Yossi Fuchs
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- May 2016
Having just returned from Spain, I would like to share with you some facts and thoughts:
Two year ago, May 2016, I walked with two friends from Pamplona to Burgos, took a bus from Burgos to Leon, walked on to Santiago, then to Muxia and down to Finesterre. Altogether some 650 km.
Last year, May 2017, My wife joined me and we walked from SJPP to Pamplona in 4 days (the first day just to Orisson). from Pamplona we travelled by train to spend 4 lovely days in Barcelona.
This year I felt a strong desire to complete the Camino by walking the missing section; the Meseta, from Burgos to Leon. We skipped it two years ago for lack of time and when weighing the pros and cons of which section to skip, the Meseta "won" for being the least interesting part of the Camino. So early this year I started looking into it again, mainly in this very useful forum. Most opinions I read were glorifying the Meseta as "spiritual" allowing you to look deeply into your soul, meditate, etc. So, May 22nd 2018, my wife and I took a flight to Madrid and on by Alsa bus to Burgos. The next day we started on our 8 day walk to Leon. We were not so lucky with the weather; it mostly ranged from almost raining to raining... Arriving in Leon we stayed at Albergue San Francisco which I highly recommend (take a private room if you can spare the 30 euros). Leon is a lovely city and we arrived early enough in the day to take in most of the city's beautiful sights. The next day we took an early bus to Madrid and spent 4 days in this beautiful city.
In conclusion: I feel a sense of accomplishment, having completed the Camino Frances, alas in three years... I must say though that for me the "spiritual" thing did not work at all. In my opinion, this section is outright boring and worth doing just for the challenge of walking the whole Camino. If you want to meditate, you can do better at home.
Bottom line: I am glad I did it for the right reason for me...
Two year ago, May 2016, I walked with two friends from Pamplona to Burgos, took a bus from Burgos to Leon, walked on to Santiago, then to Muxia and down to Finesterre. Altogether some 650 km.
Last year, May 2017, My wife joined me and we walked from SJPP to Pamplona in 4 days (the first day just to Orisson). from Pamplona we travelled by train to spend 4 lovely days in Barcelona.
This year I felt a strong desire to complete the Camino by walking the missing section; the Meseta, from Burgos to Leon. We skipped it two years ago for lack of time and when weighing the pros and cons of which section to skip, the Meseta "won" for being the least interesting part of the Camino. So early this year I started looking into it again, mainly in this very useful forum. Most opinions I read were glorifying the Meseta as "spiritual" allowing you to look deeply into your soul, meditate, etc. So, May 22nd 2018, my wife and I took a flight to Madrid and on by Alsa bus to Burgos. The next day we started on our 8 day walk to Leon. We were not so lucky with the weather; it mostly ranged from almost raining to raining... Arriving in Leon we stayed at Albergue San Francisco which I highly recommend (take a private room if you can spare the 30 euros). Leon is a lovely city and we arrived early enough in the day to take in most of the city's beautiful sights. The next day we took an early bus to Madrid and spent 4 days in this beautiful city.
In conclusion: I feel a sense of accomplishment, having completed the Camino Frances, alas in three years... I must say though that for me the "spiritual" thing did not work at all. In my opinion, this section is outright boring and worth doing just for the challenge of walking the whole Camino. If you want to meditate, you can do better at home.
Bottom line: I am glad I did it for the right reason for me...