La Tia Orgullosa
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- none yet - hoping to do so this year, not sure which one yet
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Hello All -
I am thinking about doing the Camino and am trying to debate which one is best for me - a good friend did the Camino del Norte - my window would be April/May or June/July/August - is April/May too early (i.e. possibly too cold) to do the Camino del Norte? If so, which one would you suggest for the earlier timeframe? I was told there would be fewer people during that earlier window, that is why I am leaning toward that one. However, if you have a strong suggestion for the latter window of time, let me know!
Also, I am thinking of staying in pensiones, guest houses, etc. (not albergues) and would like to know if some/all along the routes tend to have WiFi (and if it's dependable) - I will need it as I will have to do some work mixed in with the walking (i am a freelancer). THanks!!
... - do you have suggestions for good websites where I can find pensiones, casas rurales, etc. (i.e not albergues, to enable me to work well without too much distraction) along the Frances that have WiFi? again, many thanks in advance!!
... another lodging-related question - i am very much hoping NOT to bring a sleeping bag, and am wondering if i will need one if I plan on ONLY staying in non-albergue lodging options - do they have bedding such that I can save the space & weight and NOT bring one? ...
Thanks SY- and no worries, I get your wording usage fine -
I am debating hard between the Norte and Frances - anyone out there who has done both and might want to comment on which you preferred and why? this will be my first Camino, but I am in very good shape (serious runner and weight-lifter and walker/hiker) so what appears to be the more hilly up-and-down of the NOrte doesn't scare/intimidate me - i guess i am trying to weigh the much greater numbers of people on the Frances (i am leaning toward June & July to go) vs. the lesser-traveled Norte - but I also read that there are more monuments/historic places & sights along the Frances and more amenities, so then I wonder about that! I assume it will be cooler on the Norte, too, which might be nice in the summer.
It's not only the huge numbers on the Frances but since the Camino is so pilgrim oriented, and not "real life/tourist" oriented, I don't know how you would do in hotels and pensions all the way. @Robo might be able to ser me straight on this matter when it comes to the Frances.thanks for those comments, oursonpolaire - i guess one thing that makes me wonder if the Frances is right for me is what sounds like HUGE numbers of people on it in the summer months....does it feel crowded on a day-to-day basis, or as one walks one doesn't necessarily sense that there are quite a few others on it because everyone stretches out so much? i am trying to get an idea of how crowded (or not) the Frances is and feels during the summer - any thoughts on that aspect?
Yes, I was trying to think of the places where I have stayed, and some are tinty, tiny, so no other option than an albergue, but maybe you are able to plan on differnt stages to always find an alternative. @Robo walked this way last year, so it must be possible, you just lose a lot of flexibilty.hello all - i guess my question to all of you who have done the Frances in the summer months (especially June & July), is: are you constantly 'wading through' large numbers of people as you walk? in other words, do the numbers of people make the Camino feel CROWDED a lot or some of the time? or do the numbers not sseem so large, given that people spread out? i am trying to get a sense of how much people bunch up so that as i would be walking it would feel like a 'rush hour' or something, does that make sense?
and a question to Anemone: i am not sure i understand what you mean when you say above "I don't know how you would do in hotels and pensions all the way" - does this mean you think there are not enough non-albergue options along the Frances? or they might all be full? or what? bc i feel i have heard that there are a lot such options along the Frances. if you could clarify your comment, that would be terrific!
There is no difference except language. "Credencial" is the correct name in Spanish but some people call it a "pilgrim's passport." You can get it at various places after you have arrived - someone else may answer about Irun. Getting it beforehand eliminates the need to find a place that has them. (By the way, don't confuse it with the "compostela," which is a certificate issued at the Santiago pilgrim office to qualifying pilgrims who show their stamped credential.)difference between the pilgrim's passport and the credencial
Most hotels, etc., along the route will stamp your credencial. (I haven't walked the Norte, but this was true on the Camino Frances, and I'd expect it to be so on the Norte!)non-albergue lodging, will those establishments also have the ability to stamp my passport?
many thanks, SY - i will take a look at that site! i really do appreciate all your help and good suggestions. so i did some snooping online last night and found this site that issues free credenciales - American Pilgrims on the Camino (http://americanpilgrims.com/camino/credential_req.html) -- is this place kosher? and in your experience, even if it does issue the official accepted credencial, is it 'cooler' to get one in Spain?
