I walked the
Camino Frances last October/November and when I was not looking, I caught the Camino bug :wink: .
The Camino has been in my thoughts for most of this past year. Around 28 September (in 9-10 days), I am off to Spain again, this time to walk the Via de la Plata.
I am posting this on the off-chance that anyone reading this forum might come across me out there - I did the same thing last year and was delighted when fellow forum member Paul (from Ireland) approached me in Zubiri and introduced himself.
Just a few questions for now:
1. I have the CSJ guide to the Via but while reading various VdlP blogs I have become worried I might get lost without proper maps so I have decided to get hold of "El Via de la Plata a Pie y en Bicicleta" when I get to Seville. Is that book easily available in the Sevilla bookshops?
2. My dentist recommends to me the Hotel Simon in Sevilla - unfortunately it is about 5 years since he stayed there so I am not sure I can trust this recommendation. Any other I could try? For my time in Sevilla I don't want to stay in hostels/albergues.
3. I intend getting hold of a PAYG Sim card when I get to Spain - does it make a difference which mobile company I go for? I need to have data access so that I can do quick Twitter/Facebook updates for my friends while I am on the road and also access the internet on the move in emergencies (for Google maps for example).
I got very anxious and a bit stressed last year while preparing for the
Camino Frances (could hardly sleep at night!) and this time round I thought it would be different but it's happening again!
I suppose it does not help that once again I have not prepared at all physically and am now 70lbs overweight intstead of 60 !!! (I lost 20lbs doing the Frances last year but have had a pretty inactive year since then so the weight has all come back, and has brought some friends!). This means that once again I'll be a tortoise rather than a hare. Already aware that my arrival will be well into November, I am making sure I am taking enough warm clothes, and have upgraded my 2-season duvet to a 3-season one (a bit heavier, but I am sure it will be worth it). I remember meeting a young German called Julia in Astorga last year, she had just joined the Frances from the Via de la Plata and told me she had been terribly cold in albergues whilst walking the Via and had had to buy an extra sleeping bag!
I also remember she had decided to join the CF in Astorga because she was feeling a bit lonely on the Via - not many people to talk to. I am curious to find out how I handle this, but at this moment it's actually one of the attractions of the Via for me - last year by the time I got to Astorga I was just sick and tired of other pilgrims and towards the end of the Camino in Galicia, took to staying more in hostals and casas rurales than in albergues.
I'll post again just before I leave - to give details of my blog - I am ashamed to say I am presently updating last year's
Camino Frances blog entries and photos, hopefully I'll have finished it by the time I leave for Sevilla! And of course I'll also post on the "Live from the Camino" sub-forum - it's my favourite one - I love following the posts on there.
Isabelle