Just a quick post to share how you can find and keep an eye on the fires along the caminos, towns and cities in Spain at the minute. If you open Google Maps, pick a location you are interested in, then click on Layers – the little stack of squares marked by the yellow arrow … More Forest fires in Spain and how to find them
If you are already planning your camino travel for 2026, beware that Santiago airport will be closed for all traffic between April 23 and May 27 next year! There are of course other options so your camino doesn’t need to be affected in any way, you just might have to fly in to a different … More Santiago airport to close for 35 days in 2026
The wording has now been updated in both the Spanish and English version of the Pilgrim Office website, so though there are still questions around what the wording means, at least it is consistent and probably here to stay. Screenshots from today, 12 Feb 2025: Left, Spanish website, google translated; and right, English. Both state … More New compostela rules – Update
A camiga asked me if I had a packing list to share, and I kind of do, though they are getting a bit outdated. I realise that I mostly post un-packing lists these days, because I think it is more interesting to see, after the fact, what actually worked and not. This informs my next … More Updated packing list 2023
… and suddenly it’s April, and I am supposed to fly out to Porto later this month! How did that happen? How does it always happen? I feel like I have missed a month or something. The truth is, I have been trying to get stuff done to make room for my four week walk … More Micropacking
As always, a camino isn’t fully written up until I have done the unpacking list. This is a brilliant tip for repeat pilgrims, walkers, travellers – packing lists are an idea, un-packing lists are cold hard reality. I am currently planning another trip and rereading this to pare down my load, trying to learn from … More Un-packing list Caracola camino 2022
The second best part of any camino is planning for it. But where do you even start? With a guidebook, is one answer, and I always recommend having a (decent and recent) guidebook available when planning. These days there are also lots of websites offering bits of information, and just deciding on which website to … More Top pilgrim tip: Planning websites
Today is Monday, and on Friday I am flying out to meet my friend B who is currently walking from her front door in Germany, through France and Spain to Santiago and Finisterre. I am only catching up to her in Cologne and walking with her for a week, but she has been on the … More Double jitters
I have friends who are always struggling to find the right shoes in the right size and width fittings (and I am so lucky to have found the Hoka Speedgoats) but for me it seems packs have always been an issue. It could be that I am tall, with a short back and broad shoulders … More Introducing Carrie
The time has come. The kit box has been lifted onto the table and rummaged through, and two things hit me: I am so underprepared for this walk. These walks. I need to find my smallest and most lightweight things. And: This is a mess. How am I going to find anything small and lightweight … More Packing up and counting down
Somewhere Slowly 