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Recent content by Shazenalan

  1. S

    The one thing I should have done before I left for the Camino

    make sure your bank allowed free debit card payments & cash withdrawals - we opened accounts that did and saved around £100 in bank fees on Camino V2. 💪
  2. S

    Is it OK to write emails in English when booking accommodation?

    I learnt how to say Hello, I’m sorry my Spanish is limited, do you have a double room for (state day) please? This is not difficult to learn - practice on the path - and without exception I got a warm response. After a few calls I learned what they would ask questions, ‘ two people? Name? ‘ I...
  3. S

    Sandals vs. flip flops.

    I took walking boots, walking sandals (Keens) and cheap flip flops. I wanted sandals to rest and air my feet from the boots, without the fear of stubbing my toe in flip flops on cobbled streets etc. I got cheap flip flops for the shower and when in the albergue- some showers are slippery with...
  4. S

    Niggling hates (dislikes) on Camino

    Well - we love Spanish tea - black, Ceylon, and in some areas with cinnamon….. but the Spanish drink tea black - so if you happen to like your tea with milk then you smother the flavours with ‘bovine lactose’ 🤢 We all irritate and get irritated I guess…. but the tea was good to me. I’ll concede...
  5. S

    Long pants and long sleeves in summer? Smart or big mistake?

    Merino is wool - and needs washing A LOT LESS than synthetics - hanging in the air will freshen it - it regulates temperature perfectly - is not itchy - is a bit expensive - and better mixed with a synthetic fibre to give it strength - and it’s very lightweight too. 👍🙌
  6. S

    Long pants and long sleeves in summer? Smart or big mistake?

    I bought sun protective sleeves which were a good compromise - when I was really really hot I dunked them in a water fountain and then put them on - pure bliss! It meant I could still travel light with short sleeve tops, and also wear them on a chilly morning - peeling them off once I warmed...
  7. S

    Descent into Portomarin

    We are in our 60’s, we took the steeper route and turned back. The ‘steps’ are beyond my knees, and the rocks were wet, the path muddy. It was doable - if it had been dry I’d have done it for sure. We took the longer route and saved our legs for the stone steps up into Portomarin. 👍😀
  8. S

    Tips and recommendations for an elder pilgrim (90y)

    Just a few thoughts…….My suggestion is to get good light weight walking boots fitted asap to help with his stability - also wear 2 pairs of liner socks to prevent blisters. Start walking daily as suggested in the new boots. Walking poles can also give stability & confidence. Profile maps are...
  9. S

    LIVE from the Camino 2023 Camino FRANCÉS - a journey in photos and short videos

    Puente la Reina today. 👍
  10. S

    Old and hopefully not in the way.

    I have been inspired by the people over 70 that I have seen or met on the Caminos I have walked. That had nothing at all to do with how fast they walked - I was inspired because they walked it. 👏💪🥰
  11. S

    What was left unused? What can be left behind?

    As a kid we had a motorbike & sidecar - then ‘upgraded’ to a bright yellow 7cwt Ford van - mum hated it - kids & dad loved it! When we went camping in it ( mum hated that too 😳) she always said ‘they’ll think the bloody Hillbillies have arrived!” 🥳🤩
  12. S

    What was left unused? What can be left behind?

    Yesss - that was exactly it! The Clampetts!! 🥳❤️🤣
  13. S

    What was left unused? What can be left behind?

    I am from the UK - I think it was from a tv programme called ‘The Hillbillies’ - 🤭😂
  14. S

    Hadrian's Wall Robin Hood's Tree Cut Down

    It is sad about the tree - so many memories for many people. I feel greater sadness for the anger within the young man who cut it down though. There are so many damaged young people. 🥲🥹
  15. S

    What was left unused? What can be left behind?

    Loads of great suggestions here - my only addition is to reduce the first aid kit - I took one on my first Camino but now on my third I take contact lense cases with essentials - just enough to get me to the next village farmacia. A couple of pain killers, a dollop of any creams I may want - a...
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