![]() On that first Camino, I continually heard pilgrims – atheist or religious, almost everyone willingly refers to themselves as a pilgrim – lamenting the same problems and trappings of modern society. But it is also typically underpinned by a search for meaning and a more fulfilling mode of existence. Often this trend has been driven by the more practical aspects of finding adequate food and shelter. ![]() Humans have always been pilgrims on a long arc of travel, journeying through life, the world and history. The Camino de Santiago arrows offer reassurance to pilgrims that they're on the right path. It is as natural as eating and a conduit to embracing those around you. In both Spain and Portugal – as in much of Europe – drinking wine is not about appearing sophisticated or knowledgeable. Likewise, the wines of Portugal – the Camino Portugués traverses the length of the country from Lisbon northward and then across the border into Spain – are similarly varied, affordable and underappreciated. Rioja is a splendid wine, but it can steal the limelight from other Spanish regions, which are producing excellent wines that are well worth trying (I particularly recommend Ribera del Duero). In fact, the Camino Francés passes through the Rioja-growing regions of northern Spain. Wine plays a significant bonding role in Spain and on the Camino. On Gran Canaria there is even an official three- to four-day Camino route running south to north across the island. There is another mesmerizing Spanish-themed world off the coast of Africa in the Canary Islands. Nor did I realize the breadth of topography that ranges from golden wheat fields and vineyards spread over rolling hills to the meditative austerity of the arid Meseta plains to the forests and rocky hillsides that meet glittering beaches on the northern coastline.Īlso, Spain is not just the Iberian Peninsula. If “down below”, regularly change into clean underwear – hand-washed if necessary – and apply a liberal amount of talcum powder!Ĭappadocia: One of Turkey’s most spectacular hiking destinations ![]() If chafing sets in, zinc oxide tape can help on your torso. Tear off small strips and apply them to the skin, with each strip covering half of another layer like the shell of an armadillo.Ĭhafing: Wear clothing that is lightweight and breathable, typically polyester-based rather than cotton, which is heavier and absorbs moisture. As soon as you spot that – or once a blister has arrived – the most effective remedy I’ve found is inexpensive zinc oxide tape, which is found in pharmacies. Check your feet and look for pressure points – areas getting red. Ice: Apply an ice pack – or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a thin towel – for up to 20 minutes every two to three hours for about two days.Ĭompression: Wrap a bandage around the injury or wear a compression sock to support it.Įlevate: Keep it raised as much as possible.īlisters: First, wear decent, thick-ish socks. Rest: Stop all activity and try not to put any weight on the ankle. Sprained ankles: Follow the RICE acronym to reduce swelling and support healing. Here are a few of the most common ailments pilgrims will face. James Jeffreyĭespite the innate human capacity to wander – particularly when bolstered by walking sticks – things will still go wrong. Spanish bulls on the Camino Via de la Plata route. ![]() She had just finished the Camino del Norte – a more taxing route along the gorgeous but rugged northern Spanish coastline – and clearly knew her stuff. “If you only do one thing, get some walking sticks,” was the advice of a woman I spoke to on the platform for the train to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. They make you look ridiculous, plodding along like a crazed praying mantis, I had decided. That first Camino, there was absolutely no way I was using walking sticks. Stick to that optimal range bracket, though, and it is remarkable how long you can keep doing 12-15 miles each day successively, as people of all ages and backgrounds manage on the Camino. You can keep going – but the muscles start to strain at a rate akin to compound interest. The parents hiking America’s longest trails with five kidsĬovering 12-15 miles a day seems a range that is programmed into our bodies – perhaps harking back to 600,000 years ago when our ancestors began their trek out of Africa to spread around the world.Īs soon as you go above that 15-mile threshold, though, your body starts to complain noticeably.
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