I had my Camino pretty much planned out and was happy just to pass these last few days biding my time until I head off to the San Diego airport and fly to France. I had written the two sections below and was waiting for an opportune time to send it off. Then, this morning, the wheels came off one stage and I had to re-schedule everything from about the mid-point onwards — and re-title the blog.
- Hot Tips
I get a lot of questions about the Camino and, though I am far from being an expert, I thought I would record some of my thoughts. Of course, you could ask your AI slave to peruse various blogs and forums and Facebook pages and to summarize the findings in 3-4 bullet points. For example, if you asked for an AI review of the most popular footwear on the Camino, you would learn that trail runners are the preferred choice. But it is more fun to engage with real people, even if you have to put up with the occasional misanthrope, grouch and bot invader.
Which Camino? There are many Caminos to choose from, with the Frances, Portuguese and Norte being the most popular. For first timers, I always recommend the Frances. Also, do the entire Camino if possible, that is if you have 30-ish days or so. Of course, there are beautiful journeys, pilgrimages, nature walks, wilderness hikes, etc. all over the world. But for this discussion I will focus on the Camino Frances.
What time of year? I like mid-September to mid-October and mid-May to mid-June. Avoid summer months due to crowds and heat. Avoid winter months due to cold and fewer facilities.
Where to stay? You can stay in hostels with maybe twelve pilgrims to a room in a bunkbed or private room with bathroom in the many inns and small hotels along the way. Most people use Booking.com. Or you can pay top dollar and get a bespoke Camino tour planned for you. I stay in the occasional albergue, but prefer a private room in a “casa rural”.
What type of clothing, equipment, gear? You are on your own here. I have an Osprey Talon 22 liter backpack weighing 15 pounds fully loaded. I wear Ecco Yucatán sandals. I do not use poles or a staff. I take one pair of shorts, one pair long pants, two long sleeve shirts, a merino wool undershirt, a “puffer” jacket and a Tilley wide brimmed hat. Layering is important for cold evenings and hot days.
How to prepare? Be sure you can walk 5 miles without getting blisters. Michener’s Iberia is good pre-reading to learn a bit about Spain (he wrote a section on the Camino) and The Way with Martin Sheen will get you pumped. If you want to do it and you can do it, then do it.
2. Destiny or Delusion?
The big question, of course, is why do it? Each person will have their own reason and their own individual experience. But what about my reason, you might ask. Before I can answer, have a look at the second sentence of the fourth verse of the poem in last post: La dicha del camino se gesta en el designio. The original wording, before translation to Spanish, is: The joy of the journey begins with the plan.
I went back and forth from English to Spanish, trying to get something which might shed light on my reasoning for walking a Camino. “Joy” is too frivolous a word, bliss is too sublime. “Journey” is perhaps to rigid of a word; I wanted to convey something very physical, yet without excluding the very spiritual feeling one experiences. And “begins with a plan” doesn’t quite capture “charting a course through the heavens”.
But hey! I learned two new words: La dicha and el designio.
That brings me back to the present moment. I have made the necessary changes to the itinerary and once again, await my departure, hoping for the best.
El Peregrino 