CaminoWays.com: Camino de Santiago » Podcast

1- Wear Proper Clothing for Your Trip Before going on your Camino de Santiago it is important to anticipate climate of the area you are going to be cycling so pack your gear accordingly keeping in mind the time of year you are travelling. 2- Know How to Make Minor Repairs and Adjustments People who cycle regularly know that flat tires are quite common, therefore if you know how to change it this could save you time and money. So basic knowledge will help you a lot on the Camino. It’s important to know how to make minor adjustments to your bike, like maintaining your brakes in good condition. Getting familiar with how to do other adjustments, like replacing a slipped chain or tightening various bolts, is also recommended. Make sure that you carry a repair kit before cycling the Camino (if you book with CaminoWays.com, your bike for the Camino will come with a repair kit included). 3- Pack Snacks and Water Obviously cycling takes a lot of energy. To avoid lack of energy, you will need to pack for example some fruits (bananas, apples…), fig bars or energy-packed snacks to keep you going. Equally, energy bars provide a handy combination of nutrients to propel you down the road. Staying hydrated is even more important especially in summer. Whether you are walking or cycling, drink at regular intervals, every 30 minutes for example. 4- Carry Your ID, Cell Phone and Money Being prepared is a very important rule for cycling. Accidents happen. If they do, you’ll want to be able to call for help. Many smart phones have GPS technology today or the capacity to access the Internet for a map, so do not hesitate to use them. If there’s been an accident, you can easily find emergency help. It’s also a good idea to pack your ID and a debit card or small amount of cash. Money and an ID can be absolutely vital when you’re in trouble. 5- Pannier Packing Tips Keep it simple and light. Take the minimum you need for the day’s cycle, like water, food, ID, phone and money. 6- Safety First The most important aspect of cycling is to make sure you’re as safe as possible at all times. Check your helmet before you leave and check that it fits snugly but comfortably and doesn’t obstruct your view. It’s also good to check that all bolts are tightened and your brakes are working correctly. Don’t forget to review and study your Camino route before hitting the road. Always pay attention to your environment, you are much smaller and less powerful than the cars you may be sharing the road with. That makes proper signalling, turning and attentiveness all the more important. Always watch out for walkers on your path, especially in the busiest parts of the Camino, as you get closer to Santiago. Now you are ready to cycle the Camino de Santiago ! You might also want to read: -Cycling the Camino with CaminoWays.com – How it Works  -What are the bikes and accessories available? -Want to cycle the Camino?

Luiza Kraner from Australia but living in Houston, Texas, had walked the Camino de Santiago seven times along many different routes. She photographed life along the way, recording her experiences, most of the time on her own, in over 30,000 pictures. Luiza passed away in January last year and this month, her husband Garry and her son Stephen, are walking with her one last Camino. The Kraners are walking the Via de la Plata on their first ever Camino, to take Luiza’s ashes to Cape Fisterra and the Atlantic Ocean, Luiza’s final resting place. Her wishes had been for her ashes to be scattered by the sea in Fisterra, ‘where the Camino de Santiago ends and the sea that joins Europe and America begins’. Luiza was honoured recently in Ourense by the Asociación de Amigos de la Vía de la Plata-Camino Mozárabe, a way she had walked twice. Luiza’s family are also preparing a photography exhibition on their return to Houston, to share with the public over a hundred of Luiza’s pictures, taken over ten years, during her many Caminos. *Article published in Faro de Vigo (in Spanish)   

