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I do speak Spanish so I'm sure I could wander around and find alternative places...but am on a tight budget, too!
Dear Sue, please don't fret, it's not necessary for you to. I wish I could give you the peace and knowing that all is well and you need not worry. This year I am going back to walk the Camino Francés for a sixth time. I adore the trail, the history, the beauty, the wonder of it, everything about it. I've walked in every month from June to October, including the 2010 Holy Year and two arrivals in Santiago in time for the July 24th celebration (thousands and thousands of people there for that), and only once did I arrive at an albergue that was full and resulted in my walking on to the next town. It was Ferreiros, after Sarria, where the albergue only has about 22 beds, and my friend and I arrived at 7:30pm. Of course it was full.We could have stayed at a farmhouse down the road where beds were offered to us but we chose instead to walk on to Portomarin and that was a delicious adventure unto itself.
People have different experiences on the Camino so I won't guarantee you'll never find full albergues. They do fill up. But most of the "bed race" game is a state of mind, and attitude and intention have much to do with not getting caught up in it, as does common sense. If you finish walking by 2pm or so, chances are good you'll have no problem. If you stay in places in between the stage beginnings and endings in guide books, that also can help. But really, you will quickly find out how things flow on the Camino. I often think it's quite magical the way pilgrims find places to tuck into for the night, as many as there can appear to be walking throughout the day. (And some like to walk into late afternoon and evening.)
I've also stayed at several albergues where floor mattresses were set up and space made for extra pilgrims. I hope that eases your mind somewhat, because a joyful journey awaits you.
Buen Camino! I hope you get to see oceans of beautiful red poppies as you walk.
Rachel
Good thought! I spent 6 weeks in Bilbao in 1979, AFS summer exchange student, and left dreaming in Spanish!
Sue, do you speak Español de España, or Español de Las Americas?
There is a noticeable difference and, if you're not expecting it, it can throw you off. Spain natives can generally understand "Americas Spanish", but there may be times when you'll have them scratching their heads. You'll probably be scratching your head from time to time as well. For example, a tortilla in Spain is different from a tortilla over here.
Spot on, except to say that this route was even more complex. It was the 5 km stretch that went TO the roman road. In the 2010/Brierly era the way to cut over to the roman road changed, so even the people who were doing that were on the new connector....what I found was the old connector.....5 kmm that almost no one was on.I was interested to read Wavprof's account above, of the "forgotten" path. That's the Roman Road out of Calzada del Coto, and those funky signs are still out there... but the new AVE railway line has shifted that path, too. And since the Holy Gospel of Brierly now recommends that way over the "Camino Real" a little farther south, it's become much more heavily traveled -- a long, long way from "forgotten!" Something as simple as a popular guidebook can re-route travelers and paths.
I speak basic functional Spanish, but am very far from being really versatile, and I don't think this is a significant issue. As in English, the individual and regional accents are a bigger problem than the generalization of America versus Spain. There is no way you are going to master all of those and eliminate all head scratching - I haven't done it in English!Sue, do you speak Español de España, or Español de Las Americas?
There is a noticeable difference and, if you're not expecting it, it can throw you off. Spain natives can generally understand "Americas Spanish", but there may be times when you'll have them scratching their heads. You'll probably be scratching your head from time to time as well. For example, a tortilla in Spain is different from a tortilla over here.
make reservations around 12 -15 miles each day.
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