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Thanks, that what's I was thinking I had no trouble on the CF. I am not shy and only to happy to make a fool of myself. I am in the process of learning more words and stringing them together.As long as you are fairly comfortable (i.e. not too shy) using what you know, you will do fine. If you are shy about speaking Spanish you will still be fine, but less comfortable! Your needs are generally basic and obvious (food, water, bed, doctor, Camino de Santiago), and in an emergency, someone can be found to speak English. Even though the route is less travelled than the Frances, there will be other pilgrims, at least in the spring time.
A whole book could be written around the subject! With me, a chafing of the inner thigh and a young farmacéutica in Astorga!Reminds me of a visit to the medical centre in Carrion with Pat, for a rather 'intimate' issue.
It was hilarious trying to use my 6 spanish lessons worth of spanish.
Though Pat was not amused.
The story...........
Don't forget to use the "camera" facility on Google Translate to help with signs and menus and prepare/save phrases you'll use over and over again in your phrase book.I have a very basic understanding of Spanish. I can ask for a menu, do you do dinner, etc & do you, where is inanition I can order basic food, coffee, tea, where is/are please, thank you etc I am attempting to understand some basic written words. Will this get me by or do I need more, I understand that is is a less travelled route with less English speaking. I will also have google as a fall back, thank you
Very little is needed. I have walked about three quarters so far and my Spanish is very limited. Someone has mentioned below google translate which is extremely helpful tool. And in the end everybody is so helpful and nice you will get by.I have a very basic understanding of Spanish. I can ask for a menu, do you do dinner, etc & do you, where is inanition I can order basic food, coffee, tea, where is/are please, thank you etc I am attempting to understand some basic written words. Will this get me by or do I need more, I understand that is is a less travelled route with less English speaking. I will also have google as a fall back, thank you
Relieved to see I'm not the only one who's had this problem - in my case, a young pharmacienne in Condom after walking three days in temperatures >35°. Fortunately, she cottoned on quickly to my mixture of schoolboy French and mime and swiftly diagnosed the problem.With me, a chafing of the inner thigh and a young farmacéutica in Astorga!
I have a very basic understanding of Spanish. I can ask for a menu, do you do dinner, etc & do you, where is inanition I can order basic food, coffee, tea, where is/are please, thank you etc I am attempting to understand some basic written words. Will this get me by or do I need more, I understand that is is a less travelled route with less English speaking. I will also have google as a fall back, thank you
I have a very basic understanding of Spanish. I can ask for a menu, do you do dinner, etc & do you, where is inanition I can order basic food, coffee, tea, where is/are please, thank you etc I am attempting to understand some basic written words. Will this get me by or do I need more, I understand that is is a less travelled route with less English speaking. I will also have google as a fall back, thank you
There is much truth in this. But the Law of Sodde states that:I've read on this forum that you have a good chance of finding an English speaker in pharmacies.
As somebody one said - "In Spain they eat every part of the pig . . . except the oink!"While working in Venezuela (Maracaibo), our local grocery store owner specified the deli would be happy to supply us a nice portion of "torcineta". "Bacon?", she sniffed. "No! Torcinata, no "bacon"!
So imagine "asombro" when my Camino-in-Spain omelettes could be cooked with "jamon" (yes, yes, I know: ham!) or, alongside, ("bacon").
And to further furrow our English-speaking, well-intentioned-pilgrim-courtesy-it-is-your-lovely-langauge-no-disrespect-intended (as opposed to -- and I have seen it, folks, and heard it, too -- "just-raise-your-voice-in-exasperated-Bermuda-shorts-wearing-American-tourist-manner"), herewith:-
a. el tocino
(m)
She ordered eggs and bacon for breakfast.Pidió huevos con tocino de desayuno.
b. la tocineta
(f)
Every Sunday I make scrambled eggs and bacon.Cada domingo hago huevos revueltos con tocineta.
c. la panceta
(f)
I fried a few strips of bacon.Freí unas lonjas de panceta.
d. el beicon
(m)
I love the smell of frying bacon.Me encanta el olor del beicon cuando se está friendo.
e. el bacon
(m)
He made himself a bacon sandwich.Se hizo un bocadillo de bacon.
Perhaps this qualifies, if only just, as a sidelong glance in the Humor column?
In a Mad magazine parody of a modern Tarzan movie."You - Canadians - speak - really - good - English!"
I better say "el supermercado" or "el super" instead of "el mercado".Donde esta : bano, albergue municipal, el bar, farmacia, el mercado
Agreed, though in smaller villages I think el Mercado works. Then again, if you're a super big eater el supermercado may be a state of mind and just as appropriate.I better say "el supermercado" or "el super" instead of "el mercado".
If you say mercado the local could understand something similar to the Mercado de Abastos de Santiago(to give an example) and there aren't mercados in small towns.Agreed, though in smaller villages I think el Mercado works. Then again, if you're a super big eater el supermercado may be a state of mind and just as appropriate.
