- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances - 2009
Portuguese Interior (2014)
Hadrian's Wall (2017)
Porto to SdC ( Seaside) 2019
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As for myself
"Le cœur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît pas/ the heart has its reasons, of which reason knows nothing."
Pascal, Les Pensées
Perhaps the first post of my last camino explains best why I have walked the Camino Frances ten times; thus it may serve as my apologia.
Check out what others have said in this earlier thread
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/why-do-it-again.51599/
Having walked the Camino Frances twice , I tried to do Madrid/Salvador/Primitivo combo but the Frances just called me back onto it. I can't explain it, but the Frances is the way for me. There's just a certain magic, a certain energy about it
I suppose some may not appreciate me posting the question, but I'm interested to know why folks continue to return to the CF when there are other routes to experience? I don't think I am asking for any reason that is intended to be critical; I am aware that pilgrims travel under different circumstances - with different friends and family members at different times of their lives. I still wonder why multiple times on the Camino Frances'? My personal life sends me for religious reasons and I have chosen different routes for the pilgrim experience. [The Handrian's Wall experience was with my son for personal reasons.] With all that said, the question is posted! Have at it!
Great reasons to repeat the Frances, Davey, and I assume you speak Spanish? That would certainly help with being invited to stay in private homes. I've walked it twice, but have walked other Caminos and thoroughly enjoyed them, yet in a somewhat different way. But you are right, there is a certain "something" special about the Frances route, although heading over from the USA, I feel I need to focus on other new walking experiences.I get asked this all the time. Even though I walk other routes, and plan walking new (to me) routes, I always come back to the Frances.
I have talked to other repeat offenders and we all agree on one thing. The Camino Frances has 'something' about it, a kind of magic that other routes just don't have. Now, we are not sure even amongst ourselves just what this magic is, but it is there.
For me also, the Frances has an extreme wide variety on pilgrims on it. Lots of new first timers (I enjoy watching them 'grow' as they walk towards Santiago). A large age range, lots of youngsters and oldies. Diverse nationalities, etc.
Also, after a few times you get to know some of the locals really well, so its like visiting old friends. In some towns I now stay in their private homes (and have to have a day off afterwards)!
Also it has quite a few variations of the route, so there is always somewhere new to explore. Even after five times there are still many town/villages I have not stayed in.
Then, walking in winter is so different than summer etc.
Oh, and it is stunningly beautiful too.
And, well, it is there, so why not.
Davey
Great reasons to repeat the Frances, Davey, and I assume you speak Spanish? That would certainly help with being invited to stay in private homes. I've walked it twice, but have walked other Caminos and thoroughly enjoyed them, yet in a somewhat different way. But you are right, there is a certain "something" special about the Frances route, although heading over from the USA, I feel I need to focus on other new walking experiences.
I wonder if part of it isn't just that this is an English-language forum, and that the CF is the camino most geared towards English-language speakers? And also, of course, the fact that this forum is geared towards Camino-addicts, or future addicts, or those of us who only walked once & still think about it daily.
I actually met slightly more people on the Le Puy route who were walking a section for the second or third time. Given the lesser numbers of pilgrims, the actual proportion of folks walking a second time was higher. I didn't meet anyone who was walking the entire Le Puy route a second time, though.
There's one part of the CF I'd like to re-walk myself, but ironically, it's the part that I liked the least. To paraphrase Jeff Crawley, I need to walk it again & get it right this time.
Come over here for a few beers and start from Ljubljana, Slovenia. Much shorter than from Baltic statesFor me the language thing does not come into it really. I'm happy in my own world if nobody around me speaks my language and I can't speak theirs. Could be for others though I'm sure.
And yeah, many I met on the Le Puy route had walked before, usually in Spain. Oh, and I fully intend to walk the Le Puy route (from Geneva) once again! Now that route is in a class of its own too!
But, I once worked out that if I walked every route to Santiago (say from the Baltic States, Prague, Paris, Austria, Rome and all the Spanish routes etc) I would be around 150 years old when I finished. Well, I'm gonna try anyway. And the Frances again and again!
Davey
Come over here for a few beers and start from Ljubljana, Slovenia. Much shorter than from Baltic states
How about Istanbul to Valencia: from a mosque that was a cathedral to a cathedral that was a mosque? History offers us some amazing paths. I'm skint too Davey or I'd hold your hand all the way ;0)Thought walking from a Mosque to a Cathedral might be a good peace thing.
