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It depends on what you mean by challenging . The trail from Irun to Santander was physically challenging but oh so beautiful with fantastic towns along the way.
I found the trail west from Santander less rewarding. Too much road walking unless you made an effort to follow the coastal trails.
I...
Here are some of my other thoughts on French dining, offered in humour and with a love of the French.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/the-unique-dining-experience-on-le-puy-route.72897/
I’m on the same itinerary, arrive Madrid late afternoon via Paris on the way to Ponferrada. I like to have 1 buffer day at the beginning and save my remaining buffer days for the trail or bank them for the end. So I’m considering 1 night in Madrid because of an early evening arrival, train next...
Well you nailed it, "it depends", on your foot, the anticipated weather, your experience etc. However since you are focused on your ankles let me add one more thing. I've noticed some people wear a style of sock that ends just below the ankle bone. I prefer the ones that end just above to...
For those who struggle with translation thingamigiggies here is the Googlish.
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It seems proven that very reflective people or people with high intellectual abilities tend to experience more existential crises than the rest of us; but it is not exclusive to people with these characteristics...
And now 5 years after @Dave 's podcast Ginny Bartolone has published another article on her thoughts. It can be found here https://www.salon.com/2024/01/20/my-unexpectedly-feminist-pilgrimage-walking-the-camino-de-santiago-and-the-freedom-i-found/
The train from SdC to Porto can be confusing as last time I looked you had to book the Spanish portion and the Portuguese portion separately. see https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Santiago-de-Compostela/Porto#r/Train
I've always taken the Alsa bus but one of these days I'll take the train...
My own preference is to land in Barcelona or Paris and immediately the same day continue on to Biarittz / Bayonne / Pamplona to spend 1 night. Then 2 nights in SJPP in order to do a final shakeout of gear or deal with missing bags etc.
Also start on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday to avoid the...
I think the issue is not keeping your home SIM active in a 2 SIM environment but rather not using your home SIM whatsoever because of outrageous roaming charges. Hence installing the foreign SIM.
Hello fellow Canadian bank customer. It's an ever evolving conundrum. My solution in 2023 while using a Euro Sim was to change my verification phone to a trusted friend in Canada. Then before attempting to manage my account I would alert my friend to standby, then open the app, generate the...
Waterproof trail runners? I wouldn’t in warm months. The sweat buildup would be a problem in my opinion.
I wore Altra Lone Peaks on this route in September weather and had no issues.
Perhaps the Pilgrim's office numbers reflect that Spaniards get their certificate and others don't. My impression is that non-Spaniards get their certificate on their first Camino and may skip it on repeat journeys. I know I have. I don't think the Invierno is undertaken as a first time Camino...
Last year on the Norte I was very dispirited by the solitary road walking and having to stay in impersonal pensions / small hotels. Outside of Salinas I stayed in the wonderful donativo Albergue de Peregrinos Martin de Laspra run by Rosa. I could have easily stayed in, and afforded, yet another...
More thoughts on having a one way- I have never been challenged on having to prove a return ticket. But maybe the big database in the sky knows I have it without my proffering it.
Yet why a return air ticket? Surely you could enter the EU from AUZ/NZ and then leave for the UK or Morocco by...
Every year for the last many en route to the Camino I've booked return flights and had to pay to change them. For 2024 I've vowed to book 1 way.
FYI Out of Calgary, Canada I've found that direct to Barcelona gives me the most flexibility. BCN airport has great connections to whatever route I...
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