What would you change about the CF - if you could?

[Mito]

Perhaps. But fewer people would consider 200 km an easy walk. So there would be fewer people walking it.

And I should add: no requirement would mean an increase in people doing day walks or driving and getting the certificate. What a nightmare!

 

[Mito]

i wish more albergues and cafes were open along the Camino in December and January. I wonder if that would draw more pilgrims that time of year and take some of the pressure/crowd off of the other seasons. The weather can be a little tricky but not that bad IMO except in the mountains I suppose. we had a wonderful experience in December and January seeing the Christmas lights and happy new year. It’s shocking how a few people were out there when I hear about the crowds during the other times of year. Maybe if “off season” were made more welcoming more people would do it then versus other times. You just need the right gear - but that’s true no matter when you go.

I’d love to go in the winter! Was it possible to find lodging that wasn’t too far apart? Say…..15 km? And were albergues well heated? I’m from Maine and prefer cold to heat. I usually do the Camino in March.

 

[Anniesantiago]

I tried to stay there in October 2022 because I remembered it as a wonderful, welcoming albergue. That late in the season I was the only pilgrim and was put up in the biggest room with no heat. After a brief attempt to take a nap and finding out the shower room was also too cold, I left (not asking for a refund) and hoofed it the rest of the way to Pamplona. Sad, but true. There were smaller rooms in the albergue which could have been heated but they didn’t bother. Disappointing. On the subject of snoring: some albergues have rooms for women only. As women are less apt to snore (sorry guys, it’s true) these are much quieter than mixed rooms.

Some of the sweetest places I've stayed had no heat and no hot water.
Example: San Anton
I don't think a lot of pilgrims walk in October - probably turn off the heat to save cash.
For what pilgrims pay it must be difficult to pay the heating bills.

 

[Bradypus]

I’d love to go in the winter! Was it possible to find lodging that wasn’t too far apart? Say…..15 km?

I walked the Frances in January last year. There were a number of stages which had to be a fair bit longer than that. I don't think it could be done in 15km stages in January or February without the use of taxis.

 

[TravellingMan22]

You in a “quiet car?” On the east coast, Amtrak trains have at least one car where you aren’t even permitted a conversation. Heaven!!

No it wasn’t a quiet car, but it was very quiet until two folks started having a ‘heart to heart’ at the top of their voices!! One moved to the next carriage!

Lots of lone travellers and all manner of American life on board. Train went from Seattle to LA so not for the faint hearted especially arriving at LA after midnight though it’s totally cleaned up from the 80s! One chap had done 70 hours on Amtrak this week alone! Defo different vibe compared to Philly to NYC!

 

[Silvermomma]

Wouldn't that just mean that the "crowds" would start at the 200km mark instead of 100km? It would probably be better to get rid of the requirement altogether.

I think fewer "bucket list" do-it-in-a-week people would invest in the extra time.

 

[Silvermomma]

And I should add: no requirement would mean an increase in people doing day walks or driving and getting the certificate. What a nightmare!

Maybe they should stop the certificate thing. I have never picked one up. Maybe someone can open an Etsy shop and make them, LOL.

 

[easonm]

I’d love to go in the winter! Was it possible to find lodging that wasn’t too far apart? Say…..15 km? And were albergues well heated? I’m from Maine and prefer cold to heat. I usually do the Camino in March.

I can only speak for the short walk from Sarria but most of the albergues were closed between xmas & new year. I’m glad I booked in advance and booked hotels and of course they were heated and totally fine - with 15mi our longest day. I can’t speak for the other parts of the Camino but from Sarria to Santiago, it was a dead zone in terms of albergues and cafés. Almost everything Cerrado the whole way. on the plus side we had the Camino to ourselves and got to see a lot of pretty Christmas lights. It’s understandable of course that the locals/hosts want some time off.

 

[davejsy]

Wouldn't that just mean that the "crowds" would start at the 200km mark instead of 100km? It would probably be better to get rid of the requirement altogether.

It is interesting though that gaining the Compostela is obviously the driving force for the last 100km popularity, otherwise the problem wouldn't exist. So scrapping the Compostela would be interesting to see what effect it had.

 

[Paul.W]

They heard of Benidorm and that is why they don't serve a English Breakfast

Hahaha Agreed

 

[Molly Cassidy]

It is interesting though that gaining the Compostela is obviously the driving force for the last 100km popularity, otherwise the problem wouldn't exist. So scrapping the Compostela would be interesting to see what effect it had.

