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  1. mmm042

    Camino Card - feedback?

    Hi Sylvie. I haven't used these cards, but I'm glad you mentioned them. I was told by Spanish Tourism that they were debuting in May, but had forgotten about them. The cards are good for 7, 15 or 30 days. Here's what they told me via e-mail: "It's a card that provides discounts in a lot of...
  2. mmm042

    Why mention miles when Europe uses km's ?

    When I was in grade school (maybe 5th or 6th grade) in the 1970s, we learned the metric system because, our teachers said, the U.S. was going to be switching over very soon. Ha! They also told us all schools were soon going to be teaching everyone Spanish starting in 1st grade. If I had to pick...
  3. mmm042

    Holiday Gift Buying After the Camino?

    This year I thru-hiked the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, an 1,100-mile trail in Wisconsin (U.S.) that traces the edge of the last glaciation. The trail is half completed -- you hike on roads in between the developed trail segments -- so I'm making donations to the Ice Age Trail Alliance (trail...
  4. mmm042

    Running the Camino

    Hi. Just a bit of perspective for non-runners on running the Camino -- which I always do due to time constraints, and because I love to run. When you're running 20 or 30 or 40 miles a day for a few weeks, you're running relatively slowly and typically walking some parts. Unless you're an...
  5. mmm042

    You know you're a pilgrim(or soon to be) when...

    When you get home, see a yellow arrow painted on the ground, and without thinking start following it and looking for the next one. (Yes, I've done this.)
  6. mmm042

    Madrid T4 ATMs?

    Damian, don't panic if you try an ATM and it doesn't work. Not every ATM will work with whatever card you had. The first time I traveled in Spain, I tried 2 or 3 ATMs and none worked, and I panicked. But then I found one that worked. The trick is to remember which bank's ATMs work with your card...
  7. mmm042

    Unfriendly dogs...problem or not?

    I've been threatened/chased about 5 times by aggressive dogs on the VDLP. They're not common, and you shouldn't worry obsessively about them, but rather be aware of the possibility. Interestingly, none of the smaller dogs was deterred in the least when I tried the fake-rock trick. They just kept...
  8. mmm042

    Worried about my husband...

    Hi. It's certainly O.K. to walk without your spouse, if that's what ends up happening. I've walked four times solo, and once with my husband. While we had a lot of fun together, the Camino did nothing for him spiritually. He was glad he walked with me, and glad to see the route that so inspires...
  9. mmm042

    Trail snacks

    Food is such a great topic! I bring a bunch of Uncrustables (packaged PBJ sandwiches), and they seem to be the perfect combo of protein, carbs and fat for a lunch -- plus they're not as heavy as sausage and cheese can be. Chocolate is also good, and can be found everywhere. If you can find a...
  10. mmm042

    Has the Camino helped your career?

    Congrats, Rebekah! Make sure to let us know when your book and movie come out. I appear to be following in your footsteps, only I was a guest of the Office of Tourism in 2009 to prepare for the 2010 Holy Year and began walking the Camino immediately. I, too, fell in love with it and began...
  11. mmm042

    Lightweight guides

    Or do what I do and travel without any maps or guides. You'll be fine most of the time, and it's a bit of an adventure when you do get lost. :) (It also makes for a good story that night, along with points for bravery, especially when you're a sola peregrina!) Melanie
  12. mmm042

    ? what is it about this site

    Any why is it that I'm here in Jerusalem, the holiest of cities, and I keep going back to the Old City (three days in a row now) to try and find some kind of Camino spirit? I'm not getting the vibe, the feeling, the spirituality I instantly found on the VDLP. It's Jerusalem! And yet all I can...
  13. mmm042

    GPS for Camino area

    When I first did the VDLP, I couldn't find any English-language guides (I've since created an app guide for it, as I'm a writer by profession), so I walked it with no guide at all. Yes, I was lost a few times, but nothing too serious and it was part of the fun. Now when I walk the Camino, I go...
  14. mmm042

    Which camino do you recommend for a first timer?

    I should have been clearer. What I meant about the shorter stages on the Camino Frances is that if you're looking to walk shorter distances per day because of health or fitness limitations, it's easier to do so on the Camino Frances than routes like the VDLP, where sometimes you're forced to...
  15. mmm042

    Which camino do you recommend for a first timer?

    Hi Laurie. I think it totally depends on the individual. I HATE crowds, and after driving along the Camino Frances and seeing pilgrims every few feet, I knew I'd never want to do that route, despite its history. So I picked the route that gets the least # of pilgrims -- the VDLP. And loved it...
  16. mmm042

    Small unexpected kindnesses on the Camino

    There are so many of these, aren't there? Also in Aldeanueva: I stopped a man for directions to my inn. It was a bit confusing, so he asked another man to help explain. I understood 99% of what they said, and walked off with confidence. But right in the area of the inn, the streets split in many...
  17. mmm042

    Second Camino: What route to take

    I've only done the VDLP, but I LOVE it and highly recommend it. The scenery is beautiful, and it's much more off-road walking than asphalt. There are definitely challenging spots, especially after Ourense (I recommend the Galician variant that goes west from Zamora). There are also far fewer...
  18. mmm042

    Bringing euros to Spain

    Remember, too, that your ATM card won't work in all machines. Once I had to try about 5 places before one took my card. After that, I made sure to remember which bank's ATM took my card so I always looked for that particular machine. Oh, and remember to call your bank ahead of time to tell them...
  19. mmm042

    One Week Camino

    You can do Ourense to Santiago in one week (VDLP, Galician variant). It's an easy bus trip down from Santiago. Melanie
  20. mmm042

    A truly Spiritual Journey

    I've done parts of the Camino twice now (VDLP), once alone and once with my husband. On the first trip I collected prayers from family/friends and prayed for one intention per leg. It was fascinating how things coincided. I stopped to admire a church cemetery, and saw my next prayer intention...

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