Soon to be Pilgrim!

[pilgrimlex]

Hello Everyone!

I am in my mid-20s and from the US, and I am so ecstatic to be an official part of this community! This has been a bucket list trip for me since 2017 and 7+ years later I am finally preparing to take the plunge. This has been a dream of mine, and something I've thought I would honestly never have the opportunity to do. I'm going through a great deal of life changes and decided what better time to go than now! I'll be traveling solo and am deciding between the Frances and the Norte. I think the Frances will give me the original and best pilgram experience, however, I am very drawn to the views and the challenge of the Norte, but worry about lack of community and stress of finding albergues. Any and all advice on planning your first camino are greatly appreciated!

Looking forward to chatting with everyone and learning more about this amazing experience!

 

[pilgrimlex]

Hello Everyone!

I am in my mid-20s and from the US, and I am so ecstatic to be an official part of this community! This has been a bucket list trip for me since 2017 and 7+ years later I am finally preparing to take the plunge. This has been a dream of mine, and something I've thought I would honestly never have the opportunity to do. I'm going through a great deal of life changes and decided what better time to go than now! I'll be traveling solo and am deciding between the Frances and the Norte. I think the Frances will give me the original and best pilgram experience, however, I am very drawn to the views and the challenge of the Norte, but worry about lack of community and stress of finding albergues. Any and all advice on planning your first camino are greatly appreciated!

Looking forward to chatting with everyone and learning more about this amazing experience!

Please disregard all of my typos!

 

[J Willhaus]

Please disregard all of my typos!

Welcome! There is an edit function so.you can fix any typos. Three dots on the left corner.

 

[J Willhaus]

The Norte will also be through more tourist areas so it will likely be more expensive. Do you know when you plan to go?

 

[Lindsay53]

Welcome pilgrimlex. This is the place for any information you need. I think the Frances is a good choice for your first Camino, lots of infrastructure and plenty of other pilgrims to share the experience. It can be crowded but this can be worked around with a little planning. Buen Camino!

 

[trecile]

Welcome to the forum!
I see that you're from the US - I recommend that you check to see if there is an American Pilgrims chapter near you. We on the forum can offer you virtual support, but it's nice to meet other pilgrims locally too.

Local Chapters - American Pilgrims on the Camino

Local Chapters American Pilgrims on the Camino is a community of pilgrims organized in chapters throughout the United States. We share Camino de Santiago experiences, support each other, have fun and encourage one another to live The Spirit of the Camino in our everyday lives. We have nearly 60...

americanpilgrims.org

 

[CTLawGal]

Hello! I understand your excitement, I walked my first Spring 2023 and am 40 years older and can’t wait to do my second next Spring. I walked Norte/Primitivo/Finisterre/Muxia. I worried I might be taking on too much with the Norte/Primitivo give the elevation gains and some long stages, but I loved every minute of it and the coastal views and vistas were amazing. Definitely challenging, but breathtakingly beautiful. Definitely not as populated as the Frances, but I enjoy solitude and still made many friends. Although I haven’t walked the Frances, I’m sure you can’t go wrong with either choice. If you’re not going to train much before you go, maybe the Frances is a better choice. It might also be a better choice if you’re hoping to make connections and be part of a “Camino Family”. The participants on this forum will have strong opinions about which choice is best, but a lot will depend on what your intentions are, and with the Norte, your fitness level.

I originally planned to do the Frances, but I felt drawn to the coastal beauty; a friend who had done it and who was familiar with the walking I was doing encouraged me to let go of my fears and follow my desire to do the Norte; her encouragement that I was not embarking on a folly charged by hubris convinced me to switch to the Norte/Primitivo.

Depending on the time of year, it might be more expensive than the Frances if that is a concern - during the summer some of the towns are popular vacation destinations, which makes lodging more expensive.

 

[Kiwi-family]

Welcome @pilgrimlex
I see you are concerned that you may never get to do it. You're in your mid-twenties. Hopefully you have a long and full life ahead of you with plenty of time to make choices that enable you to complete many caminos!

 

[davejsy]

The Frances has it's own share of beautiful landscapes, and your concerns about the Norte as a first solo Camino are valid, so you probably know your answer. Either way I'm sure it will be something you will never ever forget.

 

[Ballari]

Wow @pilgrimlex I love the excitement in your post.
You will love whichever Camino you choose! When are you planning to start? That could influence which Camino would be best.

For me, my first Camino will always be that incredible adventure that has a special place in my heart.

 

[AUSLEE]

I am sure you will love whichever Camino you choose, especially with your level of excitement. I will never forget the feeling of walking out of St Jean... such a special experience. Buen Camino