When out and about recently a lot of people have been asking me questions about the Camino.
I posted a lot of videos on the grapevine through out my journey.
This article is more about the brass tacks of the camino.
Where is it and how is it done.
It seems that the camino de santiago is on many people’s bucket list.
I got so much out of it, that I want to encourage as many people as possible to do the camino.
As my good friend told me “just do it”
I would describe it as life changing and I look forward to doing another route to Santiago in the summer.
After completing the French route this year I knew that I would be revisiting the Camino hopefully for the rest of my life.
In my case I had time on my hands and I could do the whole Camino Frances.
I walked the five hundred miles to Santiago in southern Spain in twenty seven days.
I did it old school, carrying my rucksack the whole way.
Do not let this put you off.
To get your Camino cert, the least you can walk is only 100 km, with Sarria in Spain a very popular starting point.
Many people get their luggage sent ahead of them on each stage
Or you can start your Camino in St Jean Pied de Por and walk a leg of the Camino and fly home, returning to the point you left later when your legs have recovered. Maybe even a year later.
There are many traditional starting points several in Spain, France and Portugal.
Many actually walk from their own front door in countries all over Europe.
Many people are confused by the starting points.
There is only one ending point which is the cathedral in the stunning city of Santiago.
The cathedral being the resting place of St James the apostle.
Holiday Spiritual or religious.
Peoples motivation for doing the Camino are wide and varied. For over a thousand years pilgrims have been doing the Camino.
Now the Camino is done by all races and creeds from all over the world.
I counted 24 different nationalities that I met. Including a lot of travelers from China and South Korea.
The saying being that everyone’s Camino is personal to them, there are no right or wrong ways to do the Camino.
The most common misconception about the Camino is that it’s an organised event like a marathon or similar.
No the Camino is a walk cycle or run from anywhere to Santiago. The Camino is traveled any day in the year.
The Camino passport
The name for anyone on the journey is el peregrino. Almost all peregrinos make sure that they get a pilgrims passport at where ever their journey starts. They then get their pilgrims passport stamped at each stop.
See some the grapevines stamps
In order to get a pilgrims certificate the pilgrims passport has to be stamped.
Also many hostels don’t allow admission unless a stamped pilgrims passport is presented.
Accommodation
There are three main types of hostel all are known as auberges, commonly called bergies.
Private auberge(hostel)
These are often run by a family or couple.
The price is usually around fifteen euros per night. Often the owners provide an evening meal for less than a tenner. They lay out a big long table and the walkers dine together some of the meals I had in these hostels had to be seen to be believed fantastic meals with more than you could eat.
This is an example i tried to eat as much as i could so as not to insult my hosts. i did fairly well then the hosstess asked was i ready for dersert and out came a home made fig and custurd pie !
The Catholic Church also runs auberges and these are usually free or a voluntary contribution.
Municipal auberges are run by the municipal councils and are usually self catering again in round 15 euro.
A lot of people book their hostels well in advance.
I myself didn’t book ahead and always managed to find a bed.
Only once in twenty seven days did I find it hard to find a bed.
Although I did my Camino in the hot weeks of July and August when the Camino is less busy.
There was a fantastic sense of freedom doing the Camino this way.
No need to stop in a town or spending time looking for the hostel you had booked.
I just kept walking until I came across a town/hostel I liked the look off.
When on the Camino you could be alone in a forest on a foot wide path then an hour later on a three lane into a big city.
I’m frequently asked how did I navigate the 500 miles.
Well when a small track splits in the middle of a forest, rule of thumb is if you don’t see either a yellow arrow or the shell symbol you’ve took the wrong track
sometimes it’s hard to see the signs but generally there is one there.
The cities can be a bit tricky trust ask a local and they will send you the right way.
Sometimes in the big cities in particular you think you are really lost then up pops a sign, the Camino will provide is the saying.
Municipal auberges are run by the municipal councils and are usually self catering again in round 15 euro.
  A lot of people book their hostels well in advance. I myself didn’t book ahead and always managed to find a bed.Â
There was a fantastic sense of freedom doing the Camino this way.Â
No need to stop in a town or spending time looking for the hostel you had booked. I just kept walking until I came across a town/hostel I liked the look off.
The Signs
When on the Camino you could be alone in a forest on a foot wide path then an hour later on a three lane into a big city.
I’m frequently asked how did I navigate the 500 miles.
Well when a small track splits in the middle of a forest, rule of thumb is if you don’t see either a yellow arrow or the shell symbol you’ve took the wrong track
sometimes it’s hard to see the signs but generally there is one there. The cities can be a bit tricky trust ask a local and they will send you the right way.
Sometimes in the big cities in particular you think you are really lost then up pops a sign the Camino will provide is the saying.
Footwear
I did the first 200 or so miles in hiking boots.
old hiking boots. There was blisters in the blisters. I found a hiking shop in one of the big cities and bought a pair of teva sandalas
these where an improvement.
I had to get the wallet outa couple days later and bought a pair of Solomon trail shoes and this was a game changer .
Buy your trail shoes before you go and don’t scrimp. or you will end up with feet like these
Luggage /What to carry
the luggage you take very much depends on whether or not you are sending your luggage ahead each day.
If like me you are carrying all you need you need to be very selective. you will have to wash all of your gear sometimes by hand in the hostels
The Camino can be done alone or with friends. One thing for certain on the Camino is that you will definitely make friends along the way.
