Looking for Camino France pilgrimage companion

[Chawisha]

Hi,

I am Carissa (had to use a unique username so changed my username to Chawisha). Anyway, I am from the Philippines. I am 41 years old. I have been hoping to take a Camino France Pilgrimage in April 2020. However, I would rather have a travel companion and prepare and plan with that person before the trip.

Please let me know through this thread if you are interested to be my companion.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Hi,

I am Carissa (had to use a unique username so changed my username to Chawisha). Anyway, I am from the Philippines. I am 41 years old. I have been hoping to take a Camino France Pilgrimage in April 2020. However, I would rather have a travel companion and prepare and plan with that person before the trip.

Please let me know through this thread if you are interested to be my companion.

Hello, Carissa, and a warm welcome to the Forum.

Although living in the Philippines, here is a link which also may be of help as you begin:
American Pilgrims on Camino's FAQs about a camino pilgrimage

The good news is, you are in a forum with a wonderful group of people. Most are here to help people like you to achieve their pilgrimage goals. We can offer you encouragement, knowledge, and point you in the direction that will help you help yourself.

My suggestion to start is this:

1. Take a deep breath. Write down in large letters the reasons why you want to go on Camino. Place that piece of paper where you can see it every day. That way, if anxieties and fears threaten to overwhelm you as you plan, you can just breath, read what you have written, and focus on those reasons until the negative stuff fades.
2. Make a list of questions and concerns that you have.
3. Go to the Search Engine at the top of the Forum pages.
4. Enter the words or phrase that you want more information about. You will get a huge amount of information to explore.
5. If you find that you need help with anything, post a new thread so that your question or concern can be readily seen. If you post a question within someone else's thread, you won't receive as big of a response.
6. Remember that perfect timing as it relates to how you feel, scheduling, and day to day life issues, seldom align themselves perfectly. If one waits for such to occur, doing something like a pilgrimage will always be in danger of taking a back seat while you wait for that perfect alignment to happen.

Consider us to be a travel companion helper/adviser/planner For someone to travel with, there will be hundreds of fellow pilgrims around you at the start. You will meet others, when you arrive to start your Camino, who will also want to have a companion to walk with. So if you do not find a good companion candidate ahead of time, do not be anxious. . . you are likely to be surrounded by fellow seekers of walking companions during your pilgrimage.

 

[Anniesantiago]

Hi there. If you are female you might try joining the Camigas Facebook Group to find walking companions.

 

[Chawisha]

Thanks Dave Bugg and Annie Santiago...these are very very encouraging words and very helpful information

 

[Vacajoe]

Plus you will meet many, many pilgrims while walking in April. On the Camino, you never truly walk alone...

 

[JohnnyD1]

Hi,

I am Carissa (had to use a unique username so changed my username to Chawisha). Anyway, I am from the Philippines. I am 41 years old. I have been hoping to take a Camino France Pilgrimage in April 2020. However, I would rather have a travel companion and prepare and plan with that person before the trip.

Please let me know through this thread if you are interested to be my companion.

Yes interested in connecting further 55 year old male first Camino.planning for May2020 .looking forward to meeting new people.Pretty much a plan for route..then again go at a even pace not to miss much.aling the jounery..have looking forward to this Camino Frances for several years.Now it will be reality. Long time coming..all the best to you.

Hello John from Ny,walking in 2020 first time.

 

[domigee]

Hi,

I am Carissa (had to use a unique username so changed my username to Chawisha). Anyway, I am from the Philippines. I am 41 years old. I have been hoping to take a Camino France Pilgrimage in April 2020. However, I would rather have a travel companion and prepare and plan with that person before the trip.

Please let me know through this thread if you are interested to be my companion.

Hi Carissa!
When I set off for my first Camino (camino francés), I assumed I would be on my own.... To cut a long story short, nooooooo, I wasn’t! I met my first pilgrim (who is still a friend now) right outside the airport waiting for the bus. Then there were many in the first albergue. And then many more on that first leg from St Jean to Roncesvalles.
What I am trying to say is... don’t even bother about finding companions before you start, I can assure you there will be plenty to be found on the day! Really.
All the best.

 

[Mike Blackard]

Hi Carissa,
After completing 2 Camino Frances (Sept.-Oct. 2018 & Aug.- Oct 2019) - Here is my advice:
1) Make no plan - and stick to it. When you have a plan, you pass up opportunities so you can keep up with the plan. Just let each day unfold before you and enjoy.
2) Go by yourself. You are going to meet lots of people. Some you will want to walk with more, some you won't. On the camino, it's OK to say "see you later and move on. You won't be lonely. You will be safe. You won't be tied down to a partner's schedule.
3) You don't need to speak a word of Spanish to get by. Many can speak English. BUT- Learn as much Spanish as you can before you go, and try to speak in Spanish as much as you can. They will appreciate your effort.

 

[David Tallan]

Hi Carissa,
After completing 2 Camino Frances (Sept.-Oct. 2018 & Aug.- Oct 2019) - Here is my advice:
1) Make no plan - and stick to it. When you have a plan, you pass up opportunities so you can keep up with the plan. Just let each day unfold before you and enjoy.

Funny, my advice is exactly the opposite: Make a plan - and don't stick to it but abandon it at the drop of a hat.

