Nice video, well done. A couple of tips to add: 1. Beds are usually rock hard, an inflatable sleeping mat is a good idea especially for old bones. They can be bought in the bigger cities in Spain and Portugal. 2. Pharmacists are like nurse practitioners, they will treat you for minor medical problems like bladder infections, and have stronger anti-inflammatories 3. If you are trying to save money on food, go off the main paths, to get away from the tourist trap restaurants. Often you can find outstanding local places if you go 300-400 meters away from the main routes. Plus you are much more likely to get free tapas with drinks and they are much better. 4. Go to the local supermarkets if you want fresh veg and fruit, the cheese and sausages are amazing too. These smaller places are happy to have you business, even if you don't speak Spanish. If you are going to travel anywhere else in Spain consider Granada. It is the most beautiful small city I have ever been too.
I can reveal something to you as an european (french precisely), we are extremely used to have ancient history ruins around us and we only make signs and explanations for the ones that have a very important symbolic asociated with them. Most of the time, town's people will just have some sort of information or legend they have heard about the place, and a special collection at the library, but we don't care about putting boards everywhere because they are just so many old sites ! It would take millions to put an explicative sign everywhere. xD On the B side, some of us are quite curious with the way you US people live in a place where you either don't have ruins, or they belong to another culture. I'm always amused of the old house trope in american movies, what is this house old ? 50 ? 100 years ? Most of my town dates back from the 18th century, the church is from the 13th and the site of the castle nearby has shown traces of human occupation dating back to the roman empire and seems to have been occupied ever since. And that's not even only about ancient history : I've heard two or tree times in my short lifetime that a neighbourhood was closed because bomb-disposal expert were diging up an unexploded WWII bomb, and I know for sure that some of the water places around me have some left in them. It's evenh worse in eastern France and western Germany : a person from Alsace once told me the peasan there learn to dispose of old bomb themselves because they are just fed up of calling the expert twice a day so the have leant to take care of small bombs and hand grenades. They say the US is scary because it's huge, well europe is scary because it's old. And I've yet to discover China, a friend of mine is from there and said to me that it's both big and old ^^
We have ruins of the biological kind, we have ancient forests with trees that are thousands of years old. I believe the US has just as many ancient trees as the rest of the world combined or pretty damn near it.
It blows my mind how many things have happened in such short time for us here in the US and México. It feels like so much history in such small amount of time. But I dont think we think too much about it here in the USA its more about the future than the past. In my opinion of course
@@SidneyTurnerOfficial I live right outside of Sequoia nation forest, so perhaps I've been spoiled by huge forests with giant Sequoia and redwood, some of these gentle giants are older then the Roman empire, makes you feel small and insignificant. Nice place to visit.
Where I live in the US there are many Native American reservations and obviously their history dates back to very early times. I do my best to learn and appreciate the culture and history of the them and the land they should still own.
Was just going to comment and say that I think it's a European thing that things aren't labelled. I remember as a kid going searching though a world war bunker in a cave that had an old Citroën 2cv and chapel carved in the rock, no signage, no nothing, just in the middle of the forest.
@@pygmygiant Helping a pilgrim get through to the distination brings blessing to everyone who helped along the way. Buen camino is sending your blessings - wishing for the pilgrim to arrive safely and achieve what they are ment to achieve. its a prayer.
I'm going out to do my second Camino route next summer and I honestly cannot wait to say Buen Camino to my fellow pilgrims again, I genuinely miss it and the smiles it would bring each time
I hiked El Camino Portuguese in December of last year and as ridiculous as it sounds, I wish I had brought a hair dryer. The reason for this is because in winter it gets super rainy. I had rain for days on the Camino and no way to dry my clothes until I met a fellow hiker who brought a little travel hairdryer- that was definitely a life saver. We started hiking together and every night we’d sit and dry our clothes. Don’t judge please! I know this sounds like an extreme luxury item, but the beauty of the Camino is that you can afford to bring luxuries. You don’t need to carry much water or food like you would on a thru hike, you don’t even need a tent. So allow yourself to bring the items that will make your hike more enjoyable! If you plan to hike el Camino in fall/ winter then consider a hairdryer- you’ll thank me later .
That's a really great idea! Typically we dry our gear on the back of our packs or panniers (if cycling in Europe). Sometimes a little more controllable heat is needed. My wife just sent me a text from Patagonia stating she burned up a brand new pair of Mountain Hardware hiking pants trying to dry them on a radiator. This idea would have saved her for sure! Hopefully she's got another pair to finish her hike.
It's ok and good to be surprised! I walked last year, Camino Frances, from Logroño to Bilbao to start the Norte, then in Oviedo I started the Primativo and finished on the Frances to Santiago. I met many folks who didnt research to the micro degree and they were so happy. As long as you have good foot gear, a willingness to change what needs to change, you Will have a beautiful Camino. Knowing every option available at every turn is NOT the key. Being willing to switch gears, try new things, and being OK with your new start every day IS the key. Let the Camino unfold and be open to what it brings. It's good to experience and accept that for when you get back home. That's one of the beauties of the Camino... take life as it comes, and ENJOY!
Hi. As a Spaniard, I'm surprised that the straw anecdote impressed you so much. "paja" is the stalk of cereals, (hollow tube), and it is indeed a sexual expression out of context. That's why we call it "pajita." On the other hand, I regret that you will end up bored with the menu of the hostels. But it is understandable that feeding for just € 10 does not allow the chef much joy. I suppose that from time to time you would give yourself a "joy" eating a la carte instead of the regulatory menu. Thank you for your videos, I am sure that many of your followers will now have the bug (the restlessness) of coming to Spain. You will be welcome.
The food off the main track was definitely good! There just wasn’t huge variety at the bars right on the Camino. For the pilgrims menus it makes sense (like you were saying). I miss the wine so much! It was cheap and good :)
I've had my share of pilgrim menus and I hardly ever picked the french fries... I do think that it is worth it to get good local food, to skip the albergue and have a late night with tapas.
Hi, I'm from Spain and I hiked the french way and the north & primitive. I don't know where you eat, but I had eat a lot of different things in the Camino, the secret is look for locals and ask them ¿donde se come bien por aquí?, you'll be surprised as how well and cheap you can eat.
Translates to what ? Sorry, I speak less Spanish than Dixie. I understand "Donde" is "Where?" and " por acqui" I believe means "for here". What exactly are you asking with this phrase ?
i have not been there myself, but i was really surprised that almost all villages seem to only have "tourist" restaurants but no restaurants with spanish food where locals eat. thats probably an advice that goes for all countries and places where tourists are: always eat where the locals eat.
deborah gracie the literal translation would be “Where does one eat well hereabouts?”. Phrases in other languages don’t always translate word for word to English without sounding awkward (and vice versa) but this is how you would ask “what’s good to eat around here?”, or “Where’s a good place to eat around here?”.
Most of the restaurants and shops that you come by in el Camino are small business or family own and most of them in very small towns. So many times they can't afford to have a lot of staff to cover while part of their staff is on a lunch break or have 2 shifts. So what they do is open in the morning, close a few hours during lunchtime (shops) and right after lunchtime (restaurants) so that they can open again in the afternoon when everyone is done eating, and they will close at night since its rare to have shops open later than 8/9pm depending on the town and also Sundays most of the shops are closed. It's not siesta, it's so that people can work, take a break for lunch, the business can afford to stay open even in small towns and everyone has at least a day off in the weekend.
After reading some of the comments I noticed that some of you are viewing this "camino " from the point of view of the "American tourism ". Foremost, the Camino a Santigo is a solitaire Christian pilgrimage with the ancient purpose of " reducing the punishment for our sins ", for more than a thousand years this purpose holds true. The camino does not end the city of Compostela, it ends in the town of Fisterra which means “ the end of world “ in Latin. During the time of the discovery oof the Americas, thousands will do the pilgrimage and then sail to the New World from Porto in Portugal, meaning the majority will never see their loves again. It is not an event to find " nice dinners, great lunches and thing to do and have fun". It is what it is, a spiritual journey, I did it 20 years ago by myself (my wife was not happy at all), I remember meeting people, having great conversations of 10 minutes and ..keep going. During the journey, for a period of 15 days I realized not having a single conversation with anyone, I would just waive at passing people, I was fine with my self-imposed silence. Actually i was even pleased of my newfound self-imposed solitude. Before you can make a wrong impression of me , I am a tailgater, beer drinker, hardcore football fan but I also understand that I was going thru a journey that had a meaning and a reason to do it, which is still valid after a thousand years. I came home with this sensation that my personal batteries had been recharged, I told a very still upset wife of my experience and we both decided that she was nex on the journey but she was going to do it on her own. She did it 2 years later, I picked her up in Compostela, from the moment I saw her I could tell that she had changed. From that moment on our lives became richer, more meaningful. Somehow, we developed this appreciation for the beauty of little things. from the wonders seeing the blossom of a single flower to the pleasure of saying good morning to strangers during our daily walks . So if you are going to do it , remember , it is a spiritual journey, for your information I still a tailgater , still I beer drinker… but now I use a glass .. Happy Buen Camino .
I think the best piece of advice I had before the Camino was just to "Survive the first 3 days!". Once you have broken that initial feeling of shock, pain, comfort/discomfort then you will push on and make it all the way. I liked the part of your documentary when you got to Arzua, I think, and met a lot of people just starting the final part of the trail. They were the ones still smiling, clean clothes and brushed hair. Once you get past your comfort zone then the fun really begins. Great tips, thanks.
I believe hiking the Camino is a different experience then a pilgrimage on El Camino. Those interested in a pilgrimage prepare for this trip differently. If you have an opportunity to time your trip, fruit trees and grape vines have been planted along the route to feed the pilgrims and fruit is often set out for you as you pass through some of the villages.
Awesome advices! Totally agree with your food views hahaha and I'm Spanish go figure! Also, I did all my previous Caminos on hiking boots and thanks to your AT videos this next one is going to be on Topo trail runners!!!! I'm one of the locals who always, always say "Buen Camino" to every pilgrim I see passing by. It's a way of saying be blessed, be safe, I wish you all the best and also to recognize the effort. If you ever walk the Camino del Norte know that in this village there´s home made food (if you want some Alabama food just send the recipe in advance and I'll do my best to cater), a bed and hot shower for you (and of course a hug) Thank you!
One thing I think it is useful to know when heading out on a Camino is that, outside the bigger towns, the Camino is pretty much a cash economy. Don't expect to be able to pay for everything with a credit card. And there isn't an ATM in each and every village. So I would advise always carrying a few days worth of cash with you and topping up when it gets low, paying attention to which places have ATMs (guidebooks or apps will have this information). Also, it is good to carry a couple of different cards to get cash from ATMs with, in case you have trouble with the one that you usually use.
