From all over the world, people set off on a journey to Santiago de Compostela, for a wide variety of reasons. Youngsters and older people go. One walks, another goes by bike or some even on horseback. One takes all the time he / she needs, the other has only a limited period of time available. Many seek the lower cost and companionship at "albergues", others prefer the simplicity and privacy of hotels. Therefore, the preparation for the journey will be different for everyone. In the end, it strongly depends on your experience and condition, on the period in which you want to walk (in early spring and in autumn you need more warm clothes), and on the choice of your route (some have many facilities, other much fewer).
But there is something else. For many people their decision to walk or bike to Santiago coincides with a special occasion or a new phase in their lives. They deliberately choose to step out of ordinary life for a while, to become at ease, to take the time to discover (again) what really matters.
So it is also an exciting adventure and the temptation is great to try to "control" that:
- with heavy backpacks and biking bags, stuffed with certainties,
- with luggage transport and taxis to get around difficult obstacles,
- with many calls, SMS and emails, to not let go of the familiar,
- with planning everything, to not give in to the unknown,
- with endless surfing of the internet before the journey, searching for solutions to problems which in practice often will not occur or will resolve themselves.
Of course there can be very good reasons to use such tools. What is a great challenge for one is a piece of cake for another. One pilgrim has never before been away from home, the other climbs the top of the Mont Blanc many times a year as a mountain guide. One pilgrim has just recovered from a serious illness, the other is in a powerful time in his / her life. But the challenge to each of us is clear: to really rise to the adventure, to try to see the obstacles on your road as opportunities to develop yourself. And know you will get help. Trust it and ... trust yourself!
So maybe it’s best when you rise to the adventure as openly as possible, now leaving our opinions for what they are, switching off your computer, and just taking the road ....
But if you would like to have some practical tips, then you find > alongside a list of questions that are often asked in our hostel (or when making reservations) and our answers. Mostly they are facts, some are our views. You may also put your questions to pilgrim’s forums or to pilgrim’s associations > alongside.
But... please make up your own mind, it's your camino.
But... please make up your own mind, it's your camino.
