Its been 5 weeks since I last posted anything on the Forums – so here is synopsis of interesting posts and discussions:
www.caminosantiago.com/way_of_saint_james/pilgrims_forum.htm
Is it possible to walk in January?
Well, of course you can – and in December or February – but the real question is, do you want to?
A similar question was asked on Santiagobis:
Reply: Walking in the winter is nice and quiet. If you are lucky the weather is reasably (sic) good. However, do not cross the
I walked alone from
Reply: I walked alone from
How many pilgrims walk in Winter?
796 pilgrims got a certificate in December 2007
306 pilgrims got a certificate in January 2008 (44 less than 2007):
240 walked the camino
56 started in Sarria
26 in O Cebreiro
25 in Ponferrada
20 in
18 in
12 in
Etc, etc, etc
703 pilgrims got a certificate in February
552 on the camino
146 in O Cebreiro
125 in Sarria
56 in Tui
50 in
37
28 in
25 in Ponferrada
Etc, etc, etc
What does it take to walk in winter?
One reader posted: “ …..the weather is very different in different parts of the country and at different altitudes.
In addition, you need to consider the marker system. In some places the markers are on stone posts which are elevated about 3 feet or so above the ground. In other places they are above head height as are most signs. But in many places, the yellow arrows are painted on the rocks on the ground - obviously not useful when covered with snow - and some of those places are among the most remote of the journey.
Yes it is possible (although may not be advisable) to walk the camino in January, but please remember that people have died of exposure on the camino when they were unprepared for winter weather conditions. Research carefully, be prepared for the reality (clothes, footwear, directions, etc) and listen to the locals. They know when it's safe to cross the mountains although will no doubt think you're crazy for trying.
Buen camino.
Another post:
You will find information on winter pilgrimages at: [www.csj.org.uk]
[www.suekenney.ca] Sue walked the camino in Winter - she would love to tell you about it so you could contact her.The main difference, besides the weather, is that some of the refuges are closed, your pack will weigh more due to heavier clothing, if it does snow the yellow arrows are covered, you might be alone for many hours and kilometers on the trail.
Reply: Pelgrimspad
www.wandelnet.nl publisher Stichting Wandelplatform-LAW
[www.wandelnet.nl] - contact - slaw@wandelnet.nl- Pelgrimspad 1 Amsterdam - 's-Hertogenbosch
& route=166 - Pelgrimspad 2 's-Hertogenbosch - Maastricht (Visé - Belgium)
- 2008 reprint Pelgrimspad 2 with lists of (mail & phone) addresses of tourist offices (vvv), public transport, B&B, pensions, campings, (small) hotels, etcetera, etcetera. Beautiful detailed Dutch ordnance survey maps 1:25.000 and international white-and-red waymarking. A lot of pilgrim's information in Dutch. This is a really wonderful pilgrim's path connected at Visé to the Chemins de Saint-Jacques through
Foot problems:
Reply: Many people get blisters. There are so many factors that you will have to do a bit of research on the Internet about it. A good source of info on problems incurred when hiking or running is at this site:
www.vonhof.typepad.com
Ryanair:
Domestic flights in
Ryanair have announced 4 new routes within
We just got back from walking about 200 miles on the
Ralph Alcorn
Santiagobis: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Santiagobis/
Posts are still down:
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2008 221 163 252 120 120 75 170 174 140 56
2007 64 361 399 406 319 316 212 306 173 183 148 75
Question? Is this a camino forum or a recipe exchange? No less than 6 recipes uploaded in 5 weeks:
Calamares.doc
Pechuga de Pollo a la Naranja.doc chicken with orange slices
Salmon filled chicory leaves.doc salmon filled chicory leaves
Sauteed garlic Mushrooms.doc garlic mushrooms
Tapa de queso y nueces.doc tapas of cheese and walnuts
Tortilla with chorizo and cheese.doc tortilla with chorizo and cheese
St James in
To know more about the ways of Saint James in
http://www.lescheminsdumontsaintmichel.com/spip/index.php
More posts on Plastic Bags, Cell-Mobile phones, and the two most interesting topics were – toilet seats and wanking!!
Dear Lynn – the Organiser - was quite indignant:
I think the reason for the dearth of toilet seats in the bars is obvious: they want to discourage those long visits! Bar owners want us to stop in for coffee, breakfast, lunch, a drink, etc. but not just for the conveniences. Can you blame them? Of course, the bathrooms are available to paying customers, as they should be.