@@donnawoodford6641 It is hard to say how Covid precautions will affect prices, so I can only advise on pre-Covid prices. Firstly, there are many people who do the Camino by bicycle (although not as many as walk it) so if you prefer that means of transportation there is nothing stopping you from using it. But if you go by bicycle you have to ride a minimum of 200 km, as opposed to the 100 km that must be walked to earn the Compostela certificate in Santiago. That said the amount to budget depends on where you want to stay, what you want to eat, etc. If you want private rooms with bathrooms in hotels that will cost more than if you are staying in dormitories in pilgrim hostels. If you are eating in restaurants it will cost more than if you are cooking for yourself, etc. But to give you some idea, I would budget about 10-15 euros a night for dormitory accommodations and a similar amount for a three course pilgrim dinner in a restaurant.
Dixie, Spain is in the EU, so you can use any Amazon site in the EU. You could have even used the UK site, so no language barrier for now pre-Brexit. I’ve found postage within the EU reasonable.
Currently sitting at the airport near Santiago - coming back from my first Camino Frances. I should've: - Learned more Spanish for sure - Listen to my body and spared myself the tendonitis the first week - Slow down a little and appreciate my surroundings - Go out more in the evenings (I was always knocked out in the albergues due to fatigue :D) However, I plan on doing the full AT next year (if I get the visa) so I treated this trip as experimental to test my gear and myself beforehand. Your videos inspired me to finally tackle the Thru Hike - Thank you! Greetings from Austria(soon), Patrick
@@samuelmcgovern a friend of mine, in her sixties, and reasonably fit, had to stop half way because she had a stress fracture in her hip from all the walking. Bummer.
Thanks dixie ive been following you for a while now. Your journeys have inspired me to take on the camino using the via de la plata route. It is a long and hard route that only 3 percent of pilgrims take. It is my 60th birthday on 29 th february 2020(leap year baby!!!) and to celebrate life i start my camino from seville on the 6th march. You info is always valuable. Thanks and much love
I have always thought February 29th would be the COOLEST day to have a birthday. You'll be turning 60 on your 15th birthday...right!?!? I have actually chosen that exact same day, February 29, 2020, to begin my thru hike of the Appalachian Trail. Buen Camino to us both!
That will be our 28th Wedding Anniversary. 2/29/92-my husband choose that date-crazy, but he didn't want to forget our Anniversary. We usually celebrate on the 28th. All smiles.
Beautiful documentary... you're very sympathetic and reflective person. I learned a lot for my trip on the camino. Greetings from Germany... and buen camino 🙏🏼
Greetings from Northern California. I did the Frances route in 2017 and the thing that helped me the most was considering it a religious pilgrimage instead of just a trendy thing to do like most people.The second thing that helped me was going with my best friend who grew up in Spain and spoke Spanish Spanish.
So happy to see you and your sister on this pilgrimage together. I have two granddaughters who love to ride bikes on trails...and they spend a great deal of time off their bikes getting up close and personal with bugs, small snakes, and even moss on the side of trees. My fondest wish for them is that they continue with that fascination with nature for the rest of their lives. On all of your thru hikes there have been countless video clips of your encounters with little creatures...that reflects a deep appreciation and respect, for the wonders of nature that folks often overlook...and that's what makes following your adventures special.
Lots of good advice . Long distance walking is one of the most enjoyable activities one can undertake (something my wife and I do for 4 to 6 weeks in Europe every year - both now over 70). My lessons are carry less, don’t overestimate your ability - rest days about once a week, wear comfortable worn in shoes or boots. Fortunately because we use mostly hotel we have avoided bedbugs to date fingers X.
Martin Sheen's father, Francisco Estévez, was born in a small town in Galicia. And Martin himself did the Camino with his grandson a few years before making the film.
it's Hollywood; jeans and skipping around the Camino, but it does give you an insight into what is out there. Just keep in mind, that the Parador hotel chain is extremely expensive.
Thank you for your inspiration--many years now! My son and I leave for our Camino on May 26, shortly after he graduates from college, and you've been so helpful! By the way, today is my 127th consecutive day with Duolingo and my Spanish is coming along!
After reading some of the comments I noticed that some of you are viewing this "camino " from the point of view of the "American tourism ". Foremost, the Camino a Santigo is a solitaire Christian pilgrimage with the ancient purpose of " reducing the punishment for our sins ", for more than a thousand years this purpose holds true. The camino does not end the city of Compostela, it ends in the town of Fisterra which means “ the end of world “ in Latin. During the time of the discovery oof the Americas, thousands will do the pilgrimage and then sail to the New World from Porto in Portugal, meaning the majority will never see their loves again. It is not an event to find " nice dinners, great lunches and thing to do and have fun". It is what it is, a spiritual journey, I did it 20 years ago by myself (my wife was not happy at all), I remember meeting people, having great conversations of 10 minutes and ..keep going. During the journey, for a period of 15 days I realized not having a single conversation with anyone, I would just waive at passing people, I was fine with my self-imposed silence. Actually i was even pleased of my newfound self-imposed solitude. Before you can make a wrong impression of me , I am a tailgater, beer drinker, hardcore football fan but I also understand that I was going thru a journey that had a meaning and a reason to do it, which is still valid after a thousand years. I came home with this sensation that my personal batteries had been recharged, I told a very still upset wife of my experience and we both decided that she was nex on the journey but she was going to do it on her own. She did it 2 years later, I picked her up in Compostela, from the moment I saw her I could tell that she had changed. From that moment on our lives became richer, more meaningful. Somehow, we developed this appreciation for the beauty of little things. from the wonders seeing the blossom of a single flower to the pleasure of saying good morning to strangers during our daily walks . So if you are going to do it , remember , it is a spiritual journey, for your information I still a tailgater , still I beer drinker… but now I use a glass .. Happy Buen Camino .
I walked the Camino Frances...twice (long story :-) I had many of the same epiphanies as you the first time, which helped considerably the second time. I found it to be a pretty magical experience . But the Camino Experience is not at all like hiking a trail in the US. It could better be described as a LONG walk, with the only real similarities being 1. you carry a backpack, and 2. your feet hurt at the end of the day, I hope to return in 2021, but first.... I begin my AT thru hike in 79 days...February 29th. :-D Thanks again for all your great videos.
@@jimstone2235 Hiking in the cooler temps isn't the issue, it's the sleeping situation that needed serious thought/prep. So, I've got my Enlightened Equipment bag, and in case that doesn't cut it, I've budgeted a bit extra for shuttles and hostel/hotel stays until Spring arrives.
Hi Dixie, having walked a couple of Camino routes in the past and watched many U Tube presentations I want to say yours is really thoughtful and very useful. Well done.
Hear the food thing a lot. I'll add two comments. 1. There are good restaurants, even in the smaller cities and towns, but those good restaurants do not open for dinner until 2000 (8pm). Which is almost impossible for a pilgrim because of how early many albergues close. 2. Even the boring places with the same old Pilgrim's Menu will usually have one item that is more local and/or unusual/different. My experience with all the Americans and the Germans with which I walked is that they almost never chose the good stuff. They always god the crappy pasta dish and the meat with the fries or the crappy salad with tuna. Food in Spain is amazing if you eat when Spaniards eat and are a bit adventurous with your diet.
We never ate poorly or were sick of the food, even in smaller towns. And yes, you had to wait until later for the better restaurants to open sometimes...and we did.
@@QuietMowing my wife and I laughed so hard when we heard that on your vid about the different types of backpackers....we had to listen a few times before we figured out it was Dixie. 😂👍
The Caminos don't start at St Jean Pied de Port, of course. People started from their own front doors, and there are marked routes from the eastern fringes of Catholic Europe all the way to Santiago these days; as far east as Warsaw and Bratislava, for example. Or you can start in Slovenia, cross northern Italy, and take the Arles route across France, to Spain. Or from St Petersburg along the Baltic coast to Hamburg, then south through Paris, to Santiago. There is a great route from Canterbury to Rome, the Via Francigenia. Also an ancient route from Oslo to Trondheim in Norway. But the Camino Frances is an outlier in terms of population and infrastructure; no other route has thousands of pilgrims every day.
Hi Dixie, I actually met you and Montana while at the Camino near a town called El Ganso. It was on October 15th - I only know this because that's what it says on the iPhone picture :) We walked together for about a couple of hours and we found a lost brown dog. Finally a man pulled up in his car and started saying what we thought are bad things to his dog - that was mean. Anyway, one of the things I wish I knew was I wish I didn't bring too many things -- rookie mistake. I ended up sending many of my things forward to the next albergue. Anyway, it was great to meet you and Montana -- say "hey" to Montana.
El Ganso is where I threw my back out. There is a fairly steep slope walking up the hill to the town and I slipped on the rubble. Better to take the paved road as do the bicyclists!
Completely agree with SLOW DOWN! My friend and I did the Camino in 2017 and since then we have said we wish we had taken more time. I was so excited to see you and your sister stop at the beer garden and hang the bottles on the wall(in your other video). We walked right past there and have regretted it since. We were going back this summer, but then the world changed and we had to cancel. I got my airline ticket refund today. So watching your videos has been bitter sweet & inspiring. Well here’s to next year- Buen Camino!
@Homemade Wanderlust Hey Dixie, I don‘t want to lecture you, but you should have known before coming to Europe that this is not the US and that it is very likely that in Europe it is not going the „American Way“. A little advise, check customs regulations before you are going on your trip to New Zealand. It may be possible, that you‘ll find the same problems there. Greetings from Germany Alpinium
I did the Camino Frances the summer of 2012. I think your advice is really on point. I strongly agree with treating your gear and clothes with permethrin because bed bugs might be hard to avoid. I also recommend storing your pack overnight in a large plastic trash bag to help keep the critters out and to check the actual mattress and other bedding thoroughly before using and not lay your pack and gear out on the bed at any point if you can avoid it. I also recommend if flying into Spain to have your pack be carry on size. I ended up checking my bag and it got lost - took the airline 3-4 days to get it back to me and a whole lotta stress. I was really happy to have walking sticks on my route and these can be purchased in St. Jean Pied du Port. And definitely take your time if you can! Not a day goes by that I don't think about my journey.
For Bed bugs: Some people also swear by a blend of Rosemary, Lavender and Eucalyptus using 10 drops for each oil. Essential oils are strong and can cause skin irritation to people lying on bed linen so make sure your oils are diluted.
