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At this momeent there is a couple who are walking their second camino from Finisterre in the north west of France to Finisterre in the north west of Spain and left Leon yesterday or today. Their first camino was the Frances. They are strictly vegan. They prepare and always carry some basics with...
When I was walking my last Camino, , I heard of a Canadian lady ahead of me who was 90 yrs old but complained that she had to use the baggage carrying service these days!
So you see Chris, there are many, many pilgrims walking into their 80's, although I consider that age is only a number and health, fitness and a positive attitude are what counts. When I was 70 I backpacked around the world for 3 years, trekking in many countries including 9 treks in Nepal...
What wonderful posts.
I remember visiting a semi-remote Pacific Island and asked how far it was to the church and being told it was a short long way. I wondered if that was different to a long short way. We arranged to meet later to go to the church service as I wanted to hear the villagers...
As a hospi 7.30pm is the latest I have seen anyone arrive, and that time is foolish and would often fail to secure a bed for the pilgrim anywhere. But in theory the hospi is on duty till 10pm or when the albergue closes. I think you were very charitable to find alternative accommodation and...
To fully enjoy the camino, one should be fit and healthy. I trained for 6 months for my first camino from St Jean to Finisterre, at first short walks and building up to the last couple of weeks to four 25km walks with pack and two hour hilly walks all the other other days. I was 79 and honestly...
What about the Camino Aragones. It's 160kms long and takes about 8 to 9 fairly easy days. Take a bus from Jaca up to the Somport Pass where there is an albergue, and walk through Jaca to Puenta la Reina on the Frances. It's beautiful and quiet and albergues are at roughly 15km stages. The...
A general rule is that in Parochial/Religious, Municipal and some other albergues that are operated by Spanish or overseas organisations (such as Rabanal, Grada etc) you can only stay one night except in medical emergencies. Commercially operated albergues are quite happy if you want to stay an...
I would eat as much as I wished, plus a whole block of chocolate and a can of Coke every afternoon which I NEVER eat or drink at home. Luckily my weight is always constant but after my first Camino I lost 4kg which soon recovered to my normal weight back home. I never bothered about losing or...
I have been bitten twice (at the same albergue on the Frances and in successive years) in about 3500kms over 5 camino routes. The bites were only around one wrist and caused me minor itching. It's my theory that during the winter they die or hibernate, in the spring they breed, and they bite...
You write that you will be doing this with an 'elderly' relative, but you do not say age, level of fitness and walking ability. Age really is only a number. Many 'elderly' people walk from St Jean to Santiago and they are in their eighties and have no problems, but they are regular walkers and...
...pan with removable base
280gm of sugar
320gm of ground almonds (or almond meal)
2 heaped teaspoons of cinnamon
1 melted ice block of lemon juice *
5 eggs, mixed but not whipped
Mix dry ingredients thoroughly, add eggs and lemon juice and mix, pour into 22cm dia fluted pie pan, and bake for...
Bon Chemin in France
Buen Camino in Spain
Bon Camino is mixing French 'Bon' with Spanish 'Camino'. What a mish-mash of languages and an insult to the French and Spanish languages.
And Tigger, it is G'die mite' not your cultured 'Giday mate'
Of course if you use your CREDIT card to access you will be charged fees, and interest from the time you withdraw money. I never take cash with me to a country such as Spain as the ATMs are always several available just after customs in the arrivals area, and I use a DEBIT card to withdraw cash...
I often wonder why people do not put their nationality in their profile. Surely it cannot compromise their security, and it would help very much in replying to threads
This thread has attracted so many posts that I will not add to them, except to say that some people cannot use ear plugs for medical reasons, and occasionally someone will tell you they snore and laugh as though it is a big joke. I used to be a big time snorer, but cured myself. Send me a PM if...
Just think of other countries/continents. In Japan there is a 'Camino' from temple to temple (sorry I have forgotten the name), or Myanmar (Burma) a fascinating and beautiful country, Nepal, Ladakh (north India). The opportunities are endless
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