The ALTUS Poncho - 2018

If you hang around Camino forums for very long, 

you'll hear people talking about the ALTUS poncho. 

What the heck IS an ALTUS poncho?

The ALTUS poncho is a rain poncho

but better.

The ALTUS has a large "hump" on the back 

that completely covers your backpack.

When you're not using that "hump,"

it snaps neatly down to the poncho,

making the back flat.

The ALTUS also has sleeves,

unlike other ponchos,

and the sleeves have elasticized cuffs,

so your arms stay completely dry.

Here you can see the coverage with Linda and Patty's ALTUS

The ALTUS both zips up the front,

and snaps up the front,

so a strong wind won't blow it up or off of you.

In fact, it makes a very good windbreaker

for those cold, windy days.

The ALTUS has a large hood,

which fits comfortably over your hat,

whether it is a baseball cap style,

or a Tilley hat with a larger brim.

In fact, though the ALTUS hood has a brim,

I find it better to wear it over my hat,

for stability and better vision.

In other words,

the hat keep the brim of the ALTUS 

from flapping around in the wind,

and keeps it stabilized.

It also keeps the hood up in a way 

that keeps the rain from hitting your face and neck.

The ALTUS is so good at keeping your warm

that I've literally used it

as a blanket at Roncesvalles,

when one of the pilgrims in my group 

didn't bring a sleeping bag, 

and I gave her my own.

I simply put on my longjohns 

and slept with the ALTUS over me

and it kept me toasty warm.

People have asked if it keeps you dry?

It keeps me dry as a bone.

However,

like any other gear, 

you must learn to use it.

You must vent the Altus properly.

in order to stay dry.

Because you are walking and sweating,

the ALTUS will collect condensation,

like any other rain gear,

and you will get soaked by your own sweat.

To keep that from happening,

I always leave the top several inches of the ALTUS open

when I'm walking in rain,

so the heat can escape.

And though you can't help but get a little damp

from condensation of your own body heat,

you do not get soaked if it's vented properly,

and you do stay warm.

If I'm walking on a day where it rains, then stops,

then rains, the stops,

between rains I simply unzip the poncho

take my arms out of the sleeves,

and let it hang loose from my pack.

It stays (unless of course it's  too windy,

in which case I'd wear it to block the wind).

It doesn't come off because of the neck of the poncho.

And then when the rain starts again,

I slip my arms in, zip it up, and off I go!

At the time of this writing (Feb 2016)

the  ALTUS cannot yet be purchased in the United States.

There are several places you can purchase it

at the beginning of your Camino.

In St. Jean Pied de Port, 

Boutique du Pelerin carries the ALTUS poncho

as well as other pilgrim needs.

If you email Pierre, and ask nicely,

he will hold a poncho for you.

You can pick it up and pay for it on the day you arrive.

Just be sure to give him your name, size, color, and date of arrival.

Here is his website link:

http://www.boutique-du-pelerin.com/en/

In Zubiri, there is a sports shop called Planeta Agua.

It is on the main street of the village.

Here is their website link:

http://www.planeta-agua.com/

In the past, they have carried the ALTUS,

and I see they take Paypal.

So you may be able to order ahead, pay,

and pick up your poncho when you reach Zubiri.

This might be your best bet if you are 

starting out in Roncesvalles

and did not get your poncho in Pamplona

In Pamplona, Caminoteca is the place to go.

Located in Old Town, they also carry the ALTUS poncho

as well as other pilgrim gear.

The last time I checked, 

the prices for the ALTUS were less here,

so if you're starting by flying into Pamplona

it would be worth a stop to get your poncho.

I'm not sure if they'll hold one for you.

I'm emailing them today to ask if they take Paypal

or if they'll hold a poncho (or sticks)

so come back in a day or two and I will post their answer.

Of course, you can take regular rain gear.

On my first Camino I wore a rain jacket and rain pants.

But the weight put me off and I needed something more lightweight

that would cover my legs and hips.

The ALTUS keeps my feet dry.

I am 5'3" and usually start the Camino weighing around 155.

So I should by most calculations wear a SMALL.

However, I buy a large,

because I like the way the large covers me 

halfway down my legs, 

keeping the rain off my feet.

Also, if you were to be injured or get lost,

the ALTUS can make a very good shelter,

using your walking sticks.

You could cover up with it 

to shelter you from the elements.

Ralph and Toni Marie, from Las Vegas, spent the night on the mountain!