Yes, you are very right! I did finish my Camino frances in 27 days. That was not too fast, but in the future I will take more time. But in 2019 I had only 31 days to finish (all vacation-days), so I had 2 wonderful days in Porto, from where I flew home. You have to have it on your mind, not everyone has unlimited time to walk the Camino. I did wear boots (recommended by the experts at my local hiking-shop) because I torned all ligaments of my right foot a year before I walked. And I have seen many bloody feet from people who did wear light shoes like trailrunners. Maybe they had the wrong size or wrong socks. But it seems to be symptomatic. After showering I did ask the Hospitalero/a where I can find something typical and cheap to eat. Only on a single evening I ended up getting nothing to eat. I will repeat this journey on the frances for sure. I will be on the Camino Portugues for the easter-vacation next year with my son.
There are apps with lots of information along El camino and for every camino. Eroski has a really good app and another one is Pilgrim. They both have information on elevation change, how far the nearest water source is, the albergues in each one and some cultural information on the stops but you're right that we're missing more cultural documentation in between stops.
My Camino de Santiago Compostela, Frances was in 2015. No bedbugs. Wish I'd had Hoka mid-hiking shoes at the time. Would cut 3-4 pounds of gear (switch to ultra-light pack and lighter, layered sleeping gear). Accept that more than 90% of participants have no idea that they are on an ancient pilgrimage, not a walking tour of Northern Spain.
Well done and thanks! CONGRATS for completing the French Camino. Buen Camino to me meant "Have a great pilgrimage" or have a great hike... I completed mine in 2017, I enjoyed the food. The pilgrims menu is much better than hiking food lol, most of the time... Did a fair amount of reading beforehand. Traveling outside of North America entails changing cultures and makes it so interesting Inded vive la difference, Keep doing your awesome videos Peace outside
I have done the French Way in both 2016 and 2019 and the Porteugese Coastal Way in 2022. At the end of my first 2 Caminos my first thought was I wish I did it slower. At the end of the first day on my third Camino I finally took my own advice, I slowed down. Having walked the French twice I had nothing left to prove. I walked soooo much of the Porteugese Coastal in barefeet in the sand and water. I never got another blister once I removed my shoes. The water felt amazing on my feet. Is it more effort to walk in sand? Yes, but the beaches are all flat walking. The one thing I have been most happy about bringing on all 3 Caminos was my own pillow case. My advice to someone not experienced in hiking would be to get shoes that fit but are up to a size larger than you usually wear and start hiking with a pack on your back. Buen Camino!
My wife and I hiked the Camino for our honeymoon. One of the things we learned was that the trail was way better if we took it slow and spent the time to see the sights and understand the history. Because of that, we decided not to get overly ambitious about hiking the distance. We ended up skipping some sections, it was hard to make the decision at the time, but so worth it because we felt we could really experience the sections we did hike. My wife being fluent in Spanish helped a lot too. In the end, we did about 250 miles of the frances in two pieces, Logrono to Burgos and Astorga to the end. Which was plenty for a honeymoon:)
I guess you didn’t watch the movie with Martin Sheen and Emilo Estevez....The Way (2010) before you went on the walk. In that movie you would have known about bringing a rock to Cruz de Ferro. We live in Ventura, CA where the beginning of The Way was filmed. It was fun to watch the movie after we got back and point out all the sights and experiences we had that were also in the movie! Great video...thanks for sharing!
Camino del Norte June 2021 baby 🤘. Added these great tips to our ever growing list! My wife and I are really enjoying this series and we find it extremely helpful in planning ours.
I am new to your channel, and I am blown away by how knowledgeable your presentation is. You make it so comfortable for newcomers like me. I believe its because of your Southern Hospitality upbringing, that puts me more at ease. Thank you so very much for sharing your experience, strength and hope! Love you!
I found "The Pilgrimage Road to Santiago: The Complete Cultural Handbook Kindle Edition by David M. Gitlitz, Linda Kay Davidson very useful in knowing what was along the camino.
I hated my liner and would bring a sleeping bag the next time. I had the same thoughts about the food... also I am vegetarian and it was hard sometimes, but I lost a lot of weight. ;) for anyone who is interested, I have a couple Camino videos on my channel, but I am new to TH-cam, so I am still practicing the filming and editing ;) if you ever thought about doing the Camino, do it!!!! Buen Camino :)
As a spaniard who has walked over 2000 km on the Camino (From Germany through France and to Finisterre on the francés) , I find it very interesting to hear what your experience was. Thanks for sharing!
One day, after I'm done with university, I'm going to walk two Vias and a Camino from my parents' house in Northern Belgium through Belgium, France and Spain to Santiago de Compostela - about 2400 km. Got inspired on a holiday near the Camino Portuguese, where we saw a lot of pilgrims, although the idea had been in my mind for longer. These videos are really interesting and make me want to get out there as soon as possible :))
I had to learn the hard way to get off the phone and be in the moment. I did the Del Norte end of last summer. I landed in Madrid and decided to take a side trip to meet a friend in Greece. I left my new phone that was loaded with a Spanish sim card, Camino apps, and google translate in the taxi as I arrived at the airport... So I get to Greece bought a cheap phone and used it for my wonderful time there, but as I was returning to Spain I had realized that my "new new" phone was at the security check in Athens!! so I just did without for the first few weeks. The Camino really does provide as they say but you have to accept what it is trying to tell you.
I did the French way in 2017, only an year and a half later I was back on Camino Primitivo. I was not the only one who was miss it so badly and came back as soon as possible :). My hopes and dreams are to hike long distances again. Thank you, Dixie!
To be fair, calling what comes out of an olive a "bone" make slightly more sense that the homonym for "hole in the ground." I remember having exactly the same reaction as you and HW the first time I saw it on a menu.
Excellent post with information that will certainly make this journey much richer. Enjoyed your documentary and wish you both many great adventures in the future!!
I did the Camino Norte and I wish we had known that you don't need to pack the way you would for a backcountry trip. Within a few days my sister and I had ditched half our gear and sent it back to our friend in London! All you need, truly, is boots/shoes, an outfit to hike in, an outfit to sleep in, rain gear, some warm layers, sleeping bag and toiletries! No 50l bag needed, most people hike with a 25-30l bag at max!
Good information. I enjoyed your video journey. I’ve seen comments on other blogs (2024) that so much rubbish (old shoes, boxes of mementos) is left at the iron cross that the government bulldozers it regularly. And large groups of tourist buses now pull up and ruin the atmosphere. The Camino is a centuries-old Catholic pilgrimage open to all, however there is a big difference between being a pilgrim and being a tourist on a cheap holiday.
I did the Camino Portugués May 2018. We loved every single day! We loved all the people and small villages! I did crave fruit after awhile! So if we went by fruit stands I bought strawberries, bananas etc. I plan to do another Camino in a couple years.
Advice for any non European person ordering from Amazon within Europe... The European Union means you can purchase anything, absolutely anything from any EU Amazon store to be sent to you in Spain for example. Due to regional licensing some things you cannot find on the Spanish (amazon.es) store but you can find them on the French (amazon.fr) or German stores (amazon.de), and up until Dec 31 2020 on the UK store. These can all be delivered to you in Spain with zero additional taxes. You will be able to find anything you need if you look around the other sites. You can also order directly from the manufacturer if they have a European online store and that can be shipped with no additional taxes as well. There are 27 Countries within the EU (excluding the UK now) so you absolutely can get the exact item with just a little effort. There is no need to import anything, this includes medication.
Take your time, say hello, take as little as possible, eat with others,(or not). Take a day in a city. Eat something you haven’t before. Go for tapas in a place with lots of napkins on the floor, it’s popular!
@ Ian- Wow, some really great advice because Americans would probably skip a food place with litter all over the floor! The health dept would never let that business stay open in the US.
I know that’s been 2 years since you did the Camino but I just came across this video and had to tell you that I absolutely loved it and I really like your gear list. It will help me when I start planning.
First, synthetic bags have gotten better every year, and are close to packsize and weight of down. Second, treat your bag or blankets with permethrin. It lasts for six weeks.
It’s a good idea to always check underneath the mattress and on the sheets for signs of bed bugs. They are a pain to get rid of and you have to be careful to not take them home with you. Never place a suitcase or back pack on the bed for this reason.
Heat alone will kill bedbugs. You could have just put the items in a dryer on high heat for 20-30 minutes and skipped the wash. As always you provide great info in your videos...
@Woodenarrows - since the dryers are public it would be very rude and offensive to put dirty pest-filled garments of any type straight into the dryer!🤨
I had hiked the Arizona Trail a few years after hiking my first Camino, and in the Grand Canyon, I chatted with an overnight backpacker for a few minutes before we departed ways, and he said, "Buen Camino!" as a farewell. I replied with a hearty "Buen Camino!" and turned around and started walking off. About a minute later I realized--he said BUEN CAMINO! I turned back, and asked, "Have you hiked the Camino?" And, of course, he had, so then we chatted about that for another 15 minutes. It was so automatic for me, even years later, I hadn't thought twice when he first said it. Now I sometimes like to drop it on non-Camino trails if I think there's a possibility that the person I'm talking to might have hiked the Camino. Just to see if their eyes light up when I say it. =) I also learned how to say "Good morning" in about 30 different languages along the way--just to give people a more customized greeting in the morning. =)
Super useful video Dixie! My wife and I are going to be doing the Camino in the next few years. We did an internship during college in Quito, Ecuador for a month and we are from rural KY lol We had taken a few spanish classes, but the struggle was real. I lived with a family that only spoke spanish. Google translate was very hopeful. Luckily we were teaching at a bilingual school so that helped a lot. Thanks again for the helpful info on the Camino and bringing us along for your journey. All the best for you and your family! Happy Holidays! 😀
Couple of things...not all alburgues have kitchens or pilgrim meals. When earing out, there may well be a pilgrim and a menu del dia. The latter costs a bit more but may have something you might want to try. Those include padron peppers, the paellas at the start of the Camino and pulpo/octopus once you near Santiago. Also, don't let age get to you, you can do this. I was 73 when I walked from Burgos to Santiago, three years ago. If Spain is open in September I plan to do the rest. Paying 5 euros to have your bag forwarded for you is cheap if it allows you to get to your destination. I did it last time over the steeper areas and the courier's van was loaded with packs, so you won't be alone. Above all, enjoy your travels, the Camino is hard to describe to someone who has not walked it, put passing thru all the ruins along the way makes you appreciate those who went before.
