In Carrión de los Condes now, doubting about next steps

[Luka]

Sorry, didn't know where to put this...

I am in Carrión de los Condes now, on the Camino Francés. Started walking the 4th of May: Paray Le Monial - Le Puy - SJPP - Carrión. Of course the original plan was to finish the Francés to Santiago. By now I have big doubts.

It seems that the Francés is not 'my' Camino. Too many people (in the sense that I feel somewhat anonymous and contacts stay mostly on the surface), too easy (too much into my comfort zone), too many facilities, too commercial and I am not really enjoying the scenery. Sorry, I am just no Francés-addict yet ;-)

Two facts:
- I have to / want to be in Santiago July 29th at the latest
- Last year I walked the part from León to Sarria (coming from the Via de la Plata), so skipping (part of) that part is an option

I am considering my options now.
1) Not giving up on the Francés and continue walking
2) Walking to León, take a bus/train to Ponferrada and continue on the Camino de Invierno to Santiago
3) Taking a bus tomorrow to León and continue on the Salvador/Primitivo to Santiago (possible in about 20 days?)
4) Something else

And yes, it is a luxurious problem, I know. These are my last weeks of three months walking and I want to use them in the best way I can.

 

[SabsP]

Oh Luka...You came from such a quiet place....The crowds must feel like an invasion.
Thumbs up for you....Can't help you out here but yes a quieter Camino might be better for you....
Take care and enjoy!!!
Veel geluk....

 

[Luka]

Dankjewel, @SabineP!

Another option came to my mind:
5) Catch a bus to León, enjoy León, catch a bus/train to Ponferrada, walk the Invierno to Santiago, go back to León, walk the Salvador to Oviedo

This makes sense because I have to be in a small village 60 km east of Gijon/Oviedo the 1st of August.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Head for the Camino Aragones. Start in Toulouse, Oloron Ste Marie, Estacion Canfranc, or even Jaca. Beautiful scenery, fewer pilgrims, but parts may be hot this time of year. You can get there with a combination of bus and train. There are good guidebooks in French.

 

[SabsP]

Good luck Luka...seems you made a decision.

 

[OTH86]

Buen Camino Luka!! So envious of you who live on the same continent as the Camino - ALL of them, actually. To be able to step out your door and start walking would be wonderful! Even to make changes in plans without thinking about Schengen rules and an already booked flight home...
All the best!
Terry

 

[jeffnd]

Uggh... I had a reply that I feel was very accurate, but not exactly charitable so I deleted it.

I'll just say maybe you need to take some time to evaluate why exactly you chose the Frances in the first place.

 

[Felice]

Luka, not sure if this is too late and you have already made a decision and taken a bus somewhere, but my experience last year was not too rush a decision. You have been walking for 2 months and must be tired, even if you dont actually feel it. Take time to properly evaluate your options. And if you dont like crowds, then Sarria to Santiago definitely sounds like a no-no.

I struggled with exactly the same things as you on the CF after Leon, apart from one wonderful afternoon when I took the high road at Villafranca. It felt such an anticlimax to get back to the road at Trabadelo.

Best of luck with your choice. Hope whatever you choose brings peace and meaning.

 

[Luka]

Head for the Camino Aragones. Start in Toulouse, Oloron Ste Marie, Estacion Canfranc, or even Jaca. Beautiful scenery, fewer pilgrims, but parts may be hot this time of year. You can get there with a combination of bus and train. There are good guidebooks in French.

Thanks! One to add to my wish list! This time I want to finish in Santiago (would be my first time).

Uggh... I had a reply that I feel was very accurate, but not exactly charitable so I deleted it.

I'll just say maybe you need to take some time to evaluate why exactly you chose the Frances in the first place.

Good question! I think because so many people on this forum are praising it. So many people that are hooked and keep coming back. I think it seemed a bit strange to me to have been walking so many kilometers, but never have done THE Camino. I thought I would learn to like it if I just tried.

But I could have known this. Last year I already tried a part (from León to Sarria) for exact the same reason. Same experience: it is not that I am having a bad time, it is simply not 'my' Camino.

