Charlemagne was King of the Franks and the first Holy Roman Emperor. Born in 742 AD, he was a medieval king renowned for his accomplishments and charisma. For forty-seven years, King Charlemagne ruled most of western and central Europe.Although a warrior with numerous geographical conquests … [Read more...]
How to get to Fromista
I was out hill walking at the weekend and got talking with someone who has been walking the Camino Frances one week at a time. She was telling me that they are due to start again in September sometime, they had their flights booked - but they were having problems getting from Santander to … [Read more...]
Santiago Cathedral Botafumeiro
The video below shows the Botafumeiro in action during one of the pilgrims masses.The Santiago de Compostela Botafumeiro is the largest censer in the world, weighing 80 kg and measuring 1.60 m in height.It is normally on exhibition in the library of the cathedral, but during certain important … [Read more...]
Hooked on the Camino
I wonder if there if something that for many of us we do not get from our daily life. I have met and talked to many people who have walked the Camino Frances more than once. Walking the Camino Frances is a fairly big commitment in the way of time and money.I got thinking on this yesterday while … [Read more...]
Cycling the Camino de Santiago
This is one of the best Camino videos I have seen, although I have not cycled the Camino de Santiago I would love to and as life has become busier it seems like this mode of travel will be used on my next Camino. The problem I have is that I am not adept at changing tires or fixing punctures – my … [Read more...]
Dara Haskins
Dara Haskins was my friend. He died, on the 18th Aug 2005 aged just 30, while I was walking the Camino in 2005. It was due to him that I found out about the Camino. He used to go on about this bloody walk in northern Spain. To me it did not sound like fun, but hell. The idea of walking every day for … [Read more...]
Foot Care on the Camino
I received a mail from a friend last night who is currently walking the Camino Frances. She was asking for advice about her feet and telling me about the problems. that inspired this post.The first time I walked the Camino I had no idea about foot care, I had never walked for more than a few … [Read more...]
Sarria to Santiago de Compostela – Last Section of the Camino Frances
This video was produced by the Spanish Tourist Board that looks after the area around Galicia where all the Caminos to Santiago finish at Santiago de Compostela. You can, however, keep walking to what was known as the "end of the world" at Cape Finisterre. Most pilgrims would at least get the bus … [Read more...]
Camino Aragones
The Camino Aragon camino starts in Somport and joins the main French route at Puente la Reina. I walked it in 2004 after I had walked the main French route, it was quiet and deserted, there was not many hostels but it was great; also it had a completely different feels to it compared to the … [Read more...]
The Main Hostel in Roncesvalles
Roncesvalles was my first taste of a "real" albergue. 120 pilgrims in one large room - oh my God, I thought, is this what it is going to be like for the next four weeks? Yes and no. The offical hostels at Roncesvalles is the largest one room hostel along the whole Camino - as far as I am … [Read more...]
Camino de Santiago – I have no idea what you hold for me.
Friday 23rd of July 2004 I caught a plane to Paris from Dublin. It was summer, I was happy as I had just finished my first year of university. I was a mature student and loved the opportunity I had to study full time, something I had avoided when I was younger. I was setting out to walk along a … [Read more...]
El Acebo on the Camino Frances
Today one year ago I was in El Acebo on the Camino Frances. I had had enough of sharing in a pilgrims hostel and had decided on a room to my self, (€20).I had only walked 17km from Rabanal, I was tired and very sore. I had been taken from an albergue a few days before in an ambulance to hospital … [Read more...]
