YOU on the Camino de Santiago

A CONVERSATION WITH PILGRIM KATHIE Join me as Kathie from Dallas shares her experiences walking the Camino Francés in Fall 2022. Last summer I had the pleasure of talking with Kathie as she was getting ready for her first-ever Camino pilgrimage. We talked about her fears, doubts, and concerns about walking the Camino de Santiago, plus her hopes and aspirations as she headed off into the unknown on what would be for her, a significant religious pilgrimage. You can listen to that conversation here. Did Kathie’s greatest fears come to pass? Did she get lost on the meseta? Did she find a "Camino family"? And was it the walk with God, the Mother Mary, Jesus, and Saint James she hoped it would be? Find out in this episode of the YOU on the Camino de Santiago podcast.   YOUR Camino Experience What about you? Are you getting ready to walk your first Camino pilgrimage? You are invited to take advantage of all the getting-started resources available on Nancy’s website. Learn all about the Camino de Santiago and how to go from ‘yes, I want to do this!’ to your first steps on the trail.   JOIN MY EMAIL LIST And get your FREE copy of Nancy's Top 10 Camino Tips (that don't usually make the top 10 lists).   SHARE YOUR STORY Would you like to share your story of getting ready to walk the Camino, and get some expert input on your planning and preparations? Be a guest on this podcast and let's spend some time together talking about your Camino dreams and answering your most urgent questions. Let me know you are interested here.   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast  

SELECTING YOUR BACKPACK, PLUS GOALS FOR PACKING FOR THE CAMINO Walking the Camino isn’t “normal” travel, it isn’t a weekend away, and it isn’t backpacking. It is something in between, something so different that it brings up all kinds of fears and self-doubt in people who already know how to travel. And for first-time travelers, the task of packing for the Camino may be completely confounding. This is the second in a series of episodes on How to Pack for the Camino de Santiago. We will be building your packing list step by step, beginning with selecting the backpack or luggage that's best for the type of walk you will be doing. How big of a backpack do you need? How do you be sure your backpack fits you well and will be comfortable for the many hours and days you will be carrying it on the Camino? Besides holding all your stuff, what else do you need from your backpack? What do all those straps do? This episode has the answers to all your backpack questions. And here is the reference mentioned for how to get the right fit for your backpack: https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/backpacks-adjusting-fit.html Wait! Before we even get to those questions, we will look out our goals for packing for the Camino: Pack light Pack simple Pack smart (Tell me more!) COME WALK WITH ME! Does the whole idea of getting ready to walk the Camino feel a bit daunting to you? Is the thought of having to start the walk alone not feeling quite right? Join me on the trail in May or September and we will get started together.   BE A GUEST ON THIS PODCAST Would you like to share your experience of getting ready to walk the Camino de Santiago and receive some personalized guidance on your planning and preparations? If you have not yet walked a Camino and would like to be a guest on this podcast, please let me know you are interested here.   JOIN MY EMAIL LIST And get your FREE copy of Nancy's Top 10 Camino Tips (that don't usually make the top 10 lists).   Related: What if you can’t or don’t want to carry your backpack the entire way? Learn all about the luggage transport services in this two-part episode.   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast  

PACKING FOR THE CAMINO What do you really need to take with you when you walk the Camino? How much should your pack weigh? What happens if you take too much stuff? Pilgrim David Guiterrez shares how he answered these questions while walking the Camino Francés in Fall 2022. There is some solid packing wisdom in this episode!   MAKE A DIFFERENCE David shares with us about his upcoming fundraiser to build awareness about the Camino and his mission work with Damien House in Ecuador. Damien house serves people with Hansen's disease (leprosy), giving them love and medical care as they navigate life under the stigma of this disease. David is co-hosting a dinner on February 11, 2022, to raise money for Damien House. He and 30 other pilgrims will also be sharing with the attendees how the Camino impacted their lives and is leading them to make a bigger difference in their communities and the world. ***Donations welcome after the event, at any time.*** If you would like to make a financial donation in support of this organization, please go here: http://www.thedamienhouse.org/index.html Donations welcome at any time.   COME WALK WITH ME! Are you getting ready to walk your first Camino pilgrimage? You are invited to take advantage of all the getting-started resources available on Nancy’s website. Learn all about the Camino de Santiago and how to go from ‘yes, I want to do this!’ to your first steps on the trail.   BE A GUEST ON THIS PODCAST Would you like to share your experience of getting ready to walk the Camino de Santiago and receive some personalized guidance on your planning and preparations? If you have not yet walked a Camino and would like to be a guest on this podcast, please let me know you are interested here.   #caminodesantiago #caminofrances #santiagodecompostela #camino #pilgrimage #travel #santiago

