- Time of past OR future Camino
- Too many and too often!
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But your fertile imagination more than compensatesMy memories fade…..
I walked my second Camino in 2002. I was amazed at the changes since my first walk and at how busy the Camino had become. I remember thinking at the time that it must be reaching a peak and that the bubble would burst sometime soon. There were about 69,000 Compostelas handed out that year. I seem to have been a bit off the mark.at this rate couple of years from now we'll have a line akin to trying to get to Everest BC1
How are the numbers compared to pre-pandemic years?In Roncesvalles the big albergue opened on March 10th and since that date we had 74% more pilgrims up till yesterday, comparing to last year. March was just a bit more than last year, but since last weekend the daily numbers are much more than last year at the start of April.
I walked in 2012 and I see the big changes over the last 11 years. From your first walk it must be mind boggling.I walked my second Camino in 2002. I was amazed at the changes since my first walk and at how busy the Camino had become. I remember thinking at the time that it must be reaching a peak and that the bubble would burst sometime soon. There were about 69,000 Compostelas handed out that year. I seem to have been a bit off the mark.
This is important. We really need to know how the current numbers stack up against pre-pandemic numbers.Similar to the 2019 figures.
The numbers for the first three months of the year from SJPDP are fairly similar in 2019 and 2023. But there are more pilgrims so far this year in Santiago - 11,218 in 2019 and 16,380 this year. A substantial increase.This is important. We really need to know how the current numbers stack up against pre-pandemic numbers.
The solution to crowding coming out of SJPdP is deceptively simple. Someone just needs to make a popular, full-length movie or write some popular books, espousing the fabulous Caminos to be had starting from other, traditional and historic places.at this rate couple of years from now we'll have a line akin to trying to get to Everest BC1
There has been a big growth in interest in the Camino Portugues in recent years. Many people seem to be choosing it as their first Camino. Though it may take time to change the perception that "the Camino" means "the Camino Frances". When I finished walking the Primitivo a young man in Santiago asked if I had any plans to walk "the real Camino" some day.Once potential pilgrims realize the significance of he other Camino routes, the use of these routes will follow.
I find it hard to reconcile the numbers with what you see on the trail. When we walked last year, 2022, we were told that everywhere was booked out, but I think that meant double rooms as albergue beds were available. Most days up until Sarria weren't crowded at all and many cafes that had previously been busy were empty.An article this afternoon from La Voz de Galicia is reporting an increase on the same scale in the numbers recorded arriving in Santiago. So the same story being told today at both ends of the Frances.
El Camino no se cansa de batir récords: crece un 32 % el número de peregrinos que llegaron a Santiago de enero a marzo
Más de 16.300 personas hicieron la ruta jacobea durante el primer trimestre de 2023, unas 5.300 más que en el mismo período del año anterior, que fue el de mayor afluencia en la historia del Xacobeowww.lavozdegalicia.es
Maybe more people are starting in April this year, having learned that it could get crowded in May? I hope so. I am starting in early May and really don't want this to feel like it's mobbed with people. (From where I'm starting, off the "main path" at first, it probably won't. But once I hit the main one ... ?) I hope most of those people skip the meseta! I'd like some company and social life, but not mobs.@Rhysmike A lot would depend on when you walked. The peaks for leaving SJPDP are in May and September. Outside of those numbers tend to be lower up to Sarria.
I see that you are resisting providing the actual numbers to enable the comparison between 2019 and this year for starts from SJPdP, why is that?The numbers for the first three months of the year from SJPDP are fairly similar in 2019 and 2023. But there are more pilgrims so far this year in Santiago - 11,218 in 2019 and 16,380 this year. A substantial increase.
The towns on the Meseta have been reporting greatly reduced pilgrim numbers for some years now. You won't find any mobs before the 100 klm mark.Maybe more people are starting in April this year, having learned that it could get crowded in May? I hope so. I am starting in early May and really don't want this to feel like it's mobbed with people. (From where I'm starting, off the "main path" at first, it probably won't. But once I hit the main one ... ?) I hope most of those people skip the meseta! I'd like some company and social life, but not mobs.
2019 was the high water mark for those starting from SJPdP overall, as you can see from this graph that I created from data from the Pilgrim's Office in St Jean.Year on year, numbers starting from SJPdP have tended to slightly increase in April, remain steady or reduce in May and decrease in June. Perhaps indicating that May 2019 was a highwater mark for Spring departures and suggesting that pilgrims are starting earlier in the year but without any overall increase.
Now what we need are the actual numbers for 20232019 was the high water mark for those starting from SJPdP overall, as you can see from this graph that I created from data from the Pilgrim's Office in St Jean.
View attachment 144352
Here's a month by month comparison of 2019 and 2022
View attachment 144353
The towns on the Meseta have been reporting greatly reduced pilgrim numbers for some years now. You won't find any mobs before the 100 klm mark
Very nice, @trecile. What is noticeable is the fact that, from 2016 onwards, the increase in numbers being registered at the Pilgrim Office in SJPP has not been as pronounced as in previous years and (presumably) not followed the rate of increase at the other end of the Camino Francés?2019 was the high water mark for those starting from SJPdP overall, as you can see from this graph that I created from data from the Pilgrim's Office in St Jean.
View attachment 144352
Just a bit.I seem to have been a bit off the mark.
FWIW, in 2019 I walked the Vasco-Francés-Invierno in May-June and did fine on the Francés, staying in small pueblos (or none - like San Anton). I was surprised to be so free to not plan ahead, but clearly the mobs were headed to Castrojerez/Fromista/Carrion (etc.).I hope most of those people skip the meseta! I'd like some company and social life, but not mobs.