None!I have a very basic understanding of Spanish. I can ask for a menu, do you do dinner, etc & do you, where is inanition I can order basic food, coffee, tea, where is/are please, thank you etc I am attempting to understand some basic written words. Will this get me by or do I need more, I understand that is is a less travelled route with less English speaking. I will also have google as a fall back, thank you
My cousin and I walked VDLP in 2017 and had a similar or lesser Spanish "skillset". I was initially planning on walking by myself but was glad to have a companion. It went fairly smoothly. We did have two encounters with livestock dogs and I would not want to do that by myself.I have a very basic understanding of Spanish. I can ask for a menu, do you do dinner, etc & do you, where is inanition I can order basic food, coffee, tea, where is/are please, thank you etc I am attempting to understand some basic written words. Will this get me by or do I need more, I understand that is is a less travelled route with less English speaking. I will also have google as a fall back, thank you
This is a perfect Spanish lesson: Where is : the bathroom, the albergue, bar, pharmacy, the food shop (alimentacion). Great advice. Most of what you need.Donde esta : bano, albergue municipal, el bar, farmacia, el mercado
There you have it! And, as mentioned several times: many folks speak English, yet appreciate attempts to speak Spanish.
Buen Camino,
Arn
Pre-camino, when really rusty in Spanish, I had this asked of me in Spanish (in the US). The toilets were down a corridor at the entrance/exit to the building so I pointed down to the doors and said "Casa afuera." Eventually I realized what I said, and as the woman was on her way, I called out "Casi afuera, casi afuera!" Amazing that I wasn't laughed at for indicating to use the "out house" ("house outside" anyway).Donde esta : bano,
I got an ebook on Amazon of the 1000 most useful words in Spanish. Each entry has an example of usage. It helped me immensely even though I mostly rely on DH as his Spanish is much, much more fluent than mine. (PS if your experience of Spanish is based on Northern Mexico, you will learn new meanings for words you already know. Like "tortilla"!)Thanks, that what's I was thinking I had no trouble on the CF. I am not shy and only to happy to make a fool of myself. I am in the process of learning more words and stringing them together.
I had this awkward conversation in Fatima. After several repetitions the pharmacist made a motion indicating the panty line and I said yes. The 8 euro cream was very helpful. Also that we were in a hotel that night and I could "air the problem out" a little. I will say no more, I'm sure many of y'all know what I'm talking about and why it can't be done in an albergue!Relieved to see I'm not the only one who's had this problem - in my case, a young pharmacienne in Condom after walking three days in temperatures >35°. Fortunately, she cottoned on quickly to my mixture of schoolboy French and mime and swiftly diagnosed the problem.
Make sure you have Google translate on your phone. Download the Spanish dictionary so it can be used offline.I have a very basic understanding of Spanish. I can ask for a menu, do you do dinner, etc & do you, where is inanition I can order basic food, coffee, tea, where is/are please, thank you etc I am attempting to understand some basic written words. Will this get me by or do I need more, I understand that is is a less travelled route with less English speaking. I will also have google as a fall back, thank you
Donde esta : bano, albergue municipal, el bar, farmacia, el mercado
In Spain it's more common to ask for los servicios than el baño. Or el aseo.I better say "el supermercado" or "el super" instead of "el mercado".
How about when you ask for jugo de naranja?My Spanish is pretty good. But it's Mexican Spanish, which on the one hand is usually well understood in Spain, but on the other hand sometimes gets me confused looks or outright laughter. Such as when I call a pen a "pluma."
Yeah, that took some re-learning, too.How about when you ask for jugo de naranja?
Reminds me of when my partner needed Aspirin but in suppository form so I had to go to the pharmacia and describe in very poor Spanish what I was looking for. So there I was bending over and pointing to my bum and saying "Asparina!" over and over until they finally understood! This was in Fuente De Cantos if I remember right....Pantomime helps in a pinch.
Used to be a great fan of Mad Magazine! I live on my own, thank God, so can cheerfully shout " Hoo! Ha! ", "Melvin's in trouble" every time I have a culinary disaster, which is often enoughIn a Mad magazine parody of a modern Tarzan movie.
Explorer: Why, you speak English as good as I do!
Tarzan: Twice wrong. Use well, not good and I speak it better than you do.
Anyway it was somewhat like the above. It's been 50+ years after all.
it wouldn't be the first time either that above said sign has been there all week...There is much truth in this. But the Law of Sodde states that:
Rule no 1 - when you urgently need assistance the only language spoken behind the counter is a little known variant of Eskara,
Rule no 2 - if you are a shy middle-aged person with an intimate problem the assistant will be of the opposite sex and at least half your age,
Rule no 3 - if you are in dire need of something there will be a notice in the door which says "De vuelta en 10 minutos" that sign having been hanging there for all of the 45 minutes you and six other people have been queueing outside.
All of this is a calumny of course - the service in Spanish farmacias is generally first class.
My knowledge of Spanish is very, very limited, but if you try your best you will get by easily. On my two Caminos I found English was spoken at all albergues, hostels and hotels.I have a very basic understanding of Spanish. I can ask for a menu, do you do dinner, etc & do you, where is inanition I can order basic food, coffee, tea, where is/are please, thank you etc I am attempting to understand some basic written words. Will this get me by or do I need more, I understand that is is a less travelled route with less English speaking. I will also have google as a fall back, thank you
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