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I'd definitely recommend booking a few days ahead. The GR65 will be busy at this time of year, at least from Le Puys to Conques. I'm travelling to Le Puy next Wednesday and have booked ahead. If you're on Facebook, I strongly recommend the group 'GR65 Via Podiensis : walking the Le Puy route in...
What a lovely idea to do it by ferry. Travelling as a foot passenger, you'll have a much lower carbon footprint than by plane as well. Sure, the ferry is more expensive but no need for airport transfers, and you get to see the sea. I'd love to hear how you get on. You've inspired me!
If you know anything about the history of pilgrimage, you'll know that pilgrims always, always bought souvenirs along the way - and they certainly weren't all pious ones...
Yes, Nikis is your best bet.
When I was walking the Portugués, I was once served a beer in an Estrella Galicia glass with a 'La Casa de Papel'/ 'Money Heist' design. Never have I wanted to nick a beer glass more. Luckily my lightweight rucksack was my conscience...
Nice article! Here are a couple of pictures from my day walking it last June. I bivvied outside St Ives and started there - where there is an easy-to-find holy well called Venton Ia, dedicated to St Ia and just by the beach.
On the same tack, if you like detective fiction I'd recommend Fred Vargas' quirky, archaeology-and-myth-based Inspector Adamsberg series. They are set all round France and Adamsberg himself is based in Paris, but comes from the Pyrenees. 'Seeking Whom he May Devour' is set there. They're terrific.
If you are interested in Spanish literature, the Casa-Museo Valle Inclán in Vilanova da Arousa (on the Variante Espiritual) is a lovely little place to visit with some fascinating artefacts. It's open till 9pm in the summer, so it's a nice activity once you've got in and had a shower. Or in the...
The main reason for using walking poles is so you can revisit that great cafe where you stopped for a cafe con leche, and inevitably left them behind... 🤦♀️
Ooh that's good to hear about the Invierno. I'd like to do it soon and am really glad to hear how steeped in camino history it is. You've spurred me on!
The cheap trick, taught to me by a camino companion who was a former engineer, is to get a large water bottle, cut the top off, and dry it thoroughly. Put your Compostela inside and stuff the inner with clothing. One free Compostela transportation device!
I wear Icebreaker and they are fantastic. They're fine to wear 7-10 days without odour.
A plea to everyone who shops for merino clothes: please buy non-mulesed merino only. Mulesing is a barbaric practice where strips of skin are removed from a sheep's rear end, without anaesthetic. Let's keep...
Hi Kenneth, I walked it a few weeks ago and wrote about my experience of it - see link below. It's a beautiful walk with lots to recommend it. There's a wonderful moment when you get to the top of the first hill and can see both coasts at once. The Friends of St Michael's Way website is very...
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