Comments on: 4 Lessons Learned From The Camino del Santiago Pilgrimage http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/02/29/4-lessons-learned-from-the-camino-del-santiago-pilgrimage/ Online travel magazine dedicated to exploring travel in the 21st century. Offering travel news, compelling interviews, online travel tools, and more. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:14:28 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Ralph Alcorn http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/02/29/4-lessons-learned-from-the-camino-del-santiago-pilgrimage/comment-page-1/#comment-92915 Ralph Alcorn Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:01:57 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/02/29/4-lessons-learned-from-the-camino-del-santiago-pilgrimage/#comment-92915 Your feet will expand, probably to a size larger, so keep this in mind when buying footwear. I by the way wear running shoes. Carry a roll of 3.4 in stretchy breathable tape that you can get in any drug store. It tears off in about 2 inch lengths. If you get ANY uncomfortable or sore spot on your feet stop immediately and tape it. Prevention is much better than blister care. Also keep your pack weight to under 20 lbs. The weight on your feet from the pack contributes to the problems. We walked in Sept Oct a couple of years. For the most part, weather was wonderful. Some cold nights, and the shorter days make walking longer distances more difficult. Have rain gear, and pay attention to the weather before crossing the mountains. Your feet will expand, probably to a size larger, so keep this in mind when buying footwear. I by the way wear running shoes. Carry a roll of 3.4 in stretchy breathable tape that you can get in any drug store. It tears off in about 2 inch lengths. If you get ANY uncomfortable or sore spot on your feet stop immediately and tape it. Prevention is much better than blister care. Also keep your pack weight to under 20 lbs. The weight on your feet from the pack contributes to the problems. We walked in Sept Oct a couple of years. For the most part, weather was wonderful. Some cold nights, and the shorter days make walking longer distances more difficult. Have rain gear, and pay attention to the weather before crossing the mountains.

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]]> By: Emma Cayless http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/02/29/4-lessons-learned-from-the-camino-del-santiago-pilgrimage/comment-page-1/#comment-88571 Emma Cayless Wed, 25 Mar 2009 09:46:10 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/02/29/4-lessons-learned-from-the-camino-del-santiago-pilgrimage/#comment-88571 That sounds like very sound advice, I'm planning to walk the camino way in Oct.. is this a good time to walk it do you think? I enjoyed reading your advice and i will certainly take it. thanks. That sounds like very sound advice, I’m planning to walk the camino way in Oct.. is this a good time to walk it do you think? I enjoyed reading your advice and i will certainly take it. thanks.

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]]> By: Layla http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/02/29/4-lessons-learned-from-the-camino-del-santiago-pilgrimage/comment-page-1/#comment-61432 Layla Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:54:43 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/02/29/4-lessons-learned-from-the-camino-del-santiago-pilgrimage/#comment-61432 Nothing can be as important as knowing first aid in a time of need. It truly can be a lifesaver. Nothing can be as important as knowing first aid in a time of need. It truly can be a lifesaver.

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]]> By: Rebecca http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/02/29/4-lessons-learned-from-the-camino-del-santiago-pilgrimage/comment-page-1/#comment-59208 Rebecca Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:42:09 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/02/29/4-lessons-learned-from-the-camino-del-santiago-pilgrimage/#comment-59208 Good for you, Laurie! Last summer I spent the month of June with a friend, walking from Le Puy en Velay to Lauzerte -- about 250 miles. We had expected to get all the way to the Spanish border at least (and really thought we might do the whole 900 miles to Santiago). My friend had no trouble with her feet. Mine hurt all the time. And we were both fitted for special shoes before the trip. Go figure. I, too, ditched a LOT of stuff on the way, starting the very first day -- just gave it to people. You really do find out how much you do NOT need when you have to carry it up and down those mountains and hills. The day we decided to leave I thought I'd never want to go back and finish the camino. But now I'm feeling excited about covering more of it. Who knows? Maybe this spring and summer. The people we met along the way -- other "pilgrims" and people in the towns and villages -- were wonderful to us (we were the only Americans and we actually got APPLAUSE from French people twice). This time I'm thinking about going on my own and wonder how different that might be ... To anyone considering the trek: Go! Buen camino! Bon route! Good for you, Laurie! Last summer I spent the month of June with a friend, walking from Le Puy en Velay to Lauzerte — about 250 miles. We had expected to get all the way to the Spanish border at least (and really thought we might do the whole 900 miles to Santiago).

My friend had no trouble with her feet. Mine hurt all the time. And we were both fitted for special shoes before the trip. Go figure.

