Another little handy thing: when you do want to book ahead using one of those dot.com services, call the chosen Albergue and make clear you’d rather book direct. A lot of these places are running on razor thin margins.
Me, I would book the first and second night and give myself a modest distance to walk the first day to assess my comfort at walking certain distances. Then for the third night have the hospi help you book the next night and repeat every night...
When I read something useful for an upcoming Camino, I make notes using a Google Doc. Before I leave I pare down that document by collapsing dual or multiple entries. I can access this doc on my phone and search the categories that I have...
Like the OP I had never used a foot cream or vaseline on probably a hundred day hikes. But on the CF and the Via Podiensis, it's a day after day after day effort. And with a pack, I think my feet flattened out. I got blisters. So I bought a pair...
Just got back from France. My fractured French was always an embarrassment to me, but I always was able to communicate. Here's the key, which I learned from walking the camino: 1. Look plaintive (there's nothing more endearing than looking like a...
I usually start in my limited Spanish. After a few words, they certainly know I am not a native or even fluent speaker. Trying to begin in Spanish is already polite! I find, if you begin by apologizing for your language limitations…that is...
Best way to "see the Pyrenees" is to arrive via the Via Podiensis (the Camino route from Le Puy-en-Velay) in late April or May. Then you will have the snow capped Pyrenees in view for about 8-9 days and you will be telling yourself frequently...
I would recommend staying the night if nothing else, then you can get a good start in the morning. We missed out on that (accidentally; long story) and arrived in SJPdP in the morning by train from Bayonne. By the time we’d been to the pilgrims’...