For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation)
I quite like getting sellos, but only from places where I actually stopped for a reason. Some of my stranger sellos over the years were not from bars, restaurants, hotels and albergues. Among the odd ones: shoe shop, electronics shop (had to replace my heating coil), police station (picked up...
I carry a light plastic bowl with a lid - if I have bought cheese or something like that, I keep it in the bowl, and otherwise, use the bowl to make soup and the lid for a cutting board and plate...
Personally, having a shower in the morning when walking long distances is a no go. I want completely dry feet in the morning, otherwise, I get blisters.
I was told there's a new law against food waste - if there's a lot of food left, the restaurant is supposed to offer you the opportunity to take the leftovers with you. If it's something that doesn't require refrigeration, I usually say yes, and if they don't offer, I ask if I can take the rest...
Walking the lesser known Caminos, I have often encountered effusively happy greetings from some locals - probably because they don't see so many pilgrims. I smile and thank them.
On Caminos that see a lot of people, or cities with a lot of tourists, I don't expect anyone to wish me a good...
Tip for people who are vegan/vegetarian/tired of meat with everything: if you have made friends with the waiter and you're in a fairly large restaurant, asking nicely of the kitchen could make you a "parrillada de verduras" (grilled vegetables) has several times secured me a very nice meal - but...
Vía Augusta - (Cádiz - Sevilla) is wonderfully flat and full of bird reservations.
A part of the Mozarabe, from Córdoba to Granada, is also nice and flat.
There are places I stayed one night as a pilgrim where I would not want to spend two weeks as hospitalera. There are many, many places I'd love to serve, but not just anywhere. That's why I'd like a list. Next summer, we'd gladly offer two weeks between July 1st and August 15th, in albergue A...
I have done three shifts of voluntering for FICS, my fourth is coming up in July. But I don't think I'm nice enough to let HosVol send me anywhere they want...
A note about morning showers: I have found that starting my walk with slightly moist feet, even from a morning shower, make my feet more susceptible to blisters. So I only do morning showers if I am NOT walking.
If someone is reading this and feels uncertain about volunteering - please feel free to send me a message for a private discussion. I'm doing my fourth round in July along with my husband (his second).
When I've had to leave my backpack outside a bar right next to the road and felt too many eyes on it from passing cars, I have used the waist strap to fasten the backpack to the nearest table. Most of the time, I haven't felt the need to do so.
This site is run by Ivar at in Santiago de Compostela.
This site participates in the Amazon Affiliate program, designed to provide a means for Ivar to earn fees by linking to Amazon