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Thanks so much!

Yes! They absolutely are achievable, sometimes the process of achieving them is different than we expected, but the journey can be magnificent! Thank you so much and may God continue to bless you as well 😊

Thank you! And you finished 1 day before me! 😄 I felt so emotional walking into Santiago and then they were set up for a marathon at the cathedral - definitely changed the feeling I expected to have.

@@FNDingMyWay That day was a real soaker! I booked 2 nights in Santiago and wanted to explore but that heavy rain put a damper on things. You're lucky to get the bagpiper. I waited in that tunnel for a few minutes with dozens of others hoping the rain might let off a bit and the bagpiper wasn't there.

The journey some people are able to make it so incredible to me! Walking from Poland and back!? Wow! Such an undertaking. You make many many valid points, I'll be honest, I hadn't considered that they would have walked in large groups historically, but I have read about how dangerous the Camino could have be at times with robbery etc and it does make sense that they would have walked in large groups back then. I can also see how the groups would have sung together as they walked. The Camino was not thick with pilgrims until recently, and singing as they walked would have probably been a fairly intimate setting. I do see the difference in a group of people singing together and the power song can have, however I stand by what i said in the video, though, that blasting loud music from a phone or radio, not just on the Camino, but on *any* trail with other people around is disrespectful to those around you. Especially when headphones exist. I agree that walking the Camino can be a metaphor for life, and I tried to tell myself that once I found myself leaving Sarria- I don't have control over anyone or anything around me, just like with life. I had a lot of peaceful and incredible days walking, but now I found myself being pulled out of that zone I had managed to get into. But that's life, isn't it? Which brings me to the whole point for making this video- for me, even during Autumn when there were fewer pilgrims, from Sarria on was a completely different rodeo, one i was not prepared for. Does that mean I should have stayed home and walked a trail here? Absolutely not. And as judgemental as I may have felt at the time towards the other pilgrims, whom I felt then, were ruining my vibe, I realized they belonged there too, doing their Camino their own way, and it was up to me to shift my mindset and not let them affect me any more than they already had, so I put in my headphones and carried on. I understand that everyones Camino looks different, but respecting one another should *always* come first. However, like I said, we have no control over anyone else or anything else in the world, all we can control is the very second we are personally living in and how we choose to face it. For me, facing the change in energy on the Camino shocked my system and I had to figure out how to proceed with myself mentally. I'm not the only one who has felt this bring down their spirit, and it is something I wish I had been more prepared to experience. I love that you have managed to find the beauty in mixing with the "shiny people from Sarria", hopefully one day I can have that same experience. Thanks for sharing 😊

For most of its existence the Frances has been extremely busy with pilgrims. In medieval times, even greater numbers than the present day. It remained very busy until the Spanish revolution when Franco effectively closed it down. The modern Camino, as we now know it, was resurrected in 1985 when Don Elias Valīna Sampedro decided to take his old car and trace the route painting yellow arrows as he went. He had been a pastor in O'Cobreiro, and he went to study in the Fonseca college in Salamanca. He studied the history of the Camino and decided that he would undertake the task of kickstarting it again. He gained the support of people along the way and encouraged the erection of signage and way markers. Unfortunately he died in 1989 at the age of sixty so he didn't see the results of his efforts. In the time that I have been walking I have seen massive changes in the Camino experience, especially the Frances. In 2007 when I arrived to the plaza in front of the cathedral, I was the only person there with a backpack. Last September there were thousands. There were fewer in May this year due to incredibly heavy rain. I think that the guidebooks have distorted things greatly. They have introduced the notion of stages. Then there is the contrived idea of the physical, mental and spiritual sections. Many perigrinos take this quite literally and feel cheated if they aren't getting the full whammy in the correct order. For the people who are disappointed about encountering groups in and beyond Sarria, all I can say is it's a good job they are not on the Hajj. Last year I walked into Santiago with an English woman and an American woman. About three miles out we began singing 500 miles by the Proclaimers. We walked past a middle-aged couple who were disapproving. Some people need to get a life. As we arrived to the arch, my Irish friend Carmen. was playing the bagpipes to welcome the pilgrims. I wonder if the disapproving couple showed their displeasure at the sound of the pipes.

0:43 ​​@@FNDingMyWayI'm not stalking you from afar. It's your fault....you were very honest about your feelings in a way that connected with me. The way that you dealt with your anxieties was great to see. I would go as far as to say that you are a very strong woman both physically and mentally. After your Camino experience, I think you should throw away your diagnostic labels and just accept your ups and downs as part of normal life. You proved that you can cope with adversities as good as, if not better than, most.

@harrykey2448 it would honestly a joy to meet you in person some day and talk about the Caminos history. You know so much about it and I feel like you would be an amazing person to learn about it from.

It would be good to meet you. Our paths could cross sometimes....stranger things have happened. I usually start walking the Frances around August 20th....after the rush but before the rains. ​@@FNDingMyWay

Yes! SCQ! Absolutely loved it, so clean and friendly!

