Social Bridge Event in Mijas 2018
Latest update on April 8, 2017
Camino de Santiago in style ! - Camino Tour Program
Eurail map of Europe

So far over 20 bridge club members have expressed their interest in a social bridge event in Mijas (6 on the map below) on Spain's Costa del Sol in 2018. We will definitely go ahead with it !

Personal circumstances may change during the 17 months ahead, so it is unlikely that all who expressed interest will be able to actually come to Mijas. However based on the numbers I anticipate that we will have at least 4 full tables for bridge, perhaps even 5 tables.

September is always a good month to visit and travel through Europe.

We will therefore organize our Mijas event in the first week of October 2018.

The accommodation and bridge venue will be the 4-star hotel TRH Mijas.

Hotel Mijas has agreements with English tour operators for special weekend deals, usually filling up the hotel to full capacity over any weekend.
We will therefore stay there from Monday to Friday, when it is relatively quiet and very agreeable.

The TRH Mijas Hotel price drops 30% on October 1, when the Tourist Low Season starts.
This year the price for a double room with single occupancy drops from €105 per night in September to €72 per night from October 1 onwards.

The weather during that time of the year is also usually still warm to mild. From mid September some rain may occur, but just as likely will it remain sunny.

Therefore our bridge event dates will be from Monday October 1 to Friday October 6.
(At least 3 bridge sessions will be conducted.   A trip to Granada visiting the Alhambra may also be on the program.)

Players who have expressed their interest so far include :

Ali Nur, Ann R., Dagmar, Glen B, Helen de S.,

Judith, Karen, Leonee, Liz T., Michael,

Nadi, Nea, Philippa & Graeme H., Robert, Tom,

Anne-Marie, Barbara P., Clare H., Elisabeth C., Helmy, Julian,

Those shown in red also confirmed for the Camino de Santiago walk (see below).

Recent Beginners :

Steve and Cathy R. and Joan M.

Not on the list but interested ?   →   email Michael

Sixteen of us will precede our bridge week in Mijas with a wonderful one week long walk along the most picturesque stretches of the Camino de Santiago between Astorga and Santiago de Compostela in September 2018.

1. Pick-up before and drop-off after the week long walk is the Santiago Airport.
2. Seven nights of 4-star accommodation, including breakfast and lunch each day.
3. Joint dinner on the first and last evening of the tour.
4. No luggage to carry at all, it will be waiting for you in the 4-star hotel each day.
5. Enjoy 3-course lunches of local dishes with wine in Pilgrims pubs along the way.
6. The lunch stop is 6-10 km from the point you start your walk each day.
   After lunch you can decide to walk on for 10 or 20 km, or have another glass of wine and let Paul drive you to the hotel.  (Of course my choice each day back in 2012.)

Responses to the September 22-28 Camino walk (2018) have been spectacular.
Maximum possible number of participants for this walk is 16.
This tour is now fully booked by Social Bridge Club members !!

WHERE TO GO FOR THE CAMINO TOUR START
'Walks in Spain' can pick you up from the Airport at Santiago de Compostela on Saturday September 22, 2018. They will then drive you to Astorga (300 km) where we overnight in a hotel to start our walk the next morning.

Alternatively you may prefer to travel directly to Astorga yourself when this appears to be more convenient (like for Michael), depending on where you come from.
Here is the Eurail map of Europe showing railway connetions to Astorga : Eurail map of Europe

CAMINO TOUR PROGRAM
Based on my walk in 2012 our approximate program will be as shown below.

Saturday Sep.22, 2018 Optional pick up from Santiago Airport and drive to Astorga. Or travel to Astorga independently. Joint dinner and overnight stay in Casa de Tepa, Astorga Michael's Blog

Day 1 : Sunday Sep.23 Walk 11 km over the highest point of the Camino to our lunch spot at Al Acebo   Optional walk in the afternoon. Overnight stay in Molinescea. Michael's Blog

Day 2 : Monday Sep.24 Walk 6 km up hill from La Faba to our lunch spot at Hospital de Condesa   Optional walk in the afternoon. Overnight stay in Sarria. Michael's Blog

Day 3 : Tuesday Sep.24 Walk 14 km or 9 km or 6 km to our lunch spot at Ferreiro Optional walk in the afternoon. Overnight stay in Portomarin. Michael's Blog

Day 4 : Wednesday Sep.25 Walk 8 km from Palas de Rei to Lahoreiro for lunch. Optional walk in the afternoon. Overnight stay in Sedor. Michael's Blog

Day 5 : Thursday Sep.26 Walk 10 km from Arzua to Salceda for lunch. Optional walk in the afternoon. Overnight stay in Labacolla. Michael's Blog

Day 6 : Friday Sep.27 Walk 6 km into Santiago de Compostela. This is the end point of our tour with a free afternoon in the city. Final joint dinner and overnight stay in Hotel Monumento de San Francisco. Michael's Blog

Saturday Sep.28 Breakfast in the hotel and transfer to the Santiago Airport or Railway station. See you after the weekend in Mijas on Monday October 1.

Latest update on April 8, 2017