I did meet one couple in 2014

who got stuck all night

on the pass between Orisson and Roncesvalles

because they started too late in the day

and were caught in the dark in a snowstorm.

They snuggled under a bush

praying the Rosary to stay awake,

until it was light enough to see the trail and walk down.

They were lucky they didn't freeze to death!

I've kept in touch with them,

and they did make it to Santiago.

If they'd had an ALTUS poncho,

or two,

they would have had a much more comfortable night!

OTHER PONCHOS

I have tried the Sea to Summit

and the Bluefield Poncho,

both of which can be purchased on Amazon.

I hated both.

The reason was because they did not zip up the front,

and I about had a heat stroke 

just sitting in my living room with the danged things on.

See my review of the Bluefield here:

http://caminosantiago2.blogspot.com/2015/12/review-of-bluefield-poncho.html

And remember,

if you wear rain pants and rain jacket,

you'll need a pack cover,

which you do NOT need if you're using an ALTUS.

So,

those are all the reasons I love the ALTUS poncho.

If you have any questions, please list them below.

Buen Camino!

Annie

***

Need help planning your Camino? 

Don't want to walk alone? 

Don't want to race for a bed?

Walk with us in a small group or alone.

Booked lodging!

Anniewalkers Camino

To Eunate and Ciraqui

2006

On September 4, 2006 we walked to Eunate 

through gorgeous fields of sunflowers, asparagus, and grapes.

Eunate is a small octagonal church which is one of the most important Romanesque monuments in Navarra. 

The name is Basque and means 

"house of 100 doors."

The church is commonly associated with the Knights Templar,

mostly because of its octogonal shape. 

Graves with scallp shells, 

presumably from pilgrims,

have been found around the church.

There is some talk the church may have been built

as a burial chapel by a locally prominant family 

in the late 1500's.

It's definitely worth the detour

to see, if you have the stamina 

and desire.

At one point in the not too distant past, 

there was an albergue here,

but it has closed,

due to local politics, 

and nobody seems to know for sure

if it will reopen.

From Eunate, we walked on to Obanos, where we stopped for a coffee.

Obanos is at the junction of the 2 main routes to Santiago, and this town, in the Middle Ages, controlled several churches and hospices. Obanos is also famous for its mystery play dedicated to Saints Gullermo and Felicia, performed since 1965 on the Sunday following Corpus Cristi each year.

The church of San JuanBautista contains Guillermo's skull, encased in silver. When his tomb was opened, a Santiago medal was found among his bones. 

On the day we arrived, 

a young girl about 10 years old was giving out sellos.

We took a shady rest,

then continued on.

In Puente la Reina we used the Internet (locaturia) 

and stocked up on Compeed.

Then in the heat, we kept walking...

Iglesia del Crucifijo

About 1 kilometer out of town, Joe realized he had left his glasses.

I stayed with the packs under a shaded overpass while he walked back to retrieve them.

From there, we continued on through vineyards and dusty road
 to Ciraqui 

where we stayed at Albergue Maralotx.

This was a very nice albergue where they served us

 the best dinner we'd had to date 

in the cool bodega-like cellar below the albergue.

2012

September

Wonderful standing stones

2013

May/June

The wildflowers in Spring are crazy bright!

Almost to Ciraqui

This year, instead of walking all the way through Ciraqui, I took the option to turn right and walk the road. This took me to a sweet little restaurant Los Calzadores.  Here, I had breakfast, then continued on the road until it met up with the Camino.

Right after this Restaurant is a park with picnic tables. This would be a great place to pitch a tent if you were camping. There was literally no traffic on the road when I walked.

2015 - Autumn
Gretchen and Sharon walking roman road outside Ciraqui




Click here for a post I wrote about the history of Ciraqui:About Ciraqui

How Long Does it Take to Walk the Camino Frances

Many people ask me, 

"How long does it take to walk the Camino?"

My answer is always,"Well, that depends..."

It depends on many things.  First, I'll give you some information, then some questions to ask yourself.

The Camino de Santiago is approximately 

800 kilometers long. 

That's close to 500 miles.  

It has been broken down 

into walkable stages (called etapas) 

by various guidebook companies.  

The general agreement is there are 31 stages.  

The stages vary between 20 and 31 kilometers 

(12 and 19 miles).

Some are flat. 

Some are rolling hills. 

A few can be daunting.

So, 31 stages would mean 31 days of walking. 

But that's if you just rush through, walking, walking, 

and not stopping to see the sites!