7 STEPS TO TRANSPORTING LUGGAGE ON THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO This is Part Two of a two-part episode. Did you miss Part One? One of the most frequently asked about topics in the Camino Facebook groups and on the online forums is the luggage transport services on the Camino. You have probably heard pieces of information on this topic but I bet you've been left with some questions. In this two-part episode, we are going to cover this topic from end to end. You might have some questions like:  How does it work? What can I send with the transport services? Is it safe? What company should I use? Do I have to book in advance or can I just wing it? Is it easy to set up or is it complicated? I don't speak Spanish so how's that going to work? What if I have things I won’t need while walking? Here is the whole story, broken down into seven easy to manage steps. It is so much information that breaking it into two smaller episodes seemed to make sense. Part One has steps 1 & 2, and Part Two has steps 3 through 7. ALL THE DETAILS ON CASA IVAR, CORREOS, AND MORE Here is a link for some of the luggage transport companies plus information on shipping and storing items in Santiago de Compostela: BE A GUEST ON THIS PODCAST! Let's spend some time together talking about your Camino dreams and answering your most urgent questions. Let me know you are interested here.   JOIN MY EMAIL LIST And get your FREE copy of Nancy's Top 10 Camino Tips (that don't usually make the top 10 lists).   Related: How do you select your backpack for the Camino?   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast  

7 STEPS TO TRANSPORTING LUGGAGE ON THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO One of the most frequently asked about topics in the Camino Facebook groups and on the online forums is the luggage transport services on the Camino. You have probably heard pieces of information on this topic but I bet you've been left with some questions. In this two-part episode, we are going to cover this topic from end to end. You might have some questions like:  How does it work? What can I send with the transport services? Is it safe? What company should I use? Do I have to book in advance or can I just wing it? Is it easy to set up or is it complicated? I don't speak Spanish so how's that going to work? What if I have things I won’t need while walking? Here is the whole story, broken down into seven easy to manage steps. It is so much information that breaking it into two smaller episodes seemed to make sense. Part One has steps 1 & 2, and Part Two has steps 3 through 7. UPDATE: There is a new company serving Refuge Orisson starting in April 2024. Orisson will accept transported bags only from this company: Donkey Service ALL THE DETAILS ON CASA IVAR, CORREOS, AND MORE Here is a link for the details on some of the luggage transport companies plus information on shipping and storing items in Santiago de Compostela:   JOIN MY EMAIL LIST And get your FREE copy of Nancy's Top 10 Camino Tips (that don't usually make the top 10 lists).   BE A GUEST ON THIS PODCAST! Let's spend some time together talking about your Camino dreams and answering your most urgent questions. Let me know you are interested here.   READY FOR PART TWO? Here are steps 3 through7 on how to use the luggage transport services on the Camino.   Related: How do you select your backpack for the Camino?   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast  

Your Camino Plan This is the final episode of Season One of the “YOU on the Camino de Santiago” podcast, and I want to thank you for tuning in each week, and for joining me on this journey to make your Camino dream a reality. And when I say thank you I am sending that message out around the world. Do you know why?  People are tuning in from the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Denmark, The Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and a few more – 44 countries in all. My global heart is so happy to have you here with me. Thank you. I hope you are finding this podcast helpful, useful, enjoyable . . . or at least interesting. What have you taken away from this season? Favorite top tips, most useful topics, new ideas for your Camino journey. What are your Camino plans? I would love to hear from you. I have an easy to remember email address where you can send me a note. It’s youonthecamino@gmail.com. In This Episode In this episode I share with you what I am working on for you for next year, and then I give you a wrap up of Season One. By now you should have a pretty solid Camino plan coming together. I also give you a preview of Season Two and ask for your input on which topics are most important to you as you plan and prepare for your upcoming Camino pilgrimage. Here are all the links I mentioned in this episode of the “YOU on the Camino de Santiago” podcast:   > Tell me what you want for Season Two, which starts in late January   > Donate to the podcast production fund (or buy me a coffee or two!):   > Be a guest on this podcast   > Find out why you would start your Camino walk with The Camino Experience Related: Never miss an episode of the “YOU on the Camino de Santiago” podcast. (You can also subscribe on your favorite podcast player.)    JOIN MY EMAIL LIST And get your FREE copy of Nancy's Top 10 Camino Tips (that don't usually make the top 10 lists).   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast  

