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No. Almost all coffee is espresso.Do the bars in Spain offer free refills?
Yes. Newer places have plugs next to every bunk.do most places have available electric outlets?
No. Have a flashlight you can hold in your mouth. I have a "button" flashlight. Stop early in the afternoon so that you can get a lower bunk.Is there usually any problem getting to the bathroom 3 to 5 times a night?
Sandwiches. Anything you pick up on a tienda. Cheese. Salami.What are the best things to carry for lunch if you are going to eat on the run or stop for a brief picnic?
As My 18 gets closer, I am thinking about all sorts of things that I don't know. Those of you that hav been there may think some of these are trivial, but Iwould like to fit in and not make stupid mistakes.
1) Most places where I drink coffee have free refills and many offer a go cup when you leave. Do the bars in Spain offer free refills? Is it rude to drink a cup and take another with you? I hear a lot about coffee with milk, and I do plan to try it, but can I get a regular black coffee?
2) Is it a problem to recharge a cellphone, which is my camera, and do most places have available electric outlets? I would like to avoid the weight of an auxiliary battery. Do beds have outlets near them or is it community outlets? Are outlets first come first served of is there a procedure to follow?
3) I have to get up a lot at night. Is there usually any problem getting to the bathroom 3 to 5 times a night? On the Camino, what is the best way to find a bathroom and what do you do if you can't? In The Way it shows the guys with their backs turned to the path. Is that acceptable or should I seek a more hidden place? I play a lot of golf and know how to go behind a tree.
4) What are the best things to carry for lunch if you are going to eat on the run or stop for a brief picnic? What local foods should I be sure not to miss?
I'm sure that there are many more things that I need to know. Please tell me anything that a newbie would need to know or even tell me your silliest mistake. Thanks in advance.
Been Camino,
Ed
If you can, take an outlet that can accommodate more than one charger; that way, you can share. Sharesies is good. Buen Camino.2) Is it a problem to recharge a cellphone, which is my camera, and do most places have available electric outlets? I would like to avoid the weight of an auxiliary battery. Do beds have outlets near them or is it community outlets? Are outlets first come first served of is there a procedure to follow?
Nope, same price.A follow up to the coffee question: In Italy the cost of a cup doubles if you sit at a table, vs just standing at the bar. Is this the same case in Spain?
I was hoping to shed a few pounds. It sounds as if I may have a hard time not gaining a few.1) I think that is very much a North American thing, or a service offered in fast food restaurantsYour coffee will generally be served to you, rather than here is a cup, help yourself.
2) Most places have outlets. I presume Albergues are shared outlets.
3) Albergue users will explain the etiquette. Generally try not to use lights, (other than small non white handheld ) be quiet, considerate. While walking, there are plenty of trees and bushes. No one will bother to look at you...
4) What do you like to eat? There are generally places to stock up each day as you pass through villages. I carry a mix of nuts and dried fruit. Or maybe a bread roll with filling. But mostly just eat in the bars/cafes I pass. Whatever you see.......try it! There is often not a great deal of choice.
There are plenty of food options, you won't go hungry. Quite the opposite!
Buen Camino
I was hoping to shed a few pounds. It sounds as if I may have a hard time not gaining a few.
At the risk of being thought persnickety, I would like to mention that the operative word here is 'leftovers.' I think it is just fine to pack up one's leftovers from a meal that one has ordered and paid for. I do not think it is okay to take more than one can comfortably eat at a buffet breakfast with the intention of packing some away for a meal later in the day, nor do I think it is okay that, after one has eaten one's fill, to go back and help oneself to the buffet offerings to pack away for later. (Please know that I am not saying that our posters did this. Nothing in their post indicates this, and there is no need to be defensive.)...... we would wrap up our leftovers from breakfast in foil and they made for great picnics later in the day.
I was hoping to shed a few pounds. It sounds as if I may have a hard time not gaining a few.
I have seen people do exactly what you say in many places. Taking extra food from a buffet is rude and dishonest. Taking your leftovers for eating later is neither. I do it often. Most restaurants serve more than a person should eat at one setting. I would enjoy sharing a picnic of leftovers with JulieandPeter.At the risk of being thought persnickety, I would like to mention that the operative word here is 'leftovers.' I think it is just fine to pack up one's leftovers from a meal that one has ordered and paid for. I do not think it is okay to take more than one can comfortably eat at a buffet breakfast with the intention of packing some away for a meal later in the day, nor do I think it is okay that, after one has eaten one's fill, to go back and help oneself to the buffet offerings to pack away for later. (Please know that I am not saying that our posters did this. Nothing in their post indicates this, and there is no need to be defensive.)
Yes, maybe I am persnickety, but I am really bothered when I see people doing this.
