Hello Pilgrims

[pos]

My name is Paul and I am from Ireland. I am planning to start the Camino on October 2nd from St Jean Pied de Port. A little about myself, well I am aged 57 and retired and I have a good working knowledge of Spanish. Looking forward to meeting some friendly pilgrims on my journey.
Buen Camino.

 

[Deirdre]

Hello Paul,
Welcome to the Forum! There are many Irish Pilgrims on the Camino this year! I have done the Camino twice and both times I met wonderful Irish Pilgrims.

My experience has been in the summer as I am a teacher and am currently back in school already! But I think you will have fewer people, great weather and an experience you will remember for the rest of your life.

Any and all information you want/need can be found here on this site - perhaps even some information you would rather NOT know - I'm talking about bedbug photos!!
Best of luck on your Camino - let us know how it goes!

Buen Camino,

 

[pos]

Hello Deirdre

Thank you for your words of welcome and encouragement. I am really looking forward to doing the Camino in October. Yes, I have read all about the bed bugs and I am getting a bit worried that I may be bitten by them and that it will ruin my Camino experience. Have you ever come accross bed bugs in the albergues or pilgrims who have been bitten by them? What precautions should I take?

Thanks again for your kind words.

Paul

 

[Deirdre]

I personally have not encountered bedbugs - except perhaps in Fisterra where they said the albergue was "closed due to a water problem" which I found out later is Camino language for "we're fumigating for bedbugs". :?

I did buy and use exclusively on my Way a silk sleeping bag/liner. I have been told that bedbugs cannot penetrate the silk...although I actually only got it because I walked in the summer and felt my sleeping bag might be too warm. Here is the website for the company from whom I purchased it if you want to have a look. http://www.dreamsack.com/ And it weigh nothing!

I would say you need to be prepared for cold - mornings and evenings on the meseta can get very cold even in summer. And daytime heat - also on the meseta. Then in Galicia, well the climate is nearly identical to Ireland (perhaps a small bit warmer) fog, mist and soft rain. You might have it all!
Buen Camino,

 

[pos]

Hello Deirdre

Thank you for your suggestions and advice. I am glad to hear that you did not encounter any of the dreaded bed bugs on your caminos and that infested albergues are closed down and fumigated.

I will be using a down sleeping bag and I have also got a foil blanket to put under it. I will be spending just two weeks on the Camino, so I may not even reach the Meseta and I will be leaving the last stages through Galicia until next year.

Thanks again

Paul