Here is the first half of the account of Mrs Adu and her sister who was 73 at time walked the 500 mile Camino.

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/accounts-of-the-camino.cfm

There are a number of people on Fodor's who have walked the Camino. These were my wife's accounts even though they are under my name.

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/camino-entries-part-ii.cfm

Yes, off the top of my head I can tell you that Ireynold1, Lincasanova and Marigross, all of them frequent posters, have walked the Camino. This thread has some comments from them:

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/a-bit-of-the-camino-de-santiago.cfm

I'm getting ready to do part of it in June.

Thank you all. I'll read all of these this weekend!

How did you enjoy the film, "The Way?" I decided that if an out-of-shape eye doctor from LA could do it without any training, then it would be a wonderful hike for all of us. My husband commented that, well, the son died on his first day, it's likely not as jolly as it appeared. Maybe I'll just look forward to reading your report!

We loved that movie. And we've been absolutely loving Aduchamps' relatives (and others') reports, which are not only factually relevant but beautifully written an evocative.

We're on it - maybe for next year or the year after. We feel that, though we are already pretty fit, we need to train. We'll do that. We're psyched.

One Fodorite has tried to get Mrs. Adu's narrative published because it is accompanied by equally wonderful watercolors, but unfortunately did not happen.

Hmmm, let me think about that. As a publisher myself, I might have some ideas. It's a very evocative account. I assume you didn't print all of it on Fodors and that there is more?

Email me at StCirq@aol.com and we'll talk. I can't publish it myself but might have some ideas.

I've found this website particularly helpful. You may have already run across it.

http://www.caminolinks.co.uk/4595.html

Hi StCirq! We did a portion of the camino, but we did it the lazy way: using a company to provide baggage transfers and accomodations along the route. I was highly skeptical as we had NEVER taken an organized trip but I was pleasantly surpised with Spanish Steps. The food they provided was top notch.

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/maris-northern-spain-and-the-camino-de-santiago-trip-report.cfm

Thanks et and Marigross. I get more and more psyched the more I read about it. It's been a great motivator to get out and powerwalk every day, too - longer and longer distances and no matter what the weather is like. We probably won't do this for a year or two, but if we keep training we should be ready!

Ideally, we'd like to to the entirety of the trail, starting in Paris, but I'm not sure that's realistic. We'll see...it sure is fun to dream about and plan for, though!

StCirq: it sure is fun to dream about and plan for, though!

It certainly is!

I'm planning on doing it for my 80th birthday - if I live that long!

Right now, my preferred route is the one through Portugal.

Wow easytraveler!! You're an inspiration. I'm in my late 50's and fret that I won't be up to the task this summer.
St Cirq, its indeed a great motivation to have to engage in developing your walking endurance. I've had the dream of doing this for close to 10 yrs! My objective is not as ambitious, I'm starting in O'Cebreiro, Galicia to Santiago, approx 160 kms, that's plenty for me!
Good luck with your plans!

Come back and tell us how it goes, cruiseluv. I'm sure you'll do just fine. Good luck to you as well!

I'm including Santiago in my itinerary in September. I am active and good on trails. My plan is to arrive first into Lisbon to join tour group staying near Porto. I got a good deal on hotel with some day trips included. I will then continue to Santiago for overnight visiting historic Cathedral taking train or bus, continuing onward into France making 1 or 2 stops overnight.

I hope to walk on the Camino trail at least once if this is possible to enjoy experience, but am not sure which stop is better? I have a map and considered Leon or Burgos which would be a good distance to travel but am not sure if those areas would be close enough for me pick up Camino for a few hours each day? I then need to continue into France for flight out of Toulouse. Any help with my route much appreciated. I would also change this route if someone has better choices for me but I will be using public transportation.

Does anyone know if RENFE or ALSA offer senior discounts on their transportation? Thanks to all for guidance.

cruiseluv: For a young-un like yourself - no problems!

The trick is not to think of how many miles are left. You wake up each morning and think: "Wow! Nice day for a walk, a jaunt!" Don't think, "Omigod! I've still got 499 miles to go!"

Enjoy the route! Enjoy the companionships! Enjoy the pilgrimage!

Like StCirq has said, tell us all about it when you get back!

I did a wonderful trip for my 70th, so am now planning for my 80th. One is as young as one wants to be!

