Bilbao reports on record numbers

sillydoll · Dec 26, 2012

Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Bizkaia reports: http://www.deia.com/

So far this summer 15,182 people have stayed in the five hostels managed by the Friends of the Camino de Santiago de Bizkaia, 50% more than two years ago. The 87 voluntary hospitaleros have been overwhelmed by the demand for beds. The pilgrim's profile has also changed. Compared with a few years ago when most of the walkers during the summer came from the Spain they are now coming from other parts of Europe.

Priscillian · Dec 26, 2012

To be honest this doesn´t surprise me. A large percentage of pilgrims who made their way to me chose the northern Camino. Most said that there were many things that they liked (scenery, culture), but perhaps more that they didn't. Most left to finish via the Primitivo which all said was hard but very impressive. In the summer months it was said that it (the Norte) was generally populated by people walking for a cheap hoiliday who had no intention of continuing on to Santiago. I also heard that it was quite difficult with a lot of ups and downs and much walking on asphalt. On the other hand, there appeared to be space at albergues and the infrastructure has improved enormously since 2004.
Many people made the decision to walk this Camino because they wanted to go East - West. Some were first time pilgrims who wanted to avoid the "pilgrim train" on the Frances.
I am sure that the experience would be entirely different if one were walking "off season". Personally, I am thinking that I might walk the "Galicia part" of the Norte next year to coincide with the Celtic Festival at Ortiguera. Anyone who has done so...I'd love your feedback!

Deleted member 3000 · Dec 27, 2012

Baztan reports on record numbers

CAMINO DE SANTIAGO
Increases the Camino de Santiago in Baztan
NG PAMPLONA
Updated 26/12/2012 at 08:33

A source of the pilgrimage route that runs along Urdax and Baztan

The Association of Friends of the Camino de Santiago de Urdax-Baztan has been an increase of pilgrims to the record of 566 in shelters who are in charge. The increase is 26% over the previous year . "There have been accounted pilgrims having made the journey not made use of the hostels as accommodation. Regarding the origin of the pilgrims who benefited from the network for the night," 318 came from 14 different countries: 248 in France , 31 in Germany, 9 U.S., 5 in England, five in Belgium, four pilgrims from Canada and Japan, Mexico and Australia, "according to a statement from the association itself. baztanés The track has been covered this year for " 248 pilgrims 10 different Spanish regions : 115, Navarre, 58 Basque Country, Catalonia 28, 14 Madrid, 9 Valencia, etc ".'s relationship associations completed the section included Landaise Société des Amis de Saint Jacques d 'Etudes Compostellanes, L' Association Les Amis du Chemin de Saint-Jacques Pyrénées-Atlantiques, L'Association des Amis du Girondine Chemin de Saint-Jacques and Bretanne L'Association des Amis de Saint-Jacques of Compostella.