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rather late for me to say so, but it is always wise and courteous to try and master a few basics if you're walking through a foreign country. Whereas in italy and Spain people are generally wanting to try out their English, France is very different. It's their country; why should they speak a different language? I feel for you, but suggest you keep going because it's better than not doing so. I expect you were too upset to read the town signs of the towns you passed through? Aix, Thiviers, Sorges.Hey,
First of all: I am sorry for opening yet another topic. However, i feel like i need a topic in which I can write down all my experiences and questions.
I arrived in Limoges on tuesday morning and walked to aux sur vienne (12 km), wednesday to Chalus (20km), thursday to Thieves (+/- 35km), and today to Sourges (18km).
My experience so far is a mix of different feelings. It has been really overwhelming so I did not really observe the nature and surroundings; I was mosly in my head worrying about where to sleep, what to eat, to have enough water, to not get a heatstroke etc. Yesterday and today, very aggresive dogs came charging at me which is adding another stressor to my days.I decided to reserve one day in advance which takes away a bit of stress.
In Aux Sur Vienne and Chalus i was alone at the place where i slept. Yesterday and today I was/am with other pelgrims. Unfortunately communication is hard because I speak very bad French and they do not speak English. I chose the vezelay route because i wanted loneliness but the loneliness of sitting at a table where you are unable to join in the conversation is a different kind: one I don't like and would rather avoid. I am very introverted and therefore it takes a lot of energy of me. It shows, because today people asked me whether I was 'sad'. i am just really tired of the interaction and trying to be social all the time. Is the camino even for me? Is it common etiquette to socialize and stay with the rest, or is it accepted to be nice during dinner and than isolate a bit more? At the moment I "escaped" and sit somewhere outside.
Thus, so far it has been a challenge. I am fighting my demons already, which was somewhat the purpose of my camino so perhaps its fine. Hopefully it will teach me something in the end, and my camino will evolve.
Tomorrow i walk to Periguex (+/- 25km).
CHEERS!
Update: i've heard from the hospitalero today that the two dogs I encountered today (and i decided to stop walking immediately, to walk backwards and take another road) have attacked and bitten two people this week. I have no clue why people leave these dogs still unleashed after they clearly showed this agressive behavior. Also,i am concidering skipping France and start from SJPDP.
Thanks for your reaction!rather late for me to say so, but it is always wise and courteous to try and master a few basics if you're walking through a foreign country. Whereas in italy and Spain people are generally wanting to try out their English, France is very different. It's their country; why should they speak a different language? I feel for you, but suggest you keep going because it's better than not doing so. I expect you were too upset to read the town signs of the towns you passed through? Aix, Thiviers, Sorges.
This is good thread to document your journey as you proceed, so I have added the prefix "LIVE from the Camino" to it. Just come back to this same thread and add to it daily, or as often as you like. We are happy to hear about different routes!I am sorry for opening yet another topic.
Yes, please do! I would love to hear about the route and your experiences, which I hope continue to get better and better. I visited that area in May as a tourist and fell instantly in love with the town of Vezeley and its beautiful cathedral. I thought at the time it would be a special Camino to walk. I hope you come to find it so...... Just come back to this same thread and add to it daily, or as often as you like. We are happy to hear about different routes!
I will! Today was already better so I'm sure the camino will become specialYes, please do! I would love to hear about the route and your experiences, which I hope continue to get better and better. I visited that area in May as a tourist and fell instantly in love with the town of Vezeley and its beautiful cathedral. I thought at the time it would be a special Camino to walk. I hope you come to find it so.
I walked from Le Puy, of course a different route but many of the same issues you face. I did not even have a phone. I had a Michelin guide book that was close to worthless except it did offer some GItes to sleep. Bonjour and merci exhaust my knowledge of French. I didn't even know that Chemin was the correct word for Camino. I got lost on more than a few occasions because I missed the small stripe directional guides so much and when I would say Camino a farmer, if there even was one to ask or a villager, they would look at me blankly. That whole part of the camino from Le Puy to St. Jean I do not think I encountered 5 people who spoke any English. I had days were the map showed there were villages but when I got there there were just a few houses and no shops or bars. Other days I would arrive at all different times and if there was a cafe or shop it was closed. No consistency at all for opening closing. Believe me there were more than a few days I had nothing to eat from breakfast to dinner. So I just said f%#k it. I learned to just enjoy the beauty. Enjoy the solitude. Lose my mind over the fantastic dinners in the Gites that were often like eating in Michelin star restaurants. I learned to pantomime what I needed. If I could buy food tomorrow and if the Gite owner would make me a reservation for the next night. About 10 days in if a gite owner understood what I wanted I had them write it down so I could point to the sentence when need be.Thanks for your reaction!