<<The trick is not to think of how many miles are left. You wake up each morning and think: "Wow! Nice day for a walk, a jaunt!" Don't think, "Omigod! I've still got 499 miles to go!">>

Right. And if you wake up and it's freezing cold and sleeting, you can choose to rest that day, or just do 5 km. With certain caveats, like you need to get out of the Pyrénées by wintertime, you can set your own schedule.

I love the "Omigod, I've got 499 miles to go!" analogy. When I'm editing a huge book, it's hard not to think "Jeez!, I've got another 300 pages to go!" I've taught myself to think "Wow, only a day and I'm an eighth of the way through this monster."

It's a classic glass half-full or half-empty example. For me, glass always half-full.

According to recent statistics from the Pilgrim´s Office in Santiago, it looks like English speaking pilgrims are going to show a huge jump in numbers.

From January - April, 2012, the numbers of English speaking pilgrims show almost a doubling from the numbers for those same months in 2009.

Though it´s probably too early to make predictions, it looks like we are seeing The Way´s effect. For most info, check out the blog of a Scottish expat now living in Santiago and very involved with the pilgrim´s office: http://www.johnniewalker-santiago.blogspot.pt/ (I´m in Portugal now, which may explain the .pt extension. Maybe you don´t need that from other countries, I just don´t know).

Add me to the growing list of potential pilgrims. While watching "The Way", I became very consumed with the idea of doing the Camino. So, since January, I've been walking, 2.8 miles a day, walking up 5 long flights of stairs @ work every day, many times a day, and basically becoming quite obsessed with the whole idea. I've been reading everyting I can get my hands on about it. So, I'm glad to see this post. My goal is to do this 10/13. I'm in good shape for my age, 65 and I love to walk. So, once I have firmly comitted to it, I will begin training in earnest. I would like to hear from anyone who knows what the training should entail. I would not do the entire walk, maybe start at Sarria, or even before that possibly. I'm thinking maybe a week of walking. Not sure I would stay at the refuges though due to my complete phobia of bed bugs, lice, or other creepy crawlies.

Maybe we should put together a group! That would be a heckuva trip report!

I did it two years ago from Roncesvalles to Santiago770kms +/-. An experience of a lifetime.Cant wait to do it again.It took 30 days and I enjoyed it immensely and made some very good friends. If you like walking and the outdoor it is fantastic.If you want any info or advice let me know and I will help if I can.
This is my blog on Spain(no posting on the Camino yet!).

Glad to see this thread come up again. In a little less than 2 months, on June 28, my family and I will start walking from O'Cebreiro. The anticipation is mounting and I wish that day was already here. This has been a goal of mine since the first time I visited Santiago, in 2002. Posters like lreynold have been an inspiration, although I must confess that I'll be doing it in a more pampered way, staying at casa rurales and hotels, rather than at the refugios.

Barb, that's great that you have that goal, you'll be more than ready by the time 10/13 rolls in. I'm little by little increasing the number of miles I walk at a time. So far about 6 miles at a time, but have to do more and add a a backpack.

Cehegin, look forward to reading about your Camino experience when you add it to your blog.

I have mixed feelings about the statistics Laurie has posted on above post. I guess I'm a bit selfish as I would have preferred that this increase didn't happen on the year I'm doing the Camino. Oh well, too late now, God willing I'll be there, together with the rest of them!

¡Buen Camino!

I'm no expert, but I don't think a lot of training is necessary. Just have excellent footwear. You can walk as far or little as you prefer. As fast or slow. Stop for snacks and water as often as you feel like it.

Exhausted? Just tired of walking? Call a taxi and he'll take you to the hotel. Or if you don't have reservations, the nearest café will point you the right direction.

It is all very civilized the last 100kms. You are NOT in the middle of nowhere, helpless, and struggling and climbing huge granite walls.

Believe me. You will be fine.

What I most ask myself .. is why don't I take these huge long walks close to home? There are plenty of places that have trails near here.

I guess that's part of the beauty of the whole experience. Some of us are doing something we have never done, on such a large scale.

Cruiseluv.. are you going to be in Madrid a day or two? You can email me again at screen name at yahoo dot com.

Good luck everyone. I know you will be writing some nice reports when you are back!