I, too, ditched a LOT of stuff on the way, starting the very first day — just gave it to people. You really do find out how much you do NOT need when you have to carry it up and down those mountains and hills.

The day we decided to leave I thought I’d never want to go back and finish the camino. But now I’m feeling excited about covering more of it. Who knows? Maybe this spring and summer. The people we met along the way — other “pilgrims” and people in the towns and villages — were wonderful to us (we were the only Americans and we actually got APPLAUSE from French people twice). This time I’m thinking about going on my own and wonder how different that might be …

To anyone considering the trek: Go! Buen camino! Bon route!

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]]> By: Haley January Eckels http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/02/29/4-lessons-learned-from-the-camino-del-santiago-pilgrimage/comment-page-1/#comment-56346 Haley January Eckels Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:44:20 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/02/29/4-lessons-learned-from-the-camino-del-santiago-pilgrimage/#comment-56346 I used the duct tape trick to great effect when walking the Camino in the spring of 2005. I have to say, though, the shoes didn't seem to matter much. All the pilgrims I met had foot problems, regardless of their shoes. One trick some Danish ladies taught me was applying tea tree oil to blisters. It stings like crazy, but it helps keep them clean and uninfected. Buen camino Laurie! I used the duct tape trick to great effect when walking the Camino in the spring of 2005. I have to say, though, the shoes didn’t seem to matter much. All the pilgrims I met had foot problems, regardless of their shoes. One trick some Danish ladies taught me was applying tea tree oil to blisters. It stings like crazy, but it helps keep them clean and uninfected.

Buen camino Laurie!

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]]> By: Daniel Harbecke http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/02/29/4-lessons-learned-from-the-camino-del-santiago-pilgrimage/comment-page-1/#comment-55909 Daniel Harbecke Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:02:05 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/02/29/4-lessons-learned-from-the-camino-del-santiago-pilgrimage/#comment-55909 I rolled up a few feet of duct tape at the end of a pen. There's a hostel in Florence with a fountain in the back, and after a long day of rambling a few of us liked to soak our feet with the goldfish (it was against the rules, but if the goldfish were fine with it I figured we would be, too). I got so much crap for duct tape on my toes. By day three they were asking for some. Who's laughing now? WHO'S LAUGHING NOW?!? No matter how much info's out there, you never learn a lesson so well as when you run into it face-first. Like my pappy used to say, "We can all learn something from someone who's walked 200 miles face-first." I rolled up a few feet of duct tape at the end of a pen. There’s a hostel in Florence with a fountain in the back, and after a long day of rambling a few of us liked to soak our feet with the goldfish (it was against the rules, but if the goldfish were fine with it I figured we would be, too).

I got so much crap for duct tape on my toes. By day three they were asking for some. Who’s laughing now? WHO’S LAUGHING NOW?!?

No matter how much info’s out there, you never learn a lesson so well as when you run into it face-first. Like my pappy used to say, “We can all learn something from someone who’s walked 200 miles face-first.”

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]]> By: Ian MacKenzie http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/02/29/4-lessons-learned-from-the-camino-del-santiago-pilgrimage/comment-page-1/#comment-55903 Ian MacKenzie Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:40:47 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/02/29/4-lessons-learned-from-the-camino-del-santiago-pilgrimage/#comment-55903 I think Laurie is implying that she learned more than "get a better pair of shoes" once the trek was over. Hence the 4 Lessons, and not just 1. ;-D I think Laurie is implying that she learned more than “get a better pair of shoes” once the trek was over. Hence the 4 Lessons, and not just 1. ;-D

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]]> By: Stu http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/02/29/4-lessons-learned-from-the-camino-del-santiago-pilgrimage/comment-page-1/#comment-55891 Stu Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:18:20 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/02/29/4-lessons-learned-from-the-camino-del-santiago-pilgrimage/#comment-55891 <i>Of course, I didn’t have the benefit of this advice before I started my pilgrimage, and nursing my blisters halfway through, I really did think about quitting.</i> --- WHAT? ok I have no sympathy. You did zero research. _ANY_ long distance hiking website would have told you this and way more. shesh... Lets walk 200 miles in too small boots I havnt worn in years? umm ok. sounds like a marvellous idea! Of course, I didn’t have the benefit of this advice before I started my pilgrimage, and nursing my blisters halfway through, I really did think about quitting.

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WHAT? ok I have no sympathy. You did zero research. _ANY_ long distance hiking website would have told you this and way more. shesh… Lets walk 200 miles in too small boots I havnt worn in years? umm ok. sounds like a marvellous idea!

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