We put ours into a resealable food bag and slid them into the bladder pocket of our packs. We don't use a bladder so this makes a great place to store papers etc. and nothing kept there has got damaged. Easy to get at as we fold the top of the bag over the top of the pocket so it is held there and doesn't slip inside.The one that truly stands out of the huge one from the CSJ, reserved for its members, its Pilgrim Record. Problem is it gets damaged easily as it is not easy pack away.
sorry, meant to add: i am not interested in GENERAL books on the Camino - i would like it to be SPECIFIC to the Camino del Norte!
thanks!!
thanks, domigee -
so i have now been looking for over an hour and i can't find timetables/schedules ANYWHERE for the trains that run between madrid and irun - it appears reservations are not accepted before two or three months in advance, but i am unable to even see the departure times and dates from madrid!! i am so frustrated!! if anyone can point me to where i can learn this info, i would be MOST appreciative.
ah, many thanks, SY - i guess what i mean is that would there be more 'cachet' getting it in Spain because, well, the Camino is (mostly) in Spain and thus something issued by an entity that is in-country might have a more 'indigenous' look - but maybe all credenciales, regardless where they're issued look exactly the same? i don't know.
hello all and buen camino to those out there hoofing it right now! a question on guidebooks - to those of you who are currently doing or have done the Camino del Norte, which guidebook is the clearest, with the most amount of information, good maps of each etapa, with lodging ideas, cultural/historic and other sights to see in each spot, etc.?? i have found these, and want to know your opinion (or if none of these are great, please tell me which one is your favorite) -
Guía Práctica del Camino de Santiago: Camino del Norte (Costa y Primitivo), 8a Edición (2016), Editorial Buen Camino (NOT available on Amazon) OR from Cicerone Press and available on Amazon – Pilgrim Route – The Northern Caminos by Dave Whitson, Laura Perazzoli
thanks much!!!
it can be in Eng or Span - most important thing is for it to be comprehensive and clearly laid out with good maps for each stage/day and lodging, etc.. thanks!!
By the way, @SYates, since I know English is not your first language, I'll make a small correction; I think you mean it is "offset" which is, oddly, quite different than "set off"!The 'epic proportion of commercialisation' is set off by the 'epic proportion of multicultural encounter' on the camino Francés. Buen Camino, SY
Yes you have it correct. This type of adapter is all you need for any modern electronic devices like phone, computer, camera. (But hair drier and other devices may need a voltage converter.) You plug your charger into this and then into the wall. It is easy to pull out the charger and leave the adapter behind, so I keep them stuck together with duct tape. These are very inexpensive and small, so consider taking 2. (Not so easy to find there, but you could just buy a USB charger with the European plug.)the adapter i have is simply to plug a normal plug into it and then it into the wall - it does NOT allow for USBs - my computer, phone, and ccamera charger all plug into the wall. So I am still not sure if my question has bveen answered - in other words, this two-prongued adaptor i plug into the wall, and then each of my devices can be (taking turns) plugged into it via their chord with a plug at the end. so would i need anything additional? does this make sense, the way i have described it?
Hello All!
Any thoughts on multi-use rail passes that will save me $$$ on train travel within Spain? I will have anywhere from 2-4 weeks in Spain following the end of the Camino, and am very desirous of doing as much of the overland travel as i can via trains. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!
For non albergue accommodation along the Primitivo try this Gronze.com list.Greetings all - please let me know, any of you, about non-albergue lodging possibilities (ideally with WiFi) along the Primitivo - if you have suggestions of specific establishments, that would be great, otherwise, just the degree of prevalence.
Also, would love to hear people weigh in as to what they prefer: remaining on the Norte vs. taking the Primitivo, and why.
THanks!!
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