Don't forget to pick up a "passport" at one of the hostals, hospitals. I, at 80yrs young, got mine last week at Burgos. Apparently it is not necessary to walk the whole way or on only one of the routes to qualify as a "Peregrino".In order however to receive a credential at Santiago you must do the last two stops getting the official stamps from whichever route you take. I have on the past few years done about 100K on the ruta de plata..10K in the burgos area, 10K into Santiago and god willing and the creek don't rise in 2 years when my daughter retires we will continue to rack up the Ks..The passport cost 2Euros at Burgos and the accomodatioons there are about 5 Euros /night. Keep this plan of yours in mind and try, try try...

STCirq: Maybe we should put together a group!

Great idea!

If it fits within my schedule, I'd be game - at least for part of the way, if not all!

Just hiked almost 5 miles today, so feeling that the Camino is definitely a possibility and not a dream!


amer_can: Truly you are the inspiration!


To those of you hiking this year: please report back!

Wow Amer can, you're an inspiration indeed!

Lin, Glad you chimed in, was hoping maybe i would see you in the Camino. Yes, we'll be in Madrid a couple of nights at the beginning and one night at the end. I'll email you.

For sure I'll report back.

Thanks for the kudo that I am an inspiration..You are only as old as you let yourself be and as far as I'm concerned that is not an issue as long as my feet, knees and pension hold out!! I forgot to mention Segovia, Avila and Madrid..Add up another few Ks. But OMG would I ever love to do the whole thing. Maybe someone will carry my ashes in a box someday!!!

To get the "Compostela" you do need to walk at least 100kms or bike 200kms.

I love al these reports from the young-uns! You ARE an inspiration.. my goodness.. from Burgos. You still have quite a walk to do!

I found this website. Not as nicely set up as many, but full of info .

http://www.americanpilgrims.com/camino/faqs.html#compostela

I've come across pilgrims locally pushing a handcart with tent, stove, etc. They were starting at Rome and following the route Arles, Nimes, St Guillem, Lodeve Toulouse etc etc

Some info on the Languedoc part :

http://www.the-languedoc-page.com/tourism/pilgrimage-compostella.htm

I have been to Le Puy-en-Velay a number of times and have been impressed every time by the number of people there specifically to begin a trip on the chemin de Saint Jacques de Compostelle, very often German retirees, but also a lot of French people.

The idea attract me as well, even though I am allergic to just about all forms of spirituality.

Our favourite Pilgrim is currently on vacation so she cannot answer all of your questions right now.
But I would head over to this forum http://www.caminodesantiago.me/board it is perhaps the most active and informative around on this subject.

Kerouac: most people on the Camino I met didnt do it for spiritual reasons.Everyone had their own reason but I would say the majority were non religious.

Our friend and neighbor walked 750 km on the Spanish side five years ago at 69 years old . This month he is walking the French side. You might like to read his blog.
www.guythatcher.wordpress.com/2012/04/22/21

This has been on my list for a while, too.. no idea which year it will be - probably during a gap year for me.

"You are only as old as you let yourself be" Amer Can, what a great outlook and so true.

I have decided to go for it, planning on late Sept, early October, 2013. A Camino GTG would be wonderful.

Question.... I would like to do the Camino first and then continue traveling, maybe a nice beach to recuperate, lol. What would I do with my luggage for my continuing trip? I probably will want to burn my Camino clothes when I am done. I was thinking I would stay in Santiago before the walk and then for a few days afterwards. I wonder if the hotel would store my suitcase. Are there storage places specifically for this purpose in Santiago as I would imagine other people have the same issue.

Also, I would like to walk for about a week, maybe starting before Sarria. What town before Sarria would be a good starting point? I'm going to strive for 10k - 15k per day.

Hi, Barb,
When I walk, I frequently send something to Santiago to the hotel where I will be staying at the end of the walk (I fly into Madrid, usually, and head from there to my starting point, so I don´t go to Santiago first). The Hotel Costa Vella is wonderful, and the people are very accommodating, and I´ve had stuff sitting in their closet for 6 weeks and they never bat an eye.

I also know people who use the luggage storage service offered by the Pensión Badalada (you don´t need to stay there to be able to use it, but there´s a fee): http://pilgrimhelper.wordpress.com/luggage-storage/

If you are planning to walk a week at 10-15 kms a day, you will have to start after Sarria, or possibly in Sarria. Sarria is 100 kms from Santiago, and you will be ablet o walk 70-105. So I´d say Sarria is a good starting place. Be forewarned, it´s very crowded, that´s where the biggest crowds start, but there´s just no way to avoid the crowds (unless,for instance, you wanted to walk the last 100 kms on the Camino Primitivo from Lugo, or the last 100 kms on the Via de la Plata from Ourense, or the last 100 kms on the Camino del Norte from Baamonte, all are great options as well). Buen camino.

