Tag Archives: Camino de Santiago

Sleeping Through the Snoring

Here’s another question people ask when they hear that we spent almost all of our 79 Camino nights in shared rooms, sometimes with as many as 50 other people. What do you do about the snoring? I could make a joke here about how most of us who are married are used to sleeping aContinue reading “Sleeping Through the Snoring”

Radio Camino

A few days into our Camino, as my feet were slowly, finally, maybe starting to adjust to long days and the extra weight of a pack, Eric’s turned against him. His shoes cut awkwardly into his Achilles tendon, causing pain. So he switched to sandals, but those caused a dreaded ampoule—a blister. Wearing his sneakersContinue reading “Radio Camino”

My 5 Favorite Albergues on the Camino Frances

At one point or another, every Camino alum starts making Top Five list. The Best Albergues. The Best Meals. The Best Days. I love reading these stories, because sometimes I recognize the places they describe…but more often I don’t. Pilgrims stop in different towns, or stay in different places, or the weather and the people justContinue reading “My 5 Favorite Albergues on the Camino Frances”

One year ago…

  One year ago today, late on the night of April 4, I posted this on the American Pilgrims of the Camino Facebook page: We leave in 16 hours. The bags are too heavy. I don’t know the languages, and I’m told my accents are atrocious. I have barely trained. The house-sitting/pet-sitting plans are heldContinue reading “One year ago…”

Spend 3 Minutes on the Chemin du Puy

If you leave from Le Puy, this is what you’ll see in your first two weeks of walking, including France’s most beautiful villages” of Saint Come d’Holt, Espalion, Estaing, and Conques, and the stunning high plateau pastures of L’Aubrac.

Saint Roch: The Burlesque Saint of Bad Knees and (Maybe) Pilgrims

If you venture into the churches and cathedrals of the Camino, you’ll notice a lot of saints. One is dressed as a pilgrim, with a cloak and a floppy hat and often even the scallop shell of Saint James. But he’s not Saint James. You can tell because this particular saint is always standing a certain way.

“Am I a Pilgrim Wimp?”

I’ve been getting serious again about the book, and have (finally) been making some progress. Here’s a bit of Chapter Three, still tracing the early days of our walk from Le Puy. I felt good that night, surrounded by a people from all corners of the globe, enjoying the wine, feeling secure that my basicContinue reading ““Am I a Pilgrim Wimp?””