To be clear for me, I was taking what was left uneaten on the plate that was served to me. I always have a lot left on my plate. At home, I ask for a to-go box at the end of a meal in a restaurant, and give the box (even if it is a small amount) to the homeless and hungry in our neighborhood who are always grateful that I chose not to let the leftover food be thrown away . . . . On the Camino, I was grateful to have not wasted the perfectly good food that was left on my plate. Actually, never had a buffet breakfast on the Camino. Just bread and fries and was frequently offered a few slices of bread to take along on the road.At the risk of being thought persnickety, I would like to mention that the operative word here is 'leftovers.' I think it is just fine to pack up one's leftovers from a meal that one has ordered and paid for. I do not think it is okay to take more than one can comfortably eat at a buffet breakfast with the intention of packing some away for a meal later in the day, nor do I think it is okay that, after one has eaten one's fill, to go back and help oneself to the buffet offerings to pack away for later. (Please know that I am not saying that our posters did this. Nothing in their post indicates this, and there is no need to be defensive.)
Yes, maybe I am persnickety, but I am really bothered when I see people doing this.
Kidney regulation 1.0 : Less coffee = less pee. Coffee is a diuretic so good luck with that equation. Get a phone case with a cord and use the phone's flashlight hanging around your neck, hands are free for blissful release of coffee end-product - phone light is very bright, it's an LED, so uses negligable power and it's being constantly recharged. No need for extra spending and carrying/maybe losing another bit of stuff.As My 18 gets closer, I am thinking about all sorts of things that I don't know. Those of you that hav been there may think some of these are trivial, but Iwould like to fit in and not make stupid mistakes.
1) Most places where I drink coffee have free refills and many offer a go cup when you leave. Do the bars in Spain offer free refills? Is it rude to drink a cup and take another with you? I hear a lot about coffee with milk, and I do plan to try it, but can I get a regular black coffee?
2) Is it a problem to recharge a cellphone, which is my camera, and do most places have available electric outlets? I would like to avoid the weight of an auxiliary battery. Do beds have outlets near them or is it community outlets? Are outlets first come first served of is there a procedure to follow?
3) I have to get up a lot at night. Is there usually any problem getting to the bathroom 3 to 5 times a night? On the Camino, what is the best way to find a bathroom and what do you do if you can't? In The Way it shows the guys with their backs turned to the path. Is that acceptable or should I seek a more hidden place? I play a lot of golf and know how to go behind a tree.
4) What are the best things to carry for lunch if you are going to eat on the run or stop for a brief picnic? What local foods should I be sure not to miss?
I'm sure that there are many more things that I need to know. Please tell me anything that a newbie would need to know or even tell me your silliest mistake. Thanks in advance.
Been Camino,
Ed
All these sound delicious, thanks.Some recommendations on fabulous food on the Camino Frances.
- Tortilla
- Chorizo
- Garlic Soup
- Roast lamb/Roast pork
- Steak - sliced up and cooked on a hot stone at your table
- Pulpo (Octopus)
- Cheese with honey in Galicia
- Chiparones (small fried squid)
- Gambas al ajillo (Garlic prawns)
- Razor clams
- Padron Peppers
- Paella
Enjoy!
Eddiebee, We are starting in Viana on June 1, so our paths may cross. We would love to picnic with you - look for us - we will be the pilgrims with the tinfoil wrapped leftovers.I would enjoy sharing a picnic of leftovers with JulieandPeter.
I mentioned it because we are talking of things camino-related, and I have seen this done on the camino, despite polite signs requesting that this not be done.Not sure why you needed to mention this in context with what JulieandPeter had to say. Not even sure why it was mentioned in connection with the Camino. I have seen people do exactly what you say in many places. Taking extra food from a buffet is rude and dishonest. Taking your leftovers for eating later is neither. I do it often. Most restaurants serve more than a person should eat at one setting. I would enjoy sharing a picnic of leftovers with JulieandPeter.
I did say there was no need to be defensive.To be clear for me, I was taking what was left uneaten on the plate that was served to me. I always have a lot left on my plate. At home, I ask for a to-go box at the end of a meal in a restaurant, and give the box (even if it is a small amount) to the homeless and hungry in our neighborhood who are always grateful that I chose not to let the leftover food be thrown away . . . . On the Camino, I was grateful to have not wasted the perfectly good food that was left on my plate. Actually, never had a buffet breakfast on the Camino. Just bread and fries and was frequently offered a few slices of bread to take along on the road.
I got that. I was just trying to be clear, and also pointing out how one could use leftovers to do the right thing.I did say there was no need to be defensive.
I ate whatever and whenever I wanted while on the Camino and lost a few pounds.I was hoping to shed a few pounds. It sounds as if I may have a hard time not gaining a few.
Very helpful. Thank you.My favorite snacks were the "fruta seca", nuts and dried fruit, that you can get packaged or in bulk everywhere in Spain. I always had them in my pack, plus a juicy pear (fruit is good in Spain), a hunk of cheese, bread left over from breakfast--and chocolate! Great chocolate in Spain, too....
