Intro - Bill and Kathy, camino in April 2006

[BillJackson]

Hello - I'm Bill. My wife, Kathy, and I plan on walking from O'Cebreiro to Santiago in early April, 2006. We are training at Stone Mountain, near Atlanta, Georgia USA, where we have a 5 mile road around the mountain and a moderatly rough 5 mile nature trail around the montain and a 3 mile trail up and down the mountain - occasionally steep climb on granite.
Kathy introduced me to the idea of the pilgrimage - she has read about Santiago since before we met, 7 years ago. We spent the first two nights of our honeymoon in Santiago, in September 2000, and are looking forward to returning for a longer visit. This will be our first camino.
Looking forward to talking to more pilgrims, both before and after our walk.
We plan on spending Easter in Santiago - any advice on accomodations would be appreciated - we will probably stay in an alberque at first, but after the camino, I'm sure we will want a comfortable hotel room to sleep in.
- Bill
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Feb. 7, 2006

 

[ivar]

Hi Bill and Kathy! Welcome to the forum!

Easter week is a good time to visit Spain. The processions (in Santiago as well) are well worth the visit by itself.

I would advice you to book ahead for your days in Santiago (don't wait too long). Even if they say that Santiago has too many hotel rooms these days (several new hotels have opened), when it comes to holidays, people come from all over Spain and Europe to visit Santiago....

One of my favorites are Hotel Virxe da Cerca. The owner of this hotel actually own 3 hotel in old town. All newly remodeled and nice (3-stars, but deserve 4).


This link shows some hotels in Santiago (I get a kickback if you reserve via this link).

For a bigger list of lodging in Santiago, check this out (list might be a bit outdated):
http://www.santiago-today.com/hotels/

For some recommendations from previous travelers, read more here:
viewforum.php?f=3

By the way, if you are looking for "something extra", check out Hostal dos Reis Catolicos:
viewtopic.php?t=43

Welcome to Santiago Bill and Kathy!

Ivar

 

[BillJackson]

Thanks

Thank you Ivar - I'll discuss this with my wife. We wanted to leave things unscheduled, but now we will talk about booking ahead for Santiago. We'll be sure to use your link - I'm glad you get a kick back.
- Bill

 

[BillJackson]

Hotel Reservations and a question

Thanks Ivar - We have reserved our room at the Hotel Virxe da Cerca - for one night before we start our camino, and for 3 nights at the end.
One other question - We would like to get used Pilgrim's staffs to use on our camino - we are spending one night in Santiago, before taking a bus to O'Cebreiro. Is there a place in Santiago, where we can get a new or used staff?

 

[ivar]

Hi again,

New staffs can be bought in "every" souvenir store in old town. Not sure how good they are, but I know they sell well.

But even better, I think you can get used ones (at no cost, I think) at the pilgrims office.

The door you see in this picture is to the pilgrims office. Enter this door and you enter into a room with some stairs that lead you up to the pilgrims office. In the hall before the stairs I have seen 10-15 sticks/staffs just lying around. I think they are left there by pilgrims that have completed their walk and left them behind (I think).

So have a look there, and if you find one you like you should maybe walk upstairs and make sure that you can take one.

Welcome to Santiago!

Ivar

 

[BillJackson]

Staffs and Hotel

Ivar - thanks for the hotel recommendation. Virxe de Cerca is excellent! I found my staff at the Pilgrim's office in Santiago (just a long stick, that someone left downstairs, that I trimmed and cleaned), Kathy bought her staff in O'Cebreiro. We had great weather the whole walk - only very light rain on 2 out of 9 days.
- Bill and Kathy

 

[ivar]

Hi Bill and Kathy,

I am happy that you had a good experience... and that I could help out.

Un saludo,
Ivar