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Camino de Santiago - Practical Preparation and Background
Fully revised and updated in October 2021 to reflect the current situation on the Camino and in Spain.This book is intended for people planning to walk a Camino for the first time. It contains detailed, practical, impartial information and advice to help you prepare. It is based on the author's personal experience gained over nearly twenty years walking Caminos and on the experiences of many other pilgrims.
The following topics are covered in
Covid-19 - the latest situation in Spain and how it affects the Camino. Travel restrictions, the EU Digital Covid Certificate, prospects for 2022.Packing - what to take, or more importantly, what not to take. This is the most important part of your preparation. How to choose equipment, what to think about and watch out for when buying hiking clothes, shoes, socks and a backpack.
Health and safety - how to avoid, or if necessary, deal with blisters, bedbugs, heatstroke and other hazards of the Camino. How to access the Spanish health service and stay safe. What can you do before you leave home to help avoid disasters?
What to expect on “the Way” – What's a typical Camino day? What's it like staying in a “pilgrim hostel”? Where do you eat and what's the food like?
Communicating – how do people manage if they don't Speak Spanish? How to order food in restaurants? How to understand a typical Camino menu.
History of the Camino and of Spain from its beginnings to its revival, what was the Camino like in the middle ages? Who walked it then? What hardships and hazards did they face?
Society, culture and environment – politics, culture and people of modern Spain.
Internet resources - including details of websites and Facebook pages and groups where you can meet other pilgrims.
"A pilgrim is everybody who sets out from their home on the open road looking for something."
'This is a real mini-encyclopedia of the Camino, written in a friendly, no-nonsense way with lots of tongue-in-cheek humour... There is nothing esoteric or prescriptive about Kelly’s approach – he’s done the business and presents facts and subjective advice in a wry “take it or leave it”/“this is how it is” very refreshing and un-earnest!' Confraternity of St James Quarterly Bulletin, June 2019
The following topics are covered in
Covid-19 - the latest situation in Spain and how it affects the Camino. Travel restrictions, the EU Digital Covid Certificate, prospects for 2022.Packing - what to take, or more importantly, what not to take. This is the most important part of your preparation. How to choose equipment, what to think about and watch out for when buying hiking clothes, shoes, socks and a backpack.
Health and safety - how to avoid, or if necessary, deal with blisters, bedbugs, heatstroke and other hazards of the Camino. How to access the Spanish health service and stay safe. What can you do before you leave home to help avoid disasters?
What to expect on “the Way” – What's a typical Camino day? What's it like staying in a “pilgrim hostel”? Where do you eat and what's the food like?
Communicating – how do people manage if they don't Speak Spanish? How to order food in restaurants? How to understand a typical Camino menu.
History of the Camino and of Spain from its beginnings to its revival, what was the Camino like in the middle ages? Who walked it then? What hardships and hazards did they face?
Society, culture and environment – politics, culture and people of modern Spain.
Internet resources - including details of websites and Facebook pages and groups where you can meet other pilgrims.
"A pilgrim is everybody who sets out from their home on the open road looking for something."
'This is a real mini-encyclopedia of the Camino, written in a friendly, no-nonsense way with lots of tongue-in-cheek humour... There is nothing esoteric or prescriptive about Kelly’s approach – he’s done the business and presents facts and subjective advice in a wry “take it or leave it”/“this is how it is” very refreshing and un-earnest!' Confraternity of St James Quarterly Bulletin, June 2019
- GenresTravelNonfiction
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 4, 2011
69 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 23, 2015
A very practical go to manual which I might find useful when I take this pilgrimage in the future. I got a little bogged down with the extensive history of Spain which I thought unnecessary.
May 28, 2017
If everything goes according to plan (and it almost never does in my life) I'm going to retire from my current job in May of 2021 and Melissa and I are going to get on a plane, fly to Europe, and walk the Camino de Santiago while we figure out what to do with the rest of our lives. Under the theory that it never hurts to start planning early, I've begun reading books about it. This one is a good practice guide to getting ready. Wish me luck. :)
March 11, 2018
While this was full of good advice and practical knowledge and really got me in the mood for our Camino walk later this year, it also suffers from the self-publishing ills of bad grammar, repetitive sections, questionable organization...
April 12, 2025
Good know-before-you-go info.
February 11, 2017
Útil e interesante
Un libro que ofrece información de utilidad para un futuro peregrino, también resulta ser interesante y bien documentado. Sin duda es bueno haberlo leído antes de iniciar esta aventura.
Un libro que ofrece información de utilidad para un futuro peregrino, también resulta ser interesante y bien documentado. Sin duda es bueno haberlo leído antes de iniciar esta aventura.
March 22, 2016
The book is just what it says - a Practical Preparation. It paints a good picture of what the Camino might feel like to a current pilgrim. Almost paints a too-easy picture, to be honest... but the author has completed the pilgrimage several times and reading it felt like speaking face to face with a friend or acquaintance who has gone. If I ever do the pilgrimage, I know I will continuously refer to this book beforehand.
February 6, 2015
The book was a good overview with many practical tips. It gives the reader a general overview of what walking the Camino would be like. It definitely peeked my interest to read further and possibly make a Camino someday.
September 13, 2015
Valuable resource
If you're at all interested in hiking El Camino this book should be part of your preparation. It is full of practical advice and helpful information. It's also a great read if you're just a dreamer like me. :-)
If you're at all interested in hiking El Camino this book should be part of your preparation. It is full of practical advice and helpful information. It's also a great read if you're just a dreamer like me. :-)
September 5, 2015
Liked it a lot - very informative - great preparation for the hike.
July 12, 2016
Excellent resources about the Camino de Santiago and what to pack and to expect!
July 13, 2016
Very interesting on practical, social, linguistic and historical aspects of the Camino.
October 3, 2016
Great overview
Lots of good practical information about walking el Camino. The history of Spain was informative but a bit more in depth than I needed.
Lots of good practical information about walking el Camino. The history of Spain was informative but a bit more in depth than I needed.
April 17, 2017
Very good information that I hope to use someday on this bucket list item.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews