Starting in Irún 4.august

[ReidarJ]

Hi,

I will start my first Camino tomorrow. I hope to walk to Santiago de Compostela via Primitivo. I have byen inspired by others in this forum to write my own blog and I have posted some already at http://hikingnotes.blogspot.com/.

I hope others can find something useful by reading my posts, but I think it will be good to have when I want to look back at this later. It will also be a good place for family and friends to keep track, because I plan to post when I am on the way.

I do not speak Spanish, will this be problematic on the way? I have Google translate on my phone and I hope that will help.

Buen Camino

 

[wayfarer]

Welcome Reidar, learn a few phrases in Spanish like asking for coffe, beer, a bed etc and you will be fine.
Enjoy your Camino.
Buen Camino.

 

[ReidarJ]

Welcome Reidar, learn a few phrases in Spanish like asking for coffe, beer, a bed etc and you will be fine.
Enjoy your Camino.
Buen Camino.

Yes that is very smart. Do anyone know of a list of the most useful phrases?

 

[wayfarer]

These few should get you started ok.

A coffee please - Una Café por favour

A beer please - Una cerveza por favour

Red wine please - Vino tinto por favour

A bed please - Una cama favour

A single room please - Una habitación individual por favour

A double room please - Una habitación doble por favor

 

[mspath]

When you obtain what you asked for don't forget to smile and say thanks ie Gracias! Or even better muchas gracias!

 

[ReidarJ]

These few should get you started ok.

A coffee please - Una Café por favour

A beer please - Una cerveza por favour

Red wine please - Vino tinto por favour

A bed please - Una cama favour

A single room please - Una habitación individual por favour

A double room please - Una habitación doble por favor

Great, muchas gracias

If I would like to ask the price, would that be Cuánto cuesta? And where do I leave the key? Is that ¿Dónde dejo la llave?

 

[wayfarer]

Great, muchas gracias

If I would like to ask the price, would that be Cuánto cuesta? And where do I leave the key? Is that ¿Dónde dejo la llave?

Sounds about right.

 

[Jiniowa]

Ahh, the Camino del Notrte without a passable fluency in Spanish. I remember it well.


First of all, you have chosen wisely. Buen Camino! I did the same last year and enjoyed it immensely. You will too. Much you will simply be able to figure out for yourself, the rest you can manage with hand gestures, or kindness of strangers and such.


For me, THE critical phrase that I didn’t know, but soon learned was: “¿Tiene usted una lavandería” or “¿Donde una lavandería”. In english: “Do you have a laundry?” and “Where is a laundry?”. Trust me on this.


The single most helpful phrase that I already knew was “La cuenta por favor” or “the check please”. The leisurely restaurant ways of all of northern Europe are not compatible with anyone on schedule and some days you WILL be on a schedule.


I personally loved going into my Camino pretty cold w/o a lot of preparation or expectation. To each his/her own I guess. So, I wouldn’t want to over-inform you or suggest much in the way of additional preparations. – just let it happen. That said, I have a thought or two that may enrich your travel – especially the early stages.


1.) I think it would be useful for you to (in your travels) learn as much about the local “white gold” vino. That being, Txakoli (sort of phonetically “Chocoli”). It’s fantastic and very much of the place. Excellent with the local seafood. Do yourself a favor and get smart about it early on.

2.) It will come at you a bit later in your travels, however you ought to learn to appreciate the “sideria” culture. This is of course the cider (Sider) and the serving of it in the cider bars “la siderias”. It’ good, unique, complex and local. Find someone who can help you appreciate it.

3.) The Santa Klara abluergue which is just past Zumia is not to be missed.


Lastly, for a non Spanish speaker, the trail is not as well marked as is usually suggested. Don’t sweat it though. Every mistake is correctable w/i about a half hour at most, usually about 5 minutes.

 

[ReidarJ]

Ahh, the Camino del Notrte without a passable fluency in Spanish. I remember it well.


First of all, you have chosen wisely. Buen Camino! I did the same last year and enjoyed it immensely. You will too. Much you will simply be able to figure out for yourself, the rest you can manage with hand gestures, or kindness of strangers and such.


For me, THE critical phrase that I didn’t know, but soon learned was: “¿Tiene usted una lavandería” or “¿Donde una lavandería”. In english: “Do you have a laundry?” and “Where is a laundry?”. Trust me on this.


The single most helpful phrase that I already knew was “La cuenta por favor” or “the check please”. The leisurely restaurant ways of all of northern Europe are not compatible with anyone on schedule and some days you WILL be on a schedule.


I personally loved going into my Camino pretty cold w/o a lot of preparation or expectation. To each his/her own I guess. So, I wouldn’t want to over-inform you or suggest much in the way of additional preparations. – just let it happen. That said, I have a thought or two that may enrich your travel – especially the early stages.


1.) I think it would be useful for you to (in your travels) learn as much about the local “white gold” vino. That being, Txakoli (sort of phonetically “Chocoli”). It’s fantastic and very much of the place. Excellent with the local seafood. Do yourself a favor and get smart about it early on.

2.) It will come at you a bit later in your travels, however you ought to learn to appreciate the “sideria” culture. This is of course the cider (Sider) and the serving of it in the cider bars “la siderias”. It’ good, unique, complex and local. Find someone who can help you appreciate it.

3.) The Santa Klara abluergue which is just past Zumia is not to be missed.


Lastly, for a non Spanish speaker, the trail is not as well marked as is usually suggested. Don’t sweat it though. Every mistake is correctable w/i about a half hour at most, usually about 5 minutes.

Great to get some input from a fellow pilgrim. I walked from Irún to San Sebastian today and had no problem to find my way. I also have an offline GPS map app on my mobile to help me if i need it. It's called OsmAnd.

I will walk from San Sebastian tomorrow, perhaps I make it to Santa Klara, I will check it out either way.

I needed the check please phrase today actually, good to know.

Thank you for the wine and cider tips, will be useful.

I usually wash my clothes by hand when I travel like this, but I will note the phrase down and learn it.

Buen Camino

 

[JillGat]

These few should get you started ok.

A coffee please - Una Café por favour

A beer please - Una cerveza por favour

Red wine please - Vino tinto por favour

A bed please - Una cama favour

A single room please - Una habitación individual por favour

A double room please - Una habitación doble por favor

 

[JillGat]

Un cafe, not una cafe.

 

[wayfarer]

Thanks Jill, I stand corrected.

 

[JillGat]

Thanks Jill, I stand corrected.