gabolga
New Member
I have just completed my first Camino Frances, starting at St Jean P du P on March 24th and reaching Santiago on May 6th and finishing at Fisterra on May 11th. I am a pretty slow hiker, but I think that that is the way to go if you have the luxury of the extra time.
If I had to give advice to any future pilgrims – from the lofty height of one single journey – I would suggest the following
1. Learn as much Spanish as you can before you go. I was able to get by with the basics, but realy missed being able to have a long conversation with the people- all of whom seem only too eager to talk to you.
2. You don’t need a sleeping pad.
3. You do need a sleeping bag - at least at this time of year.
4. Expect most of the churches in the small towns to be closed most of the time.
5. At this time of year it will be cold – bring warm gear, including a good pair of gloves – and expect snow.
6. It is going to rain a lot, expect rain and mud [with the consistency of glue] and select your footwear accordingly.
7. Spanish toilets are flushed by pressing – or lifting – a button on the top, or by pulling on a chain [or rope] from an overhead cistern. Don’t be surprised if there is no toilet pedestal to sit on.
8. Go slow – especially at the start. I was amazed at the number of people who had significant problems with blisters and tendonitis – bad enough to seriously interfere with, or end, their hike.
9. Live in the moment, focus on what is happening now, don’t worry too much about the future. Stop and smell the flowers. Don’t rush.
10. There is a great spiritual power in the pilgrimage if you are only willing to be open enough to feel it.
11. As someone on this forum said “Don’t forget to go!”
I would be interested in finding out what advice other members of this forum would give to a new pilgrim about to start out.
If I had to give advice to any future pilgrims – from the lofty height of one single journey – I would suggest the following
1. Learn as much Spanish as you can before you go. I was able to get by with the basics, but realy missed being able to have a long conversation with the people- all of whom seem only too eager to talk to you.
2. You don’t need a sleeping pad.
3. You do need a sleeping bag - at least at this time of year.
4. Expect most of the churches in the small towns to be closed most of the time.
5. At this time of year it will be cold – bring warm gear, including a good pair of gloves – and expect snow.
6. It is going to rain a lot, expect rain and mud [with the consistency of glue] and select your footwear accordingly.
7. Spanish toilets are flushed by pressing – or lifting – a button on the top, or by pulling on a chain [or rope] from an overhead cistern. Don’t be surprised if there is no toilet pedestal to sit on.
8. Go slow – especially at the start. I was amazed at the number of people who had significant problems with blisters and tendonitis – bad enough to seriously interfere with, or end, their hike.
9. Live in the moment, focus on what is happening now, don’t worry too much about the future. Stop and smell the flowers. Don’t rush.
10. There is a great spiritual power in the pilgrimage if you are only willing to be open enough to feel it.
11. As someone on this forum said “Don’t forget to go!”
I would be interested in finding out what advice other members of this forum would give to a new pilgrim about to start out.