 

[Luka]

@OTH86 my flight home was booked half a year ago ;-) It is from Madrid. The most central place in Spain, so it kept a lot of options open. But I know what you mean. It doesn't cost me a fortune if I have to change it.

@Felice it is always hard to know when a decision is ready to be made. But I think I made the right one for me. And you are right, after two months I might have gotten a bit tired of living like a nomad. But what I seem to miss the most is enjoying the birds, the trees, the mountains... Being in nature all by myself. Instead of that it feels like I have been walking on a pilgrims highway...

I got a ticket for the bus to León and booked myself a nice hotel there. Still two options left:
1) First the Invierno to Santiago and then (possibly) the Salvador to Oviedo
2) From León to Oviedo on the Salvador and then the Primitivo to Santiago

I just have to accept that I am not like everyone else I guess...

 

[Alyssa]

Luka, my friend just finished walking to Santiago via the Francés and then the Invierno, where she rarely saw anyone. She was very happy with that choice.

I have had my own struggles on the Camino this year and have had to make difficult choices to follow my heart and do what is right for me, despite the opinions of others.

It sounds like you have just made some positive choices for yourself. Thank goodness for all the diversity between pilgrims and our wants and needs.

Buen Camino Luka.

 

[Luka]

Thanks @Alyssa that is encouraging!

 

[Bobcat77]

Hi Luka. I am intrigued that you use words like 'like' and 'enjoy'. One question you might ask is: am I on walk or on pilgrimage? There is s separate thread dealing with that very question. If 'pilgrimage' is the answer, then perhaps the crowds have something to teach you. .. Just a thought. Why not ask St James?
Buen Camino

 

[jeffnd]

it is not that I am having a bad time, it is simply not 'my' Camino.

You mentioned that you find the Frances too easy and you are in your comfort zone, when it comes to the terrain, that might be true. But it seems that right now you are far outside of your comfort zone when it comes to every other aspect if your pilgrimage.

Instead of looking at the Frances as being "crowded," why not see it as overflowing with opportunities to make those deep connections you seek? If you are finding your interactions with other pilgrims to be shallow, the only one that can change that is you.

Instead of seeing "too many facilities," try being thankful that there is an abundance of services available to you. Be grateful that if you find yourself in need of food, a bed, or whatever, it's not that far away. You might not need a bar or an albergue or a water fountain at a particular moment, but to another pilgrim, it's a godsend.

Instead of seeing the scenery as flat and boring, try to appreciate the amount of food that comes from that region. Appreciate man's efforts to work with nature to bring water to an arid region so that crops can grow. Maybe it's because it reminds be of home, but I loved being on the Meseta.

Lastly, try to be grateful that you have been walking for three months. So many, myself included, would trade places with you in an instant. Think of all the people who long to walk the very path you're currently taking for granted, but will never get the chance.

People talk a lot about the Camino doesn't give us what we want, it gives us what we need. You say you want a challenge, but it seems like you only want that challenge if it's on your terms. The Camino has presented you with some very difficult obstacles. Why not take them on?

 

[Elena1111]

if he doesnt like it why does he have to stick with it? Only because maybe there might be something he can learn from it? We can learn from everything we do, there is no harm in making the experience as enjoyable as it is possible.
Go and head on the Primitivo, it is beautiful, challenging at times, much cooler and it takes only 14 days (less if you are trained).
Leon to Oviedo, I would say that it is not a good idea if you are alone (it is high mountains with all the dangers mountains can have). it only takes 5 days but you need to be trained to walk long distances (there arent many albergues), prepared to meet only a handful of people-if that - a day.

Enjoy it
That s my 5 cents

 

[annakappa]

[QUOTE="Elena1111, post: 321975, member: 44602
Go and head on the Primitivo, it is beautiful, challenging at times, much cooler and it takes only 14 days (less if you are trained).
Leon to Oviedo, I would say that it is not a good idea if you are alone (it is high mountains with all the dangers mountains can have). it only takes 5 days but you need to be trained to walk long distances (there arent many albergues), prepared to meet only a handful of people-if that - a day.