We are planning to walk the Camino in October 2014 for my 40th birthday. I'd been mulling around the idea of doing the camino for awhile, but then I decided that it was the way I wanted to celebrate my 40th. It just seems like the perfect way to celebrate the milestone in so many ways - esspecially a milestone that for a lot of women truely means the end of youth, onset of middle-age, being over the hill. For me it will be "What? Old? Old-schmold - I'm walking half way across Spain."

I don't know how much time we'll be able to devote to the Camino, but I think we will only have a couple weeks, so we'll probably do about 200km. We'll see when we get closer - maybe we'll be able to go for longer.

kerouac - My motivation isn't really spiritual, definitely not religious. The closest thing to "spirituality" that I am looking for is that I am hoping that through the act of walking a long distance that I can gain some clarity and calmness - kind of a reset in my brain. Unplug from daily life and have the opportunity to just BE.

Ireynold1,

I am a little concerned with the last 100k from Sarria being very crowded. The other alternatives you mentioned might be an option. My one concern as a newbie is the comparative difficulties of each. Obviously I would love to experience paths, to pavement, walking through beautiful fields, valleys and charming towns to walking alongside a busy road. Steep hills is a consideration also, although certainly not a deal breaker. Which of the three that you mentioned would most likely fit the bill? Also, how far apart are the albergues/pensions on the alternate routes.

BTW, in my previous post, I meant to say 10-15 miles a day, not km. Right now I think I can walk 6 miles, but I do have lots of time to improve on that. Thanks for all your great information and support.

Hi, Barb,
I didn´t mean to discourage you at all, just to let you know that the numbers increase dramatically at Sarria, because that´s the starting point for those who want to walk the minimum necessary to get the compostela (a certificate of accomplishment issued by the cathedral officials with some religious significance). If you are walking in late September, it certainly won´t be the rush of mid summer, but don´t expect it to be an idyllic walk in solitude.

The other starting points are the hundred kms points on some of the other Caminos, but having thought about it a bit, I think there´s no doubt that for most "first timers" the Camino Francés is the iconic Way and is the one you should walk. If you become addicted, there´s plenty of time for all these others.

So, you are probably in the 20-25 km a day range, which is 140 to 175 kms from Santiago. Villafranca del Bierzo is a nice small town with good infrastructure and it´s approximately 170 kms from Santiago. This would give you the very nice walk up to O´Cebreiro, which is a hike (2300 feet elevation gain but spread over 8 kms), but can easily be broken up into two pieces. I´d suggest you take a look at the Camino Francés section of mundicamino.com, because there is a ton of information there, on distances, elevation gain, accommodations in all the towns, etc. That will help you make up your mind. Villafranca is about a 2 1-2 hour bus ride from León, and there are 3 buses a day (check movelia.es for a lot of Spanish bus schedules), so that would be easier than getting to some of the smaller places along the way.

Buen camino! Laurie

Somehow walking up a mountain seems rather daunting! Maybe I could start at O'Cebreiro . Thanks for the link. You are such a wealth of information, I am sure I will be picking your brain again before next year. Loved reading about all your walks, you are such an inspiration.

Glad to see lreynold has chimed in, she has been a great help to me.
Barb, I read so many daunting stories about the climb to O'Cebreiro , that's why I decided to start the walk there rather than at Villafranca. There'll be plenty of other challenges I'm sure!

Regarding where to leave your lugagge for later, if you'll be at Santiago at the beginning I would leave it at the hotel. The Costa Vella staff is fantastic, as lreynold indicates (this time we'll be staying at a sister hotel, Hotel Altair). I know people that left several pieces of lugagge with them while they did the walk from Sarria.
Because we're traveling prior to starting the Camino as well as after, we're having our luggage transfered by a service called Jacotrans.

Cruiseluv,
I´m wondering how people get to O´Cebreiro to start the Camino there. I think there is a train, whose station is Piedrafita, but it´s a couple of kms away, I believe. Or maybe it´s a bus station, I don´t know. Have you got this figured out?

