Happy Holidays from Fresco Tours

Hola Everyone!

We hope everyone is doing well and we would like to take this time to wish
you a Happy Holiday. Attached is our 2007 Holiday video - Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfXrPSfyeqg

All the best and have a great 2008!

Saludos from Spain,

Alex & Lola

Fresco Tours
www.frescotours.com

A nice article about the Camino de Santiago

This story about the Camino de Santiago was recently published in US News and World Report. Enjoy!

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A Journey for the Faithful
Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Spain
By Eduardo Cue

Posted November 16, 2007

On foot, bicycle, even horseback, they make their way individually or in groups along routes dotted with Romanesque churches and monasteries and through villages that have existed since the Middle Ages. They come in growing numbers, modern-day pilgrims in this secular age in a search for their spiritual selves. Their destination: the shrine of the apostle James in Santiago de Compostela.

Click HERE for the complete article.

Saludos!

Announcing the Fresco Friends Discount!

With the holidays near, we wanted to say thanks to all our former clients that have made Fresco Tours a success. It has been a wonderful experience for us to have shared the laughs, cheers, stories, tears of joy, even the occasional blister, hugs, and special celebrations with each of you. You have come from around the globe to travel with us and we have thoroughly enjoyed your company. Thank you!

As a token of our appreciation, we are delighted to offer a 10% discount on any of our scheduled tours of the Camino de Santiago, Basque Country and Andalucia to our Fresco Friends. Hasta pronto and muchas gracias!

Saludos, Alex and Lola

Fresco Tours
www.frescotours.com

New 2008 May Camino de Santiago Tour Date

We've just added a new May date to our 2008 Camino Calendar. It will begin on May 11th and finish on May 20th - the date will be posted soon to our Tour Calendar. Here is a picture from our May tour of 2007. Let's hope we have the same weather!

Hope all is well and saludos!

Alex

Gracias, Peregrino!

Our October group has arrived in Santiago de Compostela with tears of joy! It has been an incredible 10 days of rambling through the Galician Country side.

While having a drink before dinner, we ran into some other pilgrims that we had met on the trail - it is great to be re-united with these fellow travelers that we have met along the way!

This is our last scheduled tour on the Camino de Santiago of 2007 and I would like to thank all the pilgrims that have made it a special year for Fresco Tours! Muchas gracias y hasta pronto!

Saludos a todos!

Alex

Fresco Tours
www.frescotours.com

“Better than August”

“Better than August” is what everyone is saying about the weather!
It seems too good to be true, but the weather has been truly wonderful for our October Tour. The days have been perfect for walking: cool in the mornings, but bright sunny skies in the afternoons with a cool breeze! The leaves are starting to change and the scenery is just lovely! Here is a picture from my cell phone.
Knock on wood our luck holds up for a couple more days when we arrive to Santiago! Buen Camino y saludos a todos!

Alex

A Poet and A Kitten

We finished up our September 30th tour, where we met a pilgrim from Finland who recited to us a poem that he had made up on the trail. It talked of a Smile and how it can be contagious - I hope he sends me a copy, because he left our whole group with a smile from ear to ear!

We also came across a stray kitten that was begging for help. Our clients rescued him and fortunately the owners of our hotel decided to adopt this little Camino Cat. They ended up naming him Alex!

Getting ready for another group on Sunday - the weather looks to be sunny for the first few days - it will be hard to beat the 9 days of sunny afternoons we just enjoyed, but we are optimistic!

See you on the trail - buenas noche and hasta pronto!

Saludos,

Alex

Fresco Tours
www.frescotours.com

Another diverse group!

We are getting ready for our September 30th Camino de Santiago tour, where we have 8 clients from around the globe: the USA, UK, and Japan!

We have had a truly international selection of clients so far in 2007 with Fresco Friends from:

• the USA
• Canada
• Puerto Rico
• the United Kingdom (England & Scotland)
• Denmark
• Norway
• Ireland
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Hong Kong

In 2006, we were proud to also have representatives from:

• Finland
• Panama
• Peru
• Bermuda
• Egypt
• Korea
• China

It really is a small world after all!

