Advices not related with transport, Equipment and logistics

[La Brique Jaune]

Hi To All,

Some advices i would like to know before my first Camino.

1-Take picture of peoples you meet.
2- Exchange email address to stay connected with people that may change your life and you don't know this right now.
3- Take your time and watch nature.
4- If you want a second part of carrot cake...take an another one.
5- Try to talk more with people.
6- The section Sarria-Santiago can be toughest one. Especially in July-August
7- If you want to abandon talk to somebody like the hospitalerios


8- And what's yours ?

 

[alexwalker]

3 and 5 are important.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

And what's yours ?

When the walking gets slow remind yourself "It's her Camino."

 

[Tincatinker]

While she waits impatiently at the top of a steep bit remind yourself "its my Camino too".

 

[truthseeker]

When I first watched the forum (before I joined) I saw a notification from a person who had booklets with the words to the Spanish Mass and also some prayers, (possibly with translation) which were helpful to English speaking pilgrims. If you are that person or know where to get such a booklet please answer me!

 

[HedaP]

Great advice.
Mine is...Let go of expectations and goals and just allow yourself to enjoy everything there is about this walk whether you to get to Santiago or not.
PS And don’t pack anything that you are not prepared to throw away!

 

[Martin Ennis]

When I first watched the forum (before I joined) I saw a notification from a person who had booklets with the words to the Spanish Mass and also some prayers, (possibly with translation) which were helpful to English speaking pilgrims. If you are that person or know where to get such a booklet please answer me!

The Catholic Truth Society, CTS publish an English Spanish mass book for about £2.50 plus postage. Check out their bookshop online.
Buen Camino!

 

[Ahhhs]

It can't be said often enough: Pack light!
Not only will your body feel better and recover faster from carrying less weight,
but the constant packing and unpacking and trying not to forget anything is so much easier with fewer items.

 

[Paul Corrin]

Superlight is the way. ‍

 

[txpeah]

Great advice.
Mine is...Let go of expectations and goals and just allow yourself to enjoy everything there is about this walk whether you to get to Santiago or not.
PS And don’t pack anything that you are not prepared to throw away!

Great advice! Take the journey as it comes.

 

[mspath]

These three quotes from Buddha seem most appropriate for life on or off the camino.

"No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path."

“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.”

“Set your heart on doing good. Do it over and over again, and you will be filled with joy.”

 

[Phil W]

When she is impatiently waiting for me to finish packing (the CPAP and accouterments), remember its not me that she is impatient with, it is packing the CPAP.

Figure our a way to gather up my stuff faster!

 

[HedaP]

When she is impatiently waiting for me to finish packing (the CPAP and accouterments), remember its not me that she is impatient with, it is packing the CPAP.

Figure our a way to gather up my stuff faster!

Thank you for the out loud laugh!

 

[HeidiL]

My favourite statement about everything Camino-related:

IT'S NOT A COMPETETION!

Works well when people boast about how early they get up, how far they walk, how light they pack.

It's not a competition. It's not a zero-sum game.

 

[truthseeker]

The Catholic Truth Society, CTS publish an English Spanish mass book for about £2.50 plus postage. Check out their bookshop online.
Buen Camino!

Thank you!

 

[La Brique Jaune]

IT'S NOT A COMPETETION!

I walked very slow, everybody passed me. Despite this fact I had the chance to met some great people multiple times. Some people walked 40 km a day me was about 20 km. Really not a competition

 

[JulieandPeter]

Pack a picnic and share your food.
Kindness - Pass it on.
Be nice to the grumpy people - one has no idea what has brought them to the Camino.

 

[Mobilemejen]

When I first watched the forum (before I joined) I saw a notification from a person who had booklets with the words to the Spanish Mass and also some prayers, (possibly with translation) which were helpful to English speaking pilgrims. If you are that person or know where to get such a booklet please answer me!

For the Mass in English and Spanish (printable version), visit www.misas.org/sta.tic/descarga/missa_es_en_.pdf. For daily scripture readings of the Mass in English, visit www.ewtn.com.

 

[stevov]

It's not a race. enjoy the Camino…eat, drink, meet other pilgrims, engage with the locals, swim in the sea, and take time to experience some of the culture and history that quietly, and often times exuberantly, surrounds and sustains the Camino.

 

[John H.]

Peanut butter. Took me 2 weeks to find "crema de cacahuete". Almost cried when I did. I know it is culturally weak of me but don't care. Mmmmm!

 

[Charlotte Helbig]

Excellent advice by OP. I would only add the following:
1) Yes take pictures of the people you meet, but also write their names down. You will meet so many wonderful people that when you get home you may not remember. The people I met was the best part of the Camino for me.
2) Take your time. I saw many people walking too fast and always wondered why they were in such a hurry. There is too much to see.
3) Sometimes the best views are behind you, so stop and turn around. I saw some great sunrises.

