Walking the Camino francés...again

[domigee]

I have been reading quite disparaging comments about the CF ... Stupidly, I felt almost hurt. This Camino means a lot to me.
I was going to walk the Norte and Primitivo this year but was endlessly prevaricating about booking the flight....Kept on changing the itinerary....
Well the decision has been made now, ticket bought, I shall walk the CF again. I guess it was meant to be!

I shall try and make an honest report when I come back, bearing in mind my last time was not so long ago and I loved it then, flaws an'all.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Just remember not to expect 2 to be like 1, just enjoy what it brings you.

 

[Bad Pilgrim]

I have been reading quite disparaging comments about the CF ... Stupidly, I felt almost hurt. This Camino means a lot to me.
I was going to walk the Norte and Primitivo this year but was endlessly prevaricating about booking the flight....Kept on changing the itinerary....
Well the decision has been made now, ticket bought, I shall walk the CF again. I guess it was meant to be!

I shall try and make an honest report when I come back, bearing in mind my last time was not so long ago and I loved it then, flaws an'all.

Hi,

Was it a long time ago? I did it in 2009, have been thinking about doing it again, I'm just worried about the massive increase in pilgrimes that must have occurred since then...!

 

[domigee]

Hi,

Was it a long time ago? I did it in 2009, have been thinking about doing it again, I'm just worried about the massive increase in pilgrimes that must have occurred since then...!

I walked it in 2012 and 2013. I too was afraid of the reported increase in pilgrims... Last year whilst on the VdlP I texted my walking friend who was doing the CF. again : 'is it very crowded?' Nope he replied, been walking on my own all morning....

So there we go... Should i really find it unbearable, I can always change plans

 

[peregrina2000]

You know, domigee, I have often thought that I will walk another Camino Francés someday. I am occasionally find myself on little snippets of it, but two years ago when I got to Ponferrada after the Camino Olvidado, I was just tired of being all alone and decided to forego my Invierno plan and stay on the Francés. Yes, it was different, yes, it was tempting to compare and contrast (my last Camino Francés from SJPP was in 2004), but it was absolutely beautiful, I enjoyed the companionship, and the crowds were just not that big a factor. Even though you'll be coming at this camino from a different starting point in terms of experience and perspective, I'll bet you'll still find the wonder and the magic, just maybe in different places. Buen camino, Laurie

p.s. When are you walking? I'm leaving two months from TODAY! Cannot wait.

 

[domigee]

Oh how exciting @peregrina2000 !
I 've gone back to my usual leaving date, July, so a bit longer to wait.

Last year, rejoining the CF at Astorga really didn't appeal, I don't think I could have coped with the crowds. I liked there being so few people on the VdlP and the Orense... Ideally I'd like to walk the Levante from Alicante but it'll have to wait until I can do it in Spring....one day...No more walking in the South of Spain the the Summer months for me!

I'll let you know how it is .
Buen Camino!!!!

 

[Annette london]

I have been reading quite disparaging comments about the CF ... Stupidly, I felt almost hurt. This Camino means a lot to me.
I was going to walk the Norte and Primitivo this year but was endlessly prevaricating about booking the flight....Kept on changing the itinerary....
Well the decision has been made now, ticket bought, I shall walk the CF again. I guess it was meant to be!

I shall try and make an honest report when I come back, bearing in mind my last time was not so long ago and I loved it then, flaws an'all.

Dear domigee, hope you have a wonderful time and enjoy your Camino. We first walked the CF in 2005 and it was one of the best walking experiences we ever had.walked it again plus other caminos over the years which again were enjoyable.we had no expectations of any one of them. Last year, in July we took off again on the spur of the moment and it really was the most enjoyable one of all. Very few people generally which was a bit surprising but when at times there were crowds, we enjoyed that too. This may we hope to walk from Lucca to Rome and next year back on the CF. Just can't keep away from it!! Best wishes Annette

 

[gidivet]

The Camino Francés is popular for a reason. It's different the 2nd time, but still there is this amazing magic.
Buen Camino!

 

[domigee]

Thank you all for your good wishes

@Annette london, so pleased you enjoyed your last 'spur of the moment' Camino! I also go without expectations, que sera, sera... Is Lucca on the Via Francigena? (I only did the French part of it).

@gidivet yes, the magic is still drawing me

Of course, this being a 'year of Mercy', I expect even more pilgrims, probably on all caminos...

Buen camino a todos.

 

[Annette london]

Thank you all for your good wishes

@Annette london, so pleased you enjoyed your last 'spur of the moment' Camino! I also go without expectations, que sera, sera... Is Lucca on the Via Francigena? (I only did the French part of it).

@gidivet yes, the magic is still drawing me

Of course, this being a 'year of Mercy', I expect even more pilgrims, probably on all caminos...

Buen camino a todos.

Yes Domigee, Lucca is on the via F. It's not far from Pisa-- less than an hour on the bus directly to the airport. In 2014,we walked from Vercelli to Lucca.A nice enough journey but a lot of roads,large and small. Hoping for more tracks and paths this time around. Best wishes Annette

 

[domigee]

Have a lovely time Annette, I'd love to hear all about it
Dominique

 

[VNwalking]

p.s. When are you walking? I'm leaving two months from TODAY! Cannot wait.

I 've gone back to my usual leaving date, July, so a bit longer to wait.

Domigee, Laurie, and anyone else out there who may soon to be heading out...
Warmest wishes to you all and a heartfelt Buen Camino!
(I like the Frances too, and so after dithering, thinking this and that, I also decided to to that...with a 3 days beforehand walking from Santo Domingo de Silos, for some solitude.)

 

[Jeff Crawley]

I have been reading quite disparaging comments about the CF ... Stupidly, I felt almost hurt. This Camino means a lot to me.
I was going to walk the Norte and Primitivo this year but was endlessly prevaricating about booking the flight....Kept on changing the itinerary....
Well the decision has been made now, ticket bought, I shall walk the CF again. I guess it was meant to be!

I shall try and make an honest report when I come back, bearing in mind my last time was not so long ago and I loved it then, flaws an'all.

I can guarantee it won't be the same as before but then everything changes - maybe last time it rained and this time it will be sunny; last time you got stuck with a clingy fellow pilgrim, this time you might make a friend for life.

It IS getting more crowded and it IS getting more commercialised (they probably said the same thing in 1640!) but it won't stop me from going back one more time (Pamplona to SdC in August/September) and this time in style (room booked at the Paradors in Leon AND SdC - well it might be the last time!)

Have fun and let us know how you get on.

BTW what part of Kent

Jeff (on the coast at Herne Bay)

 

[domigee]

this time in style (room booked at the Paradors in Leon AND SdC - well it might be the last time!)

Nice one!

Have fun too and buen camino!

Dominique (from Sevenoaks)