There are so many things to see, and if you're in Spain, 

why not see them while you're there?

I usually give myself 60 days 

if I'm walking the Camino Frances, carrying my pack.

Those 31 stages aren't set in stone! 

Along each stage are many options

 for stopping and sleeping. 

Personally, I like stopping "between the stages" 

to get out of the big wave of pilgrims 

who are sticking to the guidebooks!

You can break the Camino up 

into however many stages 

you are comfortable walking!

So ask yourself these questions when doing your planning:

How Many Kilometers/Miles Can You Comfortably Walk?

Me, on my first  Camino.
Sometimes you just have to stop and rest,
no matter where you are!

I say "comfortably" because a lot of people push their bodies WAY beyond what is comfortable and end up with injuries like blisters or shin splints that stop their trek in its tracks. Most people have wonderful intentions about training for the Camino, but life gets in the way, and they find themselves starting out with little, if any, training under their belt. They end up training ON the Camino. 

And that's ok!  Really!  You can do it this way - 

you just need to give yourself a few extra days.

Do this: put about 10% of your body weight into a backpack and go take a hike. How far can you walk without being exhausted? This is the mileage I'd stick to for the first few days on the Camino, slowly increasing my distance each day.

If you are beginning in St. Jean Pied de Port  (SJPP) I strongly suggest you take the first etapa from SJPP to Roncesvalles in TWO days. That walk from SJPP to Orisson is only 8 kilometers. To Borda is 9 kilometers. 

But they don't call it "Hell Day" for nothing!  

It is extremely steep!  

If you are used to hiking 

and carrying a heavy pack 

and you're in excellent condition, 

you'll have no problem making it to Roncesvalles. 

But if you're in the shape most of us are in, 

stop at Orisson or Borda the first day.  

It's possible to get reservations at each for the night, but beds are limited. If you cannot get a bed, simply walk or taxi back to SJPP for a 2nd night, then taxi back up to Orisson in the morning to continue over the mountain.

The second day into Roncesvalles (13k) 

is a STEEP downhill walk. 

If it's been raining or snowing, it can be treacherously slippery. The beech leaves make it like an ice rink!  

If you have attempted to walk the entire stage, and are already exhausted, you're in for trouble.

When it's raining and slippery,

I take the road.

It's just as beautiful a walk,

and there is less chance of injury.

The third day, most people walk all the way to Zubiri (22.2k). Again, the descent into Zubiri is steep and slippery. In the past two years, very deep, close-together crevices have cut up the trail. You really have to watch your step or take the chance of breaking a leg or an ankle. There are several options along the route for shorter distance. Viskarret (also called Biskaretta and Gerendiain) is one at about 12k.  

From there, the 4th day, you could continue on to Zubiri.
(Or you could taxi to Zubiri from Viskarret.)

The next day, head to Trinidad de Arre or Pamplona.

If you are beginning in another city,

do the same thing.

Plan to walk half-stages for the first few days,

slowly increasing your distance,

until you are walking as far as you'd like each day.

This is a good way to work up to walking full stages.

You have not injured yourself.

You've figured out how much of your heavy pack

 you can discard.

And you know the ropes.

From this point, if you are booking lodging, 

you can plan your trip based on 20-30k days.

If you are staying in albergues, 

you can just walk until you're tired, and stop.

* * *

I once passed a woman on the Camino, 

who was morbidly obese.

I asked her, "How you doing?"

She replied, "I'm ok.
I asked, "How far you going?"

She told me she would walk as far as she could,

then stop. 

She realized she was handicapped 

by her weight

and didn't want to have a heart attack,

but she WAS going to walk the Camino!

She began just walking 5-7 kilometers per day,

and slowly increased her distance.

I ran into her in Santiago a couple of months later.

She had made it all the way,

walking full stages after a few weeks.

And she had lost an incredible amount of weight.

She looked and felt great!

* * *

There is no rule about where you should begin your Camino. The only rule on the Camino Frances is if you want to collect the Compostela, you must walk from Sarria to Santiago. So you have a lot of great choices. Here are some of my favorites:

St. Jean Pied de Port - A lot of people like to begin here. Many people believe this is the 'traditional' starting place, but it is not. The traditional starting place is your front door!  However, that said, SJPP is a lovely village and a fun place to start. What it means, though, is you will have to walk over a big steep hill in the Pyrenees and take a chance of being injured. If the weather is clear, it will be one of the most spectacular days of your life. If it's foggy, it can be one of the worst. Getting there is easy during the season from May to end of September. You can catch a bus directly from the Madrid airport to SJPP. (The bus does go via Pamplona these days. ) Or you can catch a bus directly from Madrid airport to Pamplona, rest a day or two, then bus or taxi to SJPP. Or you can fly into Paris and take a train. I've done all three and I prefer going from Madrid to Pamplona to SJPP.