Press release date: 21st May 2013 Take a walking holiday in the heart of Tuscany along the Via Francigena, for an unforgettable experience this summer. Enjoy a relaxed walking holiday across the picture-perfect Tuscan countryside, taking time to enjoy the region’s cuisine and explore the most stunning UNESCO World Heritage sites – Monteriggioni, San Gimignano and Siena. Starting in San Miniato, this 7 day holiday takes you on an easy leisurely walk across the Tuscan countryside visiting stunning sites and villages before reaching the historic centre of Siena. This walk, which is suitable for even the most novice walkers, covers part of section 14 of the Via Francigena. The Via Francigena is a classic pilgrimage route that starts in Canterbury and crosses France and Switzerland on its way to Rome. This holiday is designed for those looking for an active summer, while taking time to discover and admire some of the most beautiful spots of Tuscany. Walkers will also get to taste authentic Tuscan food and wine in the region’s best ‘osterias’. En route to Siena, you will pass the vineyards of Chianti and visit the medieval walled town of Monteriggioni and the breath-taking hilltop town of San Gimignano, where you will spend a night. Over the 5 walking days you will also pass through the villages of Colle di Val d’Elsa and Gambassi Terme. You can also time your trip to coincide with some of the region’s colourful festivals. Il Palio di Siena, the city’s spectacular and colourful horse race, takes place in the city of Siena in July and August. San Gimignano goes back to the Middle Ages in June with its Cavalieri di Santa Fina Medieval Festival. This relaxing culture-filled holiday is available now from CaminoWays.com, the walking and cycling holiday specialists, from just €679pp. For more information on our Under the Tuscan Sun walking holiday package. Price includes: Accommodation on a half board basis, luggage transfers and a holiday pack. Price does not include: Flights, insurance, airport transfers, dinner on first or last night or drinks. Book today by logging onto www.caminoways.com or call 353 (0)1-525-28-86. Find CaminoWays.com on Facebook: facebook.com/caminoways.  

Hostal dos Reis Católicos in Santiago de Compostela, or Parador de Santiago, is a 5-star hotel with 5 centuries of history. The Parador enjoys a privileged location right on the Praza do Obradoiro, Santiago’s most famous square with its imposing Cathedral and Santiago’s city council building. The Hostal dos Reis Católicos is considered one of the oldest hotels in the world and has indeed a very interesting history, linked from its very foundation to the Camino de Santiago and the pilgrimage to the city. The hotel was opened in 1499 as the ‘Gran Hospital Real’, or Great Royal Hospital, by Isabel and Fernando, the so-called Catholic Monarchs to receive pilgrims after finishing their trip to Santiago, as well as tending to those in need of care. Upon presenting their ‘Compostela’, proof of their pilgrimage, pilgrims could stay at the Hostal for up to 3 days, free of charge. And this luxurious ‘Hostal’ and its majestic building has been welcoming pilgrims ever since. Still today, the Hostal honours that tradition by offering free meals to the 10 first pilgrims arriving at their doors and showing their ‘Compostela’. The restaurant at the Parador also offers a taste of the finest Galician products and its most celebrated dishes and gastronomy. Hostal dos Reis Católicos is more than just a hotel, it gives travelers the opportunity to stay in a beautiful monument linked to the history of the city and its most famous trail: the Camino. It is also a chance to reward and pamper yourself, enjoying a bit of luxury after your long journey. *For more information or to book your Camino de Santiago holiday, contact the CaminoWays.com travel team, we are always happy to help.

If you are in Santiago de Compostela or walking the Camino de Santiago on 17th May, you will get the chance to celebrate a very special date in Galicia’s calendar: Galician Literature Day, ‘Día das Letras Galegas’ or simply ‘Día das Letras’. On 17th May, Galicians celebrate their own language, their literature, as well as their best writers. This annual celebration was introduced by Galicia’s Royal Academy (Real Academia Galega). The first ‘Día das Letras’ took place in 1963 to commemorate the centenary of the publication of ‘Cantares Gallegos’, the first book written in Galician language by Rosalía de Castro, one of Galicia’s most celebrated writers and poets. 17th May has also been a public holiday in Galicia since 1991. Rosalía de Castro was one of the most important writers of the Galician romantic movement in the XIX century, known as ‘Rexurdimento’ (referring to the Renaissance of the Galician language). Alongside poets Manuel Curros Enríquez and Eduardo Pondal, they were the first authors to use Galician language in their written work, after the so-called ‘Séculos Escuros’ (Dark Centuries). Rosalía often wrote about emigration, social injustice, as well as defending the poor and women’s rights. Her work is also marked by a characteristic and recurrent nostalgia and melancholy. Rosalía’s home is today a popular house-museum in the town of Padrón, so if you are walking the last section of the Camino de Santiago on the Portuguese Way, why not stop to visit? Since 1963, Galician Literature Day pays homage to a different Galician writer each year.  In 2013, Galician Literature Day is dedicated to playwright and actor Roberto Vidal Bolaño, who was from Santiago de Compostela. Many cultural events take place on 17th May all around Galicia, particularly in Santiago de Compostela. If you are in the city around this date, you will get a chance to celebrate one of Galicia’s most special holidays.  