I didn't often "eat lunch on the run", it was great to get off my feet for that half hour in a cafe! My favorite meal, since I don't eat much meat, was a combination plate of fried eggs, salad and fries, or a salad with tuna.
I had a Yubi multi-port power station (5 ounce) to charge my phone. Most albergues have outlets near your bed, but it was still nice to be able to share it sometimes. I did bring a Zapp battery pack, which had a built-in flashlight. It gave me the security that if I was out alone in the middle of nowhere (which I often was on the Camino Invierno), I'd still have use of my phone if needed. On The CF, you probably wouldn't need a battery unless you listen to music while walking.
As I'm a slow walker and didn't want to rush out on the morning, I often ended up arriving late in the day at an albergue, and getting a top bunk. I got more adept as my walk went on at getting up and down in the middle of the night--though I did lie awake in the dark more than once, steeling up my resolve to climb down that ladder....
While we're on the subject--men have a much easier time of it than women peeing while on the trail, as you can imagine. But still, please don't just turn your back, walk off a ways and find a more hidden spot. I managed to usually be able to take an orange juice or coffee break when I needed to use the facilities. Bathrooms were one of the things I worried about ahead of time that turned out not to be a problem once I got on my way.
Have a wonderful Camino!
It might slow me a little to check everyone's pack for tinfoil, but I'm not in a hurry, so maybe our paths will cross. Burn Camino, EdEddiebee, We are starting in Viana on June 1, so our paths may cross. We would love to picnic with you - look for us - we will be the pilgrims with the tinfoil wrapped leftovers.Buen Camino!
Here is an example - everyone raves on about the tortilla but what it actually is is an unseasoned stodgy potato egg wedge thing that tastes of nothing, will lodge like a hard lump in your stomach, and will play havoc with your bowel movements. It isn't interesting, it doesn't taste nice, it doesn't look nice, and although you can get freshly cooked ones the ones you will usually find on Camino have been sitting behind that glass display for hours and hours, maybe days and days!!
A plus is that a standard Camino tortilla can be used as a door stop and even a wheel wedge if you meet someone who has failed brakes on their car.
As for the wonderful Spanish food along the way ... to me (I say this about me, my personal taste and experience) it doesn't exist. Most pilgrim menus are identical . a thin pan fried meat of some sort, cheap under-cooked catering fries and tinned peas .. dessert won't even be on a plate but will be something frozen with a spoon stuck in it. Even the cheapest house wine seems to be pretty good, as is the bread. You can upgrade an evening meal by going a la carte and then you can get into Spanish specialties but whether you think they are wonderful or not will depend upon what you like to eat - I say go for the new experiences, savour it all, but I have been going to Spain for over twelve years now and I still haven't eaten anything that I would term 'wonderful', quite the total opposite in fact, but that is most likely just me and my taste buds.
Actually, in all those years I still haven't eaten anything that I really liked, except roast lamb and that is the same everywhere.
I used to live in France and in the years there I enjoyed every single meal and dish that I had, so it isn't 'foreign food' that I don't like, it is what is to me the appalling and over-rated Spanish food, which is almost as horrid as Mexican food - I think they are related. (and I was once a cook in the Merchant Navy so I do know something about food).
Here is an example - everyone raves on about the tortilla but what it actually is is an unseasoned stodgy potato egg wedge thing that tastes of nothing, will lodge like a hard lump in your stomach, and will play havoc with your bowel movements. It isn't interesting, it doesn't taste nice, it doesn't look nice, and although you can get freshly cooked ones the ones you will usually find on Camino have been sitting behind that glass display for hours and hours, maybe days and days!!
A plus is that a standard Camino tortilla can be used as a door stop and even a wheel wedge if you meet someone who has failed brakes on their car.
Don't let me put you off, you will Love it all!! The Camino is the most marvellous place in the world.
Buen Camino.
Wow! Sorry to ear about your bad experience about food in Spain. How much money are you willing to pay for a decent dinner? Many pilgrims think that the Camino is a example of what Spain is. I suggest you to go to a mid class restaurant, " outside of the Camino", pay 20 to 40 euros for lunch or dinner. Maybe you will be surprised. Usually the food in the camino is second (or third) category, cheap and not really spanish food. ( Pasta, french fries, burguers etc are not spanish) When younger I went to Belgium and feed myself for a week with frites, sausages, mussels and cheap beer. Two weeks ago I returned there and spent some more money. Things changed positively, I can swear it.good questions! good answers! Absolutely right about getting a lower bunk as close to the door as you can!
As is the idea of taking a multiple usb wall charger, then you can just unplug what is in there, put yours in and plug back in again - and you will have helped others when they come to plug in.
I am sure you already have this, but if you don't it is worth installing an app such as Dropbox (which is free) so that all your photos upload to wherever the internet is (or whatever the internet is) - then if you lose your phone you still have your photos.