Fantastic insight, as always. Again, congrats to you both! Thoroughly enjoyed the series. Your comments about opening yourself to being comfortable learning and using a different language are spot on. I think it’s one of the better things humans can do to expand themselves. I did it in Japan years ago for 5 years, full immersion the whole time. Super tough, but super rewarding and lasting value. Hiking our US trails is fantastic, but I hope everyone can also visit other lands and bridge more gaps. You rock and best of the holidays to you and the fam!
Hi Dixie . As a Brit who lives in the south of spain ( in front of Sierra Nevada) you only pay import tax on stuff from outside the EU . Re shops shutting. Some very large stores stay open . Puzzled by your comment about restaurants not serving between 2 and 5 pm .2pm is lunchtime so this is just prime time to eat . In the evening in places that arnt geared to none Spanish tourists don't start serving till after 9pm ( due to people working 5 to 8 pm ) re history the rewind s you were showing in your video are probably fairly recent due to people leaving the countryside over the last 40 years . I have had my place 27 years and have seen buildings off the track to my house fall derelict even since I have been here . History in Spain is 1400s the re conquest. Roman period, and one of the coastal towns near here was originally Phoenician. Re language even if you think you can speak spanish there are distinct regional differences spanish people from 100km away from me struggle to understand them
I am almost convinced at this point that one should simply learn Latin before travelling around the Mediterranean so that if nothing else everyone else will feel bad when you have to switch to English instead of you having to feel bad.
I learned to take it easy, especially the first week, go at my own pace don't try to keep up with others who are faster. The guidebook is simply that. A guide, it's not cast in stone. I started to stay overnight in places in the middle of the guide's recommended daily hikes, to avoid crowds. Albergues, my mantra is never stay at the first one you see entering a village or the last one (which is also the first if going the other way!) Ultreia!
I had two friends (who had previously done The Camino) following my progress on FB. Both told me to SLOW DOWN! I thought, “I’m walking, how much slower can I go?” I now have the “slow down” regret. I plan to do The Camino through Portugal in 2023, and I will take more time and really enjoy the entire experience 😊
I find it important to set an intention for the camino. To me the camino is a pilgrimage. And I set a clear intention before walking. To me walking long days makes it easyer to reach the religous aspect of the camino. The spiritual experience. Because I walk long days I also use boots. in average I walk more than 30 km pr day and I get more protection on the feet from the boots. I agree: most days on the camino could be walked in shoes or sandals especially if you walk short days. So most important: why do you walk? for the social and historical experience? or for the spiritual experience ?
huge fan of yours, i watch all the time. I leaved in Europe for 3 1/2 years with my family at a Military base in Italy. if you wanted to get something mailed to you our shop at a American store a lot of times there is a US post office overseas and store there. Also if you need to get on the base a lot of the times if you talk to public affairs they would be happy to help you out. so if your going to be near a US base see if they can help you or even at an US Embassy. i hope this helps cant wait for the next through hike.
Hiked the Camino Francis twice 2014 & 2016 didn't complete either yrs😢 due to knee issues . Your comments on taking your time and enjoying the moment is perfect . Don't get caught up in the "race for a bed"
What a great video. I’m walking it again this April. I did it in 2018 and from that experience I’ve written a novel about the Camino called The Catching of the Camino Wind. It is now available @Amazon.com in either paperback or e-book.
I hiked the Camino in 2016 & 2018 (had to break it up because I didn't have enough time off work) and am surprised to hear you didn't know about the stone carried to the Cruz de Ferro. I found that pretty well covered in the research I did. I like what you said about Buen Camino. I hadn't thought about it in terms of comparing it to other trails. Frankly I got a little tired of saying it, but you are right it's a form of universal greeting that serves well among so many different languages. I'm happy you went Dixie and hope those memories stay with you as they have with me.
Try being a vegan on El Camino! 😅 It's hard, but it is possible. What I wish I had known: - That I didn't have to worry so much before walking. It was tough but I made it and had so much fun! - That you need special socks! I had terrible blisters before I got proper hiking socks. - I had the best guidebook ever! I wish I had not ripped out the pages along the way. 😅 You need one! There is also a good app called Buen Camino with alot of historical anecdotes.
I wish I had taken more pictures of the people. I took alot of pictures of the sights and scenes, but I always felt awkward taking pictures of people- like I was intruding. Looking back on it I wish I did so that I could show family and friends who I am talking about when I tell a story. I went very light and that aided in going fairly fast. Some told me to slow down, but I honestly feel comfortable that I was moving at the pace I should have been moving and that I was still able to take in lifetimes worth of memories. The Camino ultimately teaches you what you need to learn.
In my opinion, "El Camino de Santiago" is not only a tourist attraction, it is a personal challenge for whatever reason and as every challenge has to have its difficulties or else it would not be a challenge. Regarding the gastronomy "menu del pelegrino" is a simple and cheap meal designed to feed you and nothing more. You must think that in the small towns lost in the mountains it is not exactly a place for gastronomic tourism and much less international gastronomy. If you expect to find a Taco Bell or a McDonald's in these places, forget it. And you are not going to find ATMs in these places either. The "Camino de Santiago Frances" is a more touristic route where there are more services and towns on the way compared to the "Camino de Santiago primitivo" where there is not even a water source for many kilometers.
Thanks Dixie. Love your videos and you. I'm not religious or an atheist but "God bless you!" You are one of the few channels I respect on TH-cam. "YOU DO YOU BOO!" - Love that quote.
With regards to receiving packages in the EU from outside the EU: you could take them with you into the EU and then send them to where you need them. There are no import taxes between EU countries. I believe this is even includes EFTA countries as well, which include countries like Norway, but check that beforehand. Also see: www.efta.int/About-EFTA/Frequently-asked-questions-EFTA-EEA-EFTA-membership-and-Brexit-328676
Great video! I learned two things pretty quickly: get at least 1 walking pole and get a hat for the sun. To echo everyone else, pack as light as possible. I started with a guide book but ended up taking pictures of every page with my phone and the physical book (along with a few other things) after the 4th day.
@@bereantrb You would, if you bother looking for local specialties in every town you stop. For a pre-bought package specifically catering foreigners... expect little variance and bastardized cuisine palatable to wider audiences and without an ounce of authenticity. Spain has a lot to offer and pretty much every little hamlet make their own stuff and has different traditions. And french fries and steak is definitely not it.
@@bereantrb If she was expecting a variety of cuisine, and didn't get it, there's only person to blame for that. Food changes almost literally every 200kms, from the Basque Country (the best food in spain), Cantabria, Asturias and then Galicia, with all the seafood bounty you could wish for.... not to mention cocido in Asturias and Cantabria, proper hiker's food!!
@@IgnacioGlezCllo Right. And she said as much, that you could go into towns for different food. I was simply responding to the original post. It would be a surprise to most people that every hostel served the same thing. That's pretty odd. And, yes, I know the original post was a joke and people take comments way too seriously.
Great information. my first attempt was from Pamplona to Puente La Riana where I got hurt so had to return to the USA my second attempt was from St Jean to Navarret where my wife got hurt and had to return to the USA. And now I have to wait because of the covet 19. Hope this is over by Oct 2020 if it is I will attempt a winter camino and see how it goes. I am sixty five years old and God I hope I get to walk it before I die. I so enjoy your videos all of them you are so inspirational God bless you and keep filming and young lady, as they say in Spain Buen Camino.
Thanks, definitely a big help, especially about the sleeping bag and bed bugs. I live in Central Texas, Spanish is a good language to know here too. I’m not convinced the albergue beds are the place to sleep. Bed bugs? Sheesh? The floor, a neolite , and a sleeping bag might be a good option; snoring, I’m gone. I love the scene of your sister with the ocean in the background. Her smile is wonderful. Thanks again, Texas
Hi Dixie, I'm happy you did the camino and had this experience, I'm thinking of doing it in the next 2 years, but I go with my bicycle and take a tent or bivvy, the issue with too many people in albergues, bed bugs, and the food in Spanien...is not for me, I was in the south of Spain once and the siesta and open hours was horrible..and better not start with the Post and package =o( I'm latina and speak spanish, and many times I don't understand the spanish people ;o)))) Yes, the language is very important, I'm studying russian just for fun. You should come to Switzerland hiking or France..or doing the via alpina...is like made for you! Wish you a good time and enjoy Europe! Kudos
Ollie D. Probably Spaniards didn’t understand you either ! 😂 it goes both ways probably. Anyway anyone familiar with Spain know that in Andalucía they have a different pronunciation to the provinces in the north of Spain where el Camino De Santiago is . The north of Spain is so different to the south that i t seems like a different country .
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Nice video, well done.
A couple of tips to add:
1. Beds are usually rock hard, an inflatable sleeping mat is a good idea especially for old bones. They can be bought in the bigger cities in Spain and Portugal.
2. Pharmacists are like nurse practitioners, they will treat you for minor medical problems like bladder infections, and have stronger anti-inflammatories
3. If you are trying to save money on food, go off the main paths, to get away from the tourist trap restaurants. Often you can find outstanding local places if you go 300-400 meters away from the main routes. Plus you are much more likely to get free tapas with drinks and they are much better.
4. Go to the local supermarkets if you want fresh veg and fruit, the cheese and sausages are amazing too. These smaller places are happy to have you business, even if you don't speak Spanish.
If you are going to travel anywhere else in Spain consider Granada. It is the most beautiful small city I have ever been too.
I can reveal something to you as an european (french precisely), we are extremely used to have ancient history ruins around us and we only make signs and explanations for the ones that have a very important symbolic asociated with them. Most of the time, town's people will just have some sort of information or legend they have heard about the place, and a special collection at the library, but we don't care about putting boards everywhere because they are just so many old sites ! It would take millions to put an explicative sign everywhere. xD
On the B side, some of us are quite curious with the way you US people live in a place where you either don't have ruins, or they belong to another culture. I'm always amused of the old house trope in american movies, what is this house old ? 50 ? 100 years ? Most of my town dates back from the 18th century, the church is from the 13th and the site of the castle nearby has shown traces of human occupation dating back to the roman empire and seems to have been occupied ever since.
And that's not even only about ancient history : I've heard two or tree times in my short lifetime that a neighbourhood was closed because bomb-disposal expert were diging up an unexploded WWII bomb, and I know for sure that some of the water places around me have some left in them. It's evenh worse in eastern France and western Germany : a person from Alsace once told me the peasan there learn to dispose of old bomb themselves because they are just fed up of calling the expert twice a day so the have leant to take care of small bombs and hand grenades.
They say the US is scary because it's huge, well europe is scary because it's old.
