Which guide book?

[Jane Erasmus]

I have John Brierley's guide book with maps and also the Pilgrim Guide to Camino Frances put out by the Confraternity of Saint James - United Kingdom. Which one do I take? I don't plan to walk the stages as suggested by Mr Brierley - if that makes any impact to the advice to be given me? Part of me also wonders if I should just leave both books at home....but don't think I am 'brave' enough to do that
Thanking you all in advance

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

You probably don't need one if you have a smartphone and roaming/wifi

Burn Camino!

 

[cinimod]

ECamino is the Brierly guide as an app, or just found out about caminopedia but only on iPhone

 

[scruffy1]

If your primary interest and motivation is simply to safely arrive in Santiago then the Brierley book or the app will be more than enough. If however you wish to go walkabout, detour off route after monasteries and churches, vineyards, interesting sights, other towns they won't help much. You will be passing by a thousand years and more of history, architecture, art, and beauty, much of it not appearing in most guidebooks, you will enter churches and cathedrals which will overwhelm you with their size, complexity, and beauty. It is possible to take it in Disneyworld style, all pretty lights and nice music or you can take along a serious guide which will see you through properly. "Santiago, the Complete Cultural Handbook" composed by David M. Gitlitz and Linda Kay Davidson, a husband and wife team who have walked and guided others along the Camino many times. The book is very large for a handbook but I have slugged it along three times, it is available from Amazon in Kindle format and I would most certainly and wholeheartedly recommend the work for reading before, along, and after the Camino. Why settle for a slice of bread when the whole loaf is right there.

 

[mspath]

.... Why settle for a slice of bread when the whole loaf is right there.

And what a loaf!! Their book is GREAT resource.

MM

 

[Dutch]

Even if you dont stick to the (brierley) stages, the brierley guide is still handy for the maps. It may be divided into stages, but the whole route is still in it

 

[aname4me]

I hope you don't mind me jumping in your thread with this...

Can anyone recommend a Spanish language guide book (the best one?) for the Camino?

 

[Jane Erasmus]

If your primary interest and motivation is simply to safely arrive in Santiago then the Brierley book or the app will be more than enough. If however you wish to go walkabout, detour off route after monasteries and churches, vineyards, interesting sights, other towns they won't help much. You will be passing by a thousand years and more of history, architecture, art, and beauty, much of it not appearing in most guidebooks, you will enter churches and cathedrals which will overwhelm you with their size, complexity, and beauty. It is possible to take it in Disneyworld style, all pretty lights and nice music or you can take along a serious guide which will see you through properly. "Santiago, the Complete Cultural Handbook" composed by David M. Gitlitz and Linda Kay Davidson, a husband and wife team who have walked and guided others along the Camino many times. The book is very large for a handbook but I have slugged it along three times, it is available from Amazon in Kindle format and I would most certainly and wholeheartedly recommend the work for reading before, along, and after the Camino. Why settle for a slice of bread when the whole loaf is right there.

Thank you for the suggestion Scruffy1,
I will try and find the book in Cape Town, SA. If I can't do you think I might get in at the airport book shop in Paris when I fly in?? I am after the whole loaf

 

[mspath]

Thank you for the suggestion Scruffy1,
I will try and find the book in Cape Town, SA. If I can't do you think I might get in at the airport book shop in Paris when I fly in?? I am after the whole loaf

Jane,

I doubt that you will find Santiago, the Complete Cultural Handbook in the airport shop but you can buy either the digital or paper-back version on-line from Amazon.

MM

 

[scruffy1]

Margaret got off the line much quicker than I! Order it from Amazon UK for faster delivery and lower shipping costs or here:

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?n=200000169&tn=The pilgrimage road to santiago complete

Abe Books are slightly cheaper definitely quicker and the first entry, Book Depository are totally reliable - I order all my books for research and history from them.

 

[LesBrass]

... you can buy either the digital or paper-back version on-line from Amazon.

MM

Just bought the kindle version and downloaded to my samsung. I was thinking that perhaps the camino apps we're useful but limited... this fills the gap nicely!

thank you!

 

[Jane Erasmus]

Jane,

I doubt that you will find Santiago, the Complete Cultural Handbook in the airport shop but you can buy either the digital or paper-back version on-line from Amazon.

MM

Thank you Margaret and Scruffy1, my concern is the postal system in South Africa leave much to be desired More often than not things are nicked, or just don't arrive or take ages to actually arrive. I will be leaving Cape Town on 31 August. Just as an example - I ordered a shell and badge which Ivor put into the post to me on 12 July and have still not received it..... What I will try is going to my local book shop and seeing if they can make a plan for me.
Thanks for the information all the same

 

[Kanga]

Thank you Margaret and Scruffy1, my concern is the postal system in South Africa leave much to be desired More often than not things are nicked, or just don't arrive or take ages to actually arrive. I will be leaving Cape Town on 31 August. Just as an example - I ordered a shell and badge which Ivor put into the post to me on 12 July and have still not received it..... What I will try is going to my local book shop and seeing if they can make a plan for me.
Thanks for the information all the same

Jane, do you have a smartphone? If you have just download one of the electronic guides, like the WisePilgrim app. Get someone to help if you are not tech savvy. That way you don't have to worry about the post. And, as was said above, you can download the Kindle version of The Pilgrimage Road to Santiago, which we all agree is a marvellous resource.

 

[Jane Erasmus]

Jane, do you have a smartphone? If you have just download one of the electronic guides, like the WisePilgrim app. Get someone to help if you are not tech savvy. That way you don't have to worry about the post. And, as was said above, you can download the Kindle version of The Pilgrimage Road to Santiago, which we all agree is a marvellous resource.

Hi Kanga,
No smartphone, ipod/pad/thingy...kindle etc... will try to get the book, otherwise take the guides I have and just go for it. Maybe people from the towns, villages, etc will guide me as to what is to be seen or experienced in each place? But, not going to write off the bookshop idea as yet...will pop in on Saturday, maybe they can make a plan for me. Thanks again