Seven Tips to Make the Most of the Camino de Santiago is unlike any other book about the Camino. It is not a travelogue or a guide, but rather a preparation manual that gives practical advice on the different aspects of undertaking the spiritual journey of a lifetime. The Seven Tips cover everything from what to take to the history of the Camino to calculating the cost. Thought provoking questions are posed to help set realistic expectations in the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and logistical areas. In short, it is the organizational tool you need while planning your trip.
"This second edition has been updated to reflect the current needs of anyone thinking about walking or biking the Camino. Preparation covers the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and logistical requirements for a successful journey."--Page 4 of cover.
A new approach to using walking to heal emotional trauma and bring forth optimal mental functioning • Explores why and how we carry emotional wounds, and how they can be healed and resolved • Shows how walking stimulates both sides of the brain to promote and restore mental health • Provides simple, yet potent, mental exercises to use while walking Our bodies usually heal rapidly from an illness, injury, or wound. Yet our minds and hearts often suffer for years with debilitating symptoms of distress or upset. Why is it so hard for our minds and hearts to heal? The key to healing them is simple and can be just a short walk away. Walking--a bilateral therapy that has been a part of human life throughout history--allows people to heal emotionally as quickly as they do physically. Bilateral therapies engage both sides of the brain and unlock natural states of optimal function and creativity. Thom Hartmann examines how memory works and why emotional shock can resist normal healing. He found that the simple act of walking is effective in treating emotional disturbances ranging from temporary upsets and problems to chronic conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Case studies have shown dramatic results. Walking consciously, while holding a distress or desire in mind, can rapidly dissolve the rigidity of a traumatic memory or negative mind state, dispersing its unpleasant associations in as little as a half hour’s time. While walking has always been a natural part of life, its importance in promoting and maintaining mental health is only recently being rediscovered. Hartmann’s simple yet potent exercises allow us to create our own walking journeys to restore our mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being as well as rejuvenate our body’s health.
This book was born from the idea of providing useful advice and suggestions to those who are about to embark on the Camino de Santiago for the first time. I walked them all: in 2006 the Camino Francés, from St. Jean Pied-de-Port to Fisterra, in 2008 the Via de la Plata from Seville, in 2010, the Jacobean holy year, the Camino Primitivo from Oviedo and the stage from Fisterra to Muxía, in 2012 the Camino del Norte. I put the figures in a column, I try to add them. Three thousand kilometers, exactly, on foot. I got some information from the Internet, I checked it by comparing it with my personal experience, I tried to provide a complete and updated report. In this book you will find: - a historical-religious introduction on the figure of St. James and the origin of the pilgrimage; - an overview of the routes to Santiago today; - detailed advice on which Way to choose and how far to go per day; - a small glossary of the most frequent terms: albergue, botafumeiro, Compostela, credential, donativo, sello, ...; - how to prepare for the Way: how much to train and how, where to find information, the most up-to-date websites and the best apps, how to book the flight, what are the average daily costs; - which shoes to use; - how to prepare the backpack: what things are necessary and what are superfluous; - the symbols and rituals along the Way, in Santiago and in Fisterra; - the new ways of accessing the Portico of Glory, after a decade of delicate restorations. From time to time, I inserted short passages taken from the diaries I wrote, to give the sense of the pilgrimage, the scent of encounters, the flavor of the extraordinary emotions experienced. Enjoy the reading and buen camino!
I am Tex Lang and I walked portions of the Camino Frances in September and October 2018 and again in March and April, 2019. This is an update of my first book Camino de Santiago Journey 2019 which I published in December of 2018. In this updated version I have added more tips and hints plus information relating to Covid-19 and the upcoming Holy Year of 2021.I was like most pilgrims who have not walked The Way in that I knew very little about this big undertaking. Oh sure, I researched like crazy on the web to get information. I shopped for clothing and everything else that might have been on this person's or that person's list. And I made a few mistakes. Now that I have 'been there' I know how I will do it differently in the future. And that information is what I bring to my readers plus many tips I learned on the ground in Spain. The hints I offer in this book are universal but my travel perspective is limited to the Camino Frances. I returned to the Camino in March of 2019 for a few more weeks and learned several more helpful tips.In this book you will learn What to take and what to leave behind. This will help keep what is in your backpack to a minimum. How to manage your money with options for a credit card or prepaid debit card and getting cash when you need it in Spain. Exact examples of clothing I took which worked perfectly for me and what did not, including shoes. I tried out six pair before making a selection and still did not have the right shoes. Next time it will be different. How to select your accommodations and insure there is a place for you at the end of the day. How to save time and money arranging for cell phone service in Spain. Which plan was the best for me and how you can find it. The best apps to have on your smartphone for planning your day to day, keeping track of the weather and even knowing that you are still on the trail!Which guidebooks are best and how to take them with you in your phone saving space and weight in your backpack. What to expect in your day to day Camino experience. This will raise your confidence about your ability to do this! What I learned from my own mistakes and those of others. I did not have a bad experience the first time. Far from it! It was wonderful! But I struggled because of unexpected physical difficulties and had to cut my Camino short. I am 74 years old as of this writing and am a 7-year lung cancer survivor. I have other physical challenges including sciatica, feet issues, hip problems, COPD and emphysema. With this in mind I have included in the book a section for older people considering the Camino and those who have a physical challenge of some sort. You will get the story of how things evolved for me and what steps I am taking to minimize the problems in the future. And, you will get to meet Millie, a 70+ yr. old retired school teacher from Maryland who completed the Camino. I will tell you what I learned from this tiny lady and how she inspired me for my future undertakings.