And november_moon, I think that most of the people I have met on many caminos share your view of its "purpose" for them. It´s a very personal and individual thing, of course, but I think that even those many people who start the Camino with the idea that it´s a cheap and exciting way to spend a vacation, come away with a lot more than that. It´s just inevitable, IMO. For me, having nothing to do but to get up and walk, then wash clothes, wash body, and eat and sleep, and then start all over again, has given me a gratitude about being alive that I can´t even explain.

you can take a bus from Villafranca del Bierzo.. a nice place to stay the night before.

http://www.alsa.es/en

Thanks, Lin. And I agree that Villafranca is a nice little town, has a really friendly ambiente, I think. I´ve been there when the one main old street was as crowded as Grand Central Station, filled with people on the prowl for tapas. Usually, though it´s pretty sedate.

Hi lreynold1,

There are two Alsa buses a day from León to Piedrafita (they also stop at Villafranca), takes about 2.5 hrs. We'll be coming from spending a couple of days in León. Unfortunately we dont have enough days to make a stopover at Villafranca but I did consider it. We'll probably take a cab from Piedrafita up to O'Cebreiro.

The stage from O Cebreiro to Triacastela is beautiful but if you can the climb to O Cebreiro from Villafranca is well worth.It is an all day climb,gradual at the beginning, with 600metre climb in the last 7kms.If you are reasonably fit and not carrying too much weight(no more than 9kg recommended) it is doable.By the time I got to this point I was 21 days into the walk so I was fit and although it was hard work the sensation on arrival was great.Amazing views!

lreynold - I am very curious to see what my husband will think and feel about the Camino when we are finished. I have my various reasons, but his reason is simple: because his wife wants to do it, so he is going too. He really doesn't have any other motivation, which means he is basically approaching it as a blank slate.

cruiseluv, thanks for the info re luggage. I am going to stay at Costa Vella. I will probably train/bus from there to wherever I plan on starting from. How many days are you planning from O Cebreiro to Santiago? Are you walking with a pack? I am really looking forward to your trip report.

Spent most of the day watching Mark Shea's "The Way" on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSNZVKxmKEA

You can purchase the 75 min video, or just watch it in bits on Youtube, which is what I did.

OMG Barb! I just realized you're the Barb from "This is why I will Always travel solo" fame! You have no idea how much I enjoyed your report and how much I identified, Sometime its not an easy thing to travel with "friends"!

Costa Vella is a great choice. I loved it there, very special. The only reason I'm opting for the Altair is that it has A/C and we're going in the summer this time. I know I sound spoiled but one summer I was in Santiago during a heat wave and was glad I was staying at a hotel with A/C. But if you're going in Sept/ Oct, the Costa Vella should be perfect. They have an enchanting garden , great to sit there for drinks. I'm planning to at least pay a visit.

We're walking for 8 days, starting 6/28, arriving Santiago 7/5 (God willing!). I'm going the pampered route. I booked lodging in small hotels/ manor houses(casas rurales/pazos)either right on the Camino or nearby. We'll carry a backpack with personal items , but the actual luggage will be moved by Jacotrans every time we move. We're spending a few days before the walk in Madrid and Leon, and at the end we stay 3 days in Santiago and one last night in Madrid.

Do you think you'll do this by yourself?

Yup, that's me, I'm so glad you enjoyed my trip report. It certainly grew into epic proportions.

I am really eager to hear about your Camino as I am trying to decide if I should do the pampered Way or tough it out. I'm leaning towards toughing it. I'm also not sure where I will begin my walk. Ideally, I would like to do it in a week (7-8) days. I think your plan of staying in Madrid/Leon first is a really good plan. Also having some time in Santiago will be great. Are you going to go to Finisterre?

I will probably do it by myself, which is what I prefer, although my 19 yo granddaugther really wants to go with me. She has some health issues which might prevent it unfortunately. Would be special though, Nana and granddaughter.

I don't think we'll have time to go to Finisterre. We went years ago (not walking) as a day trip and enjoyed it.

I hope somehow you could make it work with your granddaughter if she is so keen in doing it. It would be very special indeed. Maybe start from Sarria but take more days to do it.

I've wanted to go back to Leon for years. The Cathedral's stained glass windows are gorgeous.

lreynolds1: This would give you the very nice walk up to O´Cebreiro, which is a hike (2300 feet elevation gain but spread over 8 kms), but can easily be broken up into two pieces.

Question: can this be done in one piece? Is there some reason to break it up into two pieces - such as location of lodgings? Or is it just the length and the height?

