Hi,
I've decided to take Camino Frances at the beginning of September.
I'll be going from Canada
here goes my questions:
1. I never been in Europe, Originally I've been planning to book both in and out flights to Madrid
but now I'm considering an option to fly to Paris and after a day in Paris to go from it by train , and at the end of the journey go to Madrid and fly back to Canada from where.
Is this way make sense? Did anyone went this way ? (i guess it will be harder to book, and it will be more expensive but unless where is some hidden things i need to know about i think this will be my way of getting in and out...
2. Boots:
everybody saying to buy the most expensive hiking traveling waterproof boots. I have kinda flat foot, and my legs got tired after about 3-4 kilometers, I recently bought adidas adizero running shoes
and they feel so comfortable, plus a lot of ventilation, ultra light and easy to dry.
Could i walk in them? Money is not a problem, I can buy 200$ shoes but i tried few pro hiking shoes and they just flat inside and kinda uncomfortable, why is people insisting it should be boots? I understand that in case of rain it will be uncomfortable to walk, but in worst case i can put some plastic bag wrappers, or just walk wet and when dry them out. Could you please explain other reasons to go in hiking(travel) boots/shoes not running shoes? I never walked long distances, so i have no idea of whats its like...
3. Camping tent. Reading a lot about waiting lines for hospice, and snoring and ear plugs for the night i was thinking to take my own camping tent and mattress on top of sleeping bag. I already got super light mattress it's 600 grams and its extremely comfortable. For the tent- instead of tent (1.8 kg minimum) i was thinking to buy a bugs (fly ) net, it's like a tent with no waterproof and a net on top, not solid material, so if i decide to sleep in a wild at least i will not be scared of bugs and snakes and it's about 1 kg... So what you think guys? Should I carry camping tent (2kg) anti-bugs tent (1kg) shelter (600grams) or nothing...?
4. DSLR camera. I'm not a professional photographer, but my friends are, and I like photography in general, so initially I was thinking that it's a good idea to learn photography while walking for 40 days, since that after 1 pm usually people arrive the destination and they have reminder of the day just to waste. So I'm planning to take my camera D90 with two lenses 35 mm and 18-200 around 1.8 kg plus net book around 1 kg (3 kg altogether with chargers) to learn photography while walking. But when I realized this camera could be stolen among the way, so instead of thinking about my soul and doing something for myself I will be carrying camera in a bag around and watching for it – For people who walked with expensive items – how bad was it? How much of your attention was devoted to protection of your stuff instead of the spiritual growth? I don’t want this camera to make me a carrier instead of pilgrim, while at the same time the landscapes are amazing and if I wont take it I'll probably will bite myself every time I see the sun set...
So again, regardless of extra weight, Will it kill the spirit of walking De Camino? Should I be without hi-tech to truly enjoy it?... I mean even without the constant watchin for my camera and net book, my brain- should it just get into the mood of wake up, eat walk walk walk sleep, or some photoshoping in the middle is fine...?
5. Is your favorite song “I can walk five hundred miles, and I can walk five hundred more..”
Thank you for your replays!
I've decided to take Camino Frances at the beginning of September.
I'll be going from Canada
here goes my questions:
1. I never been in Europe, Originally I've been planning to book both in and out flights to Madrid
but now I'm considering an option to fly to Paris and after a day in Paris to go from it by train , and at the end of the journey go to Madrid and fly back to Canada from where.
Is this way make sense? Did anyone went this way ? (i guess it will be harder to book, and it will be more expensive but unless where is some hidden things i need to know about i think this will be my way of getting in and out...
2. Boots:
everybody saying to buy the most expensive hiking traveling waterproof boots. I have kinda flat foot, and my legs got tired after about 3-4 kilometers, I recently bought adidas adizero running shoes
and they feel so comfortable, plus a lot of ventilation, ultra light and easy to dry.
Could i walk in them? Money is not a problem, I can buy 200$ shoes but i tried few pro hiking shoes and they just flat inside and kinda uncomfortable, why is people insisting it should be boots? I understand that in case of rain it will be uncomfortable to walk, but in worst case i can put some plastic bag wrappers, or just walk wet and when dry them out. Could you please explain other reasons to go in hiking(travel) boots/shoes not running shoes? I never walked long distances, so i have no idea of whats its like...
3. Camping tent. Reading a lot about waiting lines for hospice, and snoring and ear plugs for the night i was thinking to take my own camping tent and mattress on top of sleeping bag. I already got super light mattress it's 600 grams and its extremely comfortable. For the tent- instead of tent (1.8 kg minimum) i was thinking to buy a bugs (fly ) net, it's like a tent with no waterproof and a net on top, not solid material, so if i decide to sleep in a wild at least i will not be scared of bugs and snakes and it's about 1 kg... So what you think guys? Should I carry camping tent (2kg) anti-bugs tent (1kg) shelter (600grams) or nothing...?
4. DSLR camera. I'm not a professional photographer, but my friends are, and I like photography in general, so initially I was thinking that it's a good idea to learn photography while walking for 40 days, since that after 1 pm usually people arrive the destination and they have reminder of the day just to waste. So I'm planning to take my camera D90 with two lenses 35 mm and 18-200 around 1.8 kg plus net book around 1 kg (3 kg altogether with chargers) to learn photography while walking. But when I realized this camera could be stolen among the way, so instead of thinking about my soul and doing something for myself I will be carrying camera in a bag around and watching for it – For people who walked with expensive items – how bad was it? How much of your attention was devoted to protection of your stuff instead of the spiritual growth? I don’t want this camera to make me a carrier instead of pilgrim, while at the same time the landscapes are amazing and if I wont take it I'll probably will bite myself every time I see the sun set...
So again, regardless of extra weight, Will it kill the spirit of walking De Camino? Should I be without hi-tech to truly enjoy it?... I mean even without the constant watchin for my camera and net book, my brain- should it just get into the mood of wake up, eat walk walk walk sleep, or some photoshoping in the middle is fine...?
5. Is your favorite song “I can walk five hundred miles, and I can walk five hundred more..”
Thank you for your replays!