Press release date: 7th May 2013 Ancient pilgrim routes are today some of Europe’s best walking trails – full of history, amazing sights and great food. Take a walking holiday with CaminoWays.com along some of Europe’s most famous pilgrim trails – Camino de Santiago, Via Francigena and Saint Francis Way. Walking holidays along classic pilgrimage trails are popular not just for religious or spiritual reasons but also for their natural beauty, as a cultural and social experience or just for the challenge. Whatever the reason, spiritual or leisure, these walking trails are unique experiences for the traveller looking for a holiday with a difference. Camino de Santiago – The Saint James Way There are many routes along the Camino de Santiago, or Saint James Way, leading to Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia (North West Spain). Since the middle ages, pilgrims from all over Europe have made their way to Santiago to visit the city’s cathedral and the tomb of Saint James. The most prominent route is the French Way, covering 800 kilometres from the French Pyrenees across Spain’s Meseta and into Galicia, on the Atlantic coast. Via Francigena – The original pilgrimage to Rome Another classic walking trail in Europe, the Via Francigena follows an ancient pilgrimage route to Rome starting in Canterbury in the UK and leading walkers across France and Switzerland, before reaching Italy. The Via was an important road in medieval times and it is a designated European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe since 1994. The trail passes important landmarks and beautiful landscapes in Europe – from the WWI battlefields in Northern France to the Alps and the Tuscan countryside. Saint Francis Way - following Saint Francis The Saint Francis Way or Camino di Francesco, in Italy, follows the steps of Saint Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan Order. This trail takes an alternative route between the cities of Florence and Rome, along an ancient Roman road, passing through important and beautiful sites such as Assisi and Rieti, in Umbria. These walking holidays are available all year round with CaminoWays.com, the walking and cycling holiday specialists. Visit www.caminoways.com/destinations for more information. Prices include: Accommodation and luggage transfers. Please note: Prices do not include flights. Book today by logging onto www.caminoways.com or call 353 (0)1-525-28-86. Find CaminoWays.com on Facebook: facebook.com/caminoways.

People walk the Camino de Santiago for many different reasons: religious, adventurous, spiritual, for the outdoors or simply to do something special with their holidays… The Camino can mean very different things to different people but there is one thing that binds all Camino pilgrims together: it is a very unique experience, a walking holiday like no other. These are our 10 great reasons to walk the Camino de Santiago (feel free to share your own! if you have walked the Camino): 1-Simple pleasures Holidays are about taking a breather from every day life and the Camino takes that idea to another level: it is about getting back to basics and enjoying some of the most simple pleasures in life, like walking. It is also about savouring every step of the journey, not just the destination. No wonder so many people find it such a great soul-searching exercise, applying that philosophy to all aspects of their life after they finish their Camino. 2-Exercise Walking, walking and more walking….Not many holidays will get you back home in better shape! 3- Culture and History Along the Camino, you will pass cities, towns and villages of all sizes, with stunning churches, monuments and other cultural and historic landmarks. The Camino trail has been used by pilgrims for centuries so the route itself has a long history and tradition. 4- Amazing landscapes From the French Pyrenees to the lush hills and woodlands of Galicia or the coastal paths of the Northern Way, the Camino de Santiago takes walkers across many different landscapes, all beautiful and unique. 5- Easy and approachable walking If you can walk, you can do the Camino. The walking paths are well marked (particularly along the French Way) and most of them are suitable for all fitness levels. It is also a flexible holiday, so if you need more days to complete the journey, just adapt the walking distance you want to cover daily to your ability. 6-Brush up your language skills Not just with some of the locals but also with fellow walkers you will meet along the way. You will encounter many different nationalities and, of course, languages: French, German, Italian, Spanish, Basque, Galician… 7-Fabulous food Sample the local cuisine along the way. Each route and each region has its flavours, traditional dishes and specialities. Our advice? try them all! 8-Make friends You shouldn’t come back home from your Camino without making at least one new friend. The social element makes it a great holiday for people travelling alone. Particularly along the last stretch of the French Way, you will never feel lonely! 9- Family friendly It can be a fantastic family holiday for bonding and quality time together: whether you are walking or cycling. 10-All roads lead to Santiago If you have walked the Camino de Santiago along the French Way (the most popular) before, there are many more routes you can try next!! all different and with their unique sites and trails. Of course, if you are walking the Camino de Santiago with CaminoWays.com we have a couple of extra great reasons to add: -our 24/7 support -our selected comfy accommodation (no hostels with snoring neighbours) -and our personal and friendly touch! Give the CaminoWays.com travel team a call today or pop in to see us in Dublin.

