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When I had a problem on the Camino three nurses happened by on a short walk from where they worked. They helped me in getting help from 112. Other than taking to me and asking general health questions the only special question that they asked was "Do you have WhatsApp on your phone?" . They were...
My family and I went to a baseball game in San Francisco last week. No whare in the stadium, and this includes getting in, did they accept anything other than QR codes on your phone. "The times are a changing".
I reccomend that reservations be set up until you have left Ronchavelles, assuming that you are going on the Camino Francis. After that askmyout hosts to make reservations for another day or two. On my trips that worked out well. If as you travel you find an interesting place then you can spend...
I used a debit card on a new bank account. Then I put a limited amount of cash into the account. And I gave my wife access to it. That way if I lost the card, a known and small amount of cash would be lost. As I used the money up, my wife would transfer more cash into the temporary account. This...
Make sure that your card can be used outside of where it is usually used. For me I had to use my banks web site and it took a bit to get everything done
I got severely dehydrated on my first Camino. I ended up, calling 112 and got taken to Ronchavelles. I then decided that at 75 I should turn into a tourist. So I got a taxi to Pamploma. I then got a train ticket to Madrid to do some tourist type things.
When I sat down on the train my son...
There are additional problems with cash when traveling.
1. In Europe many coin operated machines take 1 and 2e coins. In the USA very few coin operated machines take anything other than quarters (.25 cent coins). Additionally many of the European machines accept paper money too. Again this is...
I get a new debit card with a low amount if cash in it. My wife, that does not go with me, can refill it from home when it runs low. After the trip I cancel the new account.
I made a major mistake on my 1st Camino that involved getting badly dehydrated, at one point I found myself sitting on the trail not knowing how I got there. The next morning I woke up dizzy and checked into a local hotel. The next 2 wakeups I was still dizzy, so I ended my camino and flew home.
I only use poles in these situations:
1. Going downhill
2. When special problems occur
I used them going up hill from Orisson once when there was a quite strong wind from my left hand side.
There are some situations where I feel unsteady such as wet rocks, etc. Then it is nice to have "three...
On my most recent camino trip, the airline "lost" my poles. So I had to buy new ones in Saint Jean. I found a pair that go to 135cm. They don't have the shock absorbing feature, but they to collapse into them selves. I bought them from a barrel and each cost 22 euros. They are made by...
When did the yellow arrows first appear? Was there a color that was used in the past? Did the current color get adopted after "The Wizard of Oz" come out with the thing about following the yellow brick road?
It is easier to change a group walking companions than it is to get well broken shoes/boots when on the Camino (unless you started from home with them).
When I was in the USMC I broke my ankle and had steel pins in it for over a year. I have been wearing hiking boots for over 40 years now and like the little extra ankle support I get. I'm well over 70 now and the ankle support is the most important feature of my foot coverings. It would be nice...
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