We were there...

The Camino de Compostela forum  http://www.caminodesantiago.me/ is a lovely gathering of pilgrims from around the world.  I joined about a month ago only to find that entering the forum is like a family reunion.  Every day people are talking about places they have been and things they saw there.  What I love about it is that we were all there.  Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims walked the same paths, day after day and year after year seeing the same waymarkers, smelling the same smells, patting the same dogs and taking the same photos.

The Camino gets into your blood.  The camino gets into all of us and that make us blood brothers and sisters.  What a wonderful community to belong to.  The forum and other forums and blogs help us to learn from each other and to teach.  We share stories and expectations.  We are reminded of places we have  been and people we have met there.  I am so grateful for having been there and excited about being there again.

The Camino journey, while at first glance is about walking, I have found after walking that it is about the memories, the feelings I felt while there, the food I made and shared with others and the many many laughs I had with people from all around the world.

As Egypt goes into turmoil these past few days, I have my husband turn off the sound on CNN because while I know what is happening, I want to focus on the peace I found on the Camino and have brought back with me.  I want to focus on the peace that I still hold in my heart and my head despite the world's ongoing disquiet.

Let's celebrate those of us who bring peace into our lives and continue to celebrate it with the growing number around the world who seek each other out.

Here is another piece of graffiti I found on the Camino Frances in 2009.

Follow the Camino Experience on the Web

I have discovered some really great sites on the WWW that I have been following.  There are Forums that are dedicated to Pilgrims experiences and needs.  There are lots of photo sites to whet your appetite for the Camino or to remind you of the places you have been.

Here are just a few for you entertainment!

http://www.caminodesantiago.me/board/
Pilgrims from all over come to this Forum to post discussions regarding up-coming events, questions about gear and about the routes to take and when to take them.

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/camino-de-santiago.cfm
I have not spent much time on this Forum, but it looks great.

http://web.memberclicks.com/mc/bulletinBoard/viewForumList.do?orgId=ampc
Many of these forms you can read but becoming a member gets you the right to ask questions.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Camino-de-Santiago-Forum/118313324863
Of course there is Facebook.

Photo sites offer great gazing!

http://www.santiago-compostela.net/frances/index_cf_en.html
More than photos.

http://www.galenfrysinger.com/camino_de_santiago.htm

http://www.paradoxplace.com/Photo%20Pages/Spain/Camino_de_Santiago/Camino.htm

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/bikingbarkleys
My friends Erin and Peter live in Australia.  I met them on the Camino Frances in May 2009.  They are crazy travellers, here are the photos from their travels including the Camino.

No Blisters Allowed!

The Beauty of it All

On May 17, 2009, I was on my way through the mountains that take us into Manjaris on the Camino Frances. 

The mountains were bathed in heather and other spring blossoms. 

On this beautiful day, on this breathtakingly beautiful way
I saw a man standing on the path.  He stood so still
I feared there might be an injury.
As I approached him, I saw that he was crying.
Slowly he turned to me and whispered as he sighed
"This place is so beautiful, I think that I have died."

I could never have prepared for the beauty I found so often on the Camino Frances.

Taking Photos on the Camino

Thank you technology for the digital camera!

My 11 year old friend, Danni, asked me the other day if there were cameras when I went to school.  Okay, I will be 63 next month and I assured her that photography was much older than I am.  However, photography, unlike me and my ageing body continues to improve with age.  I used to travel with 2 camers, one an Instamatic (point and shoot) and a heavy single lens reflex camera.  Along with the SLR I also packed a telephoto, and a wide angle lens. 
Since many of my vacations were on a bike, the cameras alone took up bike bag all on their own.  Additional room was taken up by film cartridges both used and waiting to be used.  Rain was the enemy.

Then there was the fact that I could only plan on five or six of the thirty-six photos turning out based on composition, lighting, etc. after paying for the full roll to be developed.