Barbara in the Basque Country

Barbara’s Spain-taneous tour of Madrid, the Basque Country, and Barcelona included a day with us in San Sebastian and Guernica. We had a wonderful day visiting the Casa de Juntas, strolling on the Concha beach and eating a delicious lunch!

Agur!

Fresco Tours
www.frescotours.com

What's cooking?

Or should I say who's cooking? Marisol and Stephanie enjoying a private cooking class of typical Galician Fare:
- Empanadillas
- Spanish omelette with potatoes, zucchini, and green peppers
- Monk fish with clams and shrimp in a green sauce

Results: Delicious! Mmmmmm mmmmmm good!

Buen provecho!

On the trail!

Hola everyone!

It is the beginning of September and we are enjoying wonderful weather on the Camino! This summer (August) has been cold and rainy in Galicia, so everyone is happy to see the sun finally come out! We are a group of 11 - 6 from the USA, 4 from Australia and 1 from Ireland with song being the thing that brings everyone together. A spontaneous singing session started at dinner and has carried onto the trail! Happy trails to you.......

Saludos,

Alex

Oh Happy Day!

Today is the 25th of July, the Saint's day of Santiago! In Santiago, it has been a week filled with concerts and activities to celebrate the patron Saint of Spain's Day. Yesterday, the 24th of July, they celebrated the famous "burning" of the Cathedral with a massive fireworks display in the Plaza Obradoiro and laser light show on the façade of the Cathedral. Years ago, they would actually build wooden scaffolding all along the Cathedral and literally "burn" the Cathedral!!! How things have changed!!! Here are some PICTURES courtesy of La Voz de Galicia. Anyone else have any good pictures? Happy Saint James Day!

Fresco Tours
www.frescotours.com

Music coming from Santiago!

We've just arrived in Santiago de Compostela after spending a week in the lower estuaries of Galicia, the Rias Bajas. We were very fortunate and had wonderful sunny days for our time on the beach and along the shore. We took a great boat ride and visited the mussel, scallop and oyster farms. They even gave us a huge sampling of mussels and white wine on the boat!

It's July and there are lots of people / pilgrims in Santiago. Tonight after dinner, we strolled around the Plazas which were filled with music at 11:30PM. A "tuna band" (university students) were playing in the Plaza Obradorio and in the other a rock band! I've been coming to Santiago for years now - over 50 times - and every time enjoy it more and more. It is truly an amazing place!

Well, off to bed - hasta pronto!

Saludos,

Alex

On the Camino, but headed.....

To the Rias Bajas! We have a private Spain-taneous Tour of the lower estuaries which will take us to Baiona, Tui, Cambados, Sanxenxo and, of course, Santiago de Compostela. It is a beautiful area where white sandy beaches are hidden between rocky coast line and tiny fishing ports! Galicia is much much more than just the Camino. The weather forecast is for sunny skies, but today it is a cool July of 15º C / 60º F with clouds and rain in Palas de Rei. Knock on wood the forecast is correct!

Hasta pronto y saludos,

Alex

Fresco Tours
www.frescotours.com

Hola Santiago!

We've made it to Santiago! Today the sun and clouds took turns, but the temperature was perfect for walking. In the plaza de Obradorio there were lots of pilgrims and a festival atmosphere.

While we were eating lunch, we saw Margo, a pilgrim that we have run into several times during the week. She was wearing a bright yellow arrow t-shirt and arrived yesterday. It was a good reunion.

Tonight we celebrate our Camino!

Here are some pixs of the journey - enjoy!

Hasta pronto!

Alex


Fresco Tours
www.frescotours.com

Concert on the Camino

Yesterday coming out of Palas de Rei and San Xulian, the group was treated to a concert of croaking frogs accompanied by the singing birds along the Camino! The marvelous sounds of mother nature. Good thing they weren't listening to their Ipods!

Today is the first day of summer and the weather finally warmed up: 15º C / 60º F with sunny blue skies. A wonderful day to read a book in the gardens after our walk!

Tomorrow we reach Santiago!!!!

Buen Camino!

Passing the 100KM marker today!

