For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation)
Each of our four CFs began in September. There were crushing numbers of pilgrims hiking from Roncesvalles. We spoke with one pilgrim that started the day in Roncesvalles and he intended to stay in Zubiri, but not a single bed was available. He decided to check "the next town" and no beds were...
So sad. This was a fun and quirky place to stop, eat a few trail snacks, rest and take a few pics. How destructive and mean spirited to rob pilgrims of a fun rest stop! Bob
My wife developed a "mild" stress fracture during our first Camino Frances in 2015 in her knee and heal. After returning to the US, her doctor prescribed a knee brace and she bought a different set of hiking shoes (Saloman trail hiking shoes). No issues during our second camino in 2017 or third...
My wife and I have walked four Camino Frances and I hiked Camino Portuguese from Porto last fall. For CF, we being two pilgrim passports and collect three or four stamps each day. We like the variety, creativity and colors with the passport serving as a souvineer. When we get closer to...
In our past four CFs, my wife and I carry on our backpacks, but check in a single nylon bag for our trekking poles and swiss army knife. The knife is invaluable to cut bread, cheese and chorizo for lunch and breaks, and at our destination, after we check in at the albergue, we find a relaxing...
My wife and I stopped by your art studio during our 2021 camino. We bought the blue lithograph of the pilgrim with backpack. You wrapped it carefully and we were able to bring it with us back to our home in Indianapolis. We had it framed and hung it in our lakeside timber frame cabin just...
For our first and second Camino Frances, we purchased inflatable / blow up pillows from Sea to Summit, which we kept in a pillow case. Easy to use and very light. For our 3rd and 4th CF, we didn't bring pillows, sleep sacks or sleeping bags, since we reserved private rooms the entire camino...
During our first camino frances (2015), my wife developed leg pain and learned about backpack transport from another pilgrim / angel in Carrion de los Condes. We started sending her backpack ahead each day using Jakotrans. Two years later, we used Jakotrans again every day from Roncesvalles to...
I learned about merino wool, Icebreaker brand more than 10 years ago. My wife and I have hiked CF four times, from St Jean to Santiago. We are devoted to merino wool - Icebreaker shirts, fleece jackets, socks. Walking together we wash our hiking clothes every three days. The clothing is...
A few camino pet peeves: Pilgrims that use trekking poles without rubber tips, making loud click, click, click noise particularly on asphalt or solid surfaces. One time we were just behind a pilgrim with metal tips that click clacked all the way up and down the green railroad overpass entering...
We've hiked Camino Frances four times. My wife used Jacotrans mid-way through our first camino. Paying stage by stage it was at least 5 euros back in 2015. We used Jacotrans for the other three caminos. Last two we sent our hiking plan to Jaco trans and paid in advance a lump sum for the...
I read in Sheryl Strayed's book "Wild" that for long distance hiking, you should need to pee several times a day. This is a sign that you are well hydrated. I recall during our first few caminos, I didn't pee a single time during a 5 or 6 hour hike! So obviously I was dehydrated. Since then...
The last time we stayed there was mid-September, 2017. We hiked the camino with my brother and his wife.
Since that camino my wife and I have always booked ahead and stayed in private rooms with private baths.
Bob
This site is run by Ivar at in Santiago de Compostela.
This site participates in the Amazon Affiliate program, designed to provide a means for Ivar to earn fees by linking to Amazon