Yes, albergue SCQ! It was great and I was very fortunate that I was able to book a couple extra nights there on the spot as they werent too busy when I stayed.

On TH-cam

Beautiful song! Thanks for sharing!

​ ​I thought you would like it. Best Camino song. She wrote the song whilst walking the Frances. .​@@FNDingMyWay

Thank you! Did you do different ways for your Caminos? If so, which was your favorite? I'd absolutely love to go again and there are just so many options!

​​​​@FNDingMyWay My first Camino was in 2007 when I set off from Poitiers (I was living near Poitiers at the time) to Le Puy on to St Jean and ending in Santiago. I have done the Aragonese connecting to the Frances. I have walked the complete Frances four times.On August 20th I set off on the Frances once again from St Jean. In May I walked the Camino Fonseca from Salamanca to Santiago. I have walked the Camino Portuguese and the Camino Ingles (twice). I've walked on to Muxia and also to Finisterre. The Frances for me is by far the best. It has the history, tradition, infrastructure and the magnificent varied nature. The Frances has a magic about it that none of the others have. It is a genuine pilgrim route as opposed to being a mere hiking trail. If you would like to understand why it's called the Frances I suggest that you read The Four Roads To Heaven by Edwin Mullins. Most people assume it's called the Frances because it "starts" in St Jean. The reality is much more profound than that. Take care pilgrim.

Thank you for sharing your story! Wow! I'm just constantly blown away by how healing the Camino can be for people! Just out of curiosity, have you ever considered being on the Camino People podcast? It's such a wonderful place where pilgrims share their journey and what led them to it and the incredible wonders that come from the Camino. I recorded for it earlier this year and could get you in touch with the Podcaster if you are interested at all. Also I will absolutely read that book, thank you for the recommendation! I was wondering about the history along other ways, the Frances just was filled with so much history and so many ruins, my mind just kept wandering to what may have happened in the ruins long before my time. Absolutely loved it!

The ruined church in Viana collapsed as they were attempting to enlarge it. The structure couldn't cope with the extra stresses and collapsed beyond repair.

@@harrykey2448 ahhhh THANK YOU!! I never remembered to look this up when I got home.

Thank you so much 😊

Not stressing about it is quite hard, for sure. Sorry you're having such a hard time with it, I will say working on my mental health has helped me a lot and also helped me to identify my bigger triggers (stress, anxiety, and overwhelm). If possible, I would absolutely recommend finding a therapist you can talk with and who can help with identifying your triggers and helping you learn how to handle them better. I spent many years avoiding my triggers and only getting worse, but when I started facing them slowly, my symptoms started being a lot more manageble. If therapy isn't something you can afford right now, I can recommened the channel Therapy in a Nutshell to you. Her video Mastering the Paradox of Acceptance and Change helped me so very much. I personally find that talking with others who have FND doesn't help me, but my symptoms can be triggered by seeing elderly people walk around or seeing someone have the shakes, so that could just be me. You've got this, keep your chin up! You can do hard things and it's just about reprogramming your amygdala again to remember how your body is supposed to behave. Go into everything you do with confidence during your healing process and I think you'll be amazed at what you are capable of changing. I went from avoiding stores because my legs would go too weak from the stress and overwhelm, and I felt embarassed to struggle with my gait in public, to walking 500 miles alone across Spain last year, so if I can do it, you've got this!

@@FNDingMyWay thank you, I really appreciate you messaging back, I will need to speak to someone at a cbt organisation and let some things out I have held in for a long time, they have gave me website to look at and a leflet that says fnd is not a physical illness, I will also look at the TH-cam channel u advised x

About 2 months ago I had a bad episode and couldn't sat what I was looking at and found I have 3 lessions on my brain and one on my spine, was in hospital for 3 weeks then went home, was okay for a month like normal then I had a different episode and that's when they have said its fnd x

Thank you so much!

I use an Amazfit GTR3 watch and it has incredible battery life!

@@FNDingMyWay thank you

Noted! 😉

Great question!! I did spend time in Santiago after- 2 or 3 days I believe. And then I flew to Madrid for another couple of days until my flights home. I did NOT book my return flight until I was nearing Sarria and could actually see the finish line, however I will say that it's important to make sure your passport allows you to do this. As an American, I could fly into Paris without having to have a return flight booked, however, I did have proof of onward travel ( train ticket to Spain) just in case though, but it's not like that for every country's passport or for every country of entry.

Glad you like them! 😊😊

I hope you do! It's absolutely an incredible experience!