Ahem, I think you mixed up some things/placesIve always wanted to visit Ljubljana! Ever since I got arrested there changing flights. I'm serious, they were extremely friendly after I explained the Iraqi stamps in my passport! That is a story for another day though! Beautiful place, wonderful people (worked with a bunch of Slovenes in Iraq, we were peace activists). You know, I have actually looked at coming that way before, via Istanbul. Thought walking from a Mosque to a Cathedral might be a good peace thing. Shame I'm skint though, I'd be there tomorrow! Maybe one day I'll meet you there for a beer or three!
Davey
I agree 200%I get asked this all the time. Even though I walk other routes, and plan walking new (to me) routes, I always come back to the Frances.
I have talked to other repeat offenders and we all agree on one thing. The Camino Frances has 'something' about it, a kind of magic that other routes just don't have. Now, we are not sure even amongst ourselves just what this magic is, but it is there.
For me also, the Frances has an extreme wide variety on pilgrims on it. Lots of new first timers (I enjoy watching them 'grow' as they walk towards Santiago). A large age range, lots of youngsters and oldies. Diverse nationalities, etc.
Also, after a few times you get to know some of the locals really well, so its like visiting old friends. In some towns I now stay in their private homes (and have to have a day off afterwards)!
Also it has quite a few variations of the route, so there is always somewhere new to explore. Even after five times there are still many town/villages I have not stayed in.
Then, walking in winter is so different than summer etc.
Oh, and it is stunningly beautiful too.
And, well, it is there, so why not.
Davey
I agree 200%
Walked in Scotland (The West Highland Way) walked in the USA some parts of the PCT....but,,,Just LOVE the CFI just get happy thinking about it ,,,,and yay going again in 8 days .
In 2001 I had the pleasure of walking for a while with the Belgian pilgrim Etienne de Craemer who was then on his, I think, 17th Camino. Mind you I believe Etienne was the guy responsible for writing the Belgian guide - imagine walking with Johnnie Walker: don't go to that resaturant, there's a better one around the corner; there's a good cafe 3km ahead; don't worry there's a water fountain in the next village . . . . It was Etienne's wife Alice who was killed as they cycled the Camino in 1986 (memorial plaque at Navarette).When I walked the Ingles two years ago I met a woman who had walked it 12 times in a row!
Seemed everyone along the Ingles knew her.
That is not a typo... 12 (twelve) times!
If you walk the Ingles you may run across her. Or find people who comment about her.
My first CF was riding a bike. My second CF was walking. I prefer walking.
Love itOld story about a .com billionaire who had always wanted to sing opera at La Scala.
Eventually he hired the opera house himself and gave out free tickets.
On the night of the recital La Scala was packed to the roof.
The billionaire had chosen to open with Nessun Dorma from Puccini's Turandot and he launched into it with gusto. When he had finished he was astounded when the whole audience stood and demanded an encore. "Again! Again! Encore, encore!"
So he sang it again, from the beginning. Again the audience clamoured for an encore.
After no less than 5 encores the man's voice started to fail. He put his hands up and attempted to silence the crowd.
Croaking he whispered "Thank you, thank you but I can sing no longer!" when a voice piped up in the audience:
"You're gonna sing it until you get it right!"
You've got to walk it until you get it right.
I usually fib and say I’m a lazy long distance walker who likes to maintain a close proximity to coffee, cooked meals and the “luxuries” of extended strolling.I suppose some may not appreciate me posting the question, but I'm interested to know why folks continue to return to the CF when there are other routes to experience? I don't think I am asking for any reason that is intended to be critical; I am aware that pilgrims travel under different circumstances - with different friends and family members at different times of their lives. I still wonder why multiple times on the Camino Frances'? My personal life sends me for religious reasons and I have chosen different routes for the pilgrim experience. [The Handrian's Wall experience was with my son for personal reasons.] With all that said, the question is posted! Have at it!
Beautifully put. I enjoyed your linked post from October of 2015. Too bad we didn’t meet then. I walked my first CF starting Sept 24.As for myself
"Le cœur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît pas/ the heart has its reasons, of which reason knows nothing."
Pascal, Les Pensées
Perhaps the first post of my last camino explains best why I have walked the Camino Frances ten times; thus it may serve as my apologia.
Check out what others have said in this earlier thread
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/why-do-it-again.51599/
I’m interested to know more about why you think the Frances can’t be beat for a winter Camino. I am walking the Camino Frances this coming Feb and Mar. I come from a cold weather state (Minnesota) and have a body built for heat retention (i.e. big guy), so wintry weather doesn’t frighten me.CF can’t be beat for the winter Pilgrim. No other route has nearly the infrastructure which also helps keep it more affordable (Albergues vs hotels, Casa rural, etc) and this route is easy to find your way so more time contemplating and less time navigating
I love that last line!Or, because I don’t know how to not return.