So now, pocket sized cameras with enough memory on the cards to fill St James Cathedral - life is good!

On my first Camino I was somewhat disappointed about the fact that I had only a 10 times zoom lens on the digital.  In addition, I had only brought a 4gig card and I ran out of space.  I bought a second one in Leon so no problem there.

It also turned out that the 10Xzoom was not a problem either.  After seeing the photos on my computer on my return, I realized that if I had zoomed in any closer on some of the long distance shots, I would have lost "the look" I wanted in the photo.  Editing is easy so for the long shots I sometimes chose to crop the photo to bring up the scene I really intended.  This keeps the grain or pixels clear and crisp.  If you zoom in too close or in bad light, the pixels may not be sharp.

For the Camino Portuguese I took the same camera but I purchased an 8gig card for that trip.  The cost of digital cards are coming down significantly so I have decided to keep the photos on the cards and buy new ones for each trip.

Now, I am not the most creative photographer but I am prolific.  I keep my camera close by and easily accessible and generally take 30 to 50 photos a day!  At night, I delete the ones I don't want because some of the photos are not good or are not the best of the 3 or 4 I took of the same subject.  At times I get lucky with a short or two a day. 

Below, is "My Orange".  It took about 20 shots to get this one and the poor orange was in pretty bad shape by the time I got what I wanted.  My sister-in-law was throwing the fruit into the air so I could take the photo but she did not always catch it!  Anyway, this is my favorite photo of the Camino Frances trip - go figure.

My favorite shot on the Camino Portuguese is the "Pink Portrate" taken outside the albergue in Ponte de Lima.  My young Japanese friend has been walking for 4 years, non-stop.  To keep himself entertained he has taught himself how to juggle.  He does it for fun, refuses to take money for his art and pilgrims and locals alike, love to watch him.  I caught him just as he was about to roll the ball up his arm, behind his neck and back down into his other hand.  I got lucky with this shot, the alignment is great, the sun was just at a beautiful shade which enhanced the building and shadows behind.  I have enlarged both these photos on canvas and they hang in my home as a constant reminder of my good fortune.

Correction regarding alberge in Caldas de Reis

Thanks to Hel and Scot  here is an update...

To save others trudging up and down the town and getting lost - YES - there is an albergue in Caldas de Reis despite the conflicting advise of several guide books and web site lists. To find the albergue, stand on the middle of the old stone bridge (Ponte Romano) and turn around till you are looking at large willow tree, the albergue is behind the tree across a small park - it is very poorly sign posted and is easy to miss.

Camino Portuguese part 2

O.K., now we are leaving Beautiful Ponte de Lima by turning right out the front door and look for the arrows just after the coffee shop.  (I hope by now I have the proper photos on the bolg of this town.)

Rubiaes  is the next place I stayed.  This day is not a long one 20km or so if you go all the way to Rubiaes.  This day is the mountain day!  Do not worry, the Portuguese believe this 410m mountain (we call a hill) is a real challenge.  You will be fine.
Rubias pilgrim hostel is the only one I found bed bugs.   They were not a problem but the mosquitoes were unbearable.  Keep your mosquito repellent close by.  Food shopping is about 2 km away but it is worth the walk.  Take the road or if you look carefully, you will see an ancient path off to your left that takes you to the store.  Just ask someone at the hostel and they will help.
If you want to stay at a hotel, there is one about a 2km before the hostel.  It is called O Repouso do Peregrino and it is next to the pharmacy.  It is quite nice. They will offer you an evening meal for an additional 25E.  A room there cost me 15E.

Valenca and Tui  are 18 and 20 km away respectively.

The Valenca hostel is not easy to find.  When you come into Valenca off the trail, you come into a large industrial parking lot.  If you miss the arrows, look for the fire station.  The Hostel is right beside it.  I went on to Tui, 2 km away in Spain.
I did that mainly because I did not want to wake up to the sounds of fire trucks in the middle of the night.  Tui was lovely and the hostel is an old beautiful building.  If you can find the cathedral, you must go around the front entrance and down a side street to find the Tui Cathedral Albergue.

