The Camino is calling....

[Jean & Claude]

My husband and I did our first Camino, Frances in Jun/Jul 2016, including Fisterra and Muxía ... and are hooked.
We are planning our second Camino for May/June 2018 and, while I would like to do Frances again (which we will), I am seriously considering 3 options: Camino Norté, Le Puy Route (but will I be content to stop in SJPP?) or the Via Francigena (from San Bernard Pass). My husband will go along with whatever I plan....
Any advice or words of wisdom.... Thank you

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Le Puy.

 

[nycwalking]

What would you like: views, new cities and sights, longer/shorter than CF? What?

 

[gypsy9]

How many weeks do you have, JC? Firstly, you have the perfect traveling companion who will go along with whatever your plan!
Secondly, if you have the time and desire, why not continue on from SJPP (if you began in Le Puy en Velay?). May/June is indeed a magnificent time to walk with fields of spring flowers...

 

[Jean & Claude]

Thank you for your replies.... no, not looking for shorter than CF, I think I am looking for preferences on the Camino itself.... as I am in the planning stages. We have all the time in the world, being retired and really time is not an option. I would love to continue on from SJPP, but that's where my travelling partner and I differ... (some day I/we will do it again) so, we are looking at 800 - 900 kms. (5-6weeks). As doing the CF only, am I nieve to be looking for the same feelings, same experiences .....so I think what I am looking for is opinions on those of experience..... thank you.

 

[Kanga]

Norte or Le Puy. Equally beautiful, but no road walking (or very little) on the Le Puy. But the Norte finishes in Santiago. And I do love the last part of the Norte, in Galicia.

 

[fransw]

Le Puy route with the Célé variant

 

[Kitsambler]

If you want a different experience, you must walk a different road. The Le Puy route is quite different from the Frances. Also, you could start further east, in Switzerland or Germany. Or further north, in Amsterdam or Cologne. Marked routes to Santiago cover the entirety of Europe like a spiderweb, and the world is your oyster! (NB: This post is an entry in the "How Many Metaphors can You Mix?" contest . )

 

[Jean & Claude]

Thank you all.... I follow the 'forum' regularly and you inspire me.... I will ponder over this over the winter and something will 'tell' me which road I (we) are supposed to take next.... Hugs and buen Camino to you all!

 

[trecile]

If you want a different experience, you must walk a different road.

I don't think that's entirely true. I just completed my second Camino Frances, and while the geography was the same the experience was different. Firstly, while I came to Spain alone last year, this time a friend joined me on the Camino for the first ten days. I was so excited to share the Camino that I love with a friend.
I walked during a slightly different season - July/August as opposed to August/September, which meant that I was able to enjoy field upon field of sunflowers in full bloom whose season I had just missed last year. I also mostly stayed in different towns than on my first Camino and was able to discover the delights of Viana, Santo Domingo de la Calzada and others. But most importantly, I made many new friends, who helped shape my Camino experience.
That said, I'm ready for a new path next year, abd I think that it will be the Norte.

 

[Jean & Claude]

Well, after much pondering (and research) our flights are booked! We will be walking the Via de la Plata/ Camino Sanabrés starting from Seville April 20, 2018. I have already started in my mind, now let’s get walking .... Thank you all for your input - I do enjoy this forum ....

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Well, after much pondering (and research) our flights are booked! We will be walking the Via de la Plata/ Camino Sanabrés starting from Seville April 20, 2018. I have already started in my mind, now let’s get walking .... Thank you all for your input - I do enjoy this forum ....

Hello, I just read through this thread and noticed your original question was asking for advise/opinions on walking either the Norte, LePuy or Via Francigena. You have now posted that after your research you are planning to walk the Via de la Plata. I am curious about this route myself and would appreciate hearing why you have "changed direction" so to speak.
I haved walked the Frances twice, the Norte/Primitivo, and will walk the LePuy this coming June, so will be contemplating a different route for 2019.

 

[domigee]

Well, after much pondering (and research) our flights are booked! We will be walking the Via de la Plata/ Camino Sanabrés starting from Seville April 20, 2018. I have already started in my mind, now let’s get walking .... Thank you all for your input - I do enjoy this forum ....

Glad you made a decision Exciting, now the fun starts!
I notice no-one said a word about the Via Francigena (from GdSt Bernard)... It's a wonderful walk. Much harder (imo) than the camino francés - more mountains, more mosquitoes for instance - but well worth it. Altogether a different experience but of course it isn't Spain!
I'm pondering myself whether to to it again or choose a new (to me) Camino, like the Vezelay route.
Decisions decisions

 

[Camino Chrissy]

@domigee, several people who have done the Via Francigena mention mosquitos, making me shy away from considering this walk in the future. What month did you walk?

 

[Jean & Claude]

@ Camino Chris.... good question! Well .... I wanted to do something long ... and when I do walk the Le Puy Route (which I will), I want to keep going and redo the CF. At this point my husband says there are too many routes too do the same one twice in a row. I would do the CF again in a minute - and I willI someday..... The VDLP sounds challenging (mentally/physically) and a completely different experience than the CF, so I think that was the biggest reason. I would like to keep the Via Francegina for my 60th in 2020... and keeping del Norte for another time.... If it was up to me, I would be going back enery year....maybe more... Make sense?

 

[domigee]

@domigee, several people who have done the Via Francigena mention mosquitos, making me shy away from considering this walk in the future. What month did you walk?

I walked in July/August. The mosquitoes are in the area of the rice fields (around Vercelli) and it takes five or six days to walk through it. I used mosquito repellent but there are so numerous you can't even stop for a minute....
It hasn't put me off though... (Yes, I am that stupid! )

 

[jungleboy]

Sounds like part of the challenge! I’m hoping to do the Via Francigena in three years once I get a few more caminos under my belt.

 

[JabbaPapa]

My husband and I did our first Camino, Frances in Jun/Jul 2016, including Fisterra and Muxía ... and are hooked.
We are planning our second Camino for May/June 2018 and, while I would like to do Frances again (which we will), I am seriously considering 3 options: Camino Norté, Le Puy Route (but will I be content to stop in SJPP?) or the Via Francigena (from San Bernard Pass). My husband will go along with whatever I plan....
Any advice or words of wisdom.... Thank you

I'm not sure where you live, but if it's in Europe you really should consider walking from home, or even more ideally from your home parish.

If time is in the most absolute sense not a problem, then you could of course do the same from wherever it is you live -- grab a cargo ship for whichever surface water crossings -- else, why not walk to whichever airport you take off from and walk from whichever airport you land in ?

Whether you know well or ill the broader area around your home hiking-wise, the slow transition from the familiar to the strange and into the unknown of the Camino remains an unknown for most pilgrims, which IMO is sad.

 

[Jean & Claude]

Thank you all for your input into my musings.... as it ended up, we started our Via de la Plata from Seville April 21, walking via the Camino Sanabres and arrived in Santiago May 23. It was a tough walk (mostly because I struggled with a plantar fasciitis issue most of the way), but so well worth every kilometre, especially completing it with my partner in life... Now, once my foot heals completely ... on to planning our next Camino.... It really never ends, does it ....

 

[Camino Chrissy]

No, it doesn't! I'm planning my 5th and have gone every year since 2015!