We finished our short walk on the Le Puy Camino, Chemin de Saint Jacques, last Sunday evening – I was glad to get into Conques as my feet had been killing me the whole way. This is not a route for walking shoes, boots should have been the choice, I know now.Already the walk seems far away. I … [Read more...]
A New Camino Route in Italy
In 2010 a new Camino to Santiago has been restored and marked with 1000 stickers in Italy by the small association "Amici del cammino di Santiago da Venezia". The idea was to give the same spirit as on the camino de Santiago .The new pilgrimage route is a connection into old pilgrimage routes in … [Read more...]
Walking into Santiago de Compostela
I walked into Santiago de Compostela, the same way that thousands of pilgrims have done before me. The biggest surprise was being there so quickly on the day I arrived. We walked through Monte del Gozo, only stopping for lunch, and continued down into the city. We had made plans to meet with another … [Read more...]
Preparing for the Camino Frances
After quite a few years it looks like I am going to have the time this year to go back and walk a reasonable part of the Camino Frances. The last time I walked was in 2005, I had also walked the route in 2004.For the last few years work has been so busy that I dare not leave for the amount of … [Read more...]
Rabanal del Camino, Spain
Field Report from Rabanal del Camino, SpainWednesday, June 9, 2010The four of us (Bob, Rowena, Chard and me) have now completed more than half our tour of duty here in Rabanal. We are scheduled for departure one week from today and are all a bit nostalgic about it. We agree that the experience … [Read more...]
How Much Does A Pilgrims Passport Cost
A pilgrim's passport is the identification that is used along the various Caminos to prove that you are a pilgrim and that you have walked and stayed in the places along the way. It is just a simple card with enough space to collect stamps from various hostels and albergues. There are only a few … [Read more...]
The Charlemagne Chess Set
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...]