You can buy really tiny 'keyring' torches (flashlights) very cheap indeed - a good tip is to buy some wrapped sweets before you go and save a couple of the translucent red wrappings. Wrap the beam of your torch in a red wrapping with an elastic band and you have an instant night light that allows you to see but won't disturb other pilgrims.
I am a Brit and over here we take our hot drinks hot - no, HOT! too hot to drink so we have to take tiny scalding sips until we can start to drink it (sounds odd I know but we like the feeling of almost scalding our mouths!) - so .. we get to Spain and receive these tepid 'hot' drinks - what is that all about? not only that, they give you really small amounts in really thick china - we like big mugs! .... as for free refills!! Hahaha, good try - I wish!! and whatever you do, don't ask for tea!! They will put a rubbish catering 'buy a thousand for one Euro' tea bag into a small thick china tiny cup of tepid water and expect you to drink it - don't do that!!
Peeing is just like when playing golf - if more 'serious' you can get away from Camino but do carry a small plastic trowel and some plastic bags to clean up after yourself. Though commando type soldiers tend to carry clingfilm which works really well.
Carrying food? Depends on your home diet .. some seem to exist on sugar rushes from 'protein' bars and 'sports' bars which are really just sugar bars .. others go down the Kerouac route and carry nuts and raisins ... you will find small shops along the way - the Camino is a small-bill cash economy by the way - my staples tend to be sausage, cheese, and bread .. then I can add daily items such as tomatoes and yoghurt - and if you like eating yoghurt, take a spoon! -
As for the wonderful Spanish food along the way ... to me (I say this about me, my personal taste and experience) it doesn't exist. Most pilgrim menus are identical . a thin pan fried meat of some sort, cheap under-cooked catering fries and tinned peas .. dessert won't even be on a plate but will be something frozen with a spoon stuck in it. Even the cheapest house wine seems to be pretty good, as is the bread. You can upgrade an evening meal by going a la carte and then you can get into Spanish specialties but whether you think they are wonderful or not will depend upon what you like to eat - I say go for the new experiences, savour it all, but I have been going to Spain for over twelve years now and I still haven't eaten anything that I would term 'wonderful', quite the total opposite in fact, but that is most likely just me and my taste buds.
Actually, in all those years I still haven't eaten anything that I really liked, except roast lamb and that is the same everywhere.
I used to live in France and in the years there I enjoyed every single meal and dish that I had, so it isn't 'foreign food' that I don't like, it is what is to me the appalling and over-rated Spanish food, which is almost as horrid as Mexican food - I think they are related. (and I was once a cook in the Merchant Navy so I do know something about food).
Here is an example - everyone raves on about the tortilla but what it actually is is an unseasoned stodgy potato egg wedge thing that tastes of nothing, will lodge like a hard lump in your stomach, and will play havoc with your bowel movements. It isn't interesting, it doesn't taste nice, it doesn't look nice, and although you can get freshly cooked ones the ones you will usually find on Camino have been sitting behind that glass display for hours and hours, maybe days and days!!
A plus is that a standard Camino tortilla can be used as a door stop and even a wheel wedge if you meet someone who has failed brakes on their car.
Don't let me put you off, you will Love it all!! The Camino is the most marvellous place in the world.
Buen Camino.
There was another question that slipped my mind. What is the best place along the Camino to take a rest day and play golf?
There was another question that slipped my mind. What is the best place along the Camino to take a rest day and play golf?
David, I agree with you 100% on the paella. This is because the first paella I ever sampled - in a Spanish restaurant here on the wet coast of Canada - was made with saffron and was divine. Since then, to me, if a 'paella' is not made with saffron, it is not a paella, but a pilaf or pilau. And saffron, being the most expensive spice in the world, is not likely to be found in pilgrim food in Spain. I've had some good pilafs, but most of them are mediocre at best, and some not even that. I can make you a really good paella with saffron, bordering on the divine. On the other hand, a good Trinidadian chicken pelau (which is made without saffron) can also border on the divine.Then - think of the Paella, the true Paella - has no one apart from me ever noticed that it is mainly soggy rice? not fluffy rice with lovely things in it but soggy and oily rice and that every part of it, as it is cooked in one, tastes the same, regardless?
"I still haven't eaten anything that I would term 'wonderful', quite the total opposite in fact, but that is most likely just me and my taste buds.
Actually, in all those years I still haven't eaten anything that I really liked, except roast lamb and that is the same everywhere."
David
Have uou ever tried "Zamburiñas a la plancha" ?
I
Icacos - yes, a little green eyed at the moment! I hope to be out there early June!!!!
Trecile - nope, horrid things !!
Pinguigrino - have tried many different restaurants, from Barcelona to Santiago - it really is just me. I like British, Italian, French, Dutch, Indian, Chinese, Malay, Indonesian, and I am always open to trying new things - I just cannot get on with either Spanish or Mexican. I have had friends take me to 'proper' restaurants and I mmm and aaahhh and smile and eat all before me ... but that is me only being polite .. just doesn't do it for me and I have no idea why!!! how sad am I !! Mind you, to be fair, I have never been taken to a restaurant by Spanish people who know the area.
