The pilgrimage route in Santiago, Spain, is more or less known as a spiritual journey, and many people have changed their lives to a greater or lesser extent after they have walked. Here for everyone to sort out the most practical strategy, the pilgrimage road has many routes, I take the most popular French road, so the next information is mainly based on the French road.
traffic
How do I get to the SJPP (Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port), the starting point of the French Route?
Plane Paris Airport Paris
The plane took from Paris to Biarritz Airport
Biarritz Airport takes a bus to Bayonne Station
Paris can also take the train to Bayonne (tickets or tickets can be bought earlier is cheaper)
Train from Bayonne to SJPP (Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France)
Pilgrim's passport
How to get a pilgrim's passport?
Take a 700m walk from SJPP train station to the pilgrim's office and apply for a passport at the pilgrim's office for 2 euros. Pilgrims' passports allow for shelters and stamps along the way.
Where can I stamp it?
Usually, there will be stamps on accommodation, churches, and restaurants. I don't necessarily cover every one, some people love stamps, you can cover 2-3 copies. But I probably build accommodation a day, sometimes passing by the cathedral, and mine is just finished building to the end of the world.
APP
Which APP is the best to use?
In fact, there are several apps for the pilgrimage route. There are free and paid ones. I use guide of the way of St James, which can check routes, distances, slopes, amenities and accommodation in each town.
lodging
Are there many shelters on the road?
There are many shelters on the French Route, but many are open in winter from November to February. Because at this time, there are fewer people leaving, but it is not impossible to find accommodation, but the flexibility of choice is less.
Need to plan ahead?
You can see how your physical strength is beforehand, and then decide which town to go to. I do not recommend staying after more than 3 days, generally look at your physical condition the day before, plan which town you will probably go to tomorrow, and then look at the shelter in the town, and the road can also be adjusted casually.
But in the winter, many shelters are not open, so I will first see which shelter is open and then plan where to go, sometimes the APP is not very accurate, I will also call to confirm, or I will meet pilgrims on the road, usually we will exchange messages with each other.
Do I have to book accommodation?
If it is winter, there are usually beds. Only the back 100 km is more than a lot of people to go so to book, we had met at the same time 6 people arrived together, but only 3 beds remained. The other 3 couldn't do it, just live in a private room.
I only encounter this situation once in the winter, but I have heard that there will be a bed rush in the summer, but not every shelter can be booked, many people go in the summer, some cheap and highly evaluated shelters are often without seats, so some people will get up very early to grab a bed, or stop in some less popular towns.
season
What season is best to go in?
In fact, each season can see different scenery and feelings, generally in the summer the most people go. But summers in Spain are also hotter, so spring or autumn is also a good choice. Winter is the toughest test, because it's cold and the mountains are often snowy, so winter is the least crowded, shelters are relatively few, and finding accommodation is not so easy. But the advantage of winter is that there are fewer people, if you like to be quiet, I personally feel that winter is quite comfortable.
Pilgrimage Road equipment
The equipment that goes differently in different seasons is not the same
1. Backpack 40 liters (plus waterproof cover)
2. Shoes (waterproof) / Socks (wool breathable)
3. Raincoat
4. Headscarf, fur hat, sunscreen hat
5. Trekking poles
6. Clothing: Seasonally adjusted
Winter (sweatshirts, T-shirts, hot jackets, Goretex hiking jackets, hiking pants)
Summer (jacket, sweatshirt, T-shirt, pants)
7. Sleeping bag
8. Slippers
9. Drugs
10. Toilet paper
11. Clothespins
12. Laces
13. Belt pack
14. Knee pads
15. Needle, thread (for prickly blisters)
Backpacks/luggage
What should I do if my luggage is too heavy?
If your luggage is too heavy or you don't want to carry it, there are several options:
1. There will be a luggage delivery service between shelters
Leave your luggage in the shelter every morning, and the shelter will give you an envelope with your name on it + the name of the town to be delivered + the name of the shelter, and you can put the money in the envelope.
