Hotels and B & Bs on the Camino Frances

[Covey]

Good luck and Buen Camino to you both!

[netia]

Well, here I am in Pamplona!! Had an absolutely GLORIOUS walk from St.Jean to Roncesvalles. Stunning weather and we walked above a soft fluffy layer of cloud below,absolutely breathtaking! Yesterday was a little drizzly in the morning, walking to Larrosoana but the walk again was brilliant!I'm in love! In Larrosoana I stayed with a delightful family at La Casa Sangola. Very hospitable and comfortable. So far met some wonderful people from all over and even two Aussies. Having sooooooo much fun! Netia

[Covey]

Very glad you had nice weather "going over the top" I only managed once in four trips and the brilliant weather was on my first trip. The second year I had told the folks staying in the albergue about the breathtaking views the previous year, but the following dawn brought heavy drizzle and mist/low cloud and we walked all day in visibility of 5m and constant light rain. When we got to Roncesvalles my companions from the previous evening were none too impressed with the 5m views!!

The main square of Pamplona is a great place to congregate and sample a glass or two. Sadly the following morning one has to remind our feet that another days activity is called for!!

Buen Camino Netia

[netia]

Haha...guess I was lucky this time : )
Main square is where I'll be tonight....... Just have to remind my feet that really they have nothing else to do but walk, so get on with the job!
Had lovely lunch at cafe behind the cathedral. Very pleasant sitting outside in the sun watching all the brides and grooms have their photos taken in the beautiful surroundings... Obviously the place to go after wedding vows on a Saturday afternoon!

[Covey]

I once spent a very pleasant Saturday afternoon in the main square of Logrono (you will get there soon!!) There was a very nice bar/café on the broad walk by the church/cathedral or whatever) and myself and two ladies spent the afternoon commenting on the elegance, or otherwise of the passing wedding parties and their attire. For some reason which was quite beyond me, "my" ladies were not interested the the passing fellows, many of whom might have been highly fanciable, but were fairly devastating in their comments on the bridal fashions and how other ladies were dressed.

When I asked why no comments about the passing males, my German companion said to me "Covey, have you seen how we are dressed!! Baggy trousers, boots, creases everywhere but the right place and a massive bad hair day!! Rejection I do not need!!" To sum it up we looked like Pilgrims, and who cared!

Enjoy your evening in the Main Plaza Netia, cos the Spanish like to promenade around the Square. Pilgrims just shuffle of to the albergue trying not to let the aches and pain show!!

Have fun!

[Lipka149]

Well, here I am in Pamplona!! ... Having sooooooo much fun!

Way to go, netia ! You are sooooooo ready for this !!!

Great to know you had good weather going over the top, and made it all the way to Larrasoana on Day 2 ! Did you enjoy washing in Roland's Fountain ? How about that downhill into Roncesvalles ??? Tempting to stay in Zubiri, wasn't it ???

Your notes bring back so many good feelings. <sigh>

Be sure to have a libation in Iruna and toast Senor Hemingway ! (I had an orange and some water from my canteen. Carried on to Cizur Menor for the night.)

[Covey]

Zubiri...Mmmmmmm Described by my son some six years ago as a one horse town where the 'orse left long ago! In those days there was the little albergue by the bridge and the official albergue the other side of the main road which resembled a prison cage in some very third world country.

Last year I stayed in the "new" private albergue on the main road just around the corner from the little bridge albergue and it was very nice, but quite expensive. They were charging €15 for a single bed in a room with 6 bunk beds and three single beds, but it was almost brand new and the facilities were excellent. The food was not!!

[netia]

Hi there!!!! Walk is amazing : ) Covey I had a giggle of your description of your selves in Longrona. Had a look down at myself sitting in Najera...7.30 at night... still even have my hiking boots on....somewhat ruffled, a little befuddled by a glass of vino....feeling very tired...thinking that I should really wash my clothes and get organised for the 24 kms tomorrow ( but the books always lie, it's always a few kms more)...and I should know cos I'm wearing a garmin watch: ).... But sooooooo happy!
I loved Longrono, beautiful place, loved the square, and now mentally preparing myself for the Meseta. Want to do some big walks there, all going to plan : ) even had the opportunity to give a few special hugs along the way.... Netia

[netia]

Oh..... Forgot to tell you both, Covey and Alan.........or anyone else for that matter who may be interested, I am writing a little blog of my walk. The address is :
wheresnetia.wordpress.com. Netia : ) better go now, heading out from Najera, to who knows where!

[unadara]

Netia, Covey et al...
I love going onto the blogs, anso is tweeting a lot too but I can't do that! ha..Netia if you add the blog address to your signature in your profile it will come up on each post. I have started mine and linked it to facebook and 2 friends have been in touch (I don't use facebook much, but had friends/family on it). Also you can update the blog by email which may be a quick way to communicate when away ?
Ultreya!

[netia]

Hola Una!! how's the Camino going for you? Cant wait to hear about your thoughts.. Netia

[unadara]

Hola Una!! how's the Camino going for you? Cant wait to hear about your thoughts.. Netia

We have great fun with alberques, tonight there is a bambino in our 12 bed dorm, not going to be popular I know!
The Camino so far is great.
My blog is being slowly updated and will take me some time to unravel all the mysteries that have come my way, beautiful walking so far.
In Sarria.
Glad all went well for you.

[netia]

Hi Una, that's so good to hear.... Just read your blog and realised that you've arrived in santiago!!! Well done... : )
I'm now back in Melbourne, trying to assimilate the lessons of the Camino, into my everyday life : ) Still dream everyday however, of putting my boots back on and keeping on walking......
A big congratulations from me!!
Netia

[Dobby the house elf]

Having asked the hotel/B&B question in the first place I feel I owe it to the forum to answer my own question from experience.
My wife and I finished the Camino on the 27th September, it took us 33 days and it was beyond great. Observations are:

Hotels and B&Bs.
Always managed to find something except for one night, that was Hornillos. There we stayed in the alberge and shared a room with 10 others and actually enjoyed the experience as something different mainly because of the company. (more of that later). Because of the unplanned nature of the Camino I usually phoned ahead on the day or the day before except for the last 4 or 5 days when it got busy and I booked them in advance and accepted a more planned walk. Cost varied from 31 to 80 euros with most around the 50 mark. Some of the 1 or 2 star pensions or hostals were the best, and one of them the worst. Pot luck!

Feet.
Not one sign of a blister. We put that down to good worn in boots, Smartwool merino socks with liners, changing socks once or twice during every day's walk and using vasaline on the feet and between the toes.

Other stuff.
Equipment has been covered before, keep it light, we used 2 poles all the time. Lots of water and electrolytes every day.

Fitness and health, can you do it?
I am fit but suffer occassional atrial fibrillation, suffered a bit at the start but increased my medication and was OK. Met 2 people with pacemakers, one heart byepass, one artificial hip, a 79 year old and a 71 year old on his 10th camino. So yes anyone with a will to do it can do it. It's not a race.

Overall.
Absollutely loved the whole experience and we are seriously mad enough that we want to do the whole thing again next year.Loved the great views, the Mesita, the cafes en-route, the food but most of all it was all the interesting and lovely people we met on the journey. ( including Netia from the forum) It's the fellow peregrinos that really set this apart from any other walk. Thank you to all that we met.

Happy to answer any PMs about details.
Dobby aka Ken.

[Lipka149]

My wife and I finished the Camino on the 27th September, it took us 33 days and it was beyond great.

Wonderful news, Dobby ! So happy to know you and your elf wife enjoyed it !

Thanks for sharing your observations too. The albergue experience certainly is "different", isn't it ?

Ultreya !