I do know some basic French, enough for simple Q&A (i've had a few years of French in school) and to take care of my needs. However, that will never be enough to engage in vivid conversation between French speaking people. So you just sit at the table, trying to look frienly. That just feels really awkward (at least for me). Its not their fault, its not mine, but its difficult (at least for me).
Now, the facts that: my camino just started and I have to find find my way still + I have not slept very well since tuesday + scary dogs on the road + yesterday was a very cozy and social refugee, made me more upset than I should have been. Today was a nice day.
It can be an awkward feeling if you are the non French speaker at the table - I sometimes brought my guide/notes/ phone to look at tomorrow's route - it gave me something to look at and sometimes helped a conversation in my poor French and in mime. And often in return found out info that was in a French guidebook but not mine or got a recommendation.Thanks for your reaction!
I do know some basic French, enough for simple Q&A (i've had a few years of French in school) and to take care of my needs. However, that will never be enough to engage in vivid conversation between French speaking people. So you just sit at the table, trying to look frienly. That just feels really awkward (at least for me). Its not their fault, its not mine, but its difficult (at least for me).
Now, the facts that: my camino just started and I have to find find my way still + I have not slept very well since tuesday + scary dogs on the road + yesterday was a very cozy and social refugee, made me more upset than I should have been. Today was a nice day.
I know it's not your route but I did the le puy last year and had the same issues not speaking french. After a few days I got to know a few with a little English which helped. I however resorted to a friend at home who had good french to help with booking ahead. Some accommodation that had a English speaking flag on their listing even seemed to think that it was unreasonable to speak EnglishIt can be an awkward feeling if you are the non French speaker at the table - I sometimes brought my guide/notes/ phone to look at tomorrow's route - it gave me something to look at and sometimes helped a conversation in my poor French and in mime. And often in return found out info that was in a French guidebook but not mine or got a recommendation.
But glad to hear today was a better day! And it takes a bit of getting used to the smaller style marking of French routes compared to caminos in Spain.
Would love to hear how you are getting on!
Oh my - I hope your luxury hotel offererd an exquisite breakfast as well! If you have a smart phone, you can download translation apps that have a feature where you can point your camera at the French (or Spanish) text and it will give you the English translation. "Google Translate" is an example. You can also type (in English) a few of the common phrases you would like to express to see and hear the translation in French.I know it's not your route but I did the le puy last year and had the same issues not speaking french. After a few days I got to know a few with a little English which helped. I however resorted to a friend at home who had good french to help with booking ahead. Some accommodation that had a English speaking flag on their listing even seemed to think that it was unreasonable to speak English. Having a friend who spoke french seemed to do the trick for me. It was always an adventure as I never knew what sort of accomadation I had been booked into for the night! Enjoy the food in France it's fantastique! Its so much better than Spain. Somebody on the forum said that the worst food day in France was better than the best day in Spain - so true. If you can treat yourself to a posh hotel once in a while. It's nice to have a break from the effort now and again. And get a great night's sleep. I found this out by accident when I booked a hotel for €200 (my french language issue). Enjoy the adventure carpe diem!
Hi JanusI started from Limoges so unfortunately i did not get to see Vezelay. But, i heard a lot of good things of it!
Unfortunately sometimes it's not the ability but the unwillingness of the person asked to respond in English that's the issue.Oh my - I hope your luxury hotel offererd an exquisite breakfast as well! If you have a smart phone, you can download translation apps that have a feature where you can point your camera at the French (or Spanish) text and it will give you the English translation. "Google Translate" is an example. You can also type (in English) a few of the common phrases you would like to express to see and hear the translation in French.
I too, have visited charming Vezeley as part of a driving tourist trip. I loved the cathedral, too. At the time I went in 2014, I was unaware of any of the "Caminos". I was literally "so close, yet so far".I visited that area in May as a tourist and fell instantly in love with the town of Vezeley and its beautiful cathedral. I thought at the time it would be a special Camino to walk.
That's very kind, thanks a lot! I just arrived in Mussidan but perhaps on my next camino de vezelayHello and I am very late to this thread. I live near the route not far from St Astier... 25km from Perigueux... if you need anything, or need some assistance or would like some company them please message me! Tomorrow is going to be hot hot hot so take care our there!
The choice is yours: go forward or go back. As your name implies! It will get better, I believe. Sending positive vibesThanks for your reaction!