Roncesvalles - This is a more traditional starting place and you avoid the big mountain crossing. It's a wonderful place to begin your Camino. You can take a bus from the Madrid airport to Pamplona, then a bus from Pamplona to Roncesvalles.

Sarria - If you only have a couple of weeks, you can walk from Sarria and get the Compostela. Only 5 stages, give yourself a day or two at each end for a more relaxed Camino. To do this, I would fly into Santiago, then take a bus (or taxi) to Sarria to begin. 

It's only 70 miles and a 1.5 hour bus ride.

Madrid - Fly into Madrid and just start walking!  The Madrid route is easy to follow, and is more like what the Camino was 10 years ago before it got so busy. Be prepared for culture shock, however, once you reach Sahagun, where the Madrid route joins up to the Camino Frances and you are suddenly in a herd of pilgrims!

Other places to begin include any of the larger cities where you can fly or bus in; Burgos, Logrono, Leon.

What Would You Like to See?

There are so many wonderful sites to see 

along the Camino!  

Every day you will pass villages and churches, including some very tiny ones. Stop and peek in. I have seen art in some of those tiny churches that is just as spectacular as anything I've seen in the Louvre or British Museum.  Places I would suggest stopping for an extra day are:

Pamplona.

I like to fly into Madrid, then take a bus directly from the airport to Pamplona. I am flying from the west coast of the USA, so the time change is hard on me. I give myself two full days in Pamplona to adjust to the time change and to see the Old Town. Then, when I'm walking the Camino and the herd is stopping in Pamplona, I can just walk on through.

There is a LOT to see in Pamplona; the cool drawbridge you walk into the city on, the city walls, the parks, the Cathedrals and many other beautiful churches, and the Museu Navarra. I would say if you only have time for one, to be sure to visit the Museu Navarra. It is a small museum, but a lovely one, and if you show your Credential, you'll get a nice discount. I believe the museum is free on Sundays. You can check their website to be sure.

If you are lucky, you may pass a festival and see the fantastic GIGANTES!

Also, there are many wonderful places for tapas in Pamplona. 

You can pick up last minute items you need 

at the China shop (like a dollar store) 

or at the pilgrim shop Caminoteca.

And remember, 

many tourist attractions are CLOSED on Mondays 

in Spain. 

That will be the rule all along the Camino, 

so plan accordingly.

* * *

Burgos.  

In Burgos there are two main attractions. First is the Burgos Cathedral. It is magnificent! And even if you aren't Catholic, you should take time to see it. The art is unbelievable! I once spent 8 hours inside. Tip: there are no toilets inside, but if you really have to go, ask the people at reception. They will usually let you out to find a bar, then let you back in.

The second attraction in Burgos is the Museum of Human Evolution. This is a world class museum. And if you arrive early enough in the morning you can catch a ride out to the dig site at Atapuerca for a small fee. 

* * *

Leon

I love spending a day in Leon. The Cathedral and Cathedral Museum there are worth visiting. The architecture, the stained glass, the treaures, all are really something to see! And if you enjoy churches, the Basilica of San Isidoro is another favorite. There, you can usually attend a 7:00 pm Pilgrim Mass on most nights. Check the door for current times.  Leon is a hub of activity. Find a seat outside, have a drink, and watch the pilgrims go by. Order some churros and chocolate. Explore the back streets of the old part of the city - find a local restaurant (not a tourist one) and have a wonderful meal!  You can find an inexpensive private room in Leon on booking.com

* * *

Astorga

I always stop in Astorga on our group trips so people have the opportunity to see the Episcopal Palace designed by Gaudi. I can't begin to tell you how beautiful it is inside. It remind me of a castle in a fairy tale. Definitely worth a visit. Also in Astorga is the funny little Museum of Chocolate. Tiny, and almost silly, but with a very cool vintage film that shows how chocolate is made. For the 2 euro entrance fee, you can't go wrong. For lodging in Astorga, if I'm walking without a group, I stay at the municipal albergue, which I've always found 

to be clean and affordable. 

DO NOT stay at San Javier!!!  It has been a haven for bedbugs for many years and the management apparently does not care. Until they get new owners, 

I would avoid it at all cost.