With over 1000 years of history, the Way of St. James is one of the classic long distance walks. This historical route along almost 1000 kilometres from the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela offers unique cultural, scenic and nature experiences. Since the Holy Year of 2010 the Way of St. James has gained even more in popularity and attracts more and more people from very different backgrounds, faiths and generations. It does not matter what the reason might be for setting out on the path to Santiago de Compostela - in the end you are confident that you have had a quite special experience. The Rother walking guide describes in a total of 42 stages the whole of the Camino francés from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port via Roncesvalles, as well as the Aragon route from the Somport pass via Jaca to Santiago de Compostela, including possible secondary routes and the extension to Finisterre or Muxía. Thus the Way of St. James leads through a wealth of diverse landscapes, continuously interrupted by culturally and historically interesting places like Roncesvalles, Pamplona, Puente la Reina, San Juan de Ortega, Burgos or Leon, to name but a few. The natural experience dominates at first with the Pyrenean mountains, then the Rioja region characterised by vineyards, followed by the endless barren wastes of the Castillian plateau. But finally, it is the greenery of Galicia that rewards you for all your efforts and deprivations of the long journey, before you reach the climactic destination of Santiago de Compostela. If you still have time, then continuing to the coast, to Finisterre and Muxía, is highly recommended. Detailed maps, precise descriptions of the individual stages including easy-to-read height profiles, as well as comprehensive details of the infrastructure along the way such as medical services, shopping opportunities or banks, make your planning of the walk easier, especially for deviations from the stages described in this guide. Detailed information is also given about the location and standard of accommodation in the pilgrim hostels along the way, graded accordingly with one to three St. James shells. General tips on planning the route and equipment at the start of the book make this walking guide into a compact and practical guide. Special mention is also made of historical and scenic delights, as well as regional peculiarities, local fiestas and culinary specialities. A selection of representative photos provide insights into the diversity of landscape and culture experienced along the Way of St. James.
You have seen the movie, you have read all the novels, now you want to walk "The Way" yourself - the Camino de Santiago. But you have questions, many questions: What does the daily life of a pilgrim actually look like? How big should your backpack be and do you need xyz? What is the best time to walk the Camino? Is it dangerous to walk alone, especially as a woman? What about the dangerous dogs you have heard so much about? Are there gender-separated showers and toilets in the pilgrim hostels? And when nature calls when you are on the trail, will there be outhouses or not? How can you prevent blisters and other health problems? Will you find enough places to buy food from or restaurants to eat in? And what about if you are vegetarian - will you find adequate food to keep you going? Do you need to speak Spanish to walk the Camino? Do you need to be religious and / or baptized to do The Way? Where does the Camino start and how long does it take to walk "The Whole Way"? And, and, and ... If these are your questions, then this book is for you. Read about what you need to know beforehand, what you need to take, and what you can leave at home - which is the most important bit! Read about how to prepare for the Camino de Santiago in a book written by two experienced pilgrims and hospitaleras that, between them, have walked more than 10,000 km / 6,000 mi on European pilgrimage routes in Spain, France and Italy and have looked after, over the years, ten thousands of pilgrims in over twenty different refugios (pilgrim hostels). Some of the many topics covered in this book are: Introduction into the daily pilgrim life - So that you know what to expect and what not. Movies like "The Way" are not always true to reality;-) Which way and when? - Choosing the right Camino for you, and yes, there is a choice! And choosing the right time to go, plus many insider tips on how to experience a somewhat quieter Camino, even in the midst of the pilgrim season. A detailed explanation of the few things you need to take, where best to buy them and what to look out for when buying them. And a longer list of things you don't need to take and the reasons why. A lot of practical background information covering pretty much every aspect of the pilgrim life. Plus pilgrim stories out of our real life experience to make it a more entertaining read and a large appendix with many useful addresses and texts. Also included is a free download link to a template that will allow you to create your very own, personalized packing list for your very own Way. If you are still unsure if this is the book you are looking for - just use the "Click to look inside" function here on Amazon to get a good impression of it. In all cases, we want to wish you a ¡Buen Camino! - A Good Way! And yes, you will pick up a few essential Spanish pilgrim terms in this book also ...
