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I didn’t abandon my Camino, but I came across at least two people who did. One I met just outside Lagroño. He was a 60+ tall guy who had a preexisting knee issue. He knew he needed knee replacement prior to walking but thought he’d get his Camino in before surgery. His knee thought otherwise. He...
In my case, the eSIM setup process is determined by Apple. Once you scan in the QR code from Orange you’re into the iPhone setup process. You also need to unlock the eSIM with the default PIN provided by Orange, which is always 0000. I’ve had great success with Orange eSIM.
If you do it through the website you have to be certain that you're signing up for the correct plan, otherwise you might lose the number you first were assigned. If you sign up for cell service and data, you want to be sure to top up for that type of plan. After your first two week plan you can...
We bought Orange holiday eSIMs on our last stay in Paris. I had trouble buying them while stateside due to fraud detection on my credit cards. Once in Europe it was no problem. One thing to be aware of. If you want to keep your card longer than a month you have to reply to a text they send you...
The most amazing surprise for me on the wine front was the reds of the Bierzo region. They’re made from the Mencia grape. I buy them whenever I see them over here in the states, which isn’t often.
On day 6 of my 2015 Camino I stayed at the Hotel Paladin de Pujadas in Viana. My right hip was killing me, so I decided to treat myself to a night in a hotel and a room with a tub. I had a good long soak and woke the next day feeling like a million bucks. It was definitely worth it.
The most unusual item I brought, based on the fact that I didn’t see anyone else carrying one, was my 3 lb and 3 oz (with lens) Nikon D800 DSLR. It weighed the same as my Osprey Stratos 36L pack.
One of my bigger fears before my Camino was sleeping in communal conditions. When I’d been in similar situations in the past I hardly slept a wink. On the Camino Frances I figured it out. I won’t say I got the best sleep of my life, but I slept. I chose to stay in albergues because I thought it...
Our senior pastor, who has walked the Camino, summed it up nicely. He said that everybody is working on something on the Camino. We all have our reasons to walk. Others undoubtedly will have a reason similar to yours. But even their reason will be unique to them.
I walk without earbuds and the like. I feel more connected to my surroundings when I can hear what's going on around me. I don't begrudge others their earbuds, but they're not for me when walking or biking. What does irritate the heck out of me though are the people that blast their music from...
When I walked in 2015 a number of people came down with a gastrointestinal illness. They had problems at both ends, if you get my drift. My guess then and now is that it was Norovirus (see Wiki article linked below). In the linked article they mention that one of the risks is living in close...
My fears. I was afraid of being lonely. I was afraid of staying in hostels. I was afraid I would get bored with the walking. All those fears I left behind me on my Camino.
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