I hiked a trail today that went from less than 700 feet to over 1700 feet in a 2 mile stretch, so it's pretty steep. The grade was 25% in some spots. Coming down was worse because of the loose rock that constituted about 1/2 of the downhill hike. It took us less than 3 hours to go up and then down (total over 5 miles), so a hike of 8 km/5miles to a height of 2300 doesn't sound all that bad, that steep. Which is why I am asking if it's necessary to break this portion into two days.

TIA for your response.

I just hope whoever starts before/with the climb up to O'Cebreiro doesn't think the rest of the trip will be more of the same and get discouraged. That is the most difficult ( steepest/tiring) part of that entire segment IMHO.

Last time we started in O'C. Very pleasant. Great views to start out and easy going along for our first day.

I will be in Santiago for 1 or 2 nights beginning of September and will travel to French Border making few stops overnight and doing some walking to enjoy experience of Camino. Will travel either on ALSA bus or train but not quite sure where to stop off; thought of going directly to Burgos then walking next day for several hours and maybe taking evening bus or train to Pomplana. Is this good choice to give me opportunity to do some of the trails and enjoy scenery? I will then get transport into France and hope to continue to Lourdes for overnight taking train next day to Toulouse for flight.

Will buy my rail/bus tickets on arrival in Spain as I do not see that thre is a pass that would include multi-rides over 4 or 5 days. Thanks for any suggestions, I am looking forward to my trip.

Cehegin: many thanks for your encouragement! Now it's back to more planning. There's a wonderful website that can do staging, so will definitely input and attempt that portion as a one-day hike and see what comes out.

Nice blog!

You know, the more I think about this the more I think this would be a cool thing to do for my next milestone birthday... wouldn't spring or fall be better for this walk than the heat of summer?

flygirl, as far as I know the answer is yes. You'll also find less people. There might be more chance for rain, but then again, rain is always a possibility in Galicia.

I'd like to do this someday, it's getting enough time off to make it worthwhile that's the issue for me.

For anyone who's interested, I've been following a blogger, Sherry Ott, as she's been walking the camino for the last few weeks. She's about halfway through 6 weeks of her journey.

She's posting short things throughout the day, every day, on her facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/OttsworldTravel and then wrap up on her blog; www.Ottsworld.com.
I do like that she's been very honest about the frustrations and doubts she's had along the way. She's faced horrible weather and awful blisters but seems to be enjoying it.

Buen Camino to Linca and all those to follow.

Easytraveler.Good luck with the trip.And thanks for the comment on teh blog!

This is a dream of mine also. Buen camino,, travelers!

cruiseluv will be finishing her camino shortly, I believe. Can't wait for her report.

Looking forward to it. Will probably do mine before my 80th birthday - it's just so enticing!

BTW, forgot to add, here's a tidbit from today's news:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/05/priceless-santiago-codex-_n_1651670.html?icid=maing-grid7|main5|dl12|sec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D176045

I'm back!!! It was everything I thought (and more). Just got back to the US today after spending 3 nights in Santiago and one last one in Madrid. I'll be writing a report although I must confess I wasn't diligent in taking notes or keeping a journal. Let me get organized here and I'll start.

PS Lin, thanks so much for the recommendation of Pulperia Ezequiel in Melide. We loved it, had lunch and dinner the next day! The pulp in Melide is definitively the best!

After watching the movie The Way, walking the Camino del Santiago was something that I would have loved to do.

But unfortunately I dont think that I would be able to do it..My back is not the best..It would have taken a full year to do the Camino..

So glad that was of use! Everyone is waiting for this report! Can't wait to hear your impressions. We have friends up there right now, too. It would have been a great year to hang out in Villafranca and salute everyone passing by! Friends form Cincinnati.. from Brasilia.. would have met YOU.. busy summer up there.

kismetchimera.. you can do a beautiful stretch of this camino anytime.. no need to do 100's of kms. if you are unable! If you are ever in the area, take a morning, or a day or two to enjoy the experience. Then treat yourself to some good food and tell us about it!

Cruiseluv, I am so glad you are back and had a wonderful time. I am rally looking forward to reading your trip report.

Hi,

I just posted the first installment here:
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/my-camino-de-santiago.cfm

It might take me a while;I just got home yesterday and I'm leaving again on Friday to visit my family in Puerto Rico (and celebrate my dad's 90th birthday!).

Enjoy that birthday party! Wow!

Just putting this in my queue for planning the walk for fall 2014. Thanks to all who contributed here.

gruezi - why don't you plan for the October 2013 walk?