Local buses and/or trains are often near enough to the Camino trail that you could use them instead of taxis. I enjoyed the contact with local people when I used these several times.
I'm surprised that no one is mentioning silk underwear. it too is a natural fiber, washes and dries easily, comfortable for me who cannot wear even merino wool next to my skin. Try LL Bean or Winter Silks.
I was not able to do more than 5-6 km a day and found that besides taxis, I could use the local buses when I wanted to go further. They do not exactly follow the Camino route but I found it near enough. For me, mixing with local people was a bonus. At one stop a local woman "took me in hand"...
Addition... For short sleeve tops I wore nylon which dries easily, undies also nylon or other synthetic. Also, used one of. those synthetic towels that i don't really like but it works. Did clothes after shower, used towel to wring a bit more out of clothes before hanging all. Towel sometime...
I did bra/panties, even socks sometimes, while showering. NOT on the floor. (aways wore flipflops in showers) Found I could hang these small items from the bottom of the top bunk if in a lower. Hung outside when possible. Used a public laundromat once or twice to get it all "really" clean
I met several people that I encountered more than once but never had anything like a "family" and really did not want that kind of interaction. The walk, for me, was for reflection, and just enjoying the moment, or coping with it, as in rain and mud. Several times I had a meal with people who...
I took no precutions against blisters, and got none. My issues were getting a good fit. Tried boots and my feet rebelled. Keen sandals solved that; i continue to wear them at home; warmer socks for colder weather.
That is similar to my "reason" I think. When I learned about it, there was just this "well, I have to do that". And, then there was a desire/need to get back to Europe along with a sort of "get out of Dodge". Whenever I travel I want to BE wherever I am and soak it up, learn customs, enjoy...
I understand that wanting to walk 'the whole way', however one defines it, even though it wasn't my way. Aren't we fortunate that we can each do our own Way, and share experiences and learn from each other!
Oh yes, thanks to Ivar!!
In my view the best way to avoid any nastiness leaving Lisbon is to first go along the waterfront to see the monuments to the Discoverers, then take the local train up to Santarem to get onto the Caminho. But I love Lisbon and Portugal and can't see myself doing a...
When I was living in Portugal one question I would hear from Americans is "Jane, why don't they.....?" (fill in the blank: eat dinner at 5 p.m., stay open after lunch, speak English......etc..... ). It still puzzles me how anyone could go to the country from which ships sailed that "discovered"...
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