Cross at San Justo

Inner and Outer Experiences of the Camino de Santiago

February 2, 2020 / Camino Thoughts / 5 minutes of reading

Since completing the Camino de Santiago I have read 2 books by individuals who have described their inner and outer experiences, their trials, their triumphs and their fellow pilgrims along the way. Although fairly interesting and at times amusing they write about their unique journey and whilst there are certain shared experiences, they are still their experiences and not mine.

Line of metal pilgrims

Camino Flashback from Ireland

December 14, 2019 / Camino Thoughts / 10 minutes of reading

I decided to go ahead and walk the Camino de Santiago for many reasons, not for a particular one. Like in life you do things not for one single reason, all the facts are interconnected, you can’t divide them and put them under the microscope for better understanding. They are all part of one and unique and inexplicable system of energies that we sometimes think we have under control, but in reality, they control us. 

Monastery

15 Things to do in Santiago de Compostela

November 29, 2019 / Northern Spain / 7 minutes of reading

Known for being the burial site of the apostle St. James and the ending point of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, Santiago de Compostela is a dream destination for both cultural aficionados and travellers in search of spiritual adventures.

Border crossing

Walking for Peace

November 27, 2019 / Books / 6 minutes of reading

I met Mony, one of the authors of Walking for Peace, at a conference about the Camino de Santiago in October 2015.  I found Mony an engaging person to chat with and discovered during one of our talks that she had written this book. Because of that, I bought and read the book.

T-shirt

13 Gifts Ideas for Camino de Santiago Pilgrims

February 2, 2020 / Articles / 6 minutes of reading

Beautiful and unique gifts for pilgrims-to-be and memorabilia for pilgrims already finished with the Camino.

Buying presents can be hard especially for pilgrims. Many peregrinos while walking realise that they need very little in life. They live off a backpack for several weeks and stick to a routine of the Camino — wake up, eat, walk, sleep.

Thus material things are no longer as important as before.

Leslie & Anna Camino

How Walking the Camino de Santiago Changed My Life

April 26, 2020 / Camino, Camino Thoughts / 7 minutes of reading

I first walked the Camino de Santiago in 2004 on the Camino Frances route.  I found it quite difficult back then to find information before I went so I had little idea what lay ahead.  In hindsight that was maybe good for me, if I had seen some of the images of where people sleep at night and the stories about sharing I would likely have chosen something else that summer.

Camino family

What is a Camino Family?

October 10, 2019 / Camino Thoughts / 10 minutes of reading

I reflected in a previous story, that the Camino is a place where magic happens, something I have not experienced anywhere else, there is strange ‘need’ to return that I cannot explain, a longing for something … the places, the experiences, and the people. You have no doubt read about pilgrims who return again and again, to walk their previous route or other routes on the Camino – why do we return, what is it that we seek?

Pyrenees

Walking the Camino Frances in Our Retirement

January 3, 2020 / Articles / 15 minutes of reading

If you can afford and plan to use hotel accommodation, restaurant meals, and luggage carried then this route report is not for you. In our five Caminos between 2006 and 2015, we stayed in albergues, cooked our own or shared meals and carried our own backpacks. Our last Camino we were 72 and 77 years old and it took us 44 days of walking compared with between 30 and 33 days earlier.

Scotland

Making Time for the Camino de Santiago

October 9, 2019 / Articles, Camino Thoughts / 5 minutes of reading

I have been thinking, dreaming, and planning for this for nearly 20 years. I first read about the pilgrimage to Santiago Compostela in a 14th century biography, The Book of Margery Kempe. Margery, a quirky English mystic, took several pilgrimages over the years, including Rome, and Jerusalem. The medieval and ancient concept of pilgrimage fascinated me.

Leslie and Anna

Camino: Should You Travel Solo or in a Group?

October 8, 2019 / Articles / 6 minutes of reading

When planning a pilgrimage, we are often faced with a choice of going for it alone or as a part of a group.

The forums are swirling with questions such as “I want to do the Camino, but I have nobody to go with, should I go alone?”, “I couldn’t agree on dates with my friends, but I still want to go, is it OK?”,  “Is it better to travel via an agency if I go alone?”, etc. Bottom line, everyone wants to know what is the better option.

I walked the Camino Frances from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Finisterre and, truth be told, I never doubted for a minute I wanted to do the whole journey alone. Was it better or worse than a group, I can’t really tell, but I can definitely offer a few pointers.

First aid kit

What About Medical Help & Health Care?

February 2, 2020 / FAQs / 7 minutes of reading

For all those that reside within the twenty-eight countries of the EU taking the E111 card is a must, the card is also known as the European Health Card.  The card is issued from your own country of residence and entitles the holder to free emergency treatment.  If you are from outside of the EU I strongly suggest you have some travel insurance, often your healthcare provider can provide this at a lower cost than elsewhere.

Countryside

Planning Rest Days on the Camino de Santiago

October 9, 2019 / FAQs / 4 minutes of reading

For most people walking the Camino de Santiago means a month walking across northern Spain covering about 800 km, (500 miles). So it is not surprising that most of us plan on a few rest days along the Camino.

Below are some of the towns and villages that I suggest are good places to stop for a day and be a tourist instead of a pilgrim.

Fiesta

Blister Prevention for the Camino de Santiago

February 2, 2020 / Articles / 11 minutes of reading

What’s the most common injury experienced on the Camino de Santiago? Without a doubt, foot blisters!

They’re painful.
They’re frustrating.
They take precious time, effort and skill to look after.
They make you walk differently and that can stir up other aches and pains.
They can get infected, and wind you up in the hospital!

Blisters have the potential to spoil your Camino experience!

Waterproof jackets

How to Choose Waterproofs for the Camino de Santiago

October 9, 2019 / Outdoor Gear / 5 minutes of reading

This is the third post in my series about walking gear for the Camino, the first is how to choose the best hiking boots or lightweight hiking shoes, the second is how to choose a backpack. This is a general article on waterproofs – the age-old discussion about a waterproof jacket or poncho continues on the forum.

Canon camera

Best Camera for Hiking and the Camino de Santiago?

October 7, 2019 / Outdoor Gear / 7 minutes of reading

The pilgrimage to Santiago is an adventure rich in breathtaking views and unforgettable moments. Still, some travellers prefer to completely unplug from the noise of civilization and leave all the tech gadgets behind. Others, like me, can’t resist documenting whenever possible, and because of that finding the best camera is important.

Whether or not you decide to disconnect completely and leave the camera behind is a matter of personal preference. I didn’t find it technology that distracting. In fact, I am glad I captured the special moments. You see, memories tend to fade and the Camino is definitely not short on capture-worthy moments.

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