 

[Deleted member 39006]

Perhaps something to remember when you meet the odd peregrino/a who is annoying you (snoring/hogging the power socket/talking loudly late at night/rustling plastic bags before dawn...) - 'mercy triumphs over judgement' i.e be kind, don't judge.

And if you find someone who is grumpy, give them one of your smiles - they must need one: I packed plenty and although your pack doesn't get lighter when you give them away, you might feel that your step lightens just a little.

 

[La Brique Jaune]

Sometimes the best views are behind you, so stop and turn around. I saw some great sunrises.

And to saw how much you did even if it was tough

 

[lt56ny]

Listen to your body, Your walk is your own, not the person or group that you may be walking with and most importantly; the camino will only give you what you need, not what you want.

 

[Kanga]

The advice I needed (and got) on my first camino? When it all gets too much, take a day off and sit in the plaza. The next day, get up and Just Keep Walking. You can do it.

 

[nycwalking]

Say hello and listen.

Lots of shy folk and persons who need to talk on camino.

And, talk too. We listening types must unload sometime.

 

[hfbloomer]

Quote:

The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives.

Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

 

[La Brique Jaune]

Quote:

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.

Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

 

[mspath]

"Few people know how to take a walk. The qualifications are endurance, plain clothes, old shoes, an eye for nature, good humor, vast curiosity, good speech, good silence
and nothing too much...."
----Ralph Waldo Emerson,
----Country Life, 1858.

 

[Deleted member 29041]

My first walks were very .. let's call them goal oriented. I mostly concentrated on the joy of walking, spending very little time on the places I blew through, falling in with other fast walkers. Alas, it may have been what I needed at the time, but I've had to revisit many of the places and actually see them.

I've since learned to take the time to enjoy where I'm going, taking time to enjoy a menu del dia, watch the sights, watch the locals and, most important for me, stop to see the places that are all too easy to rush through. If nothing else, then just to get a few more sellos. You may meet some interesting people that way.

Now I plan on making stops, plan on attending markets, explore the side streets, and plan on staying an extra day, or two, when I get to interesting places. Especially places like Atapuerca and the larger cities, with their rich culture - old as well as new.

It's not a race.

 

[Jakke]

My first walks were very .. let's call them goal oriented. I mostly concentrated on the joy of walking, spending very little time on the places I blew through, falling in with other fast walkers. Alas, it may have been what I needed at the time, but I've had to revisit many of the places and actually see them.

I've since learned to take the time to enjoy where I'm going, taking time to enjoy a menu del dia, watch the sights, watch the locals and, most important for me, stop to see the places that are all too easy to rush through. If nothing else, then just to get a few more sellos. You may meet some interesting people that way.

Now I plan on making stops, plan on attending markets, explore the side streets, and plan on staying an extra day, or two, when I get to interesting places. Especially places like Atapuerca and the larger cities, with their rich culture - old as well as new.

It's not a race.

Right! I very much agree. The only note on the side: I got fed up with the menu del dia, so I soon learned to look for other food.

 

[Jakke]

Peanut butter. Took me 2 weeks to find "crema de cacahuete". Almost cried when I did. I know it is culturally weak of me but don't care. Mmmmm!

Yes! I missed the dark rye bread I eat here in Finland. I have to admit, though, that peanut butter tastes better with lighter bread.

 

[bikerkvw]

Pack a picnic and share your food.
Kindness - Pass it on.
Be nice to the grumpy people - one has no idea what has brought them to the Camino.

this is so true.

 

[bikerkvw]

The advice I needed (and got) on my first camino? When it all gets too much, take a day off and sit in the plaza. The next day, get up and Just Keep Walking. You can do it.

I love this advice.

 

[Jakke]

While she waits impatiently at the top of a steep bit remind yourself "its my Camino too".

Quite!

 

[Former member 49149]

When I first watched the forum (before I joined) I saw a notification from a person who had booklets with the words to the Spanish Mass and also some prayers, (possibly with translation) which were helpful to English speaking pilgrims. If you are that person or know where to get such a booklet please answer me!

Another option, anywhere with wifi, any time in the whole wide world:

 

[bchikergirl]

Share your blister pack freely, the kindness will come back in so many ways.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

It can't be said often enough: Pack light!
Not only will your body feel better and recover faster from carrying less weight,
but the constant packing and unpacking and trying not to forget anything is so much easier with fewer items.

Hi , pack light is in my opinion relative .
My pack is around 9kg. and for me that’s light.

When I was young we walked always in the mountains and my pack was around 15kg. Because we had to carry our own food supply of about four days .

Wish you well , Peter .

 

[Anamiri]

You'll be amazed at how contented you can be, with so little.