I don't know how helpful it would be during the busy season as I've heard that it can be hard to get a bed when it's so busy, seems like the crowds may be unavoidable then. I did stay offstage and I wasn't there during the busy season, but I still had my share of groups. The best way I found was just to get passed them or let them pass me and then have my solitude again. I do think I probably had to deal with less big groups staying offstage than I would have otherwise but 🤷‍♀️ I'm not sure how absolutely avoidable the big groups are, I'd just go into it knowing that I need to be flexible with my plan for those few days in terms of making space for myself

That’s interesting and good advice for it! Thanks for responding! 😁 I’ve loved watching your series and am sad it’s almost finished! Any plans for another Camino?

I will absolutely be doing another camino at some point! I'd already be there if my passport hadn't just expired 🤣🤣 I miss it qith every fiber of my being. There are several long hikes here in the states I want to do too, so we will see what comes next!

So glad you found it useful! ☺️☺️

Whats crazy is that for me, it wasn't the school groups blasting the music but the men in their 60s. 🤯 but yes, it can be a whole different mental zone reaching Sarria for sure!

So glad this could be of help! 😄😄 I'll be cheering you on!

Thats so sweet! I tried to be as authentic as possible in these videos so I'm glad you feel like you know me after watching them! There are so many people who make the camino look like an easy-peasy highlight reel and I didn't want to send that message, because at the end of the day- it's still life and life has ups and downs no matter where in the world you are.

You've got this, you can do anything you set your mind to and I had such a magical experience overall, I have no doubt it'll be just as magical for you! There are so many good places to stay also, you can see the reviews on the pilgrim apps for the aubergues, the apps are so extremely helpful!

Thank you! I have the ones I liked in each video listed in the video descriptions, but to make it easier to find, I just went and added *all* of them to the description on Episode 18 😉

I really hope it helps you and others plan for a smoother journey 😊 If you find yourself having any questions, feel free to ask!

Thank you so much! This one was a doozy to edit, so Im glad people are enjoying it and finding it helpful! 😊

Oof, long answer coming in! Yes, my US bank card worked at atms, but not at *all* atms. If you try an atm and it doesn't like your card, it'll tell you that your card isn't accepted there. I wish I remember the atm line that always worked, but I can't remember the name. For aubergues, sometimes you can pay in card, sometimes in cash, sometimes you can pay online. What I did was get a "card" from privacy.com and used that on booking.com and also when the aubergues would ask for card info over the WhatsApp app, which is nice because it regenerates a new number each use and you can limit the transaction by amount or by business name, so you can feel safe messaging the card info. WhatsApp is encrypted anyway, so in theory it should be safe, but I like to be extra safe 🤣 Most of the aubergues on the camino app have a link to booking.com on them, but if they have a phone number listed, you can almost always message it via WhatsApp and get a reservation faster. There was only one time where I felt pretty stranded without cash but thankfully another pilgrim had ample cash on her and swapped us, letting us send her the money in USD back to her over venmo. There's always someone you'll meet who can help!

I started in September and finished late October

Ooooh now you've got me thinking! 🤔 I could see it being more comfy to carry than my bulky Nalgene bottle on days when my bag was ported, probably would have been more comfy against my spine.

@@FNDingMyWay having said this, I am taking a playpus 2L container as my back up water source (anxiety), lighter than other options. I'm going for my first Camino this July,... thank you for your sharing. I may make few mistakes than I would have.

@somehappenings246 you're welcome and you've got this! Buen camino!!

The northern route looks like pure magic! Definitely up there on my list too!! And congrats on your Camino 😉

@@FNDingMyWay thank you 😊

Awww thanks so much for sharing this and also, congratulations to you! You're doing it!! I hope the camino is treating you with beauty and magic and is everything you need it to be. You've got this! 👏

Please consider the Portuguese route from Porto, if you do another Camino. It's beautiful (and flatter) along the Litoral route. You hug the coastline of Portugal and Spain. Good logistics nearly everywhere. No promises on weather. We've had a few wet days, and I built in a few rest/laundry dry time days.

Aww Thank you so much! That's so sweet 🥰

Mid September to Oct 28th

@@FNDingMyWay It has been great following along. Thank you for sharing. Has it been okay to return home?

Thanks for the comment. I know 'alto' means high, but I assumed the guy who told me this knew more than me because he was from a Spanish speaking country, so I never fact checked it. I just googled it finally and while the traditional meaning does mean "high", apparently it has this meaning too: " “Alto” means tall or high. But it is also an imperative or order telling you to stop. It is the same as “halt” and some Spanish speaking countries use “ALTO” in their stop signs instead of PARE."

Thank you. I really enjoy watching your camino. Well done

Thank so very much! 😊

@@FNDingMyWay thank you for sharing. And I even learnt something new about the word Alto, I wasn't aware of.

Aww thank you so much! That makes me so happy, thanks for cheering me on!! 😊😊

You are so welcome!

Thank you and I hope you find your way to the camino someday!

Thank you so much and buen camino to you! The beauty of the Camino is you can be as alone or as surrounded as you want, so it's easy to adjust your environment for what your mental health needs each day. You've got this!