I think it is because for almost a thousand years millions of pilgrims have walked the CF in faith. And somehow that has imprinted itself on the very path itself. We know it, we feel it, even if we do not hold the same, or any, faith.
hey Tom - it’s all about the Albergue network for me. Every day except one I was able to stay in an Albergue and when I chose to, eat in open Bars or find grocery stores. The one day I couldn’t was due to a closure for family emergency and I only had to walk another 4kms to get to the next open one. Having a very limited ability to speak Spanish would be a real challenge on other routes where I’ve read you need to ask locals for rooms, police to open Albergues, etc. Not impossible but I prefer not to worry about such things and focus more on other more important things insteadI’m interested to know more about why you think the Frances can’t be beat for a winter Camino. I am walking the Camino Frances this coming Feb and Mar. I come from a cold weather state (Minnesota) and have a body built for heat retention (i.e. big guy), so wintry weather doesn’t frighten me.
Why? Who knows. I just like walking the Frances. When I found a good woman to love, I did not need to look elsewhere. I love walking the Frances. The Pyrenees are so tough for me but I feel like a million dollars when I can say, ' The Pyrenees are behind me.' After each tough stage I get a sense of achievement. Even though I have done it before, I feel good. I was 64 the first time and now at almost 70 it gets no easier. Maybe I should try another route but I feel so happy on the Frances and although the scenery is the same, the experiences and the people are unique on each tripI suppose some may not appreciate me posting the question, but I'm interested to know why folks continue to return to the CF when there are other routes to experience? I don't think I am asking for any reason that is intended to be critical; I am aware that pilgrims travel under different circumstances - with different friends and family members at different times of their lives. I still wonder why multiple times on the Camino Frances'? My personal life sends me for religious reasons and I have chosen different routes for the pilgrim experience. [The Handrian's Wall experience was with my son for personal reasons.] With all that said, the question is posted! Have at it!
That's good to know. Thanks for answering my question.hey Tom - it’s all about the Albergue network for me. Every day except one I was able to stay in an Albergue and when I chose to, eat in open Bars or find grocery stores. The one day I couldn’t was due to a closure for family emergency and I only had to walk another 4kms to get to the next open one. Having a very limited ability to speak Spanish would be a real challenge on other routes where I’ve read you need to ask locals for rooms, police to open Albergues, etc. Not impossible but I prefer not to worry about such things and focus more on other more important things instead
So true, thanksI usually fib and say I’m a lazy long distance walker who likes to maintain a close proximity to coffee, cooked meals and the “luxuries” of extended strolling.
But, honestly, the truth is that I find my family on the Frances, and as an orphan only-child singleton who just turned 50,, it’s only on the CF that I truly feel I’m swimming with my pod. I come back to the CF because I can no sooner “not” than I can not breathe. It’s the place I am my truest “me”, and the place where I go to understand the un-understandable, to think the unthinkable, to get the ungettable. I’m not religious, or even very spiritual, but the CF is the home of my soul. I home to it, having found it I return like the salmon, to reconnect with my inner and commune with my kith.
Or, because I don’t know how to not return.
It's wonderful in winter. Just as beautiful but much quieter.I’m interested to know more about why you think the Frances can’t be beat for a winter Camino. I am walking the Camino Frances this coming Feb and Mar. I come from a cold weather state (Minnesota) and have a body built for heat retention (i.e. big guy), so wintry weather doesn’t frighten me.
I just like walking the Frances. When I found a good woman to love, I did not need to look elsewhere. I love walking the Frances.
Great, wish I could do that but for health reasons she is carried in my heart rather than walking beside me. Waits for me at the airport each time thoughSo very true...so i walked my 2nd Camino Frances with the woman I love
I am in the same boat.Great, wish I could do that but for health reasons she is carried in my heart rather than walking beside me. Waits for me at the airport each time though
Spot on, Kanga!I think it is because for almost a thousand years millions of pilgrims have walked the CF in faith. And somehow that has imprinted itself on the very path itself. We know it, we feel it, even if we do not hold the same, or any, faith.
You just nailed it, @andonius. BeautifulA good question with a very difficult and personal answer...
I've walked solo, with family and with friends almost all northern Caminos : Frances, Primitivo, Aragones, Ingles, Portugues, Baztán, Del Norte, Sanabres...
All of them are extremely beautiful. Some even more beautiful than the Frances itself.
All of them have enough infrastructure (specially in summer).
