Walking over Easter - What should we expect?

[Laliibeans]

My family is planning our Camino for about mid-April 2014 and I've just seen that Easter will fall about a week after we are planning to start.

Are we going to run into many problems trying to walk over this period? Will we need to plan for shops closing, crowds, etc?

If anyone has walked over this period before and can tell me what their experience was like regarding practicalities or if there are any difficulties we need to keep in mind before going, it'd be a big help. Thanks in advance

 

[Deleted member 3000]

2014

 

[jpflavin1]

Laliibeans:

You can expect a lot more Pilgrims on the Camino that week. Spain has the whole week off. You will also experience many activities related to Holy week.

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[Laliibeans]

Falcon: I saw in 2014 it'll fall on April 20. We were planning to start the week before that, we hadn't even considered that it might clash!

Joe: Does that mean shops won't be open, etc? I'll be travelling with my mum and niece who both have coeliac so we're going to need supermarkets for their food most likely.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Sorry. I clicked on the Camino de Santiago Calendar and saw Easter this month. I don't buy green bananas anymore, so 2014 was elided by my selective perception.

 

[jpflavin1]

Laliibeans:

The good thing is you have a year to figure this out. I would defer to Johnny Walker, Ivar or Reb on store hours of operation in Spain. You have specific dietary needs to meet.

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[lindseh]

I started on Easter Sunday in 2011 from St-Jean and it didn't seem busier than any other time I was walking. I'd bet that most of the people who come on over Easter are Spanish or French locals who walk a week at a time over a few years, that seemed to be the case when I was there. So if there is a crowd, it will probably disperse quickly. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Buen camino,
Lindsey

 

[sergeantmajormammy]

Weather permitting, we plan to arrive in StJPdeP on Spy Wednesday this month, start walking Thursday and walk over the weekend. We'll let you know!

 

[Laliibeans]

Thanks

I'm hoping we will still be fine during that period, and since my mum is going for religious reasons (the rest of us have our own...) then it might be a great experience for her to be there during that time.

My sister and I (both ex-scouts) are the planners though, and my niece is doing the walk to earn her Queen's Scout award. So the three of us are very much trying to "Be prepared"! If we know we might have trouble we can always stock up on supplies for them somewhere earlier.

 

[tyrrek]

Yes, I think you'll be fine. Shops may be closed longer than usual over the weekend but bar/restaurants will be open so you won't starve. It's an exciting time to be in Spain if you arrive when one of the festivals is happening in a village. Buen Camino!