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Legally blind and wanting to do the Camino again

jirit

Veteran Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Frances 2007,
Via Francigena Italy, 2008,
Jakobsweg Austria 2010,
Camino Frances 2011,
Le Puy to Lourdes 2012,
Via de la Plata 2013,
Future:
Ökumenischer (Via Regia), Germany,
Lycian Way, Turkey
I have a friend that did the Camino Frances a few years ago and would like to walk it again. Since doing it, she has been become legal blind and uses a guide dog to navigate around the streets, etc. If she goes her husband will join her (they both walked together last night too) and assist her during the walk.

She will take her guide dog with her.

They have already traveled to various parts of Europe using different modes of transportation since she was declared legally blind and she has taken her guide dog on these trips too.

Does has anybody has an experience with somebody walking the Camino Frances that is legally blind?

Obvious questions include accessibility to the private and public albergues, the terrain, insurance, etc

Thanks
 
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The first edition came out in 2003 and has become the go-to-guide for many pilgrims over the years. It is shipping with a Pilgrim Passport (Credential) from the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.
I have no practical advice, but I can say it is possible. When I walked this time last year there was a fully blind man walking the camino. He came to Spain alone, but he always found himself a walking partner for the day, who could help him around. All he asked from the other person was to walk beside him and let him touch their arm. He met so many helpful people. Amazing.

The peregrina you are talking about will be fine walking: she has her husband and her guide dog with her to help her on rough terrain. I'm not sure about the dog being allowed to stay inside albergues though. In my country (the Netherlands) guide dogs are allowed in places where 'normal' dogs aren't.
 
Although I don't have experience myself it is possible. Dutch television made a series about the camino in which also a dutch female couple was followed who did the camino, one of them was blind.
You can still look at it, although it is in dutch:
http://www.uitzendinggemist.nl/afleveringen/1293798, they start at 6min50sec.
(maybe you first need to skip the commercial for 20 secs)

If you want I can give you more private contact details from this couple.
 
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