What is unconscionable to me is when hospitaleros refuse to allow pilgrims to use the toilets in the albergues during the off hours. Their whole reason to exist is to serve pilgrims!
unconscionable, adj: shockingly unfair or unjust
A flushed response from Rebeka:
Maybe I´m cranky, but I hardly think that a hospitalero´s only reason to be is to "serve pilgrims." That´s way too close to the idea that servants exist only to serve their masters... or that pilgrims somehow are entitled to be "served" by the volunteers at the albergues.
Who would have thought that a sanitary subject could be so interesting!?
And the wanker?
Well, this peregrina warns everyone about the pervert lurking and jerking on the path – which naturally sets of a few anxious replies – only to be told off by a Sheila (Trudy from
I'm a little wary of people who join a group just to post a warning message. It seems you've joined two Camino forums solely for this purpose. The same message was also posted on Lonely Planet's travel forum. In fact, only your 2nd message to that forum the first being posted earlier in the year, before your pilgrimage, asking very pointedly about safety on the camino for women walking alone.
So?? What’s your point Sheila?? Jealous??
Anyway, the Patsy from
I think it is beautiful when pilgrims write NOT only asking for suggestions, advice...but when this pilgrim takes the time to write his thoughts...from smoky internet bars...with other pilgrims breathing behind their necks waiting for the computer.....and .when he shares his memories with all of us back home and in this particular instance when he/she warns about being a bit careful.....pay it forward sort of thing. Patricia de Miami.
Others have also reported being flashed by this jerk off.
"Just as I walked out of Melide I got my laugh. And I laughed for a loooong time. I start to understand the concern some women have of walking alone. I was greeted by a man who had his trousers down at his ankels... he was holding his ...Biiiiiiip in his hand... and he asked me if I was interested in him helping me getting a Buen Camino...!! - But this man is harmless... I was told later by other pilgrims when a man passes he pretends to pee and when a woman passes she gets the same offer I got."
http://www.pilgrimage-to-santiago.com
The most interesting post (besides the ‘how to get to…) was this one by Rebeka Scot for an online hospitalero course. Be interesting to see if she can pull it off.
Being Hospitaleros: a Proposal
Bed bugs continued to raise their nitty little heads and now has no less than FIVE topic headings on this forum. Surely the moderators can condense them all into one?
"Xunta de Galicia chooses to Fumiage their albergues"
Weather:
It is getting cold on the Camino...
Stats: Not official yet but there was this post:
There has been a small increase in the number of pilgrims receiving the Compostela in August. In 2007 there were 27140 and this year the number is 29723.
New Guide to Camino Portugués - volunteers needed!
Johnny Walker has been enlisting the help of forum members to log and comment on short Camino routes like the Ingles, and Portugues.
Camino de Invierno to be official route
The Diario de Leon reports that official waymarking with granite plinths of the Leon/Bierzo section, from Ponferrada to the border with
Re: Today is a great day for the Camino Frances!!
Javier Martin reported that 1000’s of people have walked from Monte de Gozo to
I am wondering how easy it might be to find some work and odd jobs along the way at the small towns? Also, is it possible to do work for stay/food arrangements at the albergues/refugios and restaurants? FYI, I am a citizen of the UK (and the US) and therefore, believe I have the right to work in Spain. So an EU citizen, do I still need to go about getting an NIE or would my citizenship suffice?
11 replies:
Yes you can
No you can't
Yes you can but a N.I.E number is required (Numero de Identidad de Extranjeros)
In Villafranca del Bierzo I met several people who were picking grapes for a bit and Jato let them stay in his albergue for free, inlcuding food. All were foreigners. Grape picking season would be in September.
I can reply with an unqualified YES to this excellent question.
We live on the Camino Frances, and we´ve employed several pilgrims (some may call them "drifters") for up to two weeks at a time, doing carpentry, painting, and other big projects we couldn´t handle on our own. Perhaps because it is "under the table" and unskilled work the going wage is rather low: about 5€ an hour plus room and board, but we´ve never had anyone turn it down who needed some money to keep going. There is an entire "underground economy" like this along the caminos, and we see a couple of these workers returning now and then when they need a spot of work. Up to now, they´re really good, hard workers, too, long as we don´t give them beer to drink early in the day.
EU citizen allows you to work in Spain. However, no employee... may or can hire you for a paid job as the NIE are for tax reasons... Unless you take a job like the one Rebekah mentions or if you choose to help out on voluntary jobs... then no... then you do not need it.
To get a Spanish NIE you first need to have a Spanish address. You can use your friend´s apartment or whatever, but it´s got to be a Spanish address they can send documents to.
Take your pick!!
Pilgrim deaths:
- A pilgrim from
- A man has a heart attack and dies in the albergue at Sahagun
- A man collapses on the hill after Castrojeriz and dies
- A man dies in Foncebadon.
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