And I've yet to discover China, a friend of mine is from there and said to me that it's both big and old ^^
We have ruins of the biological kind, we have ancient forests with trees that are thousands of years old. I believe the US has just as many ancient trees as the rest of the world combined or pretty damn near it.
It blows my mind how many things have happened in such short time for us here in the US and México. It feels like so much history in such small amount of time. But I dont think we think too much about it here in the USA its more about the future than the past. In my opinion of course
@@SidneyTurnerOfficial I live right outside of Sequoia nation forest, so perhaps I've been spoiled by huge forests with giant Sequoia and redwood, some of these gentle giants are older then the Roman empire, makes you feel small and insignificant. Nice place to visit.
Where I live in the US there are many Native American reservations and obviously their history dates back to very early times. I do my best to learn and appreciate the culture and history of the them and the land they should still own.
Was just going to comment and say that I think it's a European thing that things aren't labelled.
I remember as a kid going searching though a world war bunker in a cave that had an old Citroën 2cv and chapel carved in the rock, no signage, no nothing, just in the middle of the forest.
It hit me about half way through..."Buen Camino" is, more than anything else, a prayer.
Um... how?
Anton von Gutwrench - pretty much
@@pygmygiant Helping a pilgrim get through to the distination brings blessing to everyone who helped along the way.
Buen camino is sending your blessings - wishing for the pilgrim to arrive safely and achieve what they are ment to achieve.
its a prayer.
Exactly.
I'm going out to do my second Camino route next summer and I honestly cannot wait to say Buen Camino to my fellow pilgrims again, I genuinely miss it and the smiles it would bring each time
I hiked El Camino Portuguese in December of last year and as ridiculous as it sounds, I wish I had brought a hair dryer. The reason for this is because in winter it gets super rainy. I had rain for days on the Camino and no way to dry my clothes until I met a fellow hiker who brought a little travel hairdryer- that was definitely a life saver. We started hiking together and every night we’d sit and dry our clothes.
Don’t judge please! I know this sounds like an extreme luxury item, but the beauty of the Camino is that you can afford to bring luxuries. You don’t need to carry much water or food like you would on a thru hike, you don’t even need a tent. So allow yourself to bring the items that will make your hike more enjoyable! If you plan to hike el Camino in fall/ winter then consider a hairdryer- you’ll thank me later .
Who would judge. Sounds smart to me.
That's a really great idea! Typically we dry our gear on the back of our packs or panniers (if cycling in Europe). Sometimes a little more controllable heat is needed. My wife just sent me a text from Patagonia stating she burned up a brand new pair of Mountain Hardware hiking pants trying to dry them on a radiator. This idea would have saved her for sure! Hopefully she's got another pair to finish her hike.
It's ok and good to be surprised! I walked last year, Camino Frances, from Logroño to Bilbao to start the Norte, then in Oviedo I started the Primativo and finished on the Frances to Santiago. I met many folks who didnt research to the micro degree and they were so happy. As long as you have good foot gear, a willingness to change what needs to change, you Will have a beautiful Camino. Knowing every option available at every turn is NOT the key. Being willing to switch gears, try new things, and being OK with your new start every day IS the key. Let the Camino unfold and be open to what it brings. It's good to experience and accept that for when you get back home. That's one of the beauties of the Camino... take life as it comes, and ENJOY!
Ok but I am thankful for the heads up. Thank you for posting
Hi. As a Spaniard, I'm surprised that the straw anecdote impressed you so much. "paja" is the stalk of cereals, (hollow tube), and it is indeed a sexual expression out of context. That's why we call it "pajita." On the other hand, I regret that you will end up bored with the menu of the hostels. But it is understandable that feeding for just € 10 does not allow the chef much joy. I suppose that from time to time you would give yourself a "joy" eating a la carte instead of the regulatory menu. Thank you for your videos, I am sure that many of your followers will now have the bug (the restlessness) of coming to Spain. You will be welcome.
The food off the main track was definitely good! There just wasn’t huge variety at the bars right on the Camino. For the pilgrims menus it makes sense (like you were saying). I miss the wine so much! It was cheap and good :)
I've had my share of pilgrim menus and I hardly ever picked the french fries...
I do think that it is worth it to get good local food, to skip the albergue and have a late night with tapas.
Hi, I'm from Spain and I hiked the french way and the north & primitive. I don't know where you eat, but I had eat a lot of different things in the Camino, the secret is look for locals and ask them ¿donde se come bien por aquí?, you'll be surprised as how well and cheap you can eat.
Translates to what ? Sorry, I speak less Spanish than Dixie. I understand "Donde" is "Where?" and " por acqui" I believe means "for here". What exactly are you asking with this phrase ?
@@djg5950 basically: where's a good place to eat nearby?
correct answer :)
i have not been there myself, but i was really surprised that almost all villages seem to only have "tourist" restaurants but no restaurants with spanish food where locals eat.
thats probably an advice that goes for all countries and places where tourists are: always eat where the locals eat.
deborah gracie the literal translation would be “Where does one eat well hereabouts?”. Phrases in other languages don’t always translate word for word to English without sounding awkward (and vice versa) but this is how you would ask “what’s good to eat around here?”, or “Where’s a good place to eat around here?”.
Most of the restaurants and shops that you come by in el Camino are small business or family own and most of them in very small towns. So many times they can't afford to have a lot of staff to cover while part of their staff is on a lunch break or have 2 shifts. So what they do is open in the morning, close a few hours during lunchtime (shops) and right after lunchtime (restaurants) so that they can open again in the afternoon when everyone is done eating, and they will close at night since its rare to have shops open later than 8/9pm depending on the town and also Sundays most of the shops are closed. It's not siesta, it's so that people can work, take a break for lunch, the business can afford to stay open even in small towns and everyone has at least a day off in the weekend.
After reading some of the comments I noticed that some of you are viewing this "camino " from the point of view of the "American tourism ". Foremost, the Camino a Santigo is a solitaire Christian pilgrimage with the ancient purpose of " reducing the punishment for our sins ", for more than a thousand years this purpose holds true. The camino does not end the city of Compostela, it ends in the town of Fisterra which means “ the end of world “ in Latin. During the time of the discovery oof the Americas, thousands will do the pilgrimage and then sail to the New World from Porto in Portugal, meaning the majority will never see their loves again. It is not an event to find " nice dinners, great lunches and thing to do and have fun". It is what it is, a spiritual journey, I did it 20 years ago by myself (my wife was not happy at all), I remember meeting people, having great conversations of 10 minutes and ..keep going. During the journey, for a period of 15 days I realized not having a single conversation with anyone, I would just waive at passing people, I was fine with my self-imposed silence. Actually i was even pleased of my newfound self-imposed solitude. Before you can make a wrong impression of me , I am a tailgater, beer drinker, hardcore football fan but I also understand that I was going thru a journey that had a meaning and a reason to do it, which is still valid after a thousand years. I came home with this sensation that my personal batteries had been recharged, I told a very still upset wife of my experience and we both decided that she was nex on the journey but she was going to do it on her own. She did it 2 years later, I picked her up in Compostela, from the moment I saw her I could tell that she had changed. From that moment on our lives became richer, more meaningful. Somehow, we developed this appreciation for the beauty of little things. from the wonders seeing the blossom of a single flower to the pleasure of saying good morning to strangers during our daily walks . So if you are going to do it , remember , it is a spiritual journey, for your information I still a tailgater , still I beer drinker… but now I use a glass .. Happy Buen Camino .
I think the best piece of advice I had before the Camino was just to "Survive the first 3 days!". Once you have broken that initial feeling of shock, pain, comfort/discomfort then you will push on and make it all the way. I liked the part of your documentary when you got to Arzua, I think, and met a lot of people just starting the final part of the trail. They were the ones still smiling, clean clothes and brushed hair. Once you get past your comfort zone then the fun really begins. Great tips, thanks.
I believe hiking the Camino is a different experience then a pilgrimage on El Camino. Those interested in a pilgrimage prepare for this trip differently. If you have an opportunity to time your trip, fruit trees and grape vines have been planted along the route to feed the pilgrims and fruit is often set out for you as you pass through some of the villages.
Oh wow! Can you give us some details on the pilgrim experience?
Awesome advices! Totally agree with your food views hahaha and I'm Spanish go figure! Also, I did all my previous Caminos on hiking boots and thanks to your AT videos this next one is going to be on Topo trail runners!!!! I'm one of the locals who always, always say "Buen Camino" to every pilgrim I see passing by. It's a way of saying be blessed, be safe, I wish you all the best and also to recognize the effort. If you ever walk the Camino del Norte know that in this village there´s home made food (if you want some Alabama food just send the recipe in advance and I'll do my best to cater), a bed and hot shower for you (and of course a hug) Thank you!
One thing I think it is useful to know when heading out on a Camino is that, outside the bigger towns, the Camino is pretty much a cash economy. Don't expect to be able to pay for everything with a credit card. And there isn't an ATM in each and every village. So I would advise always carrying a few days worth of cash with you and topping up when it gets low, paying attention to which places have ATMs (guidebooks or apps will have this information). Also, it is good to carry a couple of different cards to get cash from ATMs with, in case you have trouble with the one that you usually use.
What is a rough cost for 30 day trip once you get started on foot? I would think bikes are prohibited.
@@donnawoodford6641 It is hard to say how Covid precautions will affect prices, so I can only advise on pre-Covid prices. Firstly, there are many people who do the Camino by bicycle (although not as many as walk it) so if you prefer that means of transportation there is nothing stopping you from using it. But if you go by bicycle you have to ride a minimum of 200 km, as opposed to the 100 km that must be walked to earn the Compostela certificate in Santiago. That said the amount to budget depends on where you want to stay, what you want to eat, etc. If you want private rooms with bathrooms in hotels that will cost more than if you are staying in dormitories in pilgrim hostels. If you are eating in restaurants it will cost more than if you are cooking for yourself, etc. But to give you some idea, I would budget about 10-15 euros a night for dormitory accommodations and a similar amount for a three course pilgrim dinner in a restaurant.
Dixie, Spain is in the EU, so you can use any Amazon site in the EU. You could have even used the UK site, so no language barrier for now pre-Brexit. I’ve found postage within the EU reasonable.
Currently sitting at the airport near Santiago - coming back from my first Camino Frances. I should've:
- Learned more Spanish for sure
- Listen to my body and spared myself the tendonitis the first week
- Slow down a little and appreciate my surroundings
- Go out more in the evenings (I was always knocked out in the albergues due to fatigue :D)
However, I plan on doing the full AT next year (if I get the visa) so I treated this trip as experimental to test my gear and myself beforehand.
Your videos inspired me to finally tackle the Thru Hike - Thank you!