In all of them you find nice people from all countries.
In all of them you can eat (and drink) excellent products.
But....
The Camino Frances has something special.
I dont know what it is, but I can feel it in my feet and in my heart When I'm in the Camino Frances I feel something "different".
I feel I'm not just walking.
It's not easy to describe.
I feel a special "power" in the path, if I can state it that way. I feel I'm where I have to be at that particular moment. I feel I'm the "me" I like the most. And if a mistake my route; I can feel I'm leaving the right path almost inmediatly .
When I'm walking the Frances I feel that I'm walking with thousands of pilgrims that walked before me.
I feel the force of the Cathedral's builders that helped also to build the spirit of Christian Europe.
And If a look East from O Cebreiro; I can almost see a new Pilgrim joining the camino in Roncesvalles, and thus adding a new link to the already long chain of pilgrimage...And that makes me feel I'm part of something momentous.
When I'm on the camino Frances I feel like I'm Praying With My Feet.
And that's something I don't feel in any other Camino...
As I said It's not easy to describe...
I suppose some may not appreciate me posting the question, but I'm interested to know why folks continue to return to the CF when there are other routes to experience? I don't think I am asking for any reason that is intended to be critical; I am aware that pilgrims travel under different circumstances - with different friends and family members at different times of their lives. I still wonder why multiple times on the Camino Frances'? My personal life sends me for religious reasons and I have chosen different routes for the pilgrim experience. [The Handrian's Wall experience was with my son for personal reasons.] With all that said, the question is posted! Have at it!
A good question with a very difficult and personal answer...
I've walked solo, with family and with friends almost all northern Caminos : Frances, Primitivo, Aragones, Ingles, Portugues, Baztán, Del Norte, Sanabres...
All of them are extremely beautiful. Some even more beautiful than the Frances itself.
All of them have enough infrastructure (specially in summer).
In all of them you find nice people from all countries.
In all of them you can eat (and drink) excellent products.
But....
The Camino Frances has something special.
I dont know what it is, but I can feel it in my feet and in my heart When I'm in the Camino Frances I feel something "different".
I feel I'm not just walking.
It's not easy to describe.
I feel a special "power" in the path, if I can state it that way. I feel I'm where I have to be at that particular moment. I feel I'm the "me" I like the most. And if a mistake my route; I can feel I'm leaving the right path almost inmediatly .
When I'm walking the Frances I feel that I'm walking with thousands of pilgrims that walked before me.
I feel the force of the Cathedral's builders that helped also to build the spirit of Christian Europe.
And If a look East from O Cebreiro; I can almost see a new Pilgrim joining the camino in Roncesvalles, and thus adding a new link to the already long chain of pilgrimage...And that makes me feel I'm part of something momentous.
When I'm on the camino Frances I feel like I'm Praying With My Feet.
And that's something I don't feel in any other Camino...
As I said It's not easy to describe...
I agree in many ways. I've walked the Norte/Primitivo, the Le Puy (loved them both), and the Frances twice. As I trudged the last couple of days on the Frances I said to myself, "I think I'm done with the Frances; I have new fish to fry." But it IS very special and holds an endearing place in my heart for many of the reasons you have described so well...maybe I will go back one day!A good question with a very difficult and personal answer...
I've walked solo, with family and with friends almost all northern Caminos : Frances, Primitivo, Aragones, Ingles, Portugues, Baztán, Del Norte, Sanabres...
All of them are extremely beautiful. Some even more beautiful than the Frances itself.
All of them have enough infrastructure (specially in summer).
In all of them you find nice people from all countries.
In all of them you can eat (and drink) excellent products.
But....
The Camino Frances has something special.
I dont know what it is, but I can feel it in my feet and in my heart When I'm in the Camino Frances I feel something "different".
I feel I'm not just walking.
It's not easy to describe.
I feel a special "power" in the path, if I can state it that way. I feel I'm where I have to be at that particular moment. I feel I'm the "me" I like the most. And if a mistake my route; I can feel I'm leaving the right path almost inmediatly .
When I'm walking the Frances I feel that I'm walking with thousands of pilgrims that walked before me.
I feel the force of the Cathedral's builders that helped also to build the spirit of Christian Europe.
And If a look East from O Cebreiro; I can almost see a new Pilgrim joining the camino in Roncesvalles, and thus adding a new link to the already long chain of pilgrimage...And that makes me feel I'm part of something momentous.
When I'm on the camino Frances I feel like I'm Praying With My Feet.
And that's something I don't feel in any other Camino...
As I said It's not easy to describe...
