Justin of the South
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino de Santiago (2014)
- I needed a lot less than I thought I would and I didn't bring that much to begin with.
- Generosity abounds.
- You will be hard pressed to run out of food or water...ever. I used a water "system" that worked well for reducing weight: I drank a full water bottle whenever I crossed paths with a fountain and rarely held more than half of a bottle of water on my pack. Do what is comfortable for you though.
- You can easily pick up extra gear and clothes for free in the albergues.
- Books come and go.
- Maps are everywhere.
- Candy bars taste great in the mountains.
- That little snack trailer in the Pyrenees was heaven sent. (best boiled egg ever)
- A bandana and sun hat are essential gear.
- The walking stick you find becomes your friend and traveling companion and you will grow to feel fondly toward it, even though it's a stick. (Mine has a new life in America as a wind chime after it finally broke in Dublin.)
- You will always find a place to sleep, even if it's outside. Don't rush to get to off the trail, if you walk past 3pm you can have completely different experiences.
- Walking in Spain by moonlight, surrounded by silence and darkness is a lot of fun.
- "Leche con hielo por favor" became one of my go-to phrases in cafes. (milk is not served cold in Spain)
- Meeting people and making friends is one of the best parts of the Camino. (I met folks from 44 different countries!)
- Buy snacks from the local vendors selling in the woods or along the farm roads. The figs and walnuts were a much welcome change of pace. Eat an avocado like an apple.
- If you have a chance to take a detour or side trip, go for it. San Bol was a detour for me and it was one of the best albergues I stayed in.
- Don't open or incessantly crinkle your bag of chips in the albergues in the morning or at night.
- If the albergue is too noisy or uncomfortable, you can always sleep outside.
- "Buen Caminos" get a lot less enthusiastic as the days go by.
- Spanish street cats are very hungry and will eat pretty much anything you feed them.
- Spanish dogs are not the same as American dogs.
- A smile goes along way.
- Those blisters need to be drained.
- If you want to walk alone, it's OK to say so.
- The Camino is a life-enriching experience and I would gladly do it again (but probably take a different route!)
Buen Camino!
- Generosity abounds.
- You will be hard pressed to run out of food or water...ever. I used a water "system" that worked well for reducing weight: I drank a full water bottle whenever I crossed paths with a fountain and rarely held more than half of a bottle of water on my pack. Do what is comfortable for you though.
- You can easily pick up extra gear and clothes for free in the albergues.
- Books come and go.
- Maps are everywhere.
- Candy bars taste great in the mountains.
- That little snack trailer in the Pyrenees was heaven sent. (best boiled egg ever)
- A bandana and sun hat are essential gear.
- The walking stick you find becomes your friend and traveling companion and you will grow to feel fondly toward it, even though it's a stick. (Mine has a new life in America as a wind chime after it finally broke in Dublin.)
- You will always find a place to sleep, even if it's outside. Don't rush to get to off the trail, if you walk past 3pm you can have completely different experiences.
- Walking in Spain by moonlight, surrounded by silence and darkness is a lot of fun.
- "Leche con hielo por favor" became one of my go-to phrases in cafes. (milk is not served cold in Spain)
- Meeting people and making friends is one of the best parts of the Camino. (I met folks from 44 different countries!)
- Buy snacks from the local vendors selling in the woods or along the farm roads. The figs and walnuts were a much welcome change of pace. Eat an avocado like an apple.
- If you have a chance to take a detour or side trip, go for it. San Bol was a detour for me and it was one of the best albergues I stayed in.
- Don't open or incessantly crinkle your bag of chips in the albergues in the morning or at night.
- If the albergue is too noisy or uncomfortable, you can always sleep outside.
- "Buen Caminos" get a lot less enthusiastic as the days go by.
- Spanish street cats are very hungry and will eat pretty much anything you feed them.
- Spanish dogs are not the same as American dogs.
- A smile goes along way.
- Those blisters need to be drained.
- If you want to walk alone, it's OK to say so.
- The Camino is a life-enriching experience and I would gladly do it again (but probably take a different route!)
Buen Camino!