It is mid June and we are having chilly mornings here in Galicia. Fortunately, the afternoons have warmed up to cool, but comfortable 10º C / 50º F. After a day of rain, the sun seems to be trying to poke its way out of the clouds. This morning we have left from Sarria and we will pass the 100KM marker on our way to Portomarin! Buen Camino and hasta pronto!

Saludos,

Alex

What is the weather like on the Camino de Santiago Tour?

The Camino de Santiago covers over 750 KMs of Northern Spain and therefore has very different weather conditions depending on the region.

Fresco Tours walks the last 160 KM's of the Camino in the Northwest region called Galicia. Here we enjoy a more temperate climate than other parts of the Camino de Santiago and in July and August the heat is not overwhelming like it can be on the plains of Castilla y Leon.

For current and average monthly temperatures of 2 cities along the Camino in Galicia, please click below:

- Sarria
- Santiago de Compostela

Graduation!

We've made it to Santiago de Compostela and our pilgrims have received their "diplomas", the Compostelana Certificate of having completed the Camino de Santiago. It is a beautiful day here in Santiago, a comfortable 20º C / 68º F and sunny. Here are some pictures of the group.

Getting ready for our final dinner - a celebration in Santiago!

Hasta pronto!

Fresco Tours
www.frescotours.com

Weather back to normal!

We started our May 27th Camino de Santiago in the hill top village of O'Cebreiro with a chilling 1º Celcius / 35º Fahernheit! What a surprise after our warm April and early May Camino Tours. Fortunately, the rain has only been intermitent and now the weather is a perfect walking 10º C / 50º F.
We are in Melide and less than 60 KM's to Santiago! The forecast is for sunny skies on our arrival on Monday! Hasta pronto and buen Camino!

Saludos,

Alex

Preparing for the Camino

We're back in the office, but tomorrow morning we set off again for Galicia. It has been a great month of May with 2 excellent groups. We've just posted our latest pictures of our Spain-taneous Andalucian Adventure with the Chicas de Virginia, a private group of 6 friends that have been traveling together for years.

Our upcoming Camino Tour is with a couple from Australia, a couple from the USA and a woman from Canada! It will be nice to be back on the Camino!

Hasta pronto!

Walking the White Villages

We've headed south and are now with a private Spain-taneous group from Virgina, USA. We have a full plate this week - visiting Cordoba, Seville, and Granada, while still fitting in some short walks in the White Villages, Subbetica, and the Sierra Nevada. The massages on our rest afternoon are going to be a true treat! Ole Andalucia!

Fresco Tours
www.frescotours.com

Celebrating in Santiago!

We have arrived this afternoon in Santiago de Compostela! Here we are in the Plaza in front of the Cathedral. For some more pictures from our tour, please click HERE.

We were very fortunate to have walked our 160 consecutive KM's in 8 days with only 2 days of rain. Our wonderful group has just finished receiving their "Compostelana" certificates and are now getting ready for our Celebratory Dinner!

We look forward to a great night here in Santiago! Hasta pronto....

Fresco Tours
www.frescotours.com

Back on the Camino!

Our newest group - 2 from Scotland, 2 from England and 7 from the USA - has arrived to the market town of Sarria this afternoon and we have once again been fortunate to have some beautiful weather - sunny, blue skies and a cool breeze. A perfect spring day for walking! Let's hope that it continues for the rest of the trip.

The picture on the left was taken from my cell phone at the top of O'Cebriero. Tonight we are going to go listen to vespers, sung mass, at the Benedictine Monastery of Samos. Hasta pronto and buen camino! Alex

Who will be my tour leader on my Fresco Tour?

Traveling with the owners of a company is a very different experience than traveling with a tour operator that sends one of their many employees to one of their many destinations. We specialize in Spain, our home, and we pride ourselves on the fact that we lead all of our scheduled tours. Experience counts and since 1999, we have led over 45 groups and 450 pilgrims along the Camino de Santiago! Rest assured that either Lola or Alex (and in most cases both!) will accompany your group and tend to all of your needs! For more information about us, see our BIOS.

How can we sleep in the same hotel for 2 nights and still walk the last 150 KM's?