This is the more common way for everyone to use this way, spring, summer, autumn can use this way, generally about 5-7 euros. However, in winter, this service is often not available, because only one or two luggage are not delivered, and there is no luggage delivery service until more people walk 100 kilometers later.
2. Taxi Shipping
In winter, if you really have a lot of luggage to send, you may have to find a taxi to help. Taxi is much more expensive, it takes 15-20 euros a day, so it is still recommended to bring less things and throw away all that is not important.
3. Post Office Shipping
If something you don't want to carry with you, but it's important, you can send it directly to the end. For example, I sent the computer directly to San Diego by post, 23 euros, which can be sent for 30 days.
diet
If you have a limited budget:
You can go to the supermarket to buy ingredients and cook them yourself, I usually cook three meals a day, the total cost of meals does not exceed 5 euros a day, which is very cheap. But remember to choose a shelter with kitchens and pots and pans.
If you have a good budget:
If you feel like you don't want to move after a long day of walking, you can also eat outside the restaurant if you want to eat well and comfort yourself. Breakfast is generally 3 euros, lunch 7-10 euros, dinner 10-12 euros. Usually there is a pilgrim's set in the evening, and the pilgrim's set is a full dinner for pilgrims. The appetizer is salad or hot soup, the main course is meat and dessert, and the red wine and bread are generally served indefinitely, so you can definitely eat and drink until you can drink.
Sometimes I am too tired to walk or can't find a supermarket, I will also eat pilgrim packages, if you are tired to walk to some villages on the road, you can go to bar for a cup of coffee, usually coffee is 1-2 euros.
What about budgeting?
It depends on what kind of experience you want. There are not many places to spend money on the road, mainly to eat, live and run Lee.
My average daily budget is about 15-20 euros.
Of course, I am more economical, if you do not want to save so much, then you can spend 20-30 euros a day, and the budget may be 1/3 more than mine.
How do I bring money?
Although we often hear that Europe is easy to steal, these small towns in Spain are safe for me. Of course, it can't be taken lightly, I brought 600 euros of cash in my pocket, basically the pocket is not a problem. Towns generally use cash, rarely swipe cards, and only have the opportunity to swipe cards in big cities. But if you don't want to bring too much cash, you can withdraw money at the city's ATM.
Is it okay to go alone?
80% of the people encountered on the road are alone, but there will be many people on the road, and some of them walk together. Before and after also encountered quite a lot of people, some may be a day or two earlier than you, some two or three days later, will meet different people, so a person really do not have to worry. Like when I went with my friends, we actually went separately. Because our speed is not the same, sometimes walking with different people or walking alone is quite interesting.
Is the pilgrimage dangerous?
The French road is actually in good condition, if there is usually a climb on the mountain, this road is not very difficult and dangerous, try to follow the signs, the road to the left. Some people will walk the road in order to go faster, but some roads will be more dangerous to drive quickly.
Winter is more dangerous is to encounter snow, because the snow is very slippery, if you encounter heavy snow it is difficult to judge the road ahead, it is a bit dangerous, if it snows, it is best to walk together. Remember to walk during the day and try to walk to the shelter before dark.
Does the pilgrimage get lost?
The signs of the pilgrimage road are quite obvious, and it is more likely to get lost in the big cities, because there are many forks in the city. It is easy to find the yellow arrow in the town, if you get lost, you don't have to panic too much, you can walk back to the pilgrimage road by looking at the mobile app.
Can I take the pilgrimage road if my English is not good?
I think language is not an excuse, if you have the heart to communicate, you can definitely communicate, and now the mobile phone has a translation software is very convenient. It doesn't matter if english is not good, because in fact, they all use more Spanish. I have met a few people who can't even speak a word of English, and he has finished successfully, and language is really not a problem.
Network/Calling Card?
You can buy a European roaming card online or in Spain.
The easiest to find is vodafone, orange, I buy a month 20 euro traveller package, there are 15GB + 10GB.
What should I do if I have long blisters?
It is very common to have blisters on the pilgrimage road, if you have the budget, buy a little better shoes and socks, remember to rub vaseline to avoid rubbing before going out, and apply tape to the place where there are blisters to avoid growing up.