Greetings from Austria(soon),
Patrick
Did you get to do the AT?
@@donkeysaurusrex7881 Yes and no. Covid forced me to get off trail after a month and fly back to my country. Quite a bummer but thats life :).
When you mention listening to your body and sparing tendonitis, what specifically do you mean?
I hope you get the chance to do the AT again!
@@samuelmcgovern a friend of mine, in her sixties, and reasonably fit, had to stop half way because she had a stress fracture in her hip from all the walking. Bummer.
Thanks dixie ive been following you for a while now. Your journeys have inspired me to take on the camino using the via de la plata route. It is a long and hard route that only 3 percent of pilgrims take. It is my 60th birthday on 29 th february 2020(leap year baby!!!) and to celebrate life i start my camino from seville on the 6th march. You info is always valuable. Thanks and much love
Agreed. EnJOY !
Agreed. EnJOY
I have always thought February 29th would be the COOLEST day to have a birthday. You'll be turning 60 on your 15th birthday...right!?!? I have actually chosen that exact same day, February 29, 2020, to begin my thru hike of the Appalachian Trail. Buen Camino to us both!
Yes. Birthday-wise he's going to turn 15. I've always thought that that was the coolest day to be born, too.
That will be our 28th Wedding Anniversary. 2/29/92-my husband choose that date-crazy, but he didn't want to forget our Anniversary. We usually celebrate on the 28th. All smiles.
Beautiful documentary... you're very sympathetic and reflective person. I learned a lot for my trip on the camino.
Greetings from Germany... and buen camino 🙏🏼
Greetings from Northern California. I did the Frances route in 2017 and the thing that helped me the most was considering it a religious pilgrimage instead of just a trendy thing to do like most people.The second thing that helped me was going with my best friend who grew up in Spain and spoke Spanish Spanish.
So happy to see you and your sister on this pilgrimage together. I have two granddaughters who love to ride bikes on trails...and they spend a great deal of time off their bikes getting up close and personal with bugs, small snakes, and even moss on the side of trees. My fondest wish for them is that they continue with that fascination with nature for the rest of their lives. On all of your thru hikes there have been countless video clips of your encounters with little creatures...that reflects a deep appreciation and respect, for the wonders of nature that folks often overlook...and that's what makes following your adventures special.
Lots of good advice . Long distance walking is one of the most enjoyable activities one can undertake (something my wife and I do for 4 to 6 weeks in Europe every year - both now over 70). My lessons are carry less, don’t overestimate your ability - rest days about once a week, wear comfortable worn in shoes or boots. Fortunately because we use mostly hotel we have avoided bedbugs to date fingers X.
Watch "The Way" with Martin Sheen before you go.
Great film.
Martin Sheen's father, Francisco Estévez, was born in a small town in Galicia. And Martin himself did the Camino with his grandson a few years before making the film.
@@enekoeneko69 Fidel Castro is from Galacia, too I think...
@@davideldred.campingwilder6481
, yes, Fidel Castro's father was born in Galicia.
it's Hollywood; jeans and skipping around the Camino, but it does give you an insight into what is out there. Just keep in mind, that the Parador hotel chain is extremely expensive.
Thank you for your inspiration--many years now! My son and I leave for our Camino on May 26, shortly after he graduates from college, and you've been so helpful! By the way, today is my 127th consecutive day with Duolingo and my Spanish is coming along!
How was your pilgrimage?? Hope it was wonderful!!
After reading some of the comments I noticed that some of you are viewing this "camino " from the point of view of the "American tourism ". Foremost, the Camino a Santigo is a solitaire Christian pilgrimage with the ancient purpose of " reducing the punishment for our sins ", for more than a thousand years this purpose holds true. The camino does not end the city of Compostela, it ends in the town of Fisterra which means “ the end of world “ in Latin. During the time of the discovery oof the Americas, thousands will do the pilgrimage and then sail to the New World from Porto in Portugal, meaning the majority will never see their loves again. It is not an event to find " nice dinners, great lunches and thing to do and have fun". It is what it is, a spiritual journey, I did it 20 years ago by myself (my wife was not happy at all), I remember meeting people, having great conversations of 10 minutes and ..keep going. During the journey, for a period of 15 days I realized not having a single conversation with anyone, I would just waive at passing people, I was fine with my self-imposed silence. Actually i was even pleased of my newfound self-imposed solitude. Before you can make a wrong impression of me , I am a tailgater, beer drinker, hardcore football fan but I also understand that I was going thru a journey that had a meaning and a reason to do it, which is still valid after a thousand years. I came home with this sensation that my personal batteries had been recharged, I told a very still upset wife of my experience and we both decided that she was nex on the journey but she was going to do it on her own. She did it 2 years later, I picked her up in Compostela, from the moment I saw her I could tell that she had changed. From that moment on our lives became richer, more meaningful. Somehow, we developed this appreciation for the beauty of little things. from the wonders seeing the blossom of a single flower to the pleasure of saying good morning to strangers during our daily walks . So if you are going to do it , remember , it is a spiritual journey, for your information I still a tailgater , still I beer drinker… but now I use a glass .. Happy Buen Camino .
I walked the Camino Frances...twice (long story :-) I had many of the same epiphanies as you the first time, which helped considerably the second time. I found it to be a pretty magical experience . But the Camino Experience is not at all like hiking a trail in the US. It could better be described as a LONG walk, with the only real similarities being 1. you carry a backpack, and 2. your feet hurt at the end of the day, I hope to return in 2021, but first.... I begin my AT thru hike in 79 days...February 29th. :-D Thanks again for all your great videos.
@@jimstone2235 Hiking in the cooler temps isn't the issue, it's the sleeping situation that needed serious thought/prep. So, I've got my Enlightened Equipment bag, and in case that doesn't cut it, I've budgeted a bit extra for shuttles and hostel/hotel stays until Spring arrives.
Buen camino appalachiano!
Hi Dixie, having walked a couple of Camino routes in the past and watched many U Tube presentations I want to say yours is really thoughtful and very useful. Well done.
I'm liking the new ultralight cup - a shell filled with vino! Thanks for the video full of the wisdom you gained on trail...pure gold.
Does that come in Titanium??
Some say that that’s what the shell was used for originally - to drink.
Hear the food thing a lot. I'll add two comments. 1. There are good restaurants, even in the smaller cities and towns, but those good restaurants do not open for dinner until 2000 (8pm). Which is almost impossible for a pilgrim because of how early many albergues close. 2. Even the boring places with the same old Pilgrim's Menu will usually have one item that is more local and/or unusual/different. My experience with all the Americans and the Germans with which I walked is that they almost never chose the good stuff. They always god the crappy pasta dish and the meat with the fries or the crappy salad with tuna. Food in Spain is amazing if you eat when Spaniards eat and are a bit adventurous with your diet.
*Only 18* 👇👇👇
590308.loveisreal.ru
We never ate poorly or were sick of the food, even in smaller towns. And yes, you had to wait until later for the better restaurants to open sometimes...and we did.
It's nice that you got to go slow and take your time... -something we all need to do more of! Thanks, Dixie!
Bright white light....
@@2laughandlaugh you just made my day, man!
@@QuietMowing my wife and I laughed so hard when we heard that on your vid about the different types of backpackers....we had to listen a few times before we figured out it was Dixie. 😂👍
@@2laughandlaugh thanks for watching, man! 🤘🌲
The Caminos don't start at St Jean Pied de Port, of course. People started from their own front doors, and there are marked routes from the eastern fringes of Catholic Europe all the way to Santiago these days; as far east as Warsaw and Bratislava, for example. Or you can start in Slovenia, cross northern Italy, and take the Arles route across France, to Spain. Or from St Petersburg along the Baltic coast to Hamburg, then south through Paris, to Santiago. There is a great route from Canterbury to Rome, the Via Francigenia. Also an ancient route from Oslo to Trondheim in Norway. But the Camino Frances is an outlier in terms of population and infrastructure; no other route has thousands of pilgrims every day.
Hi Dixie, I actually met you and Montana while at the Camino near a town called El Ganso. It was on October 15th - I only know this because that's what it says on the iPhone picture :) We walked together for about a couple of hours and we found a lost brown dog. Finally a man pulled up in his car and started saying what we thought are bad things to his dog - that was mean. Anyway, one of the things I wish I knew was I wish I didn't bring too many things -- rookie mistake. I ended up sending many of my things forward to the next albergue. Anyway, it was great to meet you and Montana -- say "hey" to Montana.
jluspo Yessss! It was so nice chatting with you :) That man was mean. Argh. Montana says hey! Take care!
El Ganso is where I threw my back out. There is a fairly steep slope walking up the hill to the town and I slipped on the rubble. Better to take the paved road as do the bicyclists!
Great lessons Dixie! I have done six caminos and I am still assimilating all the lessons learnes. Julio
And don't think you can go for dinner at 6:00PM or 7:00PM. The restaurants don't open that early. Early dinner would be 8:00PM.
We're early to bed people, especially on the Camino, so that was exactly our experience in several towns.
Completely agree with SLOW DOWN! My friend and I did the Camino in 2017 and since then we have said we wish we had taken more time. I was so excited to see you and your sister stop at the beer garden and hang the bottles on the wall(in your other video). We walked right past there and have regretted it since. We were going back this summer, but then the world changed and we had to cancel. I got my airline ticket refund today. So watching your videos has been bitter sweet & inspiring. Well here’s to next year- Buen Camino!
You can also order packages from all EU countries and you won't have to pay any taxes.
Indeed like for example Amazon DE, IT, FR and even UK (for now at least) The German (and UK) site has probably the most products available
Ahhhhh, thank you for sharing that!
@Homemade Wanderlust Hey Dixie, I don‘t want to lecture you, but you should have known before coming to Europe that this is not the US and that it is very likely that in Europe it is not going the „American Way“. A little advise, check customs regulations before you are going on your trip to New Zealand. It may be possible, that you‘ll find the same problems there.
Greetings from Germany
Alpinium
Not from the UK for much longer... sigh
@@louispippie Sorry guys, your choice.
I did the Camino Frances the summer of 2012. I think your advice is really on point. I strongly agree with treating your gear and clothes with permethrin because bed bugs might be hard to avoid. I also recommend storing your pack overnight in a large plastic trash bag to help keep the critters out and to check the actual mattress and other bedding thoroughly before using and not lay your pack and gear out on the bed at any point if you can avoid it. I also recommend if flying into Spain to have your pack be carry on size. I ended up checking my bag and it got lost - took the airline 3-4 days to get it back to me and a whole lotta stress. I was really happy to have walking sticks on my route and these can be purchased in St. Jean Pied du Port. And definitely take your time if you can! Not a day goes by that I don't think about my journey.