Redondela is 35 km away from Tui.  When I came back from Santiago I stayed at an albergue in Porrino.  If you go there it is only 15km.  This little albergue is off the main road and you can easily miss it.  This road is very busy so be careful.
The reason I went all the way to Redondela from Tui is because I took a bus to to the Capela da Virgen da Guia to avoid the 15 km or so of industrial walk.  Redondela is a beautiful city to see so getting there early is not a problem.  The albergue is right in the middle of town next to a river.

Pontevedra has an albergue that is only about 3 years old.  It is a nice one but the kitchen (when I was there) was bare.  There were no cooking pots, pans or dishes.  We had to sign out glasses for wine.  I believe it was the least friendly place on my trip but it was clean.

Caldas de Reis is 25km from Pontevedra.  If you are prepared with a little food for the evening, you can stop at albergue Briallos off the again busy road about 7 km from Calda de Reis.  You will find this albergue  by going down a beautiful country road to your left when you come to a roundabout.
If you go into Caldas de Reis take time to visit the thermal waters that flow into troughs or basins throughout the city.  I stayed at a hotel here.

Padron is only 20km from Caldas de Reis and a MUST see place.  The albergue is right next to the Cathedral that you reach by crossing a bridge.  The albergue is not the best because sound carries like a strong wind in there.  If you stay at the Padron albergue, try to get a bed far away from the stairs to cut down the noise factor. 
This is the place where St James gave a sermon.  Take the trip around the cathedral and climb up the stairs to see the spot where he spoke.  It is a great place for quiet and photo taking.

NOW DEAR PILGRIM, YOU ARE HEADED TO SANTIAGO

The walk into Santiago is pretty nice but the last 5 or 6 km takes you through the modern streets of Santiago before you get to the ancient cathedral. 

Call ahead and reserve a bed at Seminario Menor.  You can stay there more than one night. 
Telephone: 881 031 768.  If you do not stay there and want an albergue you only other choice is Monte do Gozo with 500 beds.  Yes, 500!  It is about 5 km out of the city so if you are coming from the south, it is a long way after a long walk to Santi.  There are many private albergues in Santiago you only need to ask if you don't get a bed at the Seminario. 

Well that's it for now dear pilgrim.  Send me your questions and or comments if you have any.

The Camino Portuguese

I have been asked by many people on various Forums for my list of albergues de Peregrinos from Porto in Portugal to Santiago.

O.K., here goes!

The Portuguese route to Santiago is pleasant, it is approximately 250km, an easy two week walk and for much of the way follows a Roman highway. It is punctuated by quaint villages, stone bridges, rivers and fortified cities complete with cathedrals, monasteries, fountains and cobbled streets.

Porto

Tip:  If you fly to Porto, take the train into the city from the airport.  It is cheap and cheerful
check out http://www.hostelworld.com/ for places to stay if you are not staying at the Pilgrim Hostel.  I don't have the name or location of the Pilgrim Hostel (PH) sorry.  I stayed at the Rivoli Cinima Hostel downtown and it was wonderful.

Take time to see the city.  You will love it.
I took the train to Matosinhos to start my walk.  I did not want to walk through the city.

Vila do Conde is the next town.  about 25km via beach boardwalk.
Stay with me now, I will get to hostels but I stayed in a hotel in Villa Do Conde too .   There are many low cost rooms for rent along the ocean front.
Looking around this town you will see the Convento de Santa Clara and even more impressive are the viaducts that still stand from the Roman times.

From here it’s easy to cut across to Rates and pick up the marked route. A further 17km brings you to Barcelos and its wonderful entrance across the Rio Cávado. Barcelos is home to the legend of a cock resurrecting himself from the roasting pot to protest the innocence of a pilgrim wrongly convicted for some misdemeanour.