Then - think of the Paella, the true Paella - has no one apart from me ever noticed that it is mainly soggy rice? not fluffy rice with lovely things in it but soggy and oily rice and that every part of it, as it is cooked in one, tastes the same, regardless?
Gazpacho - a cold soup with avocado in it! avocado! cold! I mean ...........
and the bread - it tastes lovely, is good bread, but no one ever seems to mention that the crust is sharp enough to cut your mouth!
(oh dear, I will have to wear a disguise next time I go to Spain!).
My usual thing in a foreign country is to look for small places that locals seem to eat in and then ask them to "surprise me" - hoping that this will allow the chef to place in front of me what they really like - works everywhere, well, almost everywhere
in my defence - I DO like Churros con chocolat!!
Mind you, to be fair, I have never been taken to a restaurant by Spanish people who know the area.
Then - think of the Paella, the true Paella - has no one apart from me ever noticed that it is mainly soggy rice? not fluffy rice with lovely things in it but soggy and oily rice and that every part of it, as it is cooked in one, tastes the same, regardless?
Gazpacho - a cold soup with avocado in it! avocado! cold! I mean ...........
and the bread - it tastes lovely, is good bread, but no one ever seems to mention that the crust is sharp enough to cut your mouth!
(oh dear, I will have to wear a disguise next time I go to Spain!).
!
Fellow pilgrims! I am now convinced that I have made really poor restaurant choices when in Spain, more than likely because I was choosing price rather than quality - and what nonsense to disparage a whole nation's food! Rather than delete my first post, which would make all further posts nonsensical - I am following up here.
I hope that I have not given offence, it was not my intention if I have and if I have I apologise. (Mind you! the things I have heard said about English food!!!)
Wherever I am staying in Spain on my next visit, if in a city, I will ask local Spanish people for restaurant tips and go to those - I will eat the best they have to offer (within reason, I am not wealthy!!) - and try dishes that I have not even heard of before - coo! an adventure and a mission!! I do like adventures - excellent!!
Buen Camino all!!
Totally different cuisinessorry, I assumed that Mexican had Spanish influences .
Oh, David....I knew you were joking......................with a grain of salt.Pinguigrino - name the restaurant and the meal is on me!! ...
..... sorry, I assumed that Mexican had Spanish influences ... I know, it is completely wrong to say that a whole nation's food is awful!! I was writing lightly but didn't make it jokey enough, wrote it too seriously, not my intention - apologies!!!
I have obviously had bad luck eating in Spain - all the Paellas I have eaten, for instance, were soggy ...
The other 'problem' I have is that I cannot eat seafood that has lived in a shell .. cockles, scallops, crab, etc and I find octopus to be like rubber -- oh dear!!!
I take it all back (well, some of it) and next visit to Spain I promise that I will try one or two really excellent restaurants and ask them to surprise me!!
..... sorry, I assumed that Mexican had Spanish influences ...
As for the wonderful Spanish food along the way ... to me (I say this about me, my personal taste and experience) it doesn't exist. Most pilgrim menus are identical . a thin pan fried meat of some sort, cheap under-cooked catering fries and tinned peas .. dessert won't even be on a plate but will be something frozen with a spoon stuck in it. Even the cheapest house wine seems to be pretty good, as is the bread. You can upgrade an evening meal by going a la carte and then you can get into Spanish specialties but whether you think they are wonderful or not will depend upon what you like to eat - I say go for the new experiences, savour it all, but I have been going to Spain for over twelve years now and I still haven't eaten anything that I would term 'wonderful', quite the total opposite in fact, but that is most likely just me and my taste buds. ....
...if a 'paella' is not made with saffron, it is not a paella, but a pilaf or pilau. And saffron, being the most expensive spice in the world, is not likely to be found in pilgrim food in Spain.
I hope that I have not given offence, it was not my intention if I have and if I have I apologise. (Mind you! the things I have heard said about English food!!!)
Buen Camino all!!
Triple like!!!!!Im going to pretend you didn't say that about my beloved tortilla!!
Thank you both. I will have to give serious thought to taking a rest day that early, but the pictures on their site sure are tempting. Been Camino, EdThe best place is in Ciruena.
Except for the golfclub and hotel it is a really dead village....But I took a coffee in the cafe part and it is really nice place.
http://www.golfrioja.com/contacto/
EDIT David and I posted same moment...but I added the link.
Ed, You cannot miss our red blanket (our very, very light weight red blanket).It might slow me a little to check everyone's pack for tinfoil, but I'm not in a hurry, so maybe our paths will cross. Burn Camino, Ed
As May 18 gets closer, I am thinking about all sorts of things that I don't know. Those of you that have been there may think some of these are trivial, but I would like to fit in and not make stupid mistakes.
