montenegrodr
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- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances 2023 (April)
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Good decision. You'll get it when you see/get it.Of course, if I got the chance to choose as my I'll probably use those rest days whenever my body askes for it.
there's an albergue in el Acebo(literally at the end of the town) that is magnificent. You'll be putting on some KM's each day at that pace. I hiked it from Astorga and enjoyed staying at the place (although reactions are mixed...some have criticized my choice) as the room I stayed was comfortable, the pilgrim meal was excellent, and they had a pool. I always said that on my next Camino, I'd either stay a full day there or wake up leisurely and then do a short hike to Ponferrada from el Acebo. (I kind of liked to keep moving and especially enjoyed my afternoons on the Camino when I felt like I had the trail all to myself)Hi, I am starting the Frances next Friday (14/04) and I plan to walk for 26 days + 2 rest days. As you see, it is a tight schedule so I was wondering what are the top 2 places would you recommend to stay over on those days off. Of course, if I got the chance to choose as my I'll probably use those rest days whenever my body askes for it.
Cheers
We set aside five rest days, but we did them in the bigger cities and we ended up walking as much on those days. We finally admitted they were tourist days, not rest days. On our next walk we will make the distinction between rest and tourist days.I like rest days in small towns where I will actually rest and not walk too much.
Maybe Santo Domingo and Molinaseca?
In my mind you have answered your own question! Buen CaminoI'll probably use those rest days whenever my body askes for it.
I was doing a few 40km days and my feet were dying (legs were strong) and so I did Najera to Granon and considered the 26km's a rest day. I arrived in town at 11:30am, had a really good lunch and enjoyed some beers in the afternoon. It was perfect for what I needed. So shorter days aren't a horrible day for someone to consider...either a later start or an earlier stop.It really depends on your likes/dislikes. Some people prefer to stay in small secluded villages - and I might find that bores me to tears. Some like busy cities. Some like a mixture of both.
I would say the most popular rest days on the Frances are probably Burgos/Leon (could be wrong - that is the impression I got). Burgos/Leon are two big cities with lots to do and are well enough spaced out from each other. That is where I took my 2 rest days.
That said - I learned I don't love rest days. They are a little "jarring" to go from walking for hours a day every day - to a rest day where you only sight see. I instead prefer to mix longer walking days and shorter walking days. I always leave room for rest days in my itinerary - but prefer to to plan to actually use them going forward. On the Norte/Primitivo - I only took 1 rest day it it was not because I needed rest, but because I had issues with drying laundry (too many rainy days) and needed to take time to wash/dry everything thoroughly. Otherwise I could have done without.
If you end up not using your rest days - you can have more tourism days at the end - after you reach Santiago.
I was able to see all those places in one day - roughly from mid-afternoon (went out as soon as I settled in at albergue; perhaps it was 2PM) and I was sitting down for dinner at 6:00PMDepends on how you want to spend your rest days. If you want to be able to explore museums and cathedrals, I recommend Leon and Burgos. I wish I’d also taken a rest day in Astorga, as there was much to see (a Gaudi building and a cathedral and a chocolate museum I missed…). Buen Camino!
Same. I did like Astorga - but I didn't need a rest day there to do everything. Same with Ponferrada. Loved both - but saw everything I wanted to see in one afternoon/evening.I was able to see all those places in one day - roughly from mid-afternoon (went out as soon as I settled in at albergue; perhaps it was 2PM) and I was sitting down for dinner at 6:00PM
To be honest I was not overly impressed with Chocolate Museum but to each his own
Big cities:Hi, I am starting the Frances next Friday (14/04) and I plan to walk for 26 days + 2 rest days. As you see, it is a tight schedule so I was wondering what are the top 2 places would you recommend to stay over on those days off. Of course, if I got the chance to choose as I'll probably use those rest days whenever my body askes for it.
Cheers
Burgos and Leon both cathedrals are stunningHi, I am starting the Frances next Friday (14/04) and I plan to walk for 26 days + 2 rest days. As you see, it is a tight schedule so I was wondering what are the top 2 places would you recommend to stay over on those days off. Of course, if I got the chance to choose as I'll probably use those rest days whenever my body askes for it.