Rates has a PH.  It is about 17 km from Vila Do Conde
This is the first established Pilgrim Hostel in Portugal, established in 2004 but the building is ancient.  It is pretty nice but there is not always a hospitaliero there.  If not, just sign in, take a bed and pay your usual 3 to 5 Euros into the box provided.  There is a great little shop just down the street with all kinds of food and drink.  The woman there will stamp your Pilgrim Passport.  I stayed at this Municipal PH on my way back from Santiago.  On my way to Santi, I stayed at Barcelos because we got lost and had to pick up a taxi!  How embarrising.

Barcelos
About 16 KM from Rates
This was brand new when we stayed there in September of 2010.  The PH is just to your left as you approach the bridge over the Rio Cavado.

Tamel
is 25Km from Rates so it is an easy walk from Barcelos.  This is like a 5 star hotel.  It also was new in 2010 so we got lucky twice.  There is a great restaurant on the road opposite the Hostel.  If you walk into Tamel and see the albergue sign you will miss the restaurant on the left as you take the sept on the right up to the hostel.
This albergue has a lovely kitchen, beer in the vending machine, free internet.  It is beautiful.

Ponte de Lima   25 Km from Tamel

Don't rush to get here, the albergue does not open until 4 p.m.  BUT do stay there, the city is wonderful.  You have to go back across the bridge to see the city and it is worth a visit.  Kitchen here is lovely but we only found shops in the city not on the side of the bridge where the hostel is.  Check out my photos for Ponte de Lima, it was a favorite stop.

Stay tuned for the next blog I will finish this tomorrow

Packing the Small Stuff

There is so much to pack.  Clearly the packing is the most important part of your planning. 

There is a rule of thumb that I have used for most of my trips...IF YOU THINK YOU MIGHT NEED IT don't take it.  Why?  because if you need it, and the possibility that you will is likely remote, you can get it there.  This way you eliminate the weight until you have to carry it.

Firstly, I am talking about first aid stuff.  Blister care, pain relievers, extra sun screen and extra lotions can be purchased there.  Pharmacies are very common along The Way.  Of course you will need to carry all the medications you need as they are hard to come by without a prescription from a local doctor.

Pharmacists in Spain and Portugal are licensed to prescribe soft medications to heal skin and viruses and to help with minor health issues but of course you will need your doctor prescribed medications.

The "might need" first aid items are not heavy, but they may not be essential either.  This has to be your choice, of course, but if you are healthy most of the time, likely you will be healthy there too.  Tired muscles are part of the walk for sure.  You can take a pain reliever pill if you want or need to and you can take them with you obviously, but you will get past the soreness in a few days as your body adapts.  A strained muscle may be painful enough to make you want relief.  You can get pain relievers there if you need them.  Many people use products such as Gatoraide while exercising to perk up the electrolytes in the body.  These electrolyte drinks also cut down on muscle soreness. 

Energy bars that you buy at MEC or REI, for instance, can be purchased in shops along The Way too.  Carrying several in your pack will weigh you down.

Look for travel size toothpaste rather than taking a large tube for the whole trip.  You can get more travel sized tubes on your travels.  Liquid body soap is nice, but it is way heavier than bar soap.  If you take bar soap make sure you take a baggie to carry it in.

Last year when I walked the Camino Portuguese, my dear friend Anne got stung by a bee or wasp.  She experienced the usual searing pain those darned bugs can give.  She had a little swelling and dealt with it like a trooper.  My nephew was with us when she got stung and I freaked!  He is deathly allergic to stings.  At that time I had no idea where his epipen was or how to use it if he needed it..

Lesson learned!

If you travel with an epipen make sure someone or everyone in your group knows where it is and how to use it.  Put it into an easy to reach pocket rather than in your first aide kit in your pack.  Ask those you travel with if THEY have an epipen and what do they need it for.  Find out where it is and learn how to use it.  You never know when you might have to help them out.

