The people on the Camino are interesting to observe and categorise. There are the weekend warriors, generally Spaniards squeezing in a quick stage. The supported walkers who carry day packs and stroll along without a care in the world, they know where they are staying and how far they need to go. The Rushers who have a schedule and have no time and race past everything. The people in search of something, a partner, a purpose. Lots of regulars who walk each year and are an excellent source of information and guidance. The really shocking thing is the amount of rubbish that pilgrims drop, particularly little bunches of toilet paper (ladies!) along the verges. Even more so now that the routes have merged. The walking is pretty easy now and the scenery pleasant. My blisters were healed when I got brave enough to take the Compeed off. The shin splints improving slowly and I'm walking well with regular Panadol (thanks Ann), I did need them. We had a super lunch (Pimentos de Padron again) sitting out in the sun and with only 3kms to our destination. One of those lunches that we will remember fondly because of the location, the weather and wonderful food. The restaurants and bars are more frequent now and it is easy for us get the timing right. For those of you who are concerned about the difficulties we have with food, let me explain. The Spanish don't really do breakfast, they have a heart starter of coffee & cake. Not the food of peregrinos. Therefore accommodation that includes breakfast sounds good but generally isn't satisfactory for pilgrims. We started having the second breakfast. Generally coffee and a bocadillo later in the morning. In Spain the main meal of the day is eaten between 2pm and 4pm which is again difficult for the peregrinos because this is prime walking time and you really don't want to stop & take a long lunch. Once the kitchens close at around 4pm, they don't open again till 8.30 - 9pm, way too late for pilgrims who apart from being ravenous need to get to bed. So you find yourself planning days around the location of bars & towns where you can buy food that doesn't require refrigeration. The Camino Primitivo passed through some sparsely populated areas and we were slow walkers due to the rugged terrain and my shin splints.
4 Comments
Camille Perrier
3/10/2016 06:38:19 am
A great read, Victoria. Now that you have just about walked it - wouldn't it be great if you could take a group of Australian hiker/ friends Neff year or in 2018 and maybe approach the Camino from a different starting and finishing point and we pay you to direct the tour. After all you two know the language. I studied Spanish at IML for 2 years but could take it up again. Robert is a. Excellent hiker and fit cyclist and he doesn't talk as much S me. He's an introvert . Also can you please explain what a bocodillia/o is please ?
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Victoria
3/10/2016 07:32:10 am
Hi Camille,
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Craig
3/10/2016 04:46:35 pm
G day Guys, What more pictures of food, Really I thought U were going for a walk, U are going to have to go back again and take a few friends with U. Keep going U are nearly at the end , M. & D. are fine they miss u boyh. Cheers.
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Kath
3/10/2016 06:18:54 pm
Great selfie!
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AuthorMy interests are photography and family history research. And I like to cycle and travel. We are walking the Archives
May 2019
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