Add extra days to 34 day Camino Frances trek?

[iris]

If one is taking the Camino Frances, and it takes 33 or 34 days to travel between St. Jean and Santiago (walking 12 to 18 miles a day)...for you experienced Camino trekkers...How many extra days would you recommend to give yourself for spending extra time at any towns in between to rest a little or to get a little extra culture or sightseeing? Would really appreciate hearing from you!

[Sil]

Hi Iris,
You'll be walking at quite a good pace to get to Santiagio from St Jean in 33 -34 days. If you have extra days, over and above 34 days, I would suggest you play it by ear. Stop for a rest when you feel you need one, rather than plan them ahead.
I always planned on having rest days but never did! Some plan on having a rest day in a large city so that they can go sightseeing. Perhaps in Pamplona, Burgos or Leon - but once they arrive in the city they can't bear the noise, the traffic and the tourists and make a hasty escape back to the camino and the countryside!
Many people find that they get into a rhythym, walking with the same people every day (who become your new family) and are reluctant to stop a day and lose those friends. The camino is like a river, stop and the stream continues past you, leaving you behind to be joined a new stream of pilgrims.
If you walk for 25km and stop in the early afternoon, you'll have plenty of time to do extra sightseeing, especially when the sun doesn't go down until 9pm or 10pm. If you add 3 or 4 days onto your walk and don't use them for rest days, you could walk to Finisterre from Santiago.
Good luck with your plans!

[Covey]

I usually spend an extra day in Burgos and Leon. This means you need to book in to a small hotel for two nights in each city, and that way you avoid being locked in the albergue at night. The Nuns albergue in Leon locks pilgrims in at 9.30pm!!!

The cost of a hotel will be around ?35/40 a night.

[Sil]

Covey is right - you can only stay in a pilgrim refuge for one night (unless you are really ill or injured). In 2007 we stayed in the Hotel Albany just down a little side street from the Cathedral.
At mid-night, all the lights in the square a turned off and the lights inside the cathedral are turned on. I had read that the lights shining through the stained glass windows was a magnificent sight so we stayed in a hotel rather than an albergue. We went to sleep at around 8pm with our alarms set for 11:30pm. We got up, dressed warmly and went and joined the street cleaners and the last of the revellers as they made their way home.
At the stroke of mid-night the lights went off. We waited and waited for the magnificent sight of light streaming through the cathedral stained-glass windows but it was very disappointing. I think the windows hadn't been cleaned for months and very light penetrated the dirt and grime! Anyway, we were tired, sleepy pilgrims the next day when we left Leon!

[kkcamino]

I would suggest that you view time as flexibility, so that you can have as rich and rewarding pilgrim walk as you can without feeling pressured for time.

What if you become injured or sick, or even just tired? It would be far better to have planned an extra day or two for rest rather than push through and do further harm. I took a rest day in Astorga, and it gave me a surge of strength for the next third of the camino. I stayed in two different albergues in Astorga, and it didn?t seem to be a problem. I took a couple detours to visit a couple sights that were not part of my original planning, but were recommended by other pilgrims. I didn?t have the stress of worrying about how detour would delay me since I had allowed for extra days.

What if you want to stay and enjoy the atmosphere of Santiago de Compostela for a couple extra days? An extra day or two might allow you to see the Botafumeiro. I actually got to see it the morning before my train left for Madrid, and it added to my experience. As importantly, the couple extra days also gave me a chance to welcome pilgrim friends who I had met along the way to Santiago. How wonderful it was to enjoy the long lunches in Santiago, knowing that they would not be followed by more hours of walking. What great fun it was to sit on the patio, and watch many of the pilgrims walking by being greeted as long lost friends by someone already there. I enjoyed my last pilgrim supper in Santiago with people I had met during that first pilgrim meal in Roncesvalles ? the four of us were the only ones to cross by the Napoleon route that first day. Two had already walked to Finisterre and returned, and the other was leaving for Finisterre the next day. We met on the street, and I would have missed them if I hadn?t added an extra few days to my planned 34.

