Will They Ever Walk The Camino?

📰 News

• Camino Ingles - Ponteduem Pilgrim hostel to be Restored to Captilise on 50% Increase in Pilgrim Numbers

• The Way: Chapter 2 in pre-production

• Booking.com scam

• Luggage storage in Santiago De Compostela

👍 Recommended Gear I Used This Last Year

Keeping your clothes dry in your backpack is essential on Camino, you don't carry many and the last thing you need is them getting wet. On my last few Caminos, I've used space-saving vacuum storage bags to keep my clothes dry.

The beauty of using these vacuum pack bags is that you can squish your gear down, saving a load of space in your backpack – no vacuum needed, just use your hands. This is like getting two packing hacks for the price of one! 😊

The packs are see-through, so you can easily locate the item you want rather than fumbling around in the dark trying to find those pesky clean socks.

A pack of 10 assorted sizes comes in at just under $19 US (£14.99).    

Don't underestimate the power of this simple addition to your Camino packing. It saves space, keeps your gear dry, and will add a spring to your step*.

*Please note, the author of this piece accepts no responsibility if your step lacks a spring after purchase 😀.

🏡 Camino Accommodation Recommendations

Hospital de peregrinos San Juan Bautista – Camino Frances

This albergue is situated in Grañón, after Logrono which is 217kms into the Camino Frances.

This Albergue came highly recommended for its communal spirit, and I'm so glad I stopped there for the night. It was such a special Camino experience – large communal meal, everyone pitching in together to cook and clean up, and a unique candle lit sharing session with fellow pilgrims after dinner.

The Albergue operates on a donation basis, so please contribute what you can afford for your stay and meal.

It’s worth noting that the ‘beds’ here are very basic, they’re basically mats on the floor, but they’re thick enough to get a good night’s sleep on. I would recommend taking a travel pillow though, as they do not supply pillows or sheets.

You can't book here, but they do try to accommodate everyone who wants to stay, opening extra rooms downstairs if lots of pilgrims arrive.

The experience of staying at this albergue was one to cherish. If you're walking the Camino Frances, do not miss this litte gem.

Will They Ever Walk The Camino?

Each year I find myself having variations of the same conversation with close friends, the perpetual battle between a life affirming trip to the Camino, versus their yearly all-inclusive beach holiday.  

“You’d love it, the scenery, meeting people from all over the world, ice cold cervezas after a hike. Why don’t you come with me!”

“You walk every day?” They ask.

I nod enthusiastically, then try to reassure them how much more there is to a Camino – walking is the catalyst, but if you’ve walked it, you KNOW.  

Alas, my efforts have yet to beat the all-inclusive allure of poolside piña coladas.

“Me and the misses enjoy relaxing by the pool. It’s great to see you get so much out of these walks, mate. Maybe it’s something I’ll do when I’m retired.”

Convincing close friends to swap a beach towel for a backpack has proved to be a task tougher than the first day on the Camino Frances, climbing up over the Pyrenees to Roncesvalles.

Politely rebuffed, I alter my argument, tailoring my response in attempt to speak to their core needs.

“It would really help with your stress. You’d come back feeling like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.”

And a more simplified answer for that certain type of friend we all have, “The beer and wine is super cheap!”  

Their responses, well, let’s just say I think I’ll be older and a lot greyer by the time they change their tune and decide to join me.

Why I do I keep asking them? Is it because I’m anxious of the thought of going alone? Maybe some years ago that might have been the case, but hand on heart the Camino memories I cherish the most are from trips I started on my own, made with people I’d just met – my Camino family.

Hearing friend’s polite nos doesn’t deflate me. If they come or go will not stop me from getting my Camino on. I simply want to share something with people I care about that I know would benefit them.  

Maybe the Camino is something my friends will come to when they need it. They simply might not be ready for it yet. I didn’t discover the Camino until I’d experienced major upheaval in my life. It led me to seek out a different type of holiday experience, something calmer, more restorative. Walking the Camino became an important part of the healing process, with a lot of fun and sun thrown in for good measure.

Will I keep inviting friends to join me on Camino? I think you know the answer to that question…

Have you succeeded in getting friends or family to join you on Camino? If you have, let me know how!