Winter in Roncesvalles ... brrrrrrrrr......

[sillydoll]

Jacotrans posted a link to some winter photographs at Roncesvalles on Facebook.

Brrrrrrrrrrr.............. no thanks!!


http://tinyurl.com/acrhorm

 

[scruffy1]

Sillydoll, you must remember the old albergue in Roncesvalles-now that was a brrrrrrrrrrrrrr! with cold showers thrown in for fun!
S

 

[sillydoll]

Scruffy - in 2002 we slept in the monastery, up two flights of stairs, 4 loos and 4 showers for over 100 people. What a shock! And even though it was mid-May it was freezing!
The large granary, where we slept two years later, was being used as an exhibition centre.

 

[supersullivan]

sillydoll, scruffy, I'm planning on Route Napoleon in May and wondering about carrying on the extra 45 minutes into the next village ( Barguete ? )for a pension, is the atmosphere in Roncesvalles sufficiently enticing to make it worth leaving myself the extra distance for my planned 2nd days walking?

Regards

Seamus

 

[sillydoll]

Seamus, the monks and priests in Roncesvalles are the historical caretakers of pilgrims crossing from France into Spain. The museum is fascinating and the pilgrims' mass is very moving, and for me, not to be missed.
The new albergue is very upmarket, clean, vending machines with packaged foods, microwaves etc. You can even book your bunk bed there. Most pilgrims share a meal at one of the inns.

Ive stayed in Roncesvalles 4 times and in 2011 I walked from Orisson to Burguete but got a taxi back to Roncesvalles for the mass.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Most pilgrims share a meal at one of the inns.

When you get there, you will find signs that you need to make reservations to get the pilgrim menu, at least at the Posada. Do it as a first thing when you get there, or they may run out of spots. Otherwise, with no market in town, you may end up with the vending machines in the albergue!

 

[supersullivan]

sillydoll, falcon.

Many thanks for helping me decide to overnight in Roncesvalles, just have to get well organised before bedtime for the longer 2nd day, as a ditherer of Olympic standard it's easier said than done.

Seamus

 

[hotelmedicis]

No surprise there. Roncesvalles is located at well over 900 meters (3000 feet) above sea-level so you will find plenty of snow there in the winter. The highest pass there on the Camino in the Pyrenees is at over 1400 meters (4600 feet) and at times the snow is so deep it is impassable.

Many people are unaware that Spain is the most mountainous country in Europe except for Switzerland and are surprised to find themselves passing through cities at over 900 meters with snow in April.

Here are some wonderful photos of snow on the Camino in mid April 2012:

http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/album/gali ... 166571.htm

 

[scruffy1]

Seems you have already made the correct decision concerning Roncesvalles - Barguete? the expression from back in the 60's still holds "Keep on Trucking"!