The Confraternity of Pilgrims to Rome - Practical Pilgrims Day

When at the Confraternity of Saint James I mentioned an interest in one day walking to Rome (which is along with the Pilgrimages to Santiago and Jerusalem one of the three most important places for Christian Pilgrimage) and was told that that Saturday (the 1st of March) the Confraternity of Pilgrims to Rome was having their Practical Pilgrim day (the Confraternity of Saint James runs similar days, I have never been to one but it's worth checking their website to see if one is coming up: www.csj.org.uk/ ).

The day took place in Saint James' Church on Piccadilly Circus

We had a short session on the history of the Pilgrimage and a few details of walking before hearing from someone who had recently walked the route and had pictures to show us

We took a break for dinner and I talked to a few people - many had already walked to Santiago

The question and answer session was the most useful part of the day - I found out that you can buy good maps from the Italian version of Amazon, that the Saint Bernard pass is only open for three months a year, that the shops in France are hardly ever open and most things are closed in August in Italy, that there are probably fewer bedbugs on this way than the Camino (at least for now) and you should probably allow more money per day than you would on the Camino (about 35 euros instead of 20 or so). I need to look over my notes to see what else I can tell you but it's definently worth visiting www.pilgrmstorome.org.uk/ for more information

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Route Napoleon closures: November-March

For anyone thinking of setting off on the Camino anytime soon just a reminder that the Navarrese Govenmnet closes the Route Napoleon over the Pyrenees from November 1st - March 31st each year (and longer if need be). Roncenvalles in the snow The official notification for this (from last year) is below.

The Camino Primitivo

The Camino Primitivo (or the Original Way) is reportedly the very first Camino Way to Santiago in the 9 th century when most of Spain was under the control of the Moors and it runs from near the city of Ovideo in Asturias as it starts in Villavicosa (which also lies on the Camino Norte so many people follow this Way from Basque city of San Sebastian (Donosti in Basque) or in from the French border at Irun ( this route then hugs the Bay of Biscay passing through Guernica, Bilbao, Santander, Llanes before going under the Picos de Europa and then heads along the coast to Ovideo) before branching off onto the Primitivo which goes across the mountains and through the city of Lugo before joining the Frances at Melide. The route is 320km long. Image taken from https://viaalpina2013.wordpress.com/2013/04/14/camino-del-norte-camino-primitivo/

Albergue - Arca

126 beds in large rooms but sectioned off into 6s - two bunks and two single beds. Lights above each beds and lockers (but no locks on them). Large kitchen - the best equipped in Galicia as far as I know. Showers are hot but open and mixed. A little tired in appearance but I do stay here every time I'm in Arca!

On the Camino

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