don't like it, it is nothing like the real deal.
I do....and every so often they say, sorry, we only have PepsiIt is safer to ask for Coke.
I tried to, SY. With my very limited Spanish I pointed to my head and said, "Lo siento, mal de cabeza." The hospitalero, who spoke a bit of English, shot right back with, "It's anti-inflammatory!"Next time just say with a smile:
Por desgracia, soy alérgica/o al alcohol, me da una migraña cuando lo bebo.
Unfortunately I am allergic to alcohol, I get a migraine when I drink it.
Buen Camino sin migraña, SY
When it was my turn to down the shot I declined, but it pained me to do so.
I still worry that I put the hospitalero in an awkward position and / or if I broke some sacred rule about accepting hospitality. But I really feel I had no choice. I wonder what others, in my position, would have done.
And those who feel inclined, can make fun of this too! I can handle it.
@Robo
It might have been a case of cultural difference, not of being pushy. In Spain you have to decline everything, food, second helpings, drinks, a few times before your host accepts it. Giving up to offer more after one "no" would be incredible inhospitable in the Spanish mind. Some as in many other countries, I might add. Buen Camino! SY
Wine bottles with screw caps are starting to catch on outside Aus but your corkscrew will probably be required.Afternote: I wasn't going to pack a corkscrew, but its starting to sound like an essential piece of equipment! Pity the rest of the world has not yet adopted the use of 'Screw Caps'. Or have you? Makes things much easier...
Totally agree to trying the local wines of the region you are visiting, there are some wonderfully rich and sublime differences between the wines in Spain.Are you trying to scare us off drinking wine with all these scary sounding substances it contains?
Maybe I should change over to high quality sake. No matter how much I drink of that stuff, I never get a headache. But how do I get sake on the Camino??
Mind you, the word "wine" is mentioned several dozen times in the New Testament. So maybe I should stick to Rioja, Navarra, Ribera del Duero, Bierzo...
Thank you Jeffrey for that! As I said, had never seen it, nor would it have occured to me to order. I make a lovely sangria heure at home on hot summer afternoons while préparant the bbq, but when in Rome, do like the Romans, and not their caricature.A note on sangría.
Unless you are in a tourist hotspot in Madrid, Barcelona, etc. bars do not offer sangría. Furthermore, sangría is usually only drunk by Spaniards at parties (and for some unknown reason at Chinese restaurants) and mixed at home (similar to punch); it would be vey odd for us to go to a bar and ask for a sangría. What is common across Spain is 'tinto de verano', which is simply cheap wine and gaseosa. Note that sangría, when made at home, (and at bars if available), is always made with the cheapest wine available as you are mixing it with either sugar or fizzy drinks.
BTW. It's perfectly find to decline alcohol in Spain when offered. Just like declining meat if a vegetarian. What is socially unacceptable is to not pay for the next round if you have been invited to the first one.
Unless you stick to Cava, then you don't need one.Wine bottles with screw caps are starting to catch on outside Aus but your corkscrew will probably be required.
Don't Forget Txacoli on El Norte!Totally agree to trying the local wines of the region you are visiting, there are some wonderfully rich and sublime differences between the wines in Spain.
In Biarritz we are constantly debating the quality of the Rioja reds v the Bordeaux red and try out the roses, some are perfect on a hot day.
Pastis, the breakfast of champions from Provence, doesn't have any scary sounding substances in it!
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