I am thinking about doing this next spring. I wondered if anyone here (this is an amazingly well-traveled group) has done it. Any comments, reflections, suggestions would be appreciated.
I would do the most popular route from St. Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela. 500 miles.
It was a bit of a trend for my students a couple years ago during the summer between high school and college. Lots of them reported it life-changing. I’m envious!
My niece did it this summer with 3 friends and the stories sound great.
Bucket list item so following.
Heard it was phenomenal! But taxing. Fortunately There were vans to pick up stragglers. The food on the tour my acquaintance went on was soooo amazing!
Absolute bucket list item for me! I know several people (men & women, all over 50) who’ve done it and been transformed. I’m so ready. Now to convince my bank account and my employer to let me take 35 to 45 days off -
There’s a world community aspect to the gathering of walkers or ‘pilgrims’ on the Camino that appeals to me along with the physical challenge and toughness needed.
I just wondered if anyone had done it and could tell me what it was REALLY like.
Tatin G–I did a portion of the Camino–someone posted questions about walking the Camino similar to yours a while back. Here is the link to that discussion. I’d be happy to answer any questions you have.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/15912224/#Comment_15912224
A 70 y.o. friend has done it multiple times and yes, parts are arduous. But she’s a veteran hiker. Another 65 friend biked it, again, parts are tough. As long as you’re trained (and that’s both physically and mentally, in terms of the length of time,) you can do it. Neither of these friends (nor others I know who do these challenges) had a spiritual component, except this: they pretty much live to hike and to challenge themselves on foot (among other passions, of course.) I’m a bit younger than they are and they “leave me in the dust” on even more ordinary walks.
If you’re concerned about the physical and mental stamina, maybe start with a shorter test trip. Two different sets of friends hiked in the French Alps (8 days?) and the Italian Via Francigena (60+ miles.)
Some shorter walks that I thought would be interesting include:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadrian%27s_Wall_Path
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coast_to_Coast_Walk
My thoughts are I might attempt something shorter before attempting the Camino.
That 70 y.o. friend did the Coast to Coast, too. I don’t know how to share what I heard about their experiences. It’s been a personal satisfaction more than a transformation. They spoke of personal responses, sometimes views, food, B&Bs along the way. They sometimes hiked with others they met, for a day or two. The C2C friend’s major revelation was getting along with her companion (a somewhat difficult brother) for 200 miles.
That was me that asked about it 3 years ago. I’m still talking about it on a regular basis and I still have it on my “must do” list.
A friend (couple, over 50) did this route and highly recommended it for those with time limitations. Said it was lovely and transformative: http://santiago-compostela.net/camino-ingles/
Thanks all. It’s nice to know that I don’t need reservations along the way and that there are accomodations other than the albergues, which I’m told are loud with snorers. My sister and I really want to do this.
I have two cousins (on two sides of the family) who have done it, and both found it extremely fulfilling. Both also noted the need for really really good shoes and even then they had blisters.