1) Most places where I drink coffee have free refills and many offer a go cup when you leave. Do the bars in Spain offer free refills? Is it rude to drink a cup and take another with you? I hear a lot about coffee with milk, and I do plan to try it, but can I get a regular black coffee?
It's cafe con leche in Spain. No refills or to-go cups.
2) Is it a problem to recharge a cellphone, which is my camera, and do most places have available electric outlets? I would like to avoid the weight of an auxiliary battery. Do beds have outlets near them or is it community outlets? Are outlets first come first served of is there a procedure to follow?
There are usually enough outlets, although you might want to bring a power unit that has multiple USB outlets so that you can share an outlet with others.
3) I have to get up a lot at night. Is there usually any problem getting to the bathroom 3 to 5 times a night? On the Camino, what is the best way to find a bathroom and what do you do if you can't? In The Way it shows the guys with their backs turned to the path. Is that acceptable or should I seek a more hidden place? I play a lot of golf and know how to go behind a tree.
Just be quiet about it. A low power LED key light would come in handy. As far as peeing by the trail, it all comes down to what you are comfortable with.
4) What are the best things to carry for lunch if you are going to eat on the run or stop for a brief picnic? What local foods should I be sure not to miss?
Bread, sausage, cheese and an apple was the trail lunch for me, sometimes supplemented with a yogurt. I actually preferred those lunches to the restaurant versions, which were usually pretty mediocre.
I'm sure that there are many more things that I need to know. Please tell me anything that a newbie would need to know or even tell me your silliest mistake. Thanks in advance.
Been Camino,
Ed
Wow! Sorry to ear about your bad experience about food in Spain. How much money are you willing to pay for a decent dinner? Many pilgrims think that the Camino is a example of what Spain is. I suggest you to go to a mid class restaurant, " outside of the Camino", pay 20 to 40 euros for lunch or dinner. Maybe you will be surprised. Usually the food in the camino is second (or third) category, cheap and not really spanish food. ( Pasta, french fries, burguers etc are not spanish) When younger I went to Belgium and feed myself for a week with frites, sausages, mussels and cheap beer. Two weeks ago I returned there and spended some more money. Things changed positively, I can swear it.
As May 18 gets closer, I am thinking about all sorts of things that I don't know. Those of you that have been there may think some of these are trivial, but I would like to fit in and not make stupid mistakes.
1) Most places where I drink coffee have free refills and many offer a go cup when you leave. Do the bars in Spain offer free refills? Is it rude to drink a cup and take another with you? I hear a lot about coffee with milk, and I do plan to try it, but can I get a regular black coffee?
2) Is it a problem to recharge a cellphone, which is my camera, and do most places have available electric outlets? I would like to avoid the weight of an auxiliary battery. Do beds have outlets near them or is it community outlets? Are outlets first come first served of is there a procedure to follow?
3) I have to get up a lot at night. Is there usually any problem getting to the bathroom 3 to 5 times a night? On the Camino, what is the best way to find a bathroom and what do you do if you can't? In The Way it shows the guys with their backs turned to the path. Is that acceptable or should I seek a more hidden place? I play a lot of golf and know how to go behind a tree.
4) What are the best things to carry for lunch if you are going to eat on the run or stop for a brief picnic? What local foods should I be sure not to miss?
I'm sure that there are many more things that I need to know. Please tell me anything that a newbie would need to know or even tell me your silliest mistake. Thanks in advance.
Been Camino,
Ed
As May 18 gets closer, I am thinking about all sorts of things that I don't know. Those of you that have been there may think some of these are trivial, but I would like to fit in and not make stupid mistakes.
1) Most places where I drink coffee have free refills and many offer a go cup when you leave. Do the bars in Spain offer free refills? Is it rude to drink a cup and take another with you? I hear a lot about coffee with milk, and I do plan to try it, but can I get a regular black coffee?
2) Is it a problem to recharge a cellphone, which is my camera, and do most places have available electric outlets? I would like to avoid the weight of an auxiliary battery. Do beds have outlets near them or is it community outlets? Are outlets first come first served of is there a procedure to follow?
3) I have to get up a lot at night. Is there usually any problem getting to the bathroom 3 to 5 times a night? On the Camino, what is the best way to find a bathroom and what do you do if you can't? In The Way it shows the guys with their backs turned to the path. Is that acceptable or should I seek a more hidden place? I play a lot of golf and know how to go behind a tree.
4) What are the best things to carry for lunch if you are going to eat on the run or stop for a brief picnic? What local foods should I be sure not to miss?
I'm sure that there are many more things that I need to know. Please tell me anything that a newbie would need to know or even tell me your silliest mistake. Thanks in advance.
Been Camino,
Ed
Hello, Sue. I too will be at Orisson on May 18. I will be in SJPDP the evening of the 16th and day of the 17th. I'm sure we will meet at one place or the other. This will be the great adventure of my life. I am so excited to get started. Been Camino, EdHi Ed,
I will also be starting my first Camino on the 18th of May. I am staying at Orrison. Perhaps, we'll see one another on the journey.