Cheers
there's an albergue in el Acebo(literally at the end of the town) that is magnificent. You'll be putting on some KM's each day at that pace. I hiked it from Astorga and enjoyed staying at the place (although reactions are mixed...some have criticized my choice) as the room I stayed was comfortable, the pilgrim meal was excellent, and they had a pool. I always said that on my next Camino, I'd either stay a full day there or wake up leisurely and then do a short hike to Ponferrada from el Acebo. (I kind of liked to keep moving and especially enjoyed my afternoons on the Camino when I felt like I had the trail all to myself)
el Acebo was the only place on the Camino that elicited this type of reaction/thought from me, fwiw. The views in the evening towards the West were amazing (I hiked it in July 2017)
Instead of rest days, very short walk days.Hi, I am starting the Frances next Friday (14/04) and I plan to walk for 26 days + 2 rest days. As you see, it is a tight schedule so I was wondering what are the top 2 places would you recommend to stay over on those days off. Of course, if I got the chance to choose as I'll probably use those rest days whenever my body askes for it.
Cheers
If you are as young and agile as your avatar suggests - forget rest days. I was probably twice as old as you. I began in Roncesvalles - no argument please about better or worse than the best starting point - and although we had banked two days for rest and splurge we did not use them, and arrived in 29 days. I do not regret at all the experience. You have probably got longer legs, and more resilience. Just keep moving, and keep being where you are. You will get there. Buen camino.Hi, I am starting the Frances next Friday (14/04) and I plan to walk for 26 days + 2 rest days. As you see, it is a tight schedule so I was wondering what are the top 2 places would you recommend to stay over on those days off. Of course, if I got the chance to choose as I'll probably use those rest days whenever my body askes for it.
Cheers
Most of the time on my first Camino I was both the only foreigner and the only pilgrim in a bar or restaurant. It was very rare for me to stop anywhere for more than a few minutes without some local person starting a conversation. One of the downsides of the much larger numbers walking today is that most pilgrims now move within a Camino bubble and social interactions with local people are less common.When I found a place of only locals I'd walk right in and found that it was much easier to interact when I was the only foreigner.
Seeing you will be saving on accommodation [ 26 days ] I would stay inHi, I am starting the Frances next Friday (14/04) and I plan to walk for 26 days + 2 rest days. As you see, it is a tight schedule so I was wondering what are the top 2 places would you recommend to stay over on those days off. Of course, if I got the chance to choose as I'll probably use those rest days whenever my body askes for it.
Cheers
If you're walking during a major futbol competition, be sure to join the mix in a bar with a TV and root for the underdog. I had so much fun and learned so much, interacting with Spaniards in that way.Also, sometimes in the cities and larger towns, I'd stroll by many watering holes and if I saw groups of locals mixed in with groups speaking German, French, or English I'd keep walking. Usually such groups would be keeping to their own and not mixing much. When I found a place of only locals I'd walk right in and found that it was much easier to interact when I was the only foreigner. A good ice breaker was to ask someone for a restaurant recommendation and others would join in with their opinion. A kind person would inquire as to where I'm from and an enjoyable time would ensue.
It's a complicated issue. Most of the time I prefer to be solo but occasionally I am invited to share a meal or a conversation with others. I would always wait to be invited first. But some people take a different tack and assume that being a pilgrim automatically gives them the right to insert themselves into an existing group or to attach themselves to a solo walker and demand their attention. Something which I find very irritating.I’m neither an extrovert nor an introvert but I definitely feel like I’m imposing in such situations. I’m not comfortable inserting myself into others’ activities. On the regular Camino trail, however, it’s accepted.
That resort-like place in El Acebo had a strange way of advertising on the Camino. A sign on the trail that was apparently movement activated, so it gave a verbal speal when you got near it. I was tempted to destroy it.
I wondered about this and what you are. So I looked it up and I found this:...I’m neither an extrovert nor an introvert but I definitely feel like I’m imposing in such situations...
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