Babyboomergirl
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances 2017
Primitivo 2018
Finisterre/Muxía 2018
Norte 2019
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Thank you . That’s very reassuring as I was also concerned that the weather on the VdlP might be starting to get too hot towards the end of April.I have walked the VDLP three times now all starting in April just after Easter. Many pilgrims at the start this year but they spread out after a week or so and I was left with a lovely group of folk who I would meet on and off until Santiago.
Next year I am starting from Lisbon on 13th April . Hoping there are a few pilgrims to meet on the way. I'm up for the challenge but don't expect it to be as beautiful as the the VDLP.
I'm also from WA so PM me if you wish to know more .
And greetings from Sydney!Greetings from Australia ,
Would love to hear pros and cons for each camino, especially from those who have walked both ,with a starting date towards the end of April.
Thank you for these comments. I am now feeling much more confident to stay with my original plans to walk the VdlP. The postponed 2020 Camino and our lockdowns and exorbitant flight costs have all contributed to pre Camino jitters .And greetings from Sydney!
I have walked both, in 2018. I left Seville in late April and walked the VDLP and Sanabres, and later the same year left Lisbon in mid October and walked the Portuguese. The weather was pretty much perfect on the VDLP - cold enough in the mornings that I had to wear gloves at the start, then sun but not too hot. It was cold and rainy for a few days on the Sanabrés but cleared up before Ourense and was great from then to SDC. On the Portuguese it was lovely from Lisbon until Porto, when winter arrived, and from Vigo on it rained all the way to SDC.
I much preferred the VDLP. Loved the landscape, loved the walking surfaces, loved the cities, and met several groups of people with whom I am still friends.
Thank you. Another one to consider !There is a potential third option in the Caminho Português de Nascente. Geographically, it's between the two others. Fewer Albergues, but it is shorter than the VDLP.
If this is for the Way of Saint James, you've forgotten Astorga, Ponferrada, and of course Santiago de Compostela itself.The Vdlp has got the highest concentration of monumental cities of any camino I’ve walked — hard to beat a combination of Sevilla, Cáceres, Mérida, Salamanca, Zamora and Ourense.
In what way was the first couple of days disappointing ?We have walked the Portuguese in September 2017 from Lisbon to Porto via the traditional route, and then from Porto to SdC via the coast.
Lisbon was fantastic but the first couple of days from Lisbon on the way to Tomar were a bit disappointing. From there on, we enjoyed our Camino, especially Tomar, Porto and the coastal route.
We don't live near the NSW coast, so the coastal route was quite special for us.
The Portuguese people and food added to our Camino experience with people stopping to give us fruit and water bottles and just happy to see Pilgrims. We felt very welcome in Portugal indeed.
Having said that, we are hoping to return to do the Vdlp in March next year and planning has begun in earnest. Be sure to check out the VDLP threadis on this forum. There is some excellent advice!
Always happy to help with Portuguese advice is you decide to walk that one!
Cheers
Graham
I walked the VDLP this year in Spring , great option, you can break the distances. I had one day over 30kms and no real trouble with finding a bed. Highly recommendGreetings from Australia ,
Oh the excitement of planning another Camino.
Having originally hoped to walk the VdlP in 2020 after walking different routes the previous three years life and Covid happened.
Three years later and not so Camino fit I’m starting to think the CP starting in Lisbon might be a better choice. Feeling slightly anxious about the long stages and potential lack of accomodation on the VdlP, although it’s the one I always had in mind.
Would love to hear pros and cons for each camino, especially from those who have walked both ,with a starting date towards the end of April.
Hello Peregrina .Thinking about walking it again as loved the VDP too . But what do you think weather will be like starting from Seville end March ?Totally agree that starting the Vdlp in late April is ideal. I have started from Sevilla twice — once in mid April and once in early May, and the weather both times was terrific. One of the real natural highlights was the area called the “dehesa”, mainly in Extremadura. It translates as “meadow” or “grassland,” but that just doesn’t do it justice. It’s an area with holm oaks, babbling brooks in springtime, lots of huge boulders, flowers, just glorious in the springtime. I remember once leaving Aljucén early in the morning as the sun was rising. Soon after I was in the middle of one of these areas and I came across a man sitting and watching the sun rise with tears running down his face — really! It is just that spectacular if you are lucky with the weather.
The Vdlp has got the highest concentration of monumental cities of any camino I’ve walked — hard to beat a combination of Sevilla, Cáceres, Mérida, Salamanca, Zamora and Ourense.
I love the Portugués too, but like @Kanga, I would choose the Vdlp, no question.
Thank you. VdlP it is ! I’m feeling very excited now with only four months to waitTotally agree that starting the Vdlp in late April is ideal. I have started from Sevilla twice — once in mid April and once in early May, and the weather both times was terrific. One of the real natural highlights was the area called the “dehesa”, mainly in Extremadura. It translates as “meadow” or “grassland,” but that just doesn’t do it justice. It’s an area with holm oaks, babbling brooks in springtime, lots of huge boulders, flowers, just glorious in the springtime. I remember once leaving Aljucén early in the morning as the sun was rising. Soon after I was in the middle of one of these areas and I came across a man sitting and watching the sun rise with tears running down his face — really! It is just that spectacular if you are lucky with the weather.
The Vdlp has got the highest concentration of monumental cities of any camino I’ve walked — hard to beat a combination of Sevilla, Cáceres, Mérida, Salamanca, Zamora and Ourense.
I love the Portugués too, but like @Kanga, I would choose the Vdlp, no question.
Thank you and good luck with your planning.Having said that, we are hoping to return to do the Vdlp in March next year and planning has begun in earnest. Be sure to check out the VDLP threadis on this forum. There is some excellent advice!
In what way was the first couple of days disappointing ?
I would have thought any Camino and the freedom they bring would have been delightful. What was it missing ?
I walked the CP from Lisbon in October 2019. Accommodation between Lisbon & Porto was not set up for pilgrims as on most other Caminos, after Porto, yes.Greetings from Australia ,
Oh the excitement of planning another Camino.
Having originally hoped to walk the VdlP in 2020 after walking different routes the previous three years life and Covid happened.
Three years later and not so Camino fit I’m starting to think the CP starting in Lisbon might be a better choice. Feeling slightly anxious about the long stages and potential lack of accomodation on the VdlP, although it’s the one I always had in mind.
Would love to hear pros and cons for each camino, especially from those who have walked both ,with a starting date towards the end of April.
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