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  1. Felipe

    Do I really need a compass?

    I like my Caminos with a reasonable chance of getting lost now and then... 😉 OK, back to the OP. I tried to train my children with the usage of compass and maps. I discovered that you need some practice because in woods or hills, sometimes meandering paths that go south will have some sections...
  2. Felipe

    The shell?

    Shells identify pilgrims as not just another walker in vacation looking for fun. I thought this was unnecesary in the Camino Frances, but it is a personal thing. I wore mine in remote Caminos in France and Germany, where pilgrims are not a so frequent sight. People actually approached me to ask...
  3. Felipe

    WhatsApp Question

    Good to know. The Camino is changing, apparently.
  4. Felipe

    WhatsApp Question

    My feeling is that the camino albergues (the private ones, the only that accept reservations) are decidely a low tech business. It would be interesting to know if they start to accept whatsup as mean of communication -but I doubt it.
  5. Felipe

    Sim Card in SJPdP?

    Try Euskaltek, 18 bis Avenue du Jai Alai, in the Carrefour supermarket center, not far from the old quarter. See their IT services here. Closed in Sundays, apparently.
  6. Felipe

    Sexism in outdoor clothing

    I am partial to light brown clothes. But think that, for safety reasons, it is good to wear or carry something in very bright colours -in my case, my backpack.
  7. Felipe

    Is it OK to keep your pack on your top bunk with you?

    Trust your fellow walkers. It is not as if you were in a non descript hostal with a bunch of strangers. But always keep your valuables safe.
  8. Felipe

    Is it OK to keep your pack on your top bunk with you?

    As said above. Keep your valuables with you, not in the backpack. Try to pre-pack as much as possible the night before. In the morning (if you are an early riser),take your backpack to the hall, and finish the packing there. If you are worried about the crowds and the bed race, choose a less...
  9. Felipe

    To carry or not to carry an hair dryer?

    Quite bald guy, here. Can't answer this specific question. But my rule of thumb is simple: if you are having doubts about carrying something, just don't. On the other side, if this thing really gives you particular pleasure and satisfaction, take it. Nobody talk about the bad moments in the...
  10. Felipe

    WiFi Hackers/Snoopers

    I have been reading this thread with interest (and feeling increasingly paranoid). But I am somewhat confused, because to me we seem to talk about two different issues -credit card cloning and wifi snooping. Can the wifi snoopers discover and steal credit card data? I mean, it is not stored in...
  11. Felipe

    Paper map

    I followed @pudgypilgrim suggestion (thanks!) and found the IGN (Instituto Geográfico Nacional) map of the "Camino de Santiago en la Península Ibérica" (that is, all Caminos, not only the Frances). It has 36 MB (takes some time to download) . Apparently it has a good definition (92 x 123 cm...
  12. Felipe

    Lost.... On the way from Estella to Los Arcos, lost my way. Climbed a mountain and found this. Anyone ever been here?

    Yes...and always a chance to find the unexpected generosity and help from complete strangers.
  13. Felipe

    Lost.... On the way from Estella to Los Arcos, lost my way. Climbed a mountain and found this. Anyone ever been here?

    Well, you (involuntarily) shared a venerable tradition of pilgrims of yore: getting lost. Nowadays, the Frances is almost too "domesticated", with guides, apps, albergues every few kms, bars, signposts, taxis...Chances of uncertainty and a bit of adventure are rare. I know that in the moment you...
  14. Felipe

    suitable clothing

    April is a month of diverse and unpredictable weather in north Spain. Expect some rain (especially in the evenings) and moderate cold in the mornings and nights. But some sunny moments, too. Just before May, it could even become hot. Paths will be sometimes quite muddy, so plan for good shoes...
  15. Felipe

    Tourniquet: Does anyone bring one on the Camino?

    A tourniquet could have been handy in the times of don Suero de Quiñones, who defied all knights crossing Orbigo bridge to a mano a mano fight. But this was many centuries ago...Currently we don't handle tools more dangerous than a corkscrew.
  16. Felipe

    What's the craziest thing you have done to save weight?

    Healthy diet, less carbs. And some exercise. Did not last too much.
  17. Felipe

    Camino BMP (Before Mobile Phones)

    I wonder if there is not a seasonal variation, too. I usually walk in early spring or late autumn, and I have not experienced a particular social problem related to the use of cellphones. I suppose that walkers tend to be more "social" when it is cold and raining outside. Also, I guess that...
  18. Felipe

    Wake up alarms?

    Walk in late Autumn or early Spring. I can assure you that nobody sets an alarm at 5:30 AM when it is very cold and foggy outside.
  19. Felipe

    Shops at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

    I walked early October...never had a problem with bedbugs or heard about these little pests.
  20. Felipe

    Pilgrim scallop shell

    Almost every shop along the Camino sells scalops shells. Some walkers carry every Camino trinket (there are plenty) imaginable; you can buy some in this forum. Others don't. It is up to you. I personally prefer a sober look, but I have hung a shell from my backpack when I do less trodden and...

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