Other small things that you do not want to over-do when packing is socks and underwear.  I suggest two or three pair of socks and the same for briefs.  Washing facilities are available in every place you stop, especially for these items.  If they wear out, you can always pick up some.

Make up ---really!!!

Hair dryer --- really!!!

Reading material --- well, not too many books.

Washing/laundry soap is almost always available at hostels, usually in vending machines.  Buying soap as you go is a lot more practical than trying to carry a bag of soap powder.

If you use liquid hand gel regularly, try out packaged towelettes for a while before you go.  Carrying them reduces weight and no chance of spill.

In Europe, micro fiber towels are pretty common now.  North America just started getting them a few years ago.  Older first time North American pilgrims like I was may not be aware of these amazing light weight, effective and easy to dry towels.  Take one of those instead of the usually bulky towel.

All of these items are items we are accustomed to having on hand at home "just in case we need them".  When you think about it, how often do you use them?  Have a little faith in your body health.  Don't sweat the small stuff.

Take Your Time on your Camino

When I did my first Camino across the Frances route, I believed I had to walk every step of the way.  The adventure was awesome, don't get me wrong even though some days were brutal.  On my second camino on the Portuguese I took subway trains, buses and even a taxi!  What a relief these interludes were.

So why do I bring this up.  Well, we all go to our camino with a time frame.  We have to be there on a certain date, end on a certain date and everything in between can be all about getting there.  If we are no careful we can miss the moments.

My dear Maggie had it right the first time.  If she found places and people she didn't want to leave.   She stayed and caught up a few days later.  I had to move every day, that's just me but now looking back she drank in the whole reason for her camino.  She slowed down and enjoyed.

When you are planning your camino, you too will be on a schedule.  At least the start and finish schedule.  But I suggest you take advantage of the wonderful transportation system in Spain and Portugal and in all of Europe for that matter.  Slow down, take a rest, stay a while, enjoy the view. 

You will not be able to register for more than one night at a municipal albergue unless you have a doctor's note saying you need to rest.  If you find a place where you want to stay, you can be sure there will be a private albergue or a hotel that you can stay at for more than one night. 

One day on the CF my sister-in-law mentioned to me how beautiful the poppies were that day.  I had not noticed until I stopped and looked around.  She was right.  Here is what I wrote in the hour or so that I sat looking at the view.

The poppies are beautiful this morning.

Springing up in little bouquets out of their red dirt albergues

Faces toward the sun.

They share their dormitories with wild thyme and rosemary

that leave their fragrances on our boots

as we brush by.

No Blisters allowed!

Friends waiting to meet you

You have friends out in the world you have not yet met.  Some of these people who you will love instantly and for a long time you will meet on the Camino de Santiago also known as "The Way".

In 2009 I started my first camino with my dear sister-in-law Denise.  We met up in Paris as planned, (Paris at that time was my favorite city ever).  We only spent half a day there because we were pretty excited about finding our train to the south of France where we would begin our camino in St. Jean Pied de Port.

Our first new friend was the owner of the Hotel Clementine in Arneguy.  We had booked ahead for this hotel that turned out to be wonderful.  It was just 8 kilometers from the St. Jean Pied de Port train station on the winter route.  Just a nice walk to get us on the way.  From our hotel room window at the Clementine we could see Spain.  Spain was just across the river the flowed beneath our window.  We had dinner at the hotel  prepared for us by our hostess and in the morning we met our hostess again as she made a full breakfast early in the morning before we left.

We left in a sudden rain that required us to come back to put on our rain ponchos.  We looked like two people trying out for a part in the Hunchback of Notre Dame and we all laughed ourselves silly.  Our hostess was laughing so hard we never did get a clear photo of us in our rain gear.

