way of st.james

For a very quick insight: google: The Way of Saint James.
There are several Utube videos on the pilgrimage.

I haven't completed the walk but I've visited Santiago. I'd consider planning your trip so that you can arrive in Santiago - consider looking for a point that is about 5-6 day walk from Santiago, and begin your walk there. I have visited Santiago and it's so cool to see pilgrims as they arrive...I think that experience would be amazing! There are many websites with details about the pilgrimage.

Sounds like you need a good guidebook. You can't book the refugios (think youth hostel) ahead. If you're going to stay in hotels you need to plan your route ahead of time, for which you need detailed info on the distances. BTW, it's more usually called the Camino de Santiago (de Compostelo) - plug that into amazon and you'll see some useful books.

Another good book to read for a first-person account of walking the Camino is "What the Psychic Told the Pilgrim".

Nancy - funny you should mention that book - I met the author on the train to Porto after she finished the walk.

How far can you walk in a day, and sustain that pace for a week?

Hi Meg, I completed my pilgrimage just over a year ago, I started in St Jean Pied du Port on May 22 and arrived in Santiago on June 23. 33 days of walking and meeting people from all parts of the world, it's a simple life of walking, eating, sleeping then doing it all over again and again. Not a day goes by that I don't think about my walk. As far as reserving a bed, you can't if you plan on staying in municipal or church alburges, but you can reserve a bed in the private alburgues which are becoming far more common, the private alburgues only cost a few more euros more than the municipal and church for the most part anywhere from 7-10 euros and they are newer and rooms normally have about 4 -8 beds per room compared to the older alburgues that can have 50-100 beds to a room, last year quite a few of the Spaniards I encountered were doing that and also sending their pack ahead via taxi, there is an organization called Red Alburgues for the privates, google it and/or I'll see if I can find it. With week to walk I recommend starting in Sarria or the vicinity. You will need to walk the last 100 kilometers to get your Compostela and get 2 stamps/sellos per day in you pilgrims passport, I see you live in San Jose which is near the American Pilgrims on the Camino, where you can get your passport if you want it before you leave, I'll put a link to them below. I'll put a link to my blog of my walk if you're interested, and if you have any questions feel free to PM me! BTW, do you have any guidebooks yet, they are important and will help make your planning and walk easier. http://www.bhcamino2010.blogspot.com http://www.americanpilgrims.com/

maybe look to start in Sarria. we have 5 days to walk and that is where we are starting. walking in late August and very excited!!!!!!! BUEN CAMINO!

Hi, Meg! My husband and I did the last 100K of the Camino two years ago when we were 63 year old couch potatoes. My husband had been working in Europe, and we met at the Madrid airport before flying to Santiago. Here's how we did it. Take what is relevant. We stayed one night in Santiago and left our suitcases at the hotel. (After the walk, we went to Paris for 3 wks, so we had two different packing demands.) As it was Sunday & bus connections were dodgy (to say nothing of my jet lag), we blew 90 euros on a cab to Sarria, where we got the first stamp on the crecenciales. We then hiked to PortomarinI think about 12-14 miles. The legs of the walk were Portomarin, Palas de Re, Melide, Arzua, & Arca, so 6 days walking. I think our longest trek was 16 miles, shortest was 10. We planned hotels the whole way, largely because my husband needs privacy. There are some very cheap ones, but we got spoiled the first night so were more extravagant than we planned. Don't think we spent more than 40 euros anywhere tho. There are a bazillion web sites about the Camino, but the ones indicated here, especially American Pilgrims are excellent. I also highly recommend the following: http://www.csj.org.uk/index.htm http://www.santiago-compostela.net/frances/index_cf_en.html We finished up with 2 nights in Santiago. Didn't go on to Finisterre, but I wish we hadby bus. Buen Camino! Mary

OopsI forgot We only had to actually carry our backpacks the first day. At every hotel, we were able to leave the backpacks in the morning and for 2 or 3 euros they would be picked up and taken to our next stop. Of course, this takes away flexibilityyou have to plan things out. I am pretty sure this can be done from refugios as well. I recommend taking a light daypack for this eventuality. We didn't, and our vests were pretty full! Because we were staying in hotels, we were able to have the person at the desk each night make reservations for us for the next day. Most desk clerks don't speak English, but they are used to doing this, so sign language and my 15 words of Spanish worked fine.