In fact, I am also blistering all the way, this I really can't give you a good answer, I have tried a very folk remedy, it seems to be useless, so this problem needs to be solved...
Will you run into bed bugs?
Being bitten by bed bugs is also a sparse and common thing on the pilgrimage road, 8 out of 10 people I met have been bitten by bed bugs, but fortunately I didn't, but in fact, I didn't do anything special. It is to sleep in sleeping bags at night, basically sleep in sleeping bags at night in winter, some people will buy bed bug disinfectant water to spray on the bed, I am not sure if it is useful, because some people spray or are bitten very exaggerated.
What medications do I want to take on the road?
Painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, cold medicines, antiemetics, and antidiarrheals should be brought. But in fact, it is easy to find a pharmacy in the town on the road, so you can also buy it locally.
How to solve the problem of drinking water on the road?
Water in Europe can be drunk directly with the tap on. Water also has weight, so I didn't bring a lot of water on the water route, just two small 250ml water tanks, and drank the bar or faucet on the road to replenish. Drink less water in winter, and you may have to bring a larger bottle in summer.
How do I go to the toilet on the road?
On the road, some towns will have bar to go inside to go to the toilet and fill water, generally they will not be good, some will be forced to consume, you may be able to order a cup of coffee 1 euro. The back section of the road bar is more open, the front of the barren mountains and wild mountains, to go to the toilet is solved in the wild. But if you go to the toilet in the field, you must not leave the garbage behind, and remember to prepare a plastic bag to take the toilet paper away.
How do I wash my clothes?
Some shelters offer laundry and drying services at prices ranging from 3-5 euros. I usually wash it by hand and dry it depending on the situation, because clothes are difficult to dry in winter, and sometimes I have to use drying services. It is more convenient to try to have clothes with quick-drying materials. In the summer, even if it is not dry, you can bring a clothespin and clip it on your backpack to dry when you go out.
How to charge?
Shelters generally have one socket per bed, but some cheaper ones may share several sockets in a room, so remember to bring a bunch of power and fill it up when there is a socket. So far I think it's enough, not a big deal.
What is the hardest part of the pilgrimage route?
In fact, I want to say that the most difficult road section is the first day, because to walk 27 kilometers continuously is the uphill road, the body has not adapted to walking so much road, plus it is not easy to walk on a rainy day. In fact, the weather is also a big factor that affects the daily journey. The previous week, because the body has not yet adapted, so the most likely to give up thoughts, until the body adapts to the later feel less difficult. Everyone's feelings are different, and I don't like to go down the mountain, so every time I go down the mountain, I feel that it is not simple.
How do I obtain a certificate of pilgrimage?
The pilgrimage route officially stipulates that you can get a certificate by walking only 100 kilometers, so many people will choose to walk in the 118-kilometer city of Sarria. If you walk 20 kilometers in one day, you can walk in five days.
Arriving in San Diego, you can pick up your certificate at the Pilgrim's Office, and you can also remind everyone that the Pilgrim's Office is open every day for the first 10 certified pilgrims to enjoy a free pilgrim's lunch. If you want to eat this free lunch, you can arrive in the top 10, but most people don't go to get a certificate until the next morning they arrive in San Diego, so you can get the top 10. In fact, there are too few people in winter, I only arrived with 9 people that day, so the free pilgrim lunch was not finished, I have to say that the pilgrim set was delicious!
In addition, a halfway certificate can be obtained in Sahagun halfway through the French Route, but for 3 euros. Finisterra and Muxia also have certificates at the end of the world, and if you go through the whole process, the certificate is not very important.
Thoughts after the walk
If you want to go, for whatever reason, go for it! Don't try how to know if you can. In fact, I don't have to think about it so much, just like I usually travel, I am also at ease with the encounter, and I don't have to think too much. Because in my experience, in general, too many problems will not arise, and the problems that arise are unexpected. The important thing is to solve the problem when you encounter it, no big deal. All I can say is that walking on the road will definitely be rewarding, well come on!