Welcome back! I hope you are enjoying this series and your memory is being refreshed! It certainly is helpful for me and interesting to see the many different types of accommodation being provided since I started walking way back in 2011. Hopefully, this won’t be the last “TATW” post of 2019 as I am on…
Author: David Smith
My name is David, and I live in Dublin. I discovered the Camino de Santiago in 2011. Since then, I return to the north of Spain to walk a part of this amazing trail, to take in its culture, to meet people and of course, give my spirit some food for thought.
The Camino de Santiago is a pilgrimage but in my eyes, it is also a challenge, a way of meeting people and a great way of getting away from the hustle and bustle of modern day life.
The main Camino is the Camino Frances; an ancient trail covering 800km across Spain starting in St Jean Pied de Port in the foothills of France and ending in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia.
I love writing and talking about the various Caminos to Santiago and if you are one of the many people who has walked these routes, you may well feel the same.
This isn’t a travel website as I don’t get travel to other countries but I hope my talking about my times on the Camino helps you as you plan for yours.
Feel free to browse and “like” any of my posts and if you have any questions, please feel free to comment.
I wrote about my first Camino in 2012 when I walked from Astorga to Sarria. The following year was very much a social experiment and I met people from all over the globe walking from Logrono to Leon. I walked the Camino Portuguese for the first time in 2018 with my brother. And I’m far from done!
As well as this blog, ClearskiesCamino has a presence on Facebook. This group is filled with other pilgrims, some who have only just returned from Santiago, while others are in the planning stage. If you like this blog, and you want to interact with other pilgrims, we’d love to see you over there.
You can find me on Instagram @clearskiescamino also and I use this account the most while on Camino.
Weekend Watch #61 – Miriam from Germany
Another video from the Camino Frances, this time from Miriam from Germany. She recently enjoyed a September Camino and had a ball. You can watch her YouTube channel where she gets to grips with life after the Camino! I love this video, I hope you do too!
Towns Along The Way – “E”
The next letter on the “Towns Along the Way” series is “E”, as there are no towns starting with “D” (I dare you to look!). There aren’t too many so here goes…working towards Santiago. Espinal (map) Espinal is a typical Basque village and one of the first you will encounter after leaving Roncesvalles. At this…
The right shoes for your Camino.
I need to buy a new pair of shoes soon as my current pair are a little run down. I embark on the Kerry Camino in May. And there is no better place for hiking shoes/boots than the Great Outdoors on Dublin’s George’s Street. I usually buy shoes at the start of the year and…
Towns Along The Way – “C”
And with B over, we are on to the 3rd chapter…. There are loads of towns beginning with C, it must be a Spanish thing! I have only stayed in two of these towns myself, so this may be the perfect chance for me to learn something about them, as well as pass on some…
The Camino Podcast – Re-walking the Camino
Hi folks. If you are planning your Camino, the information you receive from people who have walked the Camino previously can be more valuable than the information you find in guide books. So the following may prove valuable to you. I came across a podcast owned by Dave Whitson from Portland, Oregon, called “The Camino…
Towns Along The Way – “B”
This second installment of the “Towns Along the Way” series brings us to “B”. There are a wealth of towns starting with “B” so I might as well start by talking about them. I would be interested to hear from anyone who has stayed in any of the below towns. What have your experiences been?…
Towns along the Way – “A”
While I am mid-Camino Portugués, I just want to switch back to the Camino Francés for the purpose of this series. This was the first Camino I walked and I’m sure it was the first most of you walked too. It will always hold a special place in my heart. Did you know that there…
Weekend Watch #60 – Christmas Ideas for a Pilgrim
So it’s that time of year. If you are a pilgrim or you have a friend or family member who is a long-distance walker or pilgrim, this video may be helpful. For me, a few small items or a voucher for an outdoor store means more than splashing out on anything I won’t use. This…
Some more walking while the evenings get darker..
It’s that time of year… I’ve seen the first Christmas trees. The advertisements have been playing on radio and TV for the last few months and people have started to get in to that frame of mind. Christmas! Of course, my mind is a million miles away and I’d rather be following arrows than making…