I expect the tour companies would just make their own certificates and people would be happy with that.

 

[C clearly]

It is interesting though that gaining the Compostela is obviously the driving force for the last 100km popularity,

I am not so sure of that. Spaniards make up the vast majority of the walkers from Sarria, and that distance is quite convenient for them to walk in a week or less. I suspect that most of them would continue to walk that segment, and would be satisfied with a Welcome Certificate or Distance Certificate.

 

[Bradypus]

I am not so sure of that. Spaniards make up the vast majority of the walkers from Sarria, and that distance is quite convenient for them to walk in a week or less. I suspect that most of them would continue to walk that segment, and would be satisfied with a Welcome Certificate or Distance Certificate.

I walked my first Camino before the 100km minimum rule was introduced. Sarria had no special significance at that time and it was not common for people to choose it as a starting point. Most people then chose to walk longer distances than on average today. I think that the immense growth in numbers only walking that final section is very closely tied to the minimum distance requirement for a Compostela.

 

[Charles Ross]

Ok, I realize this is an old thread and i might be talking to myself but I missed the conversation first time around. Here's my wish list: Change the Compostela requirements from distance to time: In order to achieve the certificate one must show 30 days of stamps on your pilgrim passport. In addition it should be required that pilgrims declare at least some sense of spiritual/religious motivation for doing this walk in order to receive the certificate. The pilgrimage itself should be advertised by all, Spanish government, advocates, clubs, this forum as a long distance walk. It take's 30 days + to walk from SJpdP and a bit less from Pamplona. Pilgrims should come out of the experience thinking 'that's just about the most amazing experience I've ever had' Doing the 100 clicks doesn't qualify for that feeling and if it does I feel sorry for you. Albergues should require the dates that reflect this devotion. Showing up in Burgos with a shiny new passport? 'No thanks, maybe at the end of the day if we have room.' Need reservations for 8? 'Sorry, the Holiday Inn is down the road about 30 Km . . . try them'. Less Disney Cruise, more, 'I'm so happy to have this backpack off of me'!!!

 

[Tincatinker]

As you infer the Compostela is an award for walking 100km on a recognized route into Santiago and collecting the required number of sellos.

It has absolutely bugger-all to do with the motivations of Pilgrims, or for that matter Long Distance Hikers.

People who want a Compostela can get one with a simple qualifying process. People who don’t want a Compostela have no skin in that game. People who want a different, more exclusive, beyond the red-rope Compostela really need to sit down and think very hard as to why.

 

[Bradypus]

It has absolutely bugger-all to do with the motivations of Pilgrims, or for that matter Long Distance Hikers.

It used to. And the text still talks about religious or spiritual motives. But in practice you are right. Probably time for a rewrite to fit the current reality or just drop the thing altogether.

 

[Jim Porter]

Ok, so inspired by the "Has the Camino lost it's way" thread. What would people change to the current Camino (CF) to make it better in their own eyes/opinion whatever that may be (without breaking any forum rules obvs)? It could be stuff like removing or increasing the 100km etc.

As most of you probably know, I loved my recent CF, but there were a few things I'd like to see different.

I can start with this:

Where major roads/motorways/railways have been built through or close to the Camino, where feasible the Camino could be routed further from these. Where not feasible maybe more could be done to lessen the impact by planting trees or similar to lessen the noise effects? I understand some drudgery is part of the Camino such as the walks in to the cities etc and it has it's place and not what I'd change, but things like the above that are cut through the countryside could be made better I think.

 

[Jim Porter]

I would like to suggest a voluntary Camino "users fee," that would be used to support localized maintenance of the towns and trails. All of us are disturbed at the growing amount of trash along the way—in this way the users (i.e. "litterers") could underwrite the local villages, towns and cities by offering a way to pay for the trail maintenance and upkeep that our presence is making necessary. Rebekkah Scott and the "trail pigs" program might be something that could be duplicated all along the Way—with funding.

 

[VNwalking]

What would I change?
End co-ed dorms.
And make entitled people with suitcases (and attitudes too big to fit inside them) stay in hotels. They can afford it.
It's never going to happen, but I can wish it anyway.

 

[Sue127]

It used to. And the text still talks about religious or spiritual motives. But in practice you are right. Probably time for a rewrite to fit the current reality or just drop the thing altogether.

I would think that taking away the Compostela as a "reward" for 100km would certainly free up some more beds! Or maybe it could only be offered from Sarria, making all the other 100k; sites less busy?