If you are an urbanite who has spent his life locked in four walls, it is logical that now you want to go out into the country. If you work all your life sitting, it is very logical that you want to walk. If you stay in insane and sad offices, you want to breathe clean air. If your days are filled meeting with colleagues and clients, now you want to enjoy solitude. If you must achieve absurd objectives, you want to do something where the end is not a goal.Now you can say goodbye to all that, and alone or accompanied, go to the Camino de Santiago. Buen Camino ! Index 1. The Way of Saint James History The Camino today Pilgrim or tourist, walker Routes to Compostela The stages Types of roads 2. Make the decision (6 months before) The reason Which route to choose Books and guides Alone or accompanied Budget In summary: yes or no 3. Planning (3 months before) Starting point The start date Plan the stages Accommodations 4. Preparations (1 month before) Test routes Clothing and footwear Backpack and cane Luggage Mobile and camera Pilgrim's Credential Take care 5. Running (1 day before) The first day Some things to do 6. The stages A personal experience Some things that happen 7. The French Camino Distances Accommodations visited Stages 1. Roncesvalles - Burguete 2. Burguete - Zubiri 3. Zubiri - Pamplona 4. Pamplona - Puente la Reina 5. Puente la Reina - Estella 6. Estella - Los Arcos 7. Los Arcos - Viana 8. Viana - Logroño 9. Logroño - Nájera 10. Nájera - Santo Domingo de la Calzada 11. Santo Domingo de la Calzada - Belorado 12. Belorado - Agés 13. Agés - Burgos 14. Burgos - Hontanas 15. Hontanas - Boadilla del Camino 16. Boadilla - Carrión de los Condes 17. Carrión de los Condes - Terradillos 18. Terradillos - El Burgo Ranero 19. El Burgo - Mansilla de las Mulas 20. Mansilla de las Mulas - León 21. León - San Martín del Camino 22. San Martín del Camino - Astorga 23. Astorga - Rabanal del Camino 24. Rabanal del Camino - El Acebo 25. El Acebo - Ponferrada 26. Ponferrada - Villafranca del Bierzo 27. Villafranca del Bierzo - Las Herrerías 28. Las Herrerías - O Cebreiro 29. O Cebreiro - Triacastella 30. Triacastella - Sarria 31. Sarria - Portomarín 32. Portomarín - Palas de Rei 33. Palas de Rei - A Fraga Alta 34. A Fraga Alta -O Pedrouzo 35. O Pedrouzo - Santiago de Compostela 8. The Compostela 9. To be continue... 10. Acknowledgments 11. Basic vocabulary 12. Personal notes Preface The Way of Saint James, also called the 'Camino de Santiago' or the 'Camino', is a crazy but rewarding adventure. For readers who are considering it, this book will be a help to make an informed decision and then plan it well.To do the Camino is to walk, nothing more. Walking is not running or climbing, but neither is it strolling at the mall.This guide is based on my experience of having completed the Camino from Roncesvalles to Santiago de Compostela walking about 500 miles in 35 days, and having finished better than I was at the beginning. Buen Camino ! About the author Juan Martín-García is Spanish, 60 years old, author a recognized book over the History of Spain. He has done the Camino only once, he is not a walking expert, nor an athlete. His motivation for doing the Camino was to understand why hundreds of thousands of people not only start, but complete every year a 500-mile journey. An essential book for pilgrims !
Since medieval times, pilgrimages have been a popular religious or spiritual undertaking. Even today, between seventy and one hundred million people a year make pilgrimages, if not for expressly religious reasons, then for an alternative to secular goals and the preoccupation with consumption and entertainment characteristic of contemporary life. In The Way of the Stars, the journalist Robert Sibley, motivated at least in part by his own sense of discontent, recounts his walks on one of the most well-known pilgrimages in the Western world—the Camino de Santiago. A medieval route that crosses northern Spain and leads to the town of Santiago de Compostela, the Camino has for hundreds of years provided for pilgrims the practice, the place, and the circumstances that allow for spiritual rejuvenation, reflection, and introspection. Sibley, who made the five-hundred-mile trek twice—initially on his own, and then eight years later with his son—offers a personal narrative not only of the outward journey of a pilgrim’s experience on the road to Santiago but also of the inward journey afforded by an interlude of solitude and a respite from the daily demands of ordinary life. The month-long trip put the author on a path through his own memories, dreams, and self-perceptions as well as through the sights and sounds, the tastes and sensations, of the Camino itself.
Considering walking the Camino de Santiago? For a thousand years, pilgrims have made this journey across the north of Spain to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, where the bones of Saint James the Greater rest. Some go for the adventure; some go for spiritual or religious reasons; all are changed by the experience. This books covers everything you need to know to make informed decisions about your Camino journey, from when to go to how to get to there to what you'll need to pack. The focus here is on detailed advice learned from on-the-trail experience, things like different sock methods for avoiding blisters, how to pick out good hiking boots, and the myriad choices you'll have when buying a backpack. The Camino is a powerful and enriching experience. This book gives you all the information you need to get out on the trail.