How much does it cost to walk the Camino? How does the amount you spend for your pilgrimage influence, or even determine the experience you will have on the Camino? Or from another perspective, think of the experience you want: how much will that cost? The costs on the Camino are what they are, and in episodes 14 and 15 I shared with you what I paid for food and accommodations on the Camino Francés in 2022. That second question, though, is meant to suggest that you can spend however much – or little – you want on the Camino, in order to have the experience you want. Your on-the-ground Camino expenses are largely made up of two categories: where you sleep and where and how you eat. When people ask how much does it cost to do the Camino, I think this is usually what they are asking about, so I am going to talk about those expenses first. Then, I will look at how much your travel expenses might be, to get to the Camino and to your starting point, and then back home again. And finally, I will talk about those expenses that come before you get on the plane or train to go to the Camino, what I call preparation costs, or pre-travel expenses. There is a fair amount of detail coming your way in this episode, so you may want to have handy a pen and paper to make some notes. Also, you may want to open the webpage with the sample budgets I put together for you, so you can refer to them as we go. When you look at the sample budgets, you will notice that in order to put together your Camino budget, you will need to know a few things. For example, you will need to know how many days you expect to be on the Camino, how many days you want at you starting and ending points, and if you will continue on to Fisterra or Muxia after you reach Santiago. There are a few other things you will need to know, and I will walk you through those in this episode of the “YOU on the Camino de Santiago” podcast. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Learn more about Eating on the Camino Learn more about Sleeping on the Camino Shop for flights, buses, trains, and taxis with Matrix ITA Software here. Compare and shop for travel insurance policies on Squaremouth here. Related: How can you save money while traveling (and not just on the Camino)?   JOIN MY EMAIL LIST And get your FREE copy of Nancy's Top 10 Camino Tips (that don't usually make the top 10 lists).   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast  

Where do You Find Food on the Camino? What is available, when is it available, and how much does it all cost? On the first day of my first Camino walk, I walked 17 kilometers powered only by pastries. Why? Because I had no idea where and, more importantly, when to find food in Spain. Eating on the Camino can be an exciting adventure and a culinary journey in and of itself.  Some days you will wade through a gourmet extravaganza provided by some very creative kitchens.  Other days you will find yourself in a culinary wasteland, where the only goals are to stave off hunger and find some basic nutrition. Either way, you won’t go hungry. You may have heard that the Spanish diet is heavily oriented towards meat and bread. Where does that leave the vegan and vegetarian eaters? And what if you require a gluten free diet? Well, good news, things have been evolving in Spain, and there are now plenty of food options for everyone. You do have to work for it some, but it is completely doable. And I will include some tips for all of you in this episode of the “YOU on the Camino de Santiago” podcast. İBuen provecho! Resources for Vegans and Vegetarians Happy Cow: Website & app Facebook groups:  - Vegetarians and Vegans on the Camino  - Camino de Santiago – Veg, Vegetarians and Vegans Related: More details on eating and drinking on the Camino de Santiago, please!   JOIN MY EMAIL LIST And get your FREE copy of Nancy's Top 10 Camino Tips (that don't usually make the top 10 lists).   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast  

Delve into the world of albergues, the heart of the Camino experience! Discover what makes these pilgrim hostels so special and explore alternative sleeping options for those seeking privacy. Learn about helpful resources and apps for navigating albergue stays. Is it true that real pilgrims only stay in these communal spaces? This discussion uncovers the communal spirit and traditions of the Camino. Plus, get tips for upgrading accommodations if you're ready for something different!

In this enlightening conversation, Kimberly Smith, a teacher from Santa Cruz, considers her dream of walking the Camino de Santiago. She reflects on the transformative power of the pilgrimage, the historical connections it offers, and the kindness of strangers encountered along the way. The discussion touches on the beauty of diverse experiences, especially in Portugal, and the evolution of community on the trail. From nature's unpredictability to the concept of 'donativo' accommodations, Kimberly shares her hopes and preparations for this life-changing journey.