Camino Newsletter March 07

http://www.caminodesantiago.me.uk

Hi,

It is that time of year again when many people are planning their own Camino to Santiago. I receive mails every day asking some question or other about the journey, unfortunately I am unable to respond to most of them. Life was easier when I was a student and had the time to write about the Camino a lot – however things have moved on and I am once again working for a living, and it is okay. Therefore I hope these newsletters help in answering some of the questions. Additionally I am trying to set up a message board but I am having problems with layout and spam, the first is easy enough to complete – it just needs some time – the second is proving more of a problem…

Anyway to the Camino.

I have been asked to add some weather details – will do.

Asked to add something about local food in the north of Spain along the Camino – sorry but this is an area that I am fairly ignorant in. I ate the food and like it a lot, but names for things and how they are made are a bit beyond me. So if anyone would like to write something on this and send it to me I will put it on the site.

Current costs.

The list of Albergues/ hostels is still current I receive mails updating me on this information from pilgrims and from some albergues, if you find anything out of date please let me know. My complete cost for just over four week on the Camino was about €1200. Some do it on less and some more it really depends on where you eat. Buying food and cooking yourself, which is possible, keeps the cost down. Eating out every night is not expensive, I live in Dublin and most places seem very reasonable compared to here. However an evening meal, three course, in most towns and cities will cost between €7.50 and €9.00. Breakfast for me was often cereal bars of some sort bought the day before. Lunch sometimes, but not often, in a café, but mostly I would buy from a local shop and stop at the side of the way and eat – just like having a picnic everyday.

The main costs each day are; food, somewhere to stay at night, and tea, coffee, and the like.

Twice along the way I wanted a room to myself and clean sheets and quiet – so I booked into a pension – anywhere from €10 to €20 per night sharing and €20 to €30 for single.

For the amount of time spent there I found the amount I spent to be very cheap.

The main item on top of all this is travelling to where you start and where you finish. Ryanair now fly out of Santiago to London where it is easy to get a connection to anywhere.

What time of the Year should I go?

Best times are May, June, late Aug, and Sep. These months are still warm and pleasant to walk in, and they are not so crowded. July and Aug are hot, very. July is very popular with people wanting to arrive in Santiago on the birthday of St James 25^th July, especially in holy years. The start of Aug is madness. This is the Spanish holidays, the whole route is very busy and at certain points it can be difficult to find somewhere to stay – more so at the start from Roncesvalles and the last 110 km, where there are fewer private albergues to take the strain.

Booking hostels – albergues

You cannot book ahead in any of the Albergues some private ones will allow this, but it is not a good way to do things. If you book ahead you have to be there and limit your choices, normally there are many choices every day – until the last 100km. Apart from Aug I have never had a problem finding a hostel to stay in and during Aug I had to walk a few km’s to the next one, I always found somewhere to stay.

Tour Campany or Alone?

I have no prejudice again joining a tour for some this is the only way to travel and for others, like me, it is too constraining. I like freedom to change plans as I go along – and really when I first walked it was never an option. I was a student and could never have looked at the cost of a tour company – though they are not over the top.

I have spoken to people who used a tour company and they were very happy with the way it was organized. Some tour companies arrange for example 12 days and pick the best twelve days of the Camino. For some this is perfect for them and the only way due to other life constraints.

Anyway enough for now – I have just been told that today it is one year since I got engaged, my only defence for not remembering falls to stereotype – I am a man! This was perhaps the best thing about my last Camino – meeting my wife to be. So time for breakfast and then a walk along the beach – Dublin is not warm, but the clocks have just moved forward so summer is just around the corner. Yipee.

Beun Camino

Leslie

http://www.caminodesantiago.me.uk

http://www.walkinginireland.org

http://www.walkinginscotland.org