I Started My Camino Off By ...............

As I was in the narthex (entry vestibule) of the Basilica of St James in Prague, trying to negotiate with the non-English-speaking priest to get my credential stamped, I was pickpocketed. Fortunately I spotted the wallet in the girl's hand and made a recovery. But it was a very narrow escape.

Yes, I did manage to get the credential stamped finally.

Re losing the guide book, Sometimes fate steps in and does the right thing everything happens for a reason?

I broke my glasses in half in SJPP. Fortunately I can function reasonably well without them.

I started my first Camino in April 2007, from Verin on the Via De La Plata. Although the original plan was to walk on my own, over the preceding months I was joined by 3 friends who also wanted to walk. So we arrived in our departure town, Verin, which was an old stomping ground of mine from having visited friends and relatives over numerous years. We purchased water and food from the supermarket, an empanada from the Panaderia and chorizo and jamon from the butcher ready for our early departure the next morning and I then preceded to show them the sights and sounds of Verin (there aren't many but we manged to find them all). To cut a long story short, we went to bed at about 3am with an intended departure time of 7:30 for our 42km first day, carrying between 10-15kg each (we were both Camino and indeed walking novices at that point).

Needless to say we overslept and departed in such a hurry that we left all the food and drinks in the fridge, were extremely de-hydrated for the whole of the day and, to top it all, the sole of my boot which I had re-soled prior to departure, basically fell off 1/2 way through the day so I ended up having to super glue it back on. It did however get me to Santiago and is still firmly stuck to my boot, now used for gardening, 5 years later. And of course, my backpack was then also 1gr lighter having transferred the glue to my boot. It made all the difference!

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but so was that first Camino.
Mig

Mig! You were a walking novice, had four hours sleep, a backpack weighing 10-15 kgs and did 42 kms on the first day?!?!
In May I'd been practising for four months, had eight hours sleep, a backpack weighing 8 kgs and needed hospital treatment after walking only 33 kms on my first day. Life's not fair!
Mind you, you're probably young enough to be my grandson
Buen camino!

Stephen
http://www.calig.co.uk/camino_de_santiago.htm

Hiking 20 k up the 1060 meter Ibaneta pass via the Valcarlos route the first time in 2004 at 65 to the monastery at Roncevalles was one of the most difficult days on the Camino and certainly the most physically exhausting day of my adult life then to date. I was pooped! Although I had hiked throughout the summer in preparation for the trip, nothing had prepared me for such an effort. Beneath a deep blue sky and brilliant sun I gasped and ached while my pack weighed like bricks.

After hiking about 5 hours I finally staggered over the pass into a picnic area filled with a munching mob; they had arrived by bus and cars! Never will I forget the look that one très correct French woman drinking champagne from a crystal flute, no plastic for her, gave me as I trudged past exhausted! ET would have been better received. A kindly couple from Scotland offered me the best ever cup of tea from their thermos. Refreshed I continued on to the monastery, happy that the path was now slightly downhill....Eventually I made it to Santiago walking all the way.

On that first Camino I learned the hard way that this is NOT a walk in the park! Yet even now at 73 what still matters is to DO IT!

Margaret