Since the distances that we walk during the day on the Camino de Santiago can be covered quickly in the van, we take advantage of this and stay in the same hotel for 2 nights on a few occasions. Our walk always starts at the point where we finished the previous day to maintain our continuity along the trail. On some days, we walk directly to or from the Hotel! We believe that the time (and energy) saved packing and unpacking everyday makes these shuttles a great convenience for everyone.

We've arrived to Santiago de Compostela!

What a great start to our 2007 Camino de Santiago Tours - a wonderful, wordly group! They were fortunate to see the Botafumeiro (the giant incense burner) swung through the Cathedral in Santiago - a special treat to end our tour! Here is a picture before our celebratory dinner!

For a look at some more of our tour pictures, see: April Photos

Gracias and hasta pronto! Alex

April Camino de Santiago Tour has begun!

We have just finished our first full day of walking along the Camino de Santiago in 2007! It was a beautiful day coming down from the mountain top village of O'Cebreiro into Tricastela. For a larger sample, click on the picture on the left and keep an eye out for more soon to be published Fresco Photos!

We are excited to have a trully international group of clients with 3 from Canada, 3 from Denmark, 2 from Hong Kong, 1 from Norway, 1 from the UK, and 1 from Australia! We are looking forward to a great week!

More soon as we are off to dinner......

Saludos and buen camino!

Alex

Basque Country Tour, April 2007

Well, we just finished a great private Spain-taneous tour of the Basque Country with a family from Connecticut. It was a short visit of only 4 days, but we managed to fit in quite a lot of things!

Some of the highlights were:
- Bilbao and the Guggenheim Museum, Frank Gehry's titanium masterpiece.
- The coast of Vizcaya, which included Gernika and the tiny hermitage of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe.
- San Sebastian and the fabulous concha beach and an interesting guided tour the Chillida-Leku Musuem, the Basque Country's most famous sculpture's country farm house.
- A visit to the Rioja Wine region where Gehry's new gem, the Marques de Riscal Hotel, was opened last year.

Feel free to have a glimpse at some of our photos!

The Camino de Santiago, The More Things Change....

The Camino de Santiago is a pilgrimage to the sacred tomb of Saint James located in the Northwest corner of Spain. Over a thousand years separate those first faithful footsteps and the steady stream of 21st-century pilgrims that currently wander the streets of Santiago de Compostela. The key to survival is adapting to change and over the last millennium the Camino and pilgrims have transformed in many ways.

In 1993, UNESCO declared the Camino de Santiago a world heritage site. It starts from the boarder of France and works it way west to the city of Santiago de Compostela covering some 750 kilometers. Originally, pilgrims had to navigate their way using the sun, moon, stars, and even the Milky Way. Getting lost was part of the journey. Today, the trail is so clearly marked that losing your way is not really an option. With shinny traffic signs, brass and tile scallop shells, and the distinct yellow arrows you'll always be pointed to Santiago.

The oldest documentation of the Compostelana, the official certificate of having completed the pilgrimage, was delivered to André le Breton in the Capilla del Rey de Francia and dates back to 1321. Almost 700 years later, you can still request the Compostelana certificate, complete with your name in Latin. To be eligible you must have either walked or ridden a horse for the last 100 kilometers or bicycled the last 200 kilometers. The demand for this document has grown such that there is now a special Pilgrim's Office that will attend to your petition.

For the complete article, please click here.

What is the change in elevation on the Camino de Santiago Tour?

We will be walking from O'Cebreiro to Santiago de Compostela. For a detailed map of the distances between towns along the Camino and their respective altitudes, please click on the image to your left. This data has been kindly provided to us by Arturo Murias of : http://www.godesalco.com

How do I get to and from the Airport?

The national organization of airports in Spain (AENA) has a great website that explains how to get to and from the major city for your airport of choice. It also has information regarding the routes serviced, the corresponding airlines, terminal information, and much more. You may have to re-click the "English" tab at the top once you have chosen your airport.

How do I get from Santiago Compostela to Madrid?