Planning is very useful. You learn things about the places you visit which will create opportunities that might not be present otherwise. You can't choose to go to a nice restaurant, a recommended albergue, a beautiful church just slightly off the Camino path, etc. if you don't know it exists. The planning process will help you find out about these places and decisions you make in planning will help you remember what you thought was important when you made the plans.

But it is also important to remember that however valuable the information behind your planning decisions may be, it is incomplete. As you walk you will learn new things. You should let these things affect the decisions you are making, not rigidly stick to decisions made earlier - things like: what the weather is like, how far you can walk comfortably, what your health is like at the moment, where your friends plan to walk to and what route they are taking to get there, what you learn from the people you meet about the places you are headed to.

Make your plans ahead of time, but make the real decisions in the moment, based on what you learned in the planning, what you've learned on the road, what you are experiencing in the moment.

Then go ahead and enjoy each day. That's my opposite advice.

 

[RJM]

Kamusta...
Get all your transportation sorted. Your dates and times, and reservations at Saint Jean (or wherever you are starting) and reservations in Santiago (assuming you know the exact day you plan on arriving) and then get your pack and kit in order. Other than that, just be prepared to be flexible on the walk and without a doubt you will meet a lot of fellow pilgrims you will befriend. If you do find someone to walk with beforehand, be flexible enough with the arrangement to know when to part company in the event your walking styles clash. It is normal.
ultreia

 

[Chawisha]

Plus you will meet many, many pilgrims while walking in April. On the Camino, you never truly walk alone...

Thanks!

 

[Chawisha]

Plus you will meet many, many pilgrims while walking in April. On the Camino, you never truly walk alone...

Thanks

 

[Chawisha]

Hi there. If you are female you might try joining the Camigas Facebook Group to find walking companions.

Done! Thanks!

 

[Chawisha]

Yes interested in connecting further 55 year old male first Camino.planning for May2020 .looking forward to meeting new people.Pretty much a plan for route..then again go at a even pace not to miss much.aling the jounery..have looking forward to this Camino Frances for several years.Now it will be reality. Long time coming..all the best to you.

Thanks

 

[Chawisha]

Hi Carissa!
When I set off for my first Camino (camino francés), I assumed I would be on my own.... To cut a long story short, nooooooo, I wasn’t! I met my first pilgrim (who is still a friend now) right outside the airport waiting for the bus. Then there were many in the first albergue. And then many more on that first leg from St Jean to Roncesvalles.
What I am trying to say is... don’t even bother about finding companions before you start, I can assure you there will be plenty to be found on the day! Really.
All the best.

Ok thanks!

 

[Chawisha]

Funny, my advice is exactly the opposite: Make a plan - and don't stick to it but abandon it at the drop of a hat.

Planning is very useful. You learn things about the places you visit which will create opportunities that might not be present otherwise. You can't choose to go to a nice restaurant, a recommended albergue, a beautiful church just slightly off the Camino path, etc. if you don't know it exists. The planning process will help you find out about these places and decisions you make in planning will help you remember what you thought was important when you made the plans.

But it is also important to remember that however valuable the information behind your planning decisions may be, it is incomplete. As you walk you will learn new things. You should let these things affect the decisions you are making, not rigidly stick to decisions made earlier - things like: what the weather is like, how far you can walk comfortably, what your health is like at the moment, where your friends plan to walk to and what route they are taking to get there, what you learn from the people you meet about the places you are headed to.

Make your plans ahead of time, but make the real decisions in the moment, based on what you learned in the planning, what you've learned on the road, what you are experiencing in the moment.

Then go ahead and enjoy each day. That's my opposite advice.

thanks

 

[Chawisha]

Hi Carissa,
After completing 2 Camino Frances (Sept.-Oct. 2018 & Aug.- Oct 2019) - Here is my advice:
1) Make no plan - and stick to it. When you have a plan, you pass up opportunities so you can keep up with the plan. Just let each day unfold before you and enjoy.
2) Go by yourself. You are going to meet lots of people. Some you will want to walk with more, some you won't. On the camino, it's OK to say "see you later and move on. You won't be lonely. You will be safe. You won't be tied down to a partner's schedule.
3) You don't need to speak a word of Spanish to get by. Many can speak English. BUT- Learn as much Spanish as you can before you go, and try to speak in Spanish as much as you can. They will appreciate your effort.

thanks

 

[Canche]

Hi,

I am Carissa (had to use a unique username so changed my username to Chawisha). Anyway, I am from the Philippines. I am 41 years old. I have been hoping to take a Camino France Pilgrimage in April 2020. However, I would rather have a travel companion and prepare and plan with that person before the trip.

Please let me know through this thread if you are interested to be my companion.

Check out the Facebook page called CAMIGAS They are a group of women and you can find a companion there.

 

[jouffroy47]

Hi there. If you are female you might try joining the Camigas Facebook Group to find walking companions.

I agree--the CAMIGAS FB group is a great place to start and there are people willing to be mentors there as well. https://www.facebook.com/groups/CaminoBuddySystemForWomen/

 

[trecile]

I would highly discourage from pre-arranging a walking companion.
How do you know if you will be compatible in both walking style and temperament?

One of the greatest things about walking the Camino solo is that I don't have to make decisions based on how anyone else feels. If I want to stop early, I do. If I want to sleep late, I do. If I'm injured or need a rest day I'm not holding anyone back.

You WILL meet many people on the Camino, and will probably find several people who you enjoy walking with. Just wait and let it happen.