 * * *

Santiago

Santiago deserves a 2 or 3 day stay, in my opinion.  There is a lot to see and do there. The Cathedral, of course, is important. And if you're lucky, you will see the Botafumiero swing! There is a fantastic cultural (folklorico) museum there called Pobo Gallego, an open market, great food and shopping, and many other things to see. Wander out of old town into the newer city if you're looking for good deals on clothing and shoes - get away from the tourist trap. 

* * *

Finisterra and Muxia

By now you will have made many friends on the Camino, and my best advice for seeing Finisterra and Muxia if you are not walking there is to share a taxi. The taxi stand is right next to the San Martin Pinario building (across from the Cathedral). There, you can negotiate a taxi to pick you up early in the morning, drive you to Finisterra and wait while you poke around, drive you to Muxia and wait while you have lunch, then drive you back to Santiago. If 4 people go, it's often less than you will pay 

for a bus ticket to/from Finisterra alone, 

and you'll be going on your own schedule.

Ok... so those are the sites you might enjoy seeing, and places you might take rest days.

So, add those days into your walking schedule.

Must You Walk Every Step?

Some people believe you must walk every step of the way from SJPP to Santiago. 

This is not true. 

There are no rules like that.

 The only "rule" is if you want to collect the Catholic Compostela, you must walk every step for the last 100 kilometers, which is from Sarria to Santiago on the Camino Frances.

There are many opportunities to bus or taxi between villages, and it's fine to do so if that's what fits your schedule. Of course, it's easier to catch a bus in a larger city. But many of the smaller villages have bus service as well. Almost always, the people at the albergue will know the bus schedule if there is one.  In my experience, bus is simpler and more available than train along the Camino. And you can buy your ticket directly from the bus driver in the smaller villages. Don't bother buying tickets before you leave home - just get them in Spain. 

If you DO plan any train travel, and you are over 60, you can get a Tarjeta Dorada (Gold Card) which will give you some fantastic discounts up to 50% off. I use this when I travel BACK to Madrid from Santiago. That trip is important to book ahead - I would book it the first chance I got when I arrived in Spain, either in Madrid or Pamplona or somewhere at the beginning of the trip. If you wait until you arrive in Santiago, you may find the train full. Cost in the past has been around 50-60 euros.

Anyway, if you only have 3 or 4 weeks, skip some sections!  Skip the Meseta. I have a love/hate relationship with that section of the Camino. It is long, flat, and boring. There is (literally) nothing to see. Not a tree. Not a building between villages. On the other had, it's a great place for reflection and prayer. But if you must skip something, skip the Meseta is my advice.

How Much Do You Have to Spend?

What is your budget?

How long you walk will depend 

on how much money you have to spend. 

The Camino is not expensive at all, in my opinion.  Once I am there, I get by very comfortably on 20 euros per day if I am staying in albergues. That includes my one nice meal a day plus coffee and drinks along the route.

If I am booking private lodging of course, it is more.  For private lodging I pay anywhere from 20 to 65 euros per night for two people. It just depends on where you are along the route. If you do plan on booking private lodging, I'd budget an extra 40 euros per night to be safe. 

It is possible, if you know your walking schedule, to book your lodging ahead of time and know your budget. That takes some research and time, however, and most people don't bother.

* * *

So there you have it

These are the first questions you should ask yourself when you're planning your trip.

Once you've answered, you should have a better idea of how long you can afford to walk.

There are many good websites that will help you plan.

Here are a couple of my favorites:

EROSKI

GODESALCO

and of course there is gronze.com

And remember, if you don't want to mess with all this, you can let ME do the planning!

Consider walking with one of our small groups of 6-8 pilgrims and having your double private lodging booked for you each night.  This year we have a 24 day trek from SJPP to Santiago planned and we still have some spots open. 

We operate out of Dallas, Oregon, in the United States, and we have lots of experience on the Camino.

Come walk with us!

And have a Buen Camino!

Anniewalkers Camino

Shoes for Camino 2014!

Yesterday, I got a call from Joe telling me there was a coupon from New Balance for $15 off any pair of shoes at their Tigard store.

That was good news since I am due for a new pair this year.



So Emma and I drove over and I looked at what they had.  In the end, there were only two pair that felt good.

One was this pair of brown walking shoes. I liked them. I liked the color.  They felt fine. The backs felt a little high, but that will correct when I add the Motion Control inserts.  I am a bit concerned that the tread is not hefty enough.  I bought them so I'd have a pair of shoes to train in. But I'm ordering another pair for the Camino.