Guess it's important to remember that while we all have so much in common as humans, we are very different in our preferences, paces, and pain levels! Listening to my inner voice is an important Camino goal for me.
Buen Camino!
Sue
... I still haven't eaten anything that I would term 'wonderful', quite the total opposite in fact
That's absolutely fabulous... wherever the internet is (or whatever the internet is) ...
Well, you have some serious problems here, DavidThe other 'problem' I have is that I cannot eat seafood that has lived in a shell .. cockles, scallops, crab, etc and I find octopus to be like rubber -- oh dear!!!
Can I join in and volunteer to drink while you'd be talking?David : If I have the luck of meeting you I will take you to San Clemente in Santiago and/ or Casa Barqueiro in Negreira. First we will eat ( my treat ) and then we will talk....
Can I join in and volunteer to drink while you'd be talking?
Won't say a word. Promise!
Actually, if you ranked ingredients in the tortilla according to weight, oil may be the first ingredient, or at least not far behind potato. Of ot wasn't for the oil, I would be making it here at home regularly.The tortilla (yes, its heavy, it's eggs and potatoes) ...
At the risk of being thought persnickety, I would like to mention that the operative word here is 'leftovers.' I think it is just fine to pack up one's leftovers from a meal that one has ordered and paid for. I do not think it is okay to take more than one can comfortably eat at a buffet breakfast with the intention of packing some away for a meal later in the day, nor do I think it is okay that, after one has eaten one's fill, to go back and help oneself to the buffet offerings to pack away for later. (Please know that I am not saying that our posters did this. Nothing in their post indicates this, and there is no need to be defensive.)
Yes, maybe I am persnickety, but I am really bothered when I see people doing this.
Hello The Austrian. Do you want a sauce to go with your hat or do you prefer to eat it plain? I figure if I'm going to drag my clubs for 500 miles, I should use them at least once. Just kidding.OK, I can't help but add my own opinionated opinions to this now off-the-track thread!
--You can spend a few more euros and skip the pilgrims menu with its endless pork filets and fries, and eat a lot better and more varied on the Camino. The salads, grilled vegetables, fish, eggs, and fruit were all tasty and nutritious. The tortilla (yes, its heavy, it's eggs and potatoes) was a welcome way to get something substantial to eat first thing in the morning, when the choice otherwise is bread or pastries. Bread and pastries....yum...
--I never had paella on the Camino, since I figured anything advertised outside a restaurant on a mass produced poster probably was frozen and not worth the calories.
--The food on the Invierno was wonderful. Everybody, including restaurants, have gardens, so even the french fries tasted better. Maybe that's true for all of Galicia?
--I can't imagine a weirder place to spend a rest day than Ciruena, which is a ghost town of vacation homes that looks like it was abandoned at the height of the housing collapse. Is there even a cafe there?
--Eddiebee, if you want to play golf on your off day, after a week of walking non-stop, I'll eat my UV resistant hat!
Here are some photos of food on the Camino. Thanks for the happy memories!
[QUOTE What local foods should I be sure not to miss?
I have two queries:
What is an OP? The only thing I can think of is Old-age Pensioner.
I have never been in an albergue that had a bath. Have I been staying in all the wrong places?
I guess that I qualify for either definition of OP since I am 70 years old, retired, and draw a pension. It took me over a week to puzzle out what OP meant.I have two queries:
What is an OP? The only thing I can think of is Old-age Pensioner.
I have never been in an albergue that had a bath. Have I been staying in all the wrong places?
I seem to recall that Casa de las Sonrisas in Grañon had a tub in the bathroom. But seeing as how there was but a single bathroom in the entire place no one spent time luxuriating in it.Bedl0w,
OP usually means Original Post or Poster.
Like you in more than 450 nights in albergues on the CF I have never seen one with a bath tub. However I have seen/used many bizarre systems for controlling the shower water system.
Happy washing and Buen camino!
You are referring to the menu del día, which is served midday, and is typically the largest meal of the day for Spaniards.I have heard that many places to eat have a plate of the day that is a little higher quality. Any comments?
David,
Goodness, what have your respondents missed!
When you get into Galicia you'll notice something on the dessert menu called Tarta de Santiago. I tried this, pigged out and ever since have been searching for a recipe to try to emulate this divine taste. Eventually I found one from UK which all the respondents raved about as the best and most authentic, but, although reasonably nice, turned out to be just an egg and zest cake nothing like the real deal. Still working on it and getting closer. But don't miss when you are there.
Entering Melide, on the left is a semi-open family restaurant specialising in pulpo. World famous, not to be missed, also have the vegetable soup.