For Bed bugs: Some people also swear by a blend of Rosemary, Lavender and Eucalyptus using 10 drops for each oil. Essential oils are strong and can cause skin irritation to people lying on bed linen so make sure your oils are diluted.
Glad to have you back from the Camino! Glad you loved your trip and we're safe! Can't wait to see what's next!
Yes, you are very right! I did finish my Camino frances in 27 days. That was not too fast, but in the future I will take more time. But in 2019 I had only 31 days to finish (all vacation-days), so I had 2 wonderful days in Porto, from where I flew home. You have to have it on your mind, not everyone has unlimited time to walk the Camino.
I did wear boots (recommended by the experts at my local hiking-shop) because I torned all ligaments of my right foot a year before I walked. And I have seen many bloody feet from people who did wear light shoes like trailrunners. Maybe they had the wrong size or wrong socks. But it seems to be symptomatic.
After showering I did ask the Hospitalero/a where I can find something typical and cheap to eat. Only on a single evening I ended up getting nothing to eat.
I will repeat this journey on the frances for sure. I will be on the Camino Portugues for the easter-vacation next year with my son.
Agree, Trail runners are great and for very wet muddy days GOOD waterproof socks and Good hiking sandals work well.
There are apps with lots of information along El camino and for every camino. Eroski has a really good app and another one is Pilgrim. They both have information on elevation change, how far the nearest water source is, the albergues in each one and some cultural information on the stops but you're right that we're missing more cultural documentation in between stops.
cant find "Eroski" - it´s the exact name?
My Camino de Santiago Compostela, Frances was in 2015. No bedbugs. Wish I'd had Hoka mid-hiking shoes at the time. Would cut 3-4 pounds of gear (switch to ultra-light pack and lighter, layered sleeping gear). Accept that more than 90% of participants have no idea that they are on an ancient pilgrimage, not a walking tour of Northern Spain.
Well done and thanks! CONGRATS for completing the French Camino. Buen Camino to me meant "Have a great pilgrimage" or have a great hike...
I completed mine in 2017, I enjoyed the food. The pilgrims menu is much better than hiking food lol, most of the time...
Did a fair amount of reading beforehand. Traveling outside of North America entails changing cultures and makes it so interesting
Inded vive la difference,
Keep doing your awesome videos
Peace outside
Thanks for the information...I am walking the Camino Francais in May so this was helpful 🙏
I have done the French Way in both 2016 and 2019 and the Porteugese Coastal Way in 2022. At the end of my first 2 Caminos my first thought was I wish I did it slower. At the end of the first day on my third Camino I finally took my own advice, I slowed down. Having walked the French twice I had nothing left to prove. I walked soooo much of the Porteugese Coastal in barefeet in the sand and water. I never got another blister once I removed my shoes. The water felt amazing on my feet. Is it more effort to walk in sand? Yes, but the beaches are all flat walking. The one thing I have been most happy about bringing on all 3 Caminos was my own pillow case. My advice to someone not experienced in hiking would be to get shoes that fit but are up to a size larger than you usually wear and start hiking with a pack on your back. Buen Camino!
My wife and I hiked the Camino for our honeymoon. One of the things we learned was that the trail was way better if we took it slow and spent the time to see the sights and understand the history. Because of that, we decided not to get overly ambitious about hiking the distance. We ended up skipping some sections, it was hard to make the decision at the time, but so worth it because we felt we could really experience the sections we did hike. My wife being fluent in Spanish helped a lot too. In the end, we did about 250 miles of the frances in two pieces, Logrono to Burgos and Astorga to the end. Which was plenty for a honeymoon:)
I guess you didn’t watch the movie with Martin Sheen and Emilo Estevez....The Way (2010) before you went on the walk. In that movie you would have known about bringing a rock to Cruz de Ferro. We live in Ventura, CA where the beginning of The Way was filmed. It was fun to watch the movie after we got back and point out all the sights and experiences we had that were also in the movie! Great video...thanks for sharing!
YES! SLow down and savor the experience. I have had the privilege of walking it twice, and each time it was different and special.
Camino del Norte June 2021 baby 🤘. Added these great tips to our ever growing list! My wife and I are really enjoying this series and we find it extremely helpful in planning ours.
I am new to your channel, and I am blown away by how knowledgeable your presentation is. You make it so comfortable for newcomers like me. I believe its because of your Southern Hospitality upbringing, that puts me more at ease. Thank you so very much for sharing your experience, strength and hope! Love you!
I found "The Pilgrimage Road to Santiago: The Complete Cultural Handbook Kindle Edition
by David M. Gitlitz, Linda Kay Davidson very useful in knowing what was along the camino.
I hated my liner and would bring a sleeping bag the next time. I had the same thoughts about the food... also I am vegetarian and it was hard sometimes, but I lost a lot of weight. ;) for anyone who is interested, I have a couple Camino videos on my channel, but I am new to TH-cam, so I am still practicing the filming and editing ;) if you ever thought about doing the Camino, do it!!!! Buen Camino :)
As a spaniard who has walked over 2000 km on the Camino (From Germany through France and to Finisterre on the francés) , I find it very interesting to hear what your experience was. Thanks for sharing!
One day, after I'm done with university, I'm going to walk two Vias and a Camino from my parents' house in Northern Belgium through Belgium, France and Spain to Santiago de Compostela - about 2400 km. Got inspired on a holiday near the Camino Portuguese, where we saw a lot of pilgrims, although the idea had been in my mind for longer. These videos are really interesting and make me want to get out there as soon as possible :))
Buen camino. Great video. Thanks for the tips.
I had to learn the hard way to get off the phone and be in the moment.
I did the Del Norte end of last summer. I landed in Madrid and decided to take a side trip to meet a friend in Greece. I left my new phone that was loaded with a Spanish sim card, Camino apps, and google translate in the taxi as I arrived at the airport... So I get to Greece bought a cheap phone and used it for my wonderful time there, but as I was returning to Spain I had realized that my "new new" phone was at the security check in Athens!! so I just did without for the first few weeks.
The Camino really does provide as they say but you have to accept what it is trying to tell you.
I did the French way in 2017, only an year and a half later I was back on Camino Primitivo. I was not the only one who was miss it so badly and came back as soon as possible :). My hopes and dreams are to hike long distances again. Thank you, Dixie!
Dixie, there are several routes of El Camino, which is Spanish for the Camino. Take another walk.
I'm just glad to know that olives in Spain are bone free.
sogpig RIGHT?!
To be fair, calling what comes out of an olive a "bone" make slightly more sense that the homonym for "hole in the ground." I remember having exactly the same reaction as you and HW the first time I saw it on a menu.
NoBigDeal 😂
It depends on the variety of the olive, some have them some don't :)
Excellent post with information that will certainly make this journey much richer.
Enjoyed your documentary and wish you both many great adventures in the future!!
I did the Camino Norte and I wish we had known that you don't need to pack the way you would for a backcountry trip. Within a few days my sister and I had ditched half our gear and sent it back to our friend in London! All you need, truly, is boots/shoes, an outfit to hike in, an outfit to sleep in, rain gear, some warm layers, sleeping bag and toiletries! No 50l bag needed, most people hike with a 25-30l bag at max!
Good information. I enjoyed your video journey. I’ve seen comments on other blogs (2024) that so much rubbish (old shoes, boxes of mementos) is left at the iron cross that the government bulldozers it regularly. And large groups of tourist buses now pull up and ruin the atmosphere. The Camino is a centuries-old Catholic pilgrimage open to all, however there is a big difference between being a pilgrim and being a tourist on a cheap holiday.
Beautiful river in background. Enjoyed following your Camino adventure.
I did the Camino Portugués May 2018. We loved every single day! We loved all the people and small villages! I did crave fruit after awhile! So if we went by fruit stands I bought strawberries, bananas etc. I plan to do another Camino in a couple years.
Advice for any non European person ordering from Amazon within Europe...
The European Union means you can purchase anything, absolutely anything from any EU Amazon store to be sent to you in Spain for example.
Due to regional licensing some things you cannot find on the Spanish (amazon.es) store but you can find them on the French (amazon.fr) or German stores (amazon.de), and up until Dec 31 2020 on the UK store. These can all be delivered to you in Spain with zero additional taxes.
You will be able to find anything you need if you look around the other sites. You can also order directly from the manufacturer if they have a European online store and that can be shipped with no additional taxes as well.
There are 27 Countries within the EU (excluding the UK now) so you absolutely can get the exact item with just a little effort. There is no need to import anything, this includes medication.
Take your time, say hello, take as little as possible, eat with others,(or not). Take a day in a city. Eat something you haven’t before. Go for tapas in a place with lots of napkins on the floor, it’s popular!
@ Ian- Wow, some really great advice because Americans would probably skip a food place with litter all over the floor!
The health dept would never let that business stay open in the US.
I know that’s been 2 years since you did the Camino but I just came across this video and had to tell you that I absolutely loved it and I really like your gear list. It will help me when I start planning.
Looking forward to getting out there in October 2022. Thank you for the help. Buen Camino!
First, synthetic bags have gotten better every year, and are close to packsize and weight of down. Second, treat your bag or blankets with permethrin. It lasts for six weeks.
It’s a good idea to always check underneath the mattress and on the sheets for signs of bed bugs. They are a pain to get rid of and you have to be careful to not take them home with you. Never place a suitcase or back pack on the bed for this reason.
Heat alone will kill bedbugs. You could have just put the items in a dryer on high heat for 20-30 minutes and skipped the wash. As always you provide great info in your videos...
@Woodenarrows - since the dryers are public it would be very rude and offensive to put dirty pest-filled garments of any type straight into the dryer!🤨
I had hiked the Arizona Trail a few years after hiking my first Camino, and in the Grand Canyon, I chatted with an overnight backpacker for a few minutes before we departed ways, and he said, "Buen Camino!" as a farewell. I replied with a hearty "Buen Camino!" and turned around and started walking off. About a minute later I realized--he said BUEN CAMINO! I turned back, and asked, "Have you hiked the Camino?" And, of course, he had, so then we chatted about that for another 15 minutes. It was so automatic for me, even years later, I hadn't thought twice when he first said it.
