When walking the Camino you’ll find people from all over the world, and often English is used as the common tongue. However, as we saw in a previous post on the official statistics from the Cathedral in 2014, still 48% of pilgrims are Spanish. Along with dealing with shopkeepers, taxis and greeting friendly locals, it’s well worth learning Spanish before you go!
Don’t be surprised if after completing a Camino you have the urge to go back for a second some time later! As you accept the calling to make another pilgrimage the question becomes: Do I take the same route again? Or do I choose a less well trodden route?
Last year I followed the Camino Portugués from Porto (Oporto) to Santiago de Compostela, keeping detailed logs of my steps during the days. Using the Fitbit Flex that I talked about in a previous post here, we can see the typical walking pattern during a pilgrims day: when they wake, take breaks, socialise in the evenings and go to sleep.
Most people never walk as much in their daily lives as they do when making the Camino. It’s a fascinating exercise to use wearable fitness to track your daily step count before, during and after your journey. Does your pilgrimage inspire you to become a more active person on your return? Just how far do you walk around town after reaching the albergue? How does the quality of your sleep compare when you are physically exhausted to your day-to-day life?
On the Camino there’s some examples of architecture so full of history and character that you can’t miss. The 11th Century Romanesque bridge Puente la Reina is one these. Built by a medieval queen for pilgrims on the way to Santiago de Compostela, this beautiful bridge whispers its own legends!
We Europeans are well used to the intricacies and tricks of the low-cost flight. Pilgrims from other countries may not be so aware of how to find the best deals from budget airlines, or the tricks the airlines pull to land you with additional charges. If you want to visit some other European countries before or after your Camino then you need to read this!