Bogong
I've never come across anywhere in Spain where coffee refills are served. Ask for an cafe americano. You won't need more than one, coffee tends to be a lot stronger than the in the US. Most lodgings have charging points, either take an adapter or you can buy one in one of the many oriental emporiums in the larger towns/cities. they cost less than €5. Discretion is key when answering calls of nature. When you arrive in your albergue ask the hospitalero for a bed near the facilities or ask someone to swap. I don't know what age you are but many places 'reserve' beds for older/infirm/injured travellers - usually a bottom bunk. With the exception of Orisson - Roncesvalles, there is usually a cafe or shop to pick up supplies ( you can buy a sandwich in SJPP or Orisson). I'd also recommend that you move away from the 'menu peregrino' when in larger towns and cities and splash out on a good meal. The food in northern Spain is spectacular. My favourites are cordero al forn (lamb) and polpo gallega (octopus) also pimientos de padron (grilled peppers). Buen CaminoAs May 18 gets closer, I am thinking about all sorts of things that I don't know. Those of you that have been there may think some of these are trivial, but I would like to fit in and not make stupid mistakes.
1) Most places where I drink coffee have free refills and many offer a go cup when you leave. Do the bars in Spain offer free refills? Is it rude to drink a cup and take another with you? I hear a lot about coffee with milk, and I do plan to try it, but can I get a regular black coffee?
2) Is it a problem to recharge a cellphone, which is my camera, and do most places have available electric outlets? I would like to avoid the weight of an auxiliary battery. Do beds have outlets near them or is it community outlets? Are outlets first come first served of is there a procedure to follow?
3) I have to get up a lot at night. Is there usually any problem getting to the bathroom 3 to 5 times a night? On the Camino, what is the best way to find a bathroom and what do you do if you can't? In The Way it shows the guys with their backs turned to the path. Is that acceptable or should I seek a more hidden place? I play a lot of golf and know how to go behind a tree.
4) What are the best things to carry for lunch if you are going to eat on the run or stop for a brief picnic? What local foods should I be sure not to miss?
I'm sure that there are many more things that I need to know. Please tell me anything that a newbie would need to know or even tell me your silliest mistake. Thanks in advance.
Been Camino,
Ed
As May 18 gets closer, I am thinking about all sorts of things that I don't know. Those of you that have been there may think some of these are trivial, but I would like to fit in and not make stupid mistakes.
1) Most places where I drink coffee have free refills and many offer a go cup when you leave. Do the bars in Spain offer free refills? Is it rude to drink a cup and take another with you? I hear a lot about coffee with milk, and I do plan to try it, but can I get a regular black coffee?
2) Is it a problem to recharge a cellphone, which is my camera, and do most places have available electric outlets? I would like to avoid the weight of an auxiliary battery. Do beds have outlets near them or is it community outlets? Are outlets first come first served of is there a procedure to follow?
3) I have to get up a lot at night. Is there usually any problem getting to the bathroom 3 to 5 times a night? On the Camino, what is the best way to find a bathroom and what do you do if you can't? In The Way it shows the guys with their backs turned to the path. Is that acceptable or should I seek a more hidden place? I play a lot of golf and know how to go behind a tree.
4) What are the best things to carry for lunch if you are going to eat on the run or stop for a brief picnic? What local foods should I be sure not to miss?
I'm sure that there are many more things that I need to know. Please tell me anything that a newbie would need to know or even tell me your silliest mistake. Thanks in advance.
Been Camino,
Ed
Having worked in the hospitality industry for many years, I got over the "pic nic packers" long time ago. Have at it from the buffet, just tip well......
awesome questions!As May 18 gets closer, I am thinking about all sorts of things that I don't know. Those of you that have been there may think some of these are trivial, but I would like to fit in and not make stupid mistakes.
1) Most places where I drink coffee have free refills and many offer a go cup when you leave. Do the bars in Spain offer free refills? Is it rude to drink a cup and take another with you? I hear a lot about coffee with milk, and I do plan to try it, but can I get a regular black coffee?
2) Is it a problem to recharge a cellphone, which is my camera, and do most places have available electric outlets? I would like to avoid the weight of an auxiliary battery. Do beds have outlets near them or is it community outlets? Are outlets first come first served of is there a procedure to follow?
3) I have to get up a lot at night. Is there usually any problem getting to the bathroom 3 to 5 times a night? On the Camino, what is the best way to find a bathroom and what do you do if you can't? In The Way it shows the guys with their backs turned to the path. Is that acceptable or should I seek a more hidden place? I play a lot of golf and know how to go behind a tree.
4) What are the best things to carry for lunch if you are going to eat on the run or stop for a brief picnic? What local foods should I be sure not to miss?
I'm sure that there are many more things that I need to know. Please tell me anything that a newbie would need to know or even tell me your silliest mistake. Thanks in advance.
Been Camino,
Ed
What are the best things to carry for lunch if you are going to eat on the run or stop for a brief picnic?
I was hoping to shed a few pounds. It sounds as if I may have a hard time not gaining a few.
I've never asked for a 'refill' in Spain.
...have been searching for a recipe to try to emulate this divine taste"
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