Enjoy it
That s my 5 cents[/QUOTE
I guess that as Luka has been walking now for the last 2 months, he is more or less "trained"????

 

[Phillypilgrim]

Hi Luka. My first Camino was Roncesvalles to Santiago. My second Camino I walked the solitary Camino de Madrid to Sahagun, the CF to Astorga, then also made a hard decision to change it up for similar reasons to yours (plus bedbug bites and a furious chest cold after one night in a crowded CF albergue).
You are an experienced Caminoist and whatever you choose will be rewarding. It is okay to change it up!!!
I bused from Astorga to Santiago and then spent a glorious slow week walking to Finisterre/Muxia. No regrets.
BTW, Luka is a she.

 

[Elena1111]

[QUOTE="Elena1111, post: 321975, member: 44602
Go and head on the Primitivo, it is beautiful, challenging at times, much cooler and it takes only 14 days (less if you are trained).
Leon to Oviedo, I would say that it is not a good idea if you are alone (it is high mountains with all the dangers mountains can have). it only takes 5 days but you need to be trained to walk long distances (there arent many albergues), prepared to meet only a handful of people-if that - a day.

Enjoy it
That s my 5 cents[/QUOTE
I guess that as Luka has been walking now for the last 2 months, he is more or less "trained"????

Yes, he should be trained but going solo in the mountains is never a wise choice

 

[Elena1111]

Yes, he should be trained but going solo in the mountains is never a wise choice

Oops.... then She is trained

 

[Icacos]

if he doesnt like it why does he have to stick with it? Only because maybe there might be something he can learn from it? We can learn from everything we do, there is no harm in making the experience as enjoyable as it is possible.
Go and head on the Primitivo, it is beautiful, challenging at times, much cooler and it takes only 14 days (less if you are trained).
Leon to Oviedo, I would say that it is not a good idea if you are alone (it is high mountains with all the dangers mountains can have). it only takes 5 days but you need to be trained to walk long distances (there arent many albergues), prepared to meet only a handful of people-if that - a day.

Enjoy it
That s my 5 cents

I don't think anyone is suggesting that the OP stick it out rather than run to greener pastures; I think it was being suggested that the OP might just look at the situation from a different angle. Reminds me of a few words by Henri J.M. Nouwen I had tacked to my refrigerator door for a long time:

"You don't think your way into a new kind of living. You live your way into a new kind of thinking."

Although, when I apply this to the OP's situation, I get a bit confused, as it seems to imply the opposite ..... Will have to think a bit more on this!

In any event, if it was @jeffnd's post you were referring to, I really appreciate the angle of thinking employed there.

 

[Elena1111]

If there wasnt a choice I would agree with that angle (try to see things differently given that that is what I have to live with), since there is plenty of choice, I personally dont see the point to continue with something that gives me little enjoyment. Everybody is free to choose their path

 

[Rich1]

Interesting dilemma.
I was worried about finding the same thing when I did the Camino Frances in May. I'm a trail/ultra runner and am used to being in the hills with little or no company, and often not seeing a soul for hours.
I loved the Camino and would back tomorrow if I could. Yes, it was far flatter than I would choose, and there were far more people than I would choose. However, the Camino for me wasn't purely a long walk/run. It was very much a pilgrimage and every little thing was part of that experience.
Yes, there are harder, longer and more scenic walks but of all the things I've ever done, the Camino stands very near the top

 

[Luka]

@Bobcat77 I have read the biggest part of that thread and I think it is not that easy to tell what is the difference between a hike and a pilgrimage. When you spend days long all by yourself in nature this might lead to deep thoughts and a life changing experience. While on the other hand I saw a lot of pilgrims on the Francés just having a good time.

As I am not religious I believe 'to enjoy' is an important purpose in life. And I mean more with that than enjoying a hot shower or a good glass of wine. I can enjoy a meaningful conversation, to see my parents being happy, to help another person, to see the flowers blossom...