We encountered people along the way to Roncesvalles and we met a man at that Albergue who Denise named Peppie due to his incredible level of energy.  Then on day 3 we met two wonderful people, Anne from Denmark and Matthew from the U.S.  Anne was without a bed because she got to Zubiri too late.  A shop keeper closed his store and drove Anne and 2 other Pilgrims to the next town because he knew that there were beds available there.  Kindness strikes!  Little did I know at that time how important Anne would be to me.

Matthew stayed in Zubiri as we did and he became our walking partner for a week or so.  What fun he was.  We bumped into Anne again after Zubiri and I was fortunate enough to become her friend on the trail.  She and I walked the Camino Portuguese in 2010 and we remain close regardless of the distance.  Thank you Skype and Facebook!

Then we met Katarina from Finnland.  She and Matthew showed us older people how to enjoy the fiestas we came across along The Way.  Maggie from New Zealson and Erin and Peter from Australia come along some time after Estella were the free wine and water fountain is.  Yes free wine!  And so many more Pilgrims touched my heart as we walked.  At the end of our Camino Frances we all met for dinner in Santiago.  There were 17 people at that meal and we represented 13 countries around the world.

Anyway the point of this blog, today, is friends waiting for you that you don't know yet.  What a great experience you can receive through trust.  Trusting those you meet on The Way whether Pilgrims or locals is a skill that you want to nurture.  Many Pilgrims open their hearts to you about why they are walking.  Many Pilgrims will help you throughout your walk in so many ways.  You will help so many in ways you don't even know.
 
Stay open to people on a Camino.  Trust your gut and trust the people you meet.  Look for positives in situations with Pilgrims and you will find what you look for.

Speeking about friends, sign up to my blog, I would love to see your face in my "Followers" list.

No Blisters Allowed!

Your Camino Purpose

Oliver Shroer was a Pilgrim of the Camino Frances in the spring of 2004.  I mention him because of his beautiful music he recorded along his journey.  Oliver knew he was going to die, he had leukemia. 

He and some friends walked the 1000 Km. recording Oliver's music in churches, chapels, town squares and beside the ocean.  His music, it is said, came from his universal music muse.  He incorporated the sounds of steeple bells, cow and sheep bells in the fields, the click click click of Pilgrim's walking sticks on the cobble stones in Santiago and the voices of Pilgrims and shop keepers as he went along.

Oliver's most acclaimed piece seems to be "Field of Stars".  Oliver past away a year or so ago but not before recording a number of beautiful CDs.

I don't intend this to be a downer.  I introduce Oliver Shroer and his story as an inspiration to us all.  You can read more about him on the web.

Oliver had a specific calling to the Camino Frances it seems.  Most of us are not so clear about our reasons to carry out a Camino.  The word "Camino" in Spanish means many things.  The google translator lists the following meanings of the Spanish word:  road, journey, trail, path, avenue, course, distance, way, and there are more literal translations.   Journey is the only word for me in those translations that speeks to why most of us want to go.

"Journey" in the English language can be a physical, spiritual or emotional trip.  The WHYAM I DOING THIS? with regards to the Camino de Santiago is very personal.  Many of us Pilgrims go with one purpose and come back realizing that we have accomplished something far greater than we had expected.  That certainly was my experience.  I first learned about the Camino de Santiago about 10 years ago through Shirley MacLean's book, El Camino.  It was typical of Shirley in those days, very meta-physical, full of out of body experiences.   What fun and what a kook I thought.  Then I heard about Oliver and I got his music as a gift from a dear friend.  Wow, I thought, I need more info.  So of course I went to the web only to find thousand's of pieces of information on the subject.

Some years later I wanted to have a trip with my sister-in-law and since she was also very active and willing to do such a journey we agreed to do it together.
So my reason to go was, well because it was there.  Additionally I would be spending time with someone I really like, it was in a warm setting, and it was a physical challenge.
What I actually received after the journey was so amazing.  Peace.  Peace in my head, heart and body like I never experienced before.  My Camino was out of my hands.  My Camino was part of what the universe wanted for me as my next step to knowing myself better to allow me to grow spiritually.
I WOULD NEVER HAVE GUESSED!

