Any Americans or English-speaking caminantes doing walk in late July?

[ferdinandframos]

I arrive in Madrid from San Francisco July 14 and planning on starting walk from Sarria July 18 or 19, arriving in Santiago de Compostela July 23 or 24. I expect it to be crazy (in a good way).

Anyone have a similar itinerary?

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Ferdinand ~
I have a parallel plan. I'll arrive in Madrid from Seattle on July 12, then bus it to the tiny town of Puebla de Sanabria along the Via de la Plata. From there I'll walk to Santiago from there for arrival on July 25. The goal is to miss the Sarria to Santiago traffic in the buildup to Holy Day and also catch some of the quieter sites of a new (to me) Camino route. Is this your first time? And do you have reservations in Santiago?
Buen camino!
Sandy Brown

[ferdinandframos]

Thanks for replying Sandy. This is my first time on the walk, but will be the second time in SDC (was there in 1993 and was captivated by the energy). My plan is not set in stone, but I figured as a first timer best and safest decision was to do Camino Frances, though the more and more I read I wonder if I am up for what sounds like masses of people? Is this your first time? If not, what suggestions/opinions do you have? How long will you be walking?

I do have reservations for July 23 at the Hostel de Reyes Catolicos, which sounds like a grand place to stay. Still deciding on where to stay the 24th if I stay overnight. I leave out of Madrid for US on July 26.

Hope to meet you on the camino.

[zee]

I will start the 7 day walk in Cebreiro July 27th, going from New York to Madrid/Santiago via plane and then getting a ride to Cebreiro.

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Ferdinand-
Sounds like a good plan. You probably already know that July 24 is the biggest day of Santiago's big party. Your reservation at the Parador puts you in the heart of the action. I'm guessing it's impossible at this point to get a July 24 reservation in Santiago.

This will be my second camino (first was SJPP to Santiago in 2008). I'll repeat the Camino Frances with my sister and son next May/June. I'm purposely avoiding Camino Frances this year since I only have 2 weeks, I want to get a Compostele dated July 25, and the Sarria to SDC stretch is my least favorite of the Camino Frances. I debated between biking the entire Via de la Plata or walking the last 250+/- kms and decided on the latter due to likely hot weather in So. Spain and probable isolation from other pilgrims due to biking. Making friends is the best part after all!

We should plan on huge crowds and a carnival atmosphere. Should be a real treat.

Buen camino!