@jeffnd thanks for your thoughts. I think I understand what you mean. I am an introvert. For me to be social costs a lot of energy. I do enjoy it, but after having spent a few hours in a group I need to digest and reload. I am at my best in one on one conversations, I prefer that, this is who I am. It seems to me that the Camino Francés is a paradise for extroverts.

I have had my social challenges. Have been on the road for more than two months now and I wasn't there by myself. I have learnt from it. I would start a conversation with a stranger sooner now (however it still costs me quite some energy). But should I challenge myself on that aspect all the time?

I know why I am here. For two reasons. One is to enjoy myself, to enjoy life. I have waited three years for this opportunity. This is a special period for me and I want to make the most of it. The other reason is to consider my next steps in life, after I have returned home. One of the things I need for that is a bit of solitude, coming closer to myself.

I have learned a lot from other pilgrims, from conversations with them. But here most of the time I meet new people. I don't get a chance to really get to know them. Because of doing different stages, because of people just disappearing in the crowds. And yes, because I don't want to be part of a fixed group, discussing when we are having a break, how far we are going to walk, where we are going to eat, sleep, etc. And yes, also on the Francés I have met wonderful people and I had some very special moments. But it costs me too much energy.

Well, enough said. It is hard to explain. I am not making an easy choice changing to the Invierno. It will be scary, lonely, hard concerning water and food (I am a vegetarian), much more expensive. But I think that it will be good for me.

 

[SabsP]

Again Luka ...very wise words....You rock!

 

[Anniesantiago]

Hey Luka, what about taking a bus to Granja de Moreruela and walking the Sanabres?

 

[Rebekah Scott]

I just came off a few days of the Invierno. It is splendid. Go for it!

 

[Luka]

@Anniesantiago on my bucketlist ;-)
@Rebekah Scott thanks for the encouragement, I am almost sure now I'll go for it! Staying in León at the moment. Will travel to Ponferrada on Saturday...

 

[LauraK]

Luka: I think you provided an excellent explanation of your needs as an introvert. So often people do not understand the amount of energy it takes to interact and be "sociable" for introverts. Extroverts draw energy from those around them and often think introverts are rude or unsociable. I applaud you for having the insight to change direction and, more importantly, to follow your heart. I also prefer the solitude and quiet of a solo camino. I walked the Sanabres route in March and enjoyed not seeing other pilgrims for days. There are some challenging sections on this route. As Anniesantiago suggested, you could go to Zamora or Granja from Carrion and take the Sanabres route. Whichever route you choose, I am sure you will "enjoy" it! Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. I hope you will give us an update and let us know where you are...

 

[Luka]

Thanks, Laura!

I will try to post updates here, probably in the Invierno section. Tomorrow I will stay in León, Saturday I'll travel to Ponferrada. Sunday (I am almost sure) my adventure begins...

 

[LauraK]

Just know you won't truly be alone...we will be thinking of you

 

[Mike Savage]

Just know you won't truly be alone...we will be thinking of you

Yes we will. I wish you all the best, I'm sure you will make a wise decision as to what is right for you.

Buen Camino!

 

[wayfarer]

Have a great finish to your Camino Luka whatever you decide.
Buen Camino.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

5 days on the Salvador from Leon to Oviedo and the 15 taking it easy on the Primitivo. Doable and beautiful. And for those who think you must endure the commercialism and crowds, you can tell them you'll face it again in Melide

 

[Mark Lee]

Hi Luka. I am intrigued that you use words like 'like' and 'enjoy'. One question you might ask is: am I on walk or on pilgrimage? There is s separate thread dealing with that very question. If 'pilgrimage' is the answer, then perhaps the crowds have something to teach you. .. Just a thought. Why not ask St James?
Buen Camino

Is it wrong to "like" and "enjoy" walking the Camino? I've done it twice and liked and enjoyed it both times.....

