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I love this take on it. Yes, it is sometimes crowded. But we have the privilege of being part of something that has gone on for over 1,000 years. How wonderful is that? There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about the Camino, either about the people I met, the beauty I saw, or about...
I loved doing the CF twice. I stayed in different towns, in different types of accommodations, when I could, but I also looked forward to once again being in places that were especially meaningful to me. Yes, some of the newness is gone, but I realized I also enjoy walking into a cafe and...
I've stayed at the Central twice, and enjoyed it both times. My room looked out over the river and the mountains, where I got this picture quite by accident!
While on the Camino, many women wished for strategically placed porta-potties), or whatever they are called in other countries (one spot--just down the hill from Alto de Perdon, but I think they would be terrible eyesores. I'd vote for David's ice cream stand instead!
1. It's not a race. Rest when you need to. It's quite doable.
2. Check with the Pilgrim's office at SJPP to be sure the weather will be good. Otherwise, take the Val Carlos route.
3. Many people walk to Roncesvalles the first day, take the shuttle (arranged at the office near the Pilgrim's...
When I was there is June, the majority of people in the square and in the cathedral were tourists, most likely day tourists. They are easily spotted by the flimsy headphones and the guide shepherding them around. It's a popular place!
I would be happy to pay a tourist tax. I feel it is a...
Whether you are a pilgrim or a tourist depends on what is in your heart, not on what kind of accommodations you choose or whether you carry everything on your back. There are many people (mostly an older crowd) who use travel companies and transport services who are dedicated pilgrims. Each of...
Spanish Adventures has been excellent. Garry, the owner, walks the Camino himself and takes groups, so he knows accommodations, recommends restaurants and gives you lots of information, for a reasonable price. He contacts you frequently to be sure all is going okay. He even arranged a dentist...
I had a one-way ticket, so I could be flexible about my return. BUT, when I got to the Iberian Airlines ticket counter in Chicago, they said their policy was that they would not let me on the plane without either a visa or a return flight. That's not the law, as I understand it, but it's their...
As a woman, I find it extremely hard to find pants with adequate pockets--they are much shallower (and often fewer) than on men's pants. I had no problem using a waist pack, and when you are on the Camino, you are marked as "not from around here" no matter where you put your passport.
I used Spanish Adventures, run by Garry Budín. He did a great job, checked in with me every day to make sure all was going well and even came to see me off at the train station in Santiago. I would definitely recommend him. That said, for my second Camino, I’m doing it myself, as I now know the...
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