The actual numbers are available in the Facebook post I linked in the first post of the thread. I simply stated that the SJPDP first-quarter figures for 2019 and 2023 are very similar because the difference is barely significant: for 2019 the first-quarter total was 2569 and in 2023 it was 2506. But there is a large difference in both cases from the 2022 total of 1673.I see that you are resisting providing the actual numbers to enable the comparison between 2019 and this year for starts from SJPdP, why is that?
And from this we can see that there is no big deal.The actual numbers are available in the Facebook post I linked in the first post of the thread. I simply stated that the SJPDP first-quarter figures for 2019 and 2023 are very similar because the difference is barely significant: for 2019 the first-quarter total was 2569 and in 2023 it was 2506. But there is a large difference in both cases from the 2022 total of 1673.
You seem to be reading far more into the thread headline and my initial post than is actually there. All it says is that there has been an significant increase in numbers recorded by the SJPDP office so far this year compared with the same period last year. No more, no less.The Camino Frances has capacity to deal with these numbers, no need for thread headlines about the sky falling.
Thanks.You seem to be reading far more into the thread headline and my initial post than is actually there. All it says is that there has been an significant increase in numbers recorded by the SJPDP office so far this year compared with the same period last year. No more, no less.
Half and half Spaniards or otherwise ; the former mostly young.An article this afternoon from La Voz de Galicia is reporting an increase on the same scale in the numbers recorded arriving in Santiago. So the same story being told today at both ends of the Frances.
El Camino no se cansa de batir récords: crece un 32 % el número de peregrinos que llegaron a Santiago de enero a marzo
Más de 16.300 personas hicieron la ruta jacobea durante el primer trimestre de 2023, unas 5.300 más que en el mismo período del año anterior, que fue el de mayor afluencia en la historia del Xacobeowww.lavozdegalicia.es
It’s worth noting since you last walked in 2019 that a good number of Albergues have either closed for good or had not re opened in 2022 , I also walked in 2019 but returned in 21 and 22.And from this we can see that there is no big deal.
I walked during Spring 2019, didn't make reservations after the first day at St. Jean and apart from a bit of a queue at Roncesvalles and Zubiri there were no huge mobs of people even though there were good numbers and I got walk up accommodation at both places.
The Camino Frances has capacity to deal with these numbers, no need for thread headlines about the sky falling.
I think that what we should be highlighting for new pilgrims is that things seem to have returned to normal. Assuming that the relatively static numbers between 2016 and 2019 are normal.
Pilgrims who walked in 2021 and 2022 were very lucky to have experienced the Frances as it may have been ten years ago but that doesn't mean that this year's numbers are anything unusual or that they need worrying about.
I think there might be an extra zero in that figure. Last Thursday the pilgrim office recorded 2,231. And it would be hard to see how the week's total could be 12,000 if one day alone was 20,000!Thursday was the biggest single day at Santiago, over 20,000 pilgrims passing through the Pilgrims Office on Holy Thursday.
Guess you're right.I think there might be an extra zero in that figure. Last Thursday the pilgrim office recorded 2,231. And it would be hard to see how the week's total could be 12,000 if one day alone was 20,000!
According to the pilgrim office statistics page there have been 16,471 Compostelas so far this month, with 6,412 of those going to people who began their walk in Sarria.
I think there might be an extra zero in that figure. Last Thursday the pilgrim office recorded 2,231. And it would be hard to see how the week's total could be 12,000 if one day alone was 20,000!
According to the pilgrim office statistics page there have been 16,471 Compostelas so far this month, with 6,412 of those going to people who began their walk in Sarria.
That trend caught my eye too. On the pilgrim office statistics page in the running total for the year so far women are now slightly out numbering men - 51.56% female to 48.54% male. The earliest statistics on the website are from 2003 and in that year the proportions were 60.59% male and 39.41% female. I can find no similar data for the time of my first Camino in 1990 but my impression then was that the great majority of pilgrims were men with perhaps a 2:1 ratio.Peregrinas up from 31% to 47.7%.
Thanks! Could you tell me the source of the numbers?Statistics 1990:
Number of Pilgrims: 4.918; Male 3.267; Female: 1.634; Not specified: 17
I would very much like to do that. The information is taken from the German website: http://www.jakobus-info.de/ (Wir pilgern auf dem Jakobsweg) . It is - probably - one of the oldest pilgrimage websites. It is the German pilgrim couple; Thekla Schrange (died 2012 ) and Aloys Schäfer, who started editing "Wir Pilgern auf Dem Jakobsweg" more than 25 years agoThanks! Could you tell me the source of the numbers?
I have definitely been noticing that. Also interesting how much more 1989 has than 1990. I was going to say especially in March, but that might be because Easter was in March.So basically at busy times we now have more arriving in a day than arrived in the entire month of August in 1989. Or more in 2 - 3 days than arrived in the entire year.
Wow
Noooooo please!!! ;-)Thus, and logically, the easiest way to spread the traffic - to me at least - is to do something to make the other routes similarly desirable.
Does it?This just needs to happen. Once potential pilgrims realize the significance of he other Camino routes, the use of these routes will follow.
I think yes.Does it?
I understand your position. But consider that, each year, other "want to be approved as official Camino routes" localities make application to the appropriate authorities for accession to the "officially sanctioned" Camino de Santiago.Noooooo please!!! ;-)
I think the Camino is a lot more resilient than you are giving it credit for being. It has survived wars and plagues, the Reformation, the loss of the relics. It has been here for over a thousand years. I don't think it is in any real danger of dying.In my experience and opinion, what would eventually "kill" the Camino de Santiago, I think, would be taming all the wild, rural, mysterious and historical context out of it. Then if become like a figurative "walk in the park."
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