 

[Mark Lee]

Any prospective pilgrims out there reading this thread, just to let you know, if you walk the Camino Frances between the months of May through September, you will be walking with a lot of fellow pilgrims. If introverted walks through non-commercialized places are your bag, don't walk the Camino Frances at that time. I don't suppose this is anything new. The abundance of posts on here describing how popular it is, or that there are actually tour groups for it, or the multitude of YouTube videos of it are a dead giveaway of that.
cheers

 

[Robo]

Hi Luka. I am intrigued that you use words like 'like' and 'enjoy'. One question you might ask is: am I on walk or on pilgrimage? There is s separate thread dealing with that very question. If 'pilgrimage' is the answer, then perhaps the crowds have something to teach you. .. Just a thought. Why not ask St James?
Buen Camino

I too found the crowds a bit too much to handle post Sarria.

But I just took the view that this stage would be a different experience and that I should seek out the new lessons it could teach me.

And it did. Every day.....

And Luka, I totally 'get' the introvert / extrovert thing.....

There were a few nights on the CF where I just 'left the room'. Too many people. Too much noise.... i'm not a party person.

those nights I either ate alone, which was fine, but usually ended up having a quieter meal with one of two other people.

 

[nalod]

Enjoy.

 

[Oztrekker]

I am sure you will choose the right path for you. It takes courage to walk the path less travelled. I did a solo hike where I did not meet a single person or civilisation for ten days.

My companions were the birds and kangaroos.

It was the hardest hike i have ever done.

I ended up talking to myself. So yes i had plenty of time to think in a beautiful wilderness, however the isolation was hard for me.

I respect anyone who takes on these tough less popular camino routes.

I met a pilgrim from france who walked from paris and met only one other treker before sjpd.

Another pilgrim walked from belgium. It takes courage and strength to do this.

I admire and respect such commitment and detetmination from such dedicated pilgrims.

Dear Luka, I wish you the best camino.

 

[Greg T Sykes]

Good on yer!

Horses for coarses! Listen to you gut and enjoy the ride!!

 

[Anniesantiago]

Looking forward to hearing how you're doing, Luka!

 

[David]

Hi Luka - what an honest post. You are definitely a walker - all that way!! You are also a person who connects with solitude, that is fairly obvious. You will make your own decision, you have all the skills and ability to do that - just one thing I would mention ... you love the solitude, the connection with the natural world; perhaps this section, where you are finding problems, is a gift for you where you learn the inner solitude, the solitude and calmness and peace that isn't affected at all by how 'busy' the external world is?

Whatever your choice dear Luka - Buen Camino!!

 

[good_old_shoes]

Hope you're happy with the choice you make, Luka, you know best what's the right thing to do!


I just wanted to add, as an introvert myself, I totally get why it can be very challenging meeting so many/new people all the time.

But, what David said is very true - try to see it from another perspective: It can teach you to learn how to „shield“ yourself better, to learn not to get drained so much from social interaction, to find calmness and solitude whithin yourself, even in for an introvert stressful situations.

It's like with meditation - everyone can do it when they're all alone in a beautiful spot in the mountains, but if you really want to master it, you need to be able to do it in the middle of a busy street.


Totally understand the decision to switch to another route, though – it's your last few weeks, you want them to be as good as possible after all those months walking. Maybe the challenge of the busy Francés is for another time then.

I, for myself, was happy I did it. Probably talked to more strangers on the Camino than all my life before, and for some reason, it was nowhere near exhausting as "in real life".


Whatever route you choose for the last weeks of your way to Santiago,
Buen Camino!

 

[seekingsarah]

Thanks for this post Luca and everyone else for your responses.I found all the perspectives very useful. I am doing my first Camino in about 10 days' time (depending on visa application) and I also tend towards intoversion/one on one deep conversations. Being a newbie, I will choose the crowds for safety in numbers; and I will learn as I go along whether my soul is fed by this choice. Then, I will make a choice that maximises inner growth for inner and outer peace, because that's what my journey is about.

 

[Mike Savage]

Buen Camino Sarah.

 

[Luka]

Thanks all, for your reflections. I agree with everyone who says there is a lesson in everything. And yes, I think I became a bit more open and started conversations more easily. But in daily life, at work, I also have to cope with an extrovert world. I just wanted a break from that, come closer to whom I really am. And it wasn't only for the crowds I left the Francés.

@Anniesantiago I made a thread in the Camino de Invierno section!