The Camino

[ontheedge]

Planning to do part of the Camino in June hopefully 250k was wondering if anyone has done any or all of it and any tips. Know there are lots of books out there but thought would ask here. Don't want to do an organised walk as think the route is fairly well marked out.

[ontheedge]

Guess that's a no then

[HAL9000]

A forum search on "Santiago" reveals a few previous mentions. There wasn't much interest then, either :(

[Huguenot]

It's a terrific set of walks, but I guess the religious connotations can be very offputting. It would prevent someone like me from doing it.

Perhaps some of the walking groups might be a good place to search for chums?

[Marmora Man]

The Lycean Way along southern Turkey coast, looks a good long distance walk, beside the sea with the added pleasure of following in Alexander the Great's footsteps

[Huguenot]

That sounds like a great trip - very hot and dusty but some amazing scenery.

I've always had a thing for northern Turkey along the Black Sea coast - but never actually made it there.

[Ladygooner]

If you watch the film "The Way" with Martin Sheen it gives you some idea of what the walking involves, also the hostels you stay in along the way

[civilservant]

I walked a third of the Camino (Pamplona to Burgos) a few years ago and have planned to return for the rest of it ever since - however real life gets in the way! I must emphasise that I did it because of the walk rather than because of the religious connotations, but there is nonetheless a strong spiritual aspect to the whole adventure.

Having said that, it is well worth the effort. As you'd expect from a centuries-old pilgrim/tourist route, much of the noteworthy art and architecture of northern Spain is concentrated along the way - it's a UNESCO World Heritage site.

There's a wide range of accommodation from the basic (mostly free) pilgrim hostals to 5-star paradors. You'll also find that pilgrims get a lot of respect and support from local people.

The walkers/pilgrims themselves are a very diverse bunch. Some creeping Jesuses, but thankfully these are a tiny minority.

My year, the walkers were mostly French and German, with a healthy sprinkling of Italians. Very few Brits - and not a lot of Spanish, interestingly enough. Many of the French walkers had started in Paris or further north and were doing it in stages, walking down branch routes that start as far north as Normandy. Many of them alternated nights in hostals with nights in better class accommodation!

There is loads of information and you don't need an organised walk as the way is well marked.

There are dedicated guidebooks that tell you about the route in quite minute detail, the best time of year to go, which hostals have hot showers and decent accommodation, where to get your credencial stamped etc.

If you only speak English, you might want to take a friend along though...

See also this website http://www.caminodesantiago.me.uk/ and the wikipedia entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Way_of_St._James for more info.

[ontheedge]

Thanks a lot for this

Not doing it for any orthodox religous reasons, and will indeed be going with a friend.

[backiej]

Hello

I walked the Camino from Seville to Santiago last year and it has changed my life. It is the most amazing experience.

I wrote an ebook about it and you can look in it on amazon or you can download a free sample here:

www.smashwords.com/books/view/137772

I am also willing to try to answer any questions.

Buen camino

Jackie

[Marmora Man]

A friend of mine walked half of it a few years back and is planning to finish the rest this year.

One point he made was that by walking, generally south west for a few weeks he arrived at his end point with a good tan on this left hand side and significantly less of a tan on his right hand side.