Beautifully put!A good question with a very difficult and personal answer...
I've walked solo, with family and with friends almost all northern Caminos : Frances, Primitivo, Aragones, Ingles, Portugues, Baztán, Del Norte, Sanabres...
All of them are extremely beautiful. Some even more beautiful than the Frances itself.
All of them have enough infrastructure (specially in summer).
In all of them you find nice people from all countries.
In all of them you can eat (and drink) excellent products.
But....
The Camino Frances has something special.
I dont know what it is, but I can feel it in my feet and in my heart When I'm in the Camino Frances I feel something "different".
I feel I'm not just walking.
It's not easy to describe.
I feel a special "power" in the path, if I can state it that way. I feel I'm where I have to be at that particular moment. I feel I'm the "me" I like the most. And if a mistake my route; I can feel I'm leaving the right path almost inmediatly .
When I'm walking the Frances I feel that I'm walking with thousands of pilgrims that walked before me.
I feel the force of the Cathedral's builders that helped also to build the spirit of Christian Europe.
And If a look East from O Cebreiro; I can almost see a new Pilgrim joining the camino in Roncesvalles, and thus adding a new link to the already long chain of pilgrimage...And that makes me feel I'm part of something momentous.
When I'm on the camino Frances I feel like I'm Praying With My Feet.
And that's something I don't feel in any other Camino...
As I said It's not easy to describe...
Thank you for saving me a lot of writing: Spot on!A good question with a very difficult and personal answer...
I've walked solo, with family and with friends almost all northern Caminos : Frances, Primitivo, Aragones, Ingles, Portugues, Baztán, Del Norte, Sanabres...
All of them are extremely beautiful. Some even more beautiful than the Frances itself.
All of them have enough infrastructure (specially in summer).
In all of them you find nice people from all countries.
In all of them you can eat (and drink) excellent products.
But....
The Camino Frances has something special.
I dont know what it is, but I can feel it in my feet and in my heart When I'm in the Camino Frances I feel something "different".
I feel I'm not just walking.
It's not easy to describe.
I feel a special "power" in the path, if I can state it that way. I feel I'm where I have to be at that particular moment. I feel I'm the "me" I like the most. And if a mistake my route; I can feel I'm leaving the right path almost inmediatly .
When I'm walking the Frances I feel that I'm walking with thousands of pilgrims that walked before me.
I feel the force of the Cathedral's builders that helped also to build the spirit of Christian Europe.
And If a look East from O Cebreiro; I can almost see a new Pilgrim joining the camino in Roncesvalles, and thus adding a new link to the already long chain of pilgrimage...And that makes me feel I'm part of something momentous.
When I'm on the camino Frances I feel like I'm Praying With My Feet.
And that's something I don't feel in any other Camino...
As I said It's not easy to describe...
Spending time with an old friend, I like that!spending time with an old friend.
It wasn’t English language oriented when I walked it the previous two times - and I met many repeat offenders on the way also then.. in fact it was much more multilingual a decade ago, French, Italian, German, Portuguese. All were more frequent than English, the frequency of which has surprised me on my present Camino. I insist on speaking bad Spanish as much as I can, because when you take away people’s language, you take something of their culture.I wonder if part of it isn't just that this is an English-language forum, and that the CF is the camino most geared towards English-language speakers? And also, of course, the fact that this forum is geared towards Camino-addicts, or future addicts, or those of us who only walked once & still think about it daily.
I actually met slightly more people on the Le Puy route who were walking a section for the second or third time. Given the lesser numbers of pilgrims, the actual proportion of folks walking a second time was higher. I didn't meet anyone who was walking the entire Le Puy route a second time, though.
There's one part of the CF I'd like to re-walk myself, but ironically, it's the part that I liked the least. To paraphrase Jeff Crawley, I need to walk it again & get it right this time.
Amen. You succeeded wonderfully in describing the magic - and I love: I pray with my feet.Thank you for saving me a lot of writing: Spot on!
Spot on, Kanga. I have pondered the question asked many a time and concluded the same. There is something qualitatively very different about the Frances Route that I would say is akin to the Celtic description of some locations being described as "Thin Places"..... except that we are attributing that concept to a route rather than a place - "A Thin Path" might be a good way to put it, perhaps? I would also say that in comparing the Frances Route to others I have walked, there is maybe something "special" about a route made/established over a long time by pilgrims, compared to routes made or established for "pilgrims". Just my own thoughts..
It´s like; the first time, you go for the possible, might not stop at all the obvious spots,you maintain a steady pace and concentrate.. After you come home, you see the places you missed, or would have liked to stop...
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