It is a great idea to leave enough extra time so that you could walk to Finisterre, if you chose to do so. I didn?t leave enough time for that, and I now feel that I missed something. You have already committed the 34 days, what?s another 5 days or a week more?

[stramer]

I walked from St. Pied to Santiago and spent 51 days doing it - it was the right pace for me. I would think 34 days would make it stressful, and you would always feel pressured. I know many people do it it about 33-34 days, but they are on a "schedule", which was exactly what I did not want to be on. I had time to stop and enjoy the views, paint and write when the spirit moved me. I could listen to my body (read feet and knees) when a short day was in order. I saw too many people pushing through and being in misery. If you have the time, don't make a tight schedule, there are so many wonderful places along the way, and I can especially recommend taking some of the "detours" such Samos. Do spend a couple of days in Santiago, and if time allows, do go to Finisterre - I loved it there! Buen Camino, Eva

[iris]

Stramer (Eva) or ANYONE!!...where can I find out more about the "detours" you mention...I would really like to have some idea as to how many days to add to the 34...it doesn't have to be exact but generally...and if I could read a bit or do some research (just mild general info), it would really help...If we are planning to be there on the 24th and 25th of July for the Holy Day....I want to figure out when to start if I'm leaving from St. Jean....also...anything to see around St. Jean or how much time to give myself there before we get started!

[iris]

We have the flexibility to add as many extra days as we want so would love the recommendation from experienced pilgrims like yourselves...I didn't mention my daughter and I are also likely going to Madrid for a few days after...though someone mentioned San Sebastian to try instead?! Want your opinions so we can book flights and thank you in advance for your helpful words...trully appreciate all of them!

[stramer]

Hi Iris,
Let me give you the link to my blog about my walk, in case you want to read about how I experienced the walk as I was walking: Where in the World is Eva?
The detours I took were mainly where you had choices of a shorter "road" version, or a longer trail version. I soon found, as I expected, that walking along a road was not my cup of tea, it hurts the feet, and I hated having to watch out for cars, and smell the fumes, not to mention the dust.
Here are the most important, (for me) detours I took, and enjoyed:
From St. Jean I walked up to Orisson, and spent the night - an absolute life-saver, and wonderful start, since it is a strenuous walk over the Pyrenees, but beautiful! I also felt that the communal meal that first night was great, you really start being part of "the pilgrims". They will pack you a lunch for the next day to take along on your long walk down to Roncesvalles, just perfect!
I took the route de Napoleon, which is longer, but avoids main roads, and you simply cannot beat the scenery!
Before Puente La Reina I took the little 2.5 km detour to see the 12th Century octagonal church in Eunate - found out you can actually stay there - would have been a lovely option. From Poblaci?n de Campos to Villasirga, do take the river path, it's a bit longer, but much prettier.
From Le?n I went the route via Mazarife, then on to Villavante and took the pathway on to Astorga - not along N-120.
From Villafranca to O'Cerbreiro take the Pradela route - it is so beautiful, much better than the road route, and I loved O'Cebreiro - that's where I spent my one and only real rest day, because I loved it so much there.
From Triacastela I took the detour via Samos, and spent the night in the Monastery - I can highly recommend that as well!
I have never really spent time in Madrid, but my daughter says it's a wonderful city, San Sebastian is fantastic - I have been there. Do give yourself some time in Santiago to soak up the pilgrim's reunion !!
Do make reservation at Orisson if you want to spent the night there, to cut your first trek in two - and St. Jean is just a lovely town, a shame not to at least have a day to wander around!
Buen Camino!http://www.caminodesantiago.me.uk/fo...lies/smile.gif
Eva

[iris]

Eva...thanks, this is absolutely wonderful...you are the best!! I can't wait to pore through your blog "Where in The World is Eva?"...I can't open your second link though....not sure why!?

[stramer]

Glad you found it helpful Iris - made me relive all my wonderful memories!
The last link was just a smiley face, so nothing really! I guess I didn't do it right!
Buen Camino,
Eva

[Sil]

I have a post on my blog titled "Detours on the Camino Frances' which you might find interesting.

Amawalker: DETOURS ON THE CAMINO FRANCES

Sil