I do know some basic French, enough for simple Q&A (i've had a few years of French in school) and to take care of my needs. However, that will never be enough to engage in vivid conversation between French speaking people. So you just sit at the table, trying to look frienly. That just feels really awkward (at least for me). Its not their fault, its not mine, but its difficult (at least for me).
Now, the facts that: my camino just started and I have to find find my way still + I have not slept very well since tuesday + scary dogs on the road + yesterday was a very cozy and social refugee, made me more upset than I should have been. Today was a nice day.
Too much weight on your shoulders? Most of the weight of your pack should be carried by the hip belt of your backpack, and should rest on your hips, not around the hips. (See this thread.) See if you can find a Youtube-tutorial about adjusting your pack. Bon chemin!After about 1 hour of walking my trapezius (mostly left side) gets very tight and cramped up, especially when I look down or push on it. Its only when I have my backpack on.
Yes - that is always a bit problematic. On a cultural note, it is considered customary to always greet a shopkeeper or innkeeper, upon entry to the building, with "Bonjuour Madame (or Monsieur)," with emphasis on the need for using the gender title. One can also offer "Comment allez-vous?" with a smile, followed by "I'm sorry but I really don't speak much French." The initial effort with the French language is always appreciated and there is considerable tolerance of poor pronunciation when a smile is involved!Unfortunately sometimes it's not the ability but the unwillingness of the person asked to respond in English that's the issue.
Thanks for your photos! I will be embarking on my Camino in September and your photos inspire anticipation. I have had issues with muscle tightness as I am now training for the trek. I've read that we need to stretch everything connected from the top of our heads to our plantar fascia to keep the posture/walking apparatus working without issue. The best times to stretch are when arising in the morning, a few miles down the trail, and especially at the end of the day when muscle/connective tissue fibers are especially warmed up and ready to extend a little further than usual. I just stretch arms, legs, etc. with whatever feels good - it is not a prescribed science. Hope this helps. Buen Camino!I will definitely continue!
Small remarks:
1. I am starting to find my way. Apparently you cannot run away from your problems on the camino; instead they get magnified. At home I suffer from social anxiety, low self-esteem, and I am a people pleaser. When I am at a table with people that speak another language I am not so much bothered I cannot join the conversation (I actually prefer it often), but more by the toughts: 'what will they think of me', 'do they think I am weird because I don't talk', etc. Perhaps this confrontation will be good for me in the end.
2. After about 1 hour of walking my trapezius (mostly left side) gets very tight and cramped up, especially when I look down or push on it. Its only when I have my backpack on. After a while also other parts of my back get tight. Any suggestions on what might be wrong and how to fix it? I have an osprey talon 33 which is adjustable I just don't know what tweaks are required. Perhaps I will even buy another pack as for me 33L is a bit uncomfortably small since i brought Teva Sandals.
*The walk:*
It will not be too elaborate since I am only using my phone for writing. Today was my seventh day of walking. The first week was a 'warm up' in which I dealt with my body and mind getting used to the camino. Thus, I paid less attention to my surroundings.
Saterday: Sorges - Périgueux
Sorges was amazing. It had a small church which somehow impacted me. There was a poem/prayer of st james which gave me courage to continue my path. I stayed in a refuge municipal (albergue) next to the church which was really nice. The hospitaleros were a maried (?) couple. They cooked for us (me and 5 other French pelgrims) a really nice dinner with three courses. Before eating they had a tradition of singing a prayer and drinking a self made alcoholic beverage. Lovely.
The day after, I walked to Perigueux. Here I stayed together with three other pelgrims in a municipal albergue. This was a more strict: no dinner, no noise after 10. Another pelgrim left because she told me "the man was crazy". I did not mind the strictness. For dinner i had a pizza from domino's.. (because it still feels a bit awkward to go to an actual restaurant by myself). Perigueux was a real city (in contrast to the other places I've stayed so far), and I liked that. The cathedral and architecture where also very lovely.
Yesterday i walked to Saint-Astier beautiful walk but i do not remember a lot. There i stayed in a camping in a pelgrims-hut with two other pelgrims. For dinner we had camping menu, nothing more to saySaint Astier is a really beautiful old village on a hill.
Today we all woke up early at 5:45 to avoid as much of the extreme heat as possible on our way to Mussidan. We walked solo though. Again a nice walk with a lot of going up, and going down. At the moment I am staying in a municipal refugee with two pelgrims (the same as the days before).
Tomorrow I have a long walk to Port-Sainte-Foy (33km). It will be about 32 degrees celcius but compared to today it seems little
Find attached some photo's
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