Now I sometimes like to drop it on non-Camino trails if I think there's a possibility that the person I'm talking to might have hiked the Camino. Just to see if their eyes light up when I say it. =)
I also learned how to say "Good morning" in about 30 different languages along the way--just to give people a more customized greeting in the morning. =)
Buen Camino! 3/1/23 from SJPDP to Muxia. What a strange wonderful trip it was
Super useful video Dixie! My wife and I are going to be doing the Camino in the next few years. We did an internship during college in Quito, Ecuador for a month and we are from rural KY lol We had taken a few spanish classes, but the struggle was real. I lived with a family that only spoke spanish. Google translate was very hopeful. Luckily we were teaching at a bilingual school so that helped a lot. Thanks again for the helpful info on the Camino and bringing us along for your journey. All the best for you and your family! Happy Holidays! 😀
Couple of things...not all alburgues have kitchens or pilgrim meals. When earing out, there may well be a pilgrim and a menu del dia. The latter costs a bit more but may have something you might want to try. Those include padron peppers, the paellas at the start of the Camino and pulpo/octopus once you near Santiago. Also, don't let age get to you, you can do this. I was 73 when I walked from Burgos to Santiago, three years ago. If Spain is open in September I plan to do the rest. Paying 5 euros to have your bag forwarded for you is cheap if it allows you to get to your destination. I did it last time over the steeper areas and the courier's van was loaded with packs, so you won't be alone. Above all, enjoy your travels, the Camino is hard to describe to someone who has not walked it, put passing thru all the ruins along the way makes you appreciate those who went before.
Fantastic insight, as always. Again, congrats to you both! Thoroughly enjoyed the series.
Your comments about opening yourself to being comfortable learning and using a different language are spot on. I think it’s one of the better things humans can do to expand themselves. I did it in Japan years ago for 5 years, full immersion the whole time. Super tough, but super rewarding and lasting value. Hiking our US trails is fantastic, but I hope everyone can also visit other lands and bridge more gaps.
You rock and best of the holidays to you and the fam!
Hi Dixie . As a Brit who lives in the south of spain ( in front of Sierra Nevada) you only pay import tax on stuff from outside the EU . Re shops shutting. Some very large stores stay open . Puzzled by your comment about restaurants not serving between 2 and 5 pm .2pm is lunchtime so this is just prime time to eat . In the evening in places that arnt geared to none Spanish tourists don't start serving till after 9pm ( due to people working 5 to 8 pm ) re history the rewind s you were showing in your video are probably fairly recent due to people leaving the countryside over the last 40 years . I have had my place 27 years and have seen buildings off the track to my house fall derelict even since I have been here . History in Spain is 1400s the re conquest. Roman period, and one of the coastal towns near here was originally Phoenician. Re language even if you think you can speak spanish there are distinct regional differences spanish people from 100km away from me struggle to understand them
I am almost convinced at this point that one should simply learn Latin before travelling around the Mediterranean so that if nothing else everyone else will feel bad when you have to switch to English instead of you having to feel bad.
I learned to take it easy, especially the first week, go at my own pace don't try to keep up with others who are faster. The guidebook is simply that. A guide, it's not cast in stone. I started to stay overnight in places in the middle of the guide's recommended daily hikes, to avoid crowds. Albergues, my mantra is never stay at the first one you see entering a village or the last one (which is also the first if going the other way!) Ultreia!
Hi Dixie you two did a great job, learning is a wonderful part of backpacking, now you know more...I hope you keep it up and keep up the experiences!!
I had two friends (who had previously done The Camino) following my progress on FB. Both told me to SLOW DOWN! I thought, “I’m walking, how much slower can I go?” I now have the “slow down” regret. I plan to do The Camino through Portugal in 2023, and I will take more time and really enjoy the entire experience 😊
I find it important to set an intention for the camino.
To me the camino is a pilgrimage. And I set a clear intention before walking.
To me walking long days makes it easyer to reach the religous aspect of the camino. The spiritual experience.
Because I walk long days I also use boots. in average I walk more than 30 km pr day and I get more protection on the feet from the boots.
I agree: most days on the camino could be walked in shoes or sandals especially if you walk short days.
So most important: why do you walk? for the social and historical experience? or for the spiritual experience ?
huge fan of yours, i watch all the time. I leaved in Europe for 3 1/2 years with my family at a Military base in Italy. if you wanted to get something mailed to you our shop at a American store a lot of times there is a US post office overseas and store there. Also if you need to get on the base a lot of the times if you talk to public affairs they would be happy to help you out. so if your going to be near a US base see if they can help you or even at an US Embassy. i hope this helps cant wait for the next through hike.
Hiked the Camino Francis twice 2014 & 2016 didn't complete either yrs😢 due to knee issues . Your comments on taking your time and enjoying the moment is perfect . Don't get caught up in the "race for a bed"
What a great video. I’m walking it again this April. I did it in 2018 and from that experience I’ve written a novel about the Camino called The Catching of the Camino Wind. It is now available @Amazon.com in either paperback or e-book.
I hiked the Camino in 2016 & 2018 (had to break it up because I didn't have enough time off work) and am surprised to hear you didn't know about the stone carried to the Cruz de Ferro. I found that pretty well covered in the research I did. I like what you said about Buen Camino. I hadn't thought about it in terms of comparing it to other trails. Frankly I got a little tired of saying it, but you are right it's a form of universal greeting that serves well among so many different languages. I'm happy you went Dixie and hope those memories stay with you as they have with me.
Try being a vegan on El Camino! 😅 It's hard, but it is possible. What I wish I had known:
- That I didn't have to worry so much before walking. It was tough but I made it and had so much fun!
- That you need special socks! I had terrible blisters before I got proper hiking socks.
- I had the best guidebook ever! I wish I had not ripped out the pages along the way. 😅 You need one! There is also a good app called Buen Camino with alot of historical anecdotes.
I wish I had taken more pictures of the people. I took alot of pictures of the sights and scenes, but I always felt awkward taking pictures of people- like I was intruding. Looking back on it I wish I did so that I could show family and friends who I am talking about when I tell a story. I went very light and that aided in going fairly fast. Some told me to slow down, but I honestly feel comfortable that I was moving at the pace I should have been moving and that I was still able to take in lifetimes worth of memories. The Camino ultimately teaches you what you need to learn.
Wonderful! You fill your young life with wonder and share generously with us... Thanks.
In my opinion, "El Camino de Santiago" is not only a tourist attraction, it is a personal challenge for whatever reason and as every challenge has to have its difficulties or else it would not be a challenge. Regarding the gastronomy "menu del pelegrino" is a simple and cheap meal designed to feed you and nothing more. You must think that in the small towns lost in the mountains it is not exactly a place for gastronomic tourism and much less international gastronomy. If you expect to find a Taco Bell or a McDonald's in these places, forget it. And you are not going to find ATMs in these places either. The "Camino de Santiago Frances" is a more touristic route where there are more services and towns on the way compared to the "Camino de Santiago primitivo" where there is not even a water source for many kilometers.
Thanks Dixie. Love your videos and you. I'm not religious or an atheist but "God bless you!" You are one of the few channels I respect on TH-cam. "YOU DO YOU BOO!" - Love that quote.
With regards to receiving packages in the EU from outside the EU: you could take them with you into the EU and then send them to where you need them. There are no import taxes between EU countries. I believe this is even includes EFTA countries as well, which include countries like Norway, but check that beforehand. Also see:
www.efta.int/About-EFTA/Frequently-asked-questions-EFTA-EEA-EFTA-membership-and-Brexit-328676
Great video! I learned two things pretty quickly: get at least 1 walking pole and get a hat for the sun. To echo everyone else, pack as light as possible. I started with a guide book but ended up taking pictures of every page with my phone and the physical book (along with a few other things) after the 4th day.
6:26 -- eats pop tarts and peanut butter every day on the CDT
complains about steak, chicken and french fries on the camino
first name Trekking across another country, it’s perfectly reasonable to assume you’d be sampling a variety of cuisine.
@@bereantrb You would, if you bother looking for local specialties in every town you stop. For a pre-bought package specifically catering foreigners... expect little variance and bastardized cuisine palatable to wider audiences and without an ounce of authenticity. Spain has a lot to offer and pretty much every little hamlet make their own stuff and has different traditions. And french fries and steak is definitely not it.
@@Imman1s exactly.
@@bereantrb If she was expecting a variety of cuisine, and didn't get it, there's only person to blame for that.
Food changes almost literally every 200kms, from the Basque Country (the best food in spain), Cantabria, Asturias and then Galicia, with all the seafood bounty you could wish for.... not to mention cocido in Asturias and Cantabria, proper hiker's food!!
@@IgnacioGlezCllo Right. And she said as much, that you could go into towns for different food. I was simply responding to the original post. It would be a surprise to most people that every hostel served the same thing. That's pretty odd. And, yes, I know the original post was a joke and people take comments way too seriously.
Great information. my first attempt was from Pamplona to Puente La Riana where I got hurt so had to return to the USA my second attempt was from St Jean to Navarret where my wife got hurt and had to return to the USA. And now I have to wait because of the covet 19. Hope this is over by Oct 2020 if it is I will attempt a winter camino and see how it goes. I am sixty five years old and God I hope I get to walk it before I die. I so enjoy your videos all of them you are so inspirational God bless you and keep filming and young lady, as they say in Spain Buen Camino.
Thanks, definitely a big help, especially about the sleeping bag and bed bugs. I live in Central Texas, Spanish is a good language to know here too. I’m not convinced the albergue beds are the place to sleep. Bed bugs? Sheesh? The floor, a neolite , and a sleeping bag might be a good option; snoring, I’m gone. I love the scene of your sister with the ocean in the background. Her smile is wonderful. Thanks again, Texas
Hi Dixie, I'm happy you did the camino and had this experience, I'm thinking of doing it in the next 2 years, but I go with my bicycle and take a tent or bivvy, the issue with too many people in albergues, bed bugs, and the food in Spanien...is not for me, I was in the south of Spain once and the siesta and open hours was horrible..and better not start with the Post and package =o(
I'm latina and speak spanish, and many times I don't understand the spanish people ;o)))) Yes, the language is very important, I'm studying russian just for fun. You should come to Switzerland hiking or France..or doing the via alpina...is like made for you! Wish you a good time and enjoy Europe! Kudos
Ollie D. Probably Spaniards didn’t understand you either ! 😂 it goes both ways probably.
Anyway anyone familiar with Spain know that in Andalucía they have a different pronunciation to the provinces in the north of Spain where el Camino De Santiago is . The north of Spain is so different to the south that i t seems like a different country .
Thank you so much. I have enjoyed your travels.
Greetings from North Carolina !
Thanks for the information. Very helpful. Gathering up some stories while planning for it.
Very helpful! Thankyou for sharing!!
Buen Camino!
Great info! Very informative. The Camino is nice