Santiago de Compostela is not just the final point of the Camino de Santiago, it is a fantastic place to explore, wandering around its alleys and stone-paved streets. It is quite pocket-sized too, so make sure you dedicate at least a couple of days and soak in the city’s atmosphere. As some Galicians say, Santiago is not a city, it is a ‘big village’. The city population is just around the 100,000 mark but with nearly 50,000 students settling there for the academic year and thousands of pilgrims walking into town every year, Santiago de Compostela gets a very special mix of people. I think Santiago is a great city but I’m obviously biased. I lived in Santiago (or ‘Compostela’) for four years while studying at the city’s University (one of the oldest by the way, founded in 1495) and the mention of Santiago always gives me a warm excited feeling. I still have many friends living in Santiago. That’s the thing: many of the students arriving in Santiago for four years end up never ever leaving…  for such a small place, Santiago can make quite a big impact on people, whether pilgrims or students. 10 things to do in Santiago de Compostela: 1-Cathedral If you have walked all the way to Santiago de Compostela, your first stop is likely to be the Praza do Obradoiro with its imposing Cathedral, where the remains of Saint James are (allegedly) buried. The cathedral is Santiago’s most famous building with a Romanesque structure and later Gothic and Baroque elements. At the Cathedral, check out the Pórtico da Gloria (the original Romanesque porch entrance by Mestre Mateo), the Botafumeiro (its giant thurible) and, if you are not scared of heights, ask to walk up to the Cathedral’s rooftop to enjoy fantastic panoramic views of Santiago. 2-The Old Town Santiago is divided in two main districts: the Old Town (Zona Vella) and the New Town (Zona Nova). The Old Town with is winding granite streets, arches, squares and monuments has been an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. Here you will find not only Romanesque and baroque churches, museums and some of the oldest University buildings but also many cosy cafes, traditional and contemporary restaurants, interesting shops and some of the best nightlife too! The New Town isn’t much of a sight, mostly apartment buildings housing the student population, but you will also find shopping areas, good bookshops, as well as restaurants and bars. 3-Alameda Park Take a breather at the Alameda, Santiago’s most emblematic green space. Go for a stroll along the Paseo da Ferradura, get a nice tree-framed view of the Cathedral, sit by the statue of writer Valle Inclán or take a picture with the statue of ‘As Marías’, the two Fandiño sisters dressed in their colourful outfits. The sisters used to go for a walk in the Alameda every day at 2 o’clock on the dot. The Alameda park is also central point to many celebrations in Santiago’s busy festival calendar. 4-’De Viños’ – Wine trail  Rúa do Franco goes all the way to the Obradoiro Square and takes its name after the French pilgrims that used to follow this street to get to the Cathedral. With adjacent Raíña, this is the most famous street to go out for a few drinks with friends. Many bars and restaurants along the Franco display their octopus, shellfish and other Galician delicacies on their windows (vegetarians beware!) and most offer a free bite with each drink: croquettes, tortilla or even tiger filet (not really tiger meat, by the way). After a few wines with their bites, you probably won’t need any dinner, but if you are still hungry, you can always order a few dishes to share. 5-Museo das Peregrinacións After walking to Santiago as a pilgrim, you should probably visit this museum, dedicated to the pilgrimage. 6-San Domingos de Bonaval Park ‘Bonaval’ for short, is another popular park in Santiago de Compostela. Bonaval[...]

Tune in to Spirit Radio from 10,30am (GMT) today. Roland from CaminoWays will chat about 21st century pilgrimages