The pair I really liked were the trail running shoes WT1210.   They are described as "trail runners."  These are not only comfortable, the tread is excellent.  It's much heftier and deeper than the others.  The only problem with them is they are not built on an SL-2 shoe last, which is what I like, but the size 7 wide seemed to fit ok. That was without the Motion Control insert, so I'm ordering a 7.5 online today.

Then, I'll decide which ones I will take on the Camino.

I think that is the only piece of equipment I need this year. I did purchase another Macabi skirt for the trip, because I sold my old one. I'm sorry now, because I really liked the charcoal color and this year, the only one on sale that would fit me is a dusty blue. It's 'ok' but I'm not a blue person…I'll probably sell it when the trip is over.

Today I am spending time with my granddaughter, who returns to school on Monday.
Next, I have one Nativity set to complete.
Then, I'll be getting out the final bills for the Anniewalker's 2014 Camino.

April is coming up quick!  Joe and I have been talking about which route we'll walk BEFORE we pick up our pilgrims in Pamplona.  I think we have decided to walk the Ossau Route from Gabas, hook up to the Aragones in Jaca, and then down into Pamplona.

It should take about 2 weeks, and it looks like a spectacular route! Check out this photo from the website:

 Here is a link:

Ossau Route

We walked some of this section of France when we walked from Lourdes. I'd like to scope out the area and perhaps offer this for others to walk next year, so I need to check on accommodation as well as difficulty.

Well, that's it for now.
I'd better get busy!
Buen Camino!
Annie

Kick Start Camino !

I often get emails from people who would like to walk the Camino, but just need some help getting started. 

Because of this, 

I decided to include an inexpensive option called,

 "Kick Start Camino."

You may begin your Camino in St. Jean Pied de Port 

or meet our group in Pamplona and travel with us to SJPP.

Walk with our group 4 days until we again reach Pamplona. 

By the end of 4 days on the road, 

you'll be experienced enough to go it alone. 

If not, you are free to continue walking with our group, 

but at your own expense.  

If you need more support, 

I will charge you 30 euros per day.

This offer includes the following:

1. A monthly newsletter until departure. This is PACKED with helpful information to help you have a successful Camino.
2. Packing list: based on our extensive experience, we will help you decide what to pack.
3. PAID LODGING your first 3 nights (2 nights in SJPP; 1 night in Roncesvalles)
4. Assistance at the Pilgrim's Office in SJPP (getting your Credential and shell)
5. Help getting around SJPP for groceries, meals and other shopping
6. Invitation to join our group for two meals; one at a restaurant and one making our own food in the albergue kitchen.
7. Information covering blisters, bedbugs, pickpockets, backpacks, shoes, pharmacy needs, first aid, shopping, and many other topics.
8. A Walking Booklet that covers your first week. Suggestions as to which guidebook to buy.
9. Tourist information for a self guided tour of St. Jean Pied de Port and Pamplona.
10. Experienced guide walking with you for the first 3 or 4 days on the trail.
11. Basic trail navigation information: Waymarks and how to find them
12. Trekking pole/walking stick information: Do you take one or buy one on the trail?
13. Spanish language basics for pilgrims
14. One on one at-home and on-the-trail coaching.
15. Trip to the Correo (post office) if needed so you can see how it works.
16. Daily Q & A to address questions as they arise
17. Continued support via email as you need it before we leave and while on the Camino.

Cost:  350 Euros

For more information see my website:

AnnieWalkers Camino

Day 20 - Arzua to Arco do Pino

 This is not one of my favorite sections, but here are a few photos I took.

I like this ancient celtic art sitting in someone's yard.

Another fallen Pilgrim.

Once we arrived,

Lottie and I walked to town for dinner,

where we ran into Pam and Father Jeff.

Dinner was awesome!

One of us (Lottie?) started with Pulpo.

I started with Shrimp Scampi.

Jeff began with a garbanzo bean soup.

The carne was to die for!

We stayed at Pension Mavi,

and although a favorite place to sleep,

the breakfast left much to be desired.

I think a person would do better

to purchase breakfast on the road.

Just one more day's walk to Santiago!

We're almost there!

Note:  If you are interested in walking the Camino Santiago, 

but are not quite ready to go it alone, 

consider joining Annie

on one of our small, affordable Camino walks. 

For more information see our website 

at this link: AnnieWalkers Camino