Since my first camino I have enjoyed a great sense of well being.  My life has improved in so many ways. 

But more on that later.

Gotta go walk the dogs, they are breathing in my face.

Good luck with your purpose.

No Blisters Allowed!

My First Book (likely to be my only book)

Wow, I already have a follower for this blog!  How cool is that!  Hi there pilgrim.
Since this is only my second post, dear readers forgive me if the content isn't what you want to see yet.
The blog is named after my first and likely only published book.  Well it is not yet published, look for it in e-book and soft cover in March.  Let me tell you why I wrote the book.
After my second Camino last year, September 2010, I came home only to find that I had left part of me back on the Camino Portuguese and I longed to return to make me whole again.  I had the same feeling when I returned from my first Camino in May/June 2009.  This year I decided that I would allow part of me to stay on the Camino by writing a book for the Camino Pilgrim Wanna-be.  So after thinking through what and why I wanted to write, I sat down in front of my computer and let it all hang out - so to speak,
What came out was a series of tips for the Wanna-be Pilgrim on what to take, how to get there, what happens when you are there, how to get back home, eating and sleeping on the cheap, and so on.
Most of what came to mind to write about was answers to questions I had before I went in 2009.  In addition, I wanted to write what I had learned about footware, backpacks, sleeping bags, water containers, earplugs. 
OMG I could not survive the Camino without earplugs.  I have 20 years experience using earplugs, thanks to my dear loud husband.  I will say that I am an expert on selecting and using earplugs.
So, in this blog I will be supplying information on my experiences with hiking shoes, socks, insoles, backpacks, camel-backs as I already said.  You can ask me questions about stuff but you must remember that I can only talk from my own experience, I am only an expert on earplugs.
In my book I wrote text covering the subject at hand, but what really works in the book is the "Tip" I place in each section.  I am going to give you one now.
Tip:  Buying Your Gear
There are really great outdoor clothing and gear stores all over the world in every medium sized to large sized city.  I believe the majority of staff in these stores know their products.  For example, I love Mountain Equipment Co-Op here in Canada.  REI and Cabelas in the USA are top notch.  However, when it comes to getting advise from the staff about your items such as boots, shoes, backpacks, sleeping bags etc.  remember this THESE PEOPLE LIKELY HAVE NOT WALKED WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO WALK OR RODE THE TERRAIN WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO RIDE ON THE CAMINO.
So, having said that, I suggest you talk to bloggers like me and join Forums like www.caminodesantiago.com
to learn about what you should buy.  Then, and only then do you shop.

So long for now dear reader
No Blisters Allowed!

This Blog

I know many of you have things, hobbies, people, animals in your life that you love.  This blog will be about the activity I love most - my favorite hobby, walking and walking the Camino trails in Europe.
The Camino trails are ancient.  There are many stories about them, but for now (as I will explain more at Bloggs are added) let me just say that they all end in Santiago Spain, the burial ground of the remains of St. James the Apostle.  The Camino pathways are found in countries such as Norway, Ireland, Italy, The Middle East, France, Portugal, Greece and Spain to name just a few.  They represent centuries of pathways people walked to get to Santiago to pay respects to the Saint and to gain forgivness for their sins.
This Blog is not a Christian blog.  It is a walkers blog.  However, to understand the draw of the Camino to millions around the world, the reader should know a little about the history and mythology of the Saint that is called James and how he ended up in Santiago.
For now, I want to welcome you to the "Planning Your Camino" blog.  My intention is to inform you of my experiences on the Camino and entice you to consider planning your camino based on what I have learned and what other Camino walkers have shared regarding their Caminos. 
I hope to write several times a week so stay tuned and let me know what you think.
I am also interested in any questions you have about the Camino and about your planning problems.
Talk with you soon.

No blisters allowed