Skip to main content

A list

Back in 2011 me and Becky wrote a list of things that we found annoying on the Camino. Here it is:

Bag rustlers - the people who get up at four in the morning and then spend the next hour in the room packing their things away in the noisiest plastic bags in the world

Snorers - those who are like an orchestra all by himself ... like Dad who got a cold on the Camino that make his snoring so bad that the only other person in our room swore at him in German, stormed out of the room and spent the rest of the night sleeping ng on the sofa in the kitchen. He left me and Becky laughing and Dad sleeping on oblivious!

Cyclists who approach you silently and then almost run you over - get a bell, say, 'Buen Camino,' or just, 'hi,' anything at all so that we know you're coming and don't have to dive off the path out of your way!

People who wait until the lights are off to switch on and play with their phones - at home we probably all text in bed or check on Facebook but at home there aren't 20 or more other people in the room

Going uphill only to go straight down again or visa versa - sometimes I wish there were more bridges on the Camino!

Places that don't have sellos - I admit it, I'm one of those Pilgrims who loves sellos, I collect them and feel a bit sad when the bar I've stopped at to have a drink has doesn't have one

People who shine their tourches in your face as they get up in the morning (even worse if they're bag rustlers too!)

All of these don't compare to what we love on the he Camino though: meeting new people and forming a Camino family (and still being friends with them years later), walking every day (even if once or twice that might just end up on the list of annoying things), spending time together, getting sellos, passing through villages, the daily break for hot chocolate and tortilla, seeing new cities, getting a smile or buen Camino as you pass other Pilgrims, playing Camino tag with one or two pilgrims as you pass each other several times a day ..... and so many more things!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Route Napoleon closures: November-March

For anyone thinking of setting off on the Camino anytime soon just a reminder that the Navarrese Govenmnet closes the Route Napoleon over the Pyrenees from November 1st - March 31st each year (and longer if need be). Roncenvalles in the snow The official notification for this (from last year) is below.

The Camino Primitivo

The Camino Primitivo (or the Original Way) is reportedly the very first Camino Way to Santiago in the 9 th century when most of Spain was under the control of the Moors and it runs from near the city of Ovideo in Asturias as it starts in Villavicosa (which also lies on the Camino Norte so many people follow this Way from   Basque city of San Sebastian (Donosti in Basque) or in from the French border at Irun ( this route then hugs the Bay of Biscay passing through Guernica, Bilbao, Santander, Llanes before going under the Picos de Europa and then heads along the coast to Ovideo) before branching off onto the Primitivo which goes across the mountains and through the city of Lugo before joining the Frances at Melide. The route is 320km long. Image taken from https://viaalpina2013.wordpress.com/2013/04/14/camino-del-norte-camino-primitivo/

Pilgrim Prayer - Columba

Columba was an Irish monk (who founded several monasteries in Ireland) who sailed with 12 others to the island of Iona just off the west coast of Scotland. The Abbey he funded became one of the powerhouses of Mediaeval Christendom. He lived from 7th December 521 until 9th June 597. Alone with none but thee, my God, I journey on my way. What need I fear, when thou art near O king of night and day? More safe am I within thy hand Than if a host did round me stand. Be thou a bright flame before me, Be thou a guiding star above me, Be thou a smooth path below me, Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me, Today, tonight and forever.