Your best bet would probably be to catch a plane from Santiago to Madrid. You could go by train or bus, but they take a very long time. There are excellent internal flights (cheaper than the train and bus - flights can be as low as 50Euros!) that fly Santiago to Madrid. The companies that service this route are:
-> Vueling Airlines
-> Iberia Airlines
-> Spanair

How do I get to the Camino de Santiago Tour stating point?

Fresco Tours is based in Bilbao, Spain (on the northern coast), home to the magnificent Guggenheim Museum. If you choose to fly into Bilbao, we would be delighted to have your company to drive down to the official starting point of the tour, Burgos. Alternatively, you could fly into Madrid and take either the bus or train (2.5 hours) to Burgos. Please see the attached map for your convenience.

-> Bus information: Continental Autobus (Madrid - Burgos)
-> Train information: Renfe (Madrid - Burgos)

Does the group stop for breaks on the Camino de Santiago Tour?

The great thing about the Camino is that it is very well marked and we encourage people to walk at a pace that is comfortable for them - this is not a race! We want you to enjoy the route and we also like to stop with our clients for a coffee or cerveza along the way and take everything in!

What is a typical day like on the Camino de Santiago Tour?

After breakfast, we lace up and get the blood going with a walk for a couple hours, where we will do a check point to make sure that everything is OK. You then continue along the Camino for another 1-2 hours where you will come across a complete gourmet picnic prepared with the all the freshest local ingredients. On some days, we continue for 1-2 hours more after lunch to burn off dessertl.

In the afternoon, we go to our hotels, where we take a shower, siesta and just relax! We finish our day with a glass of tinto and a feast of the local gastronomy. We then retire for the night and get ready to do it again! On some afternoons, we have planned excursions, such as a visit to an ancient monastery or perhaps a massage at a spa!

What is the terrain like on the Camino de Santiago Tour?

In Galicia, the region where we walk, the terrain is green rolling hills - there are neither steep climbs nor treacherous descents. The trail itself is a combination of very well maintained compact dirt and stone footpaths and small country roads.

What sort of conditioning do I need to undertake the Camino?

We encourage you to walk before and be prepared for your own enjoyment. However, this is your vacation and not boot camp! During your walk, one of the guides will be on the trail with the group to keep an eye that all is well.
Also, we have planned check points along the way with our support van to make sure you have plenty of water, if you need a change of shoes, or just feel like taking a break. In most cases, you will see the van at a minimum every couple of hours.

Who do you tip? When? How much?

"These are the questions that have nagged at consumers since the first service transaction. The practice of tipping is meant as a form of thank-you for services rendered, or beforehand as a subtle bribe for special treatment.

Tipping need not be considered mandatory or automatic. Too often, tips are taken for granted or expected regardless of the quality of service. Tipping should be done at your discretion and as a reward for good or superlative service.

If there is one standard rule in tipping it is this: If someone renders special service to you along the way, show your appreciation with a tip."

- American Society of Travel Agents, Alexandria, Va.

Here are a couple websites with some general tipping guidelines:
Tipping Tradition – Visit Europe.com
Tips on Tipping – Travel Sense.com

How many kilometers are walked each day on the Camino de Santiago Tour?

The amount of KM's scheduled for each day varies from 25KM's to 15KM's. We have designed this tour to allow the possibility to walk the last 100KMs to Santiago, which is a requirement by the Church if you are going to ask for the Compostelana Certificate. However, the walks are accompanied by a support vehicle and options for less (or more!) KM's are possible on a daily basis. We can tailor the Camino to suit your needs!

Bienvenido / Welcome!

A new year and keeping with our changing times, I am happy to announce Fresco Tour's very own Blog! We are very excited with our new outlet to share ideas and thoughts of Spain and to keep you up to date with what we are doing!

This is a new experience for us, so please come, share, and grow with us! MUCHAS GRACIAS!

We have already launched our 2007 tour season with our March Andalucian Affair Tour in sunny Southern Spain. Have a peak at our tour photos and let us know what you think: March 2007 Andalucian Affair Pictures
It was great to be in shorts and a t-shirt at the beginning of March!

Easter week is fast approaching and we are preparing for a private Spain-taneous Tour of the Basque Country.

Hope all is well and hasta pronto!

Alex