It’s been exactly one month since I walked my first Camino. To be honest, I had no
clue what I was doing. I had just heard about it, watched a few YouTube videos, and
decided to go for it. So, full of excitement, I started packing my backpack, just ten
hours before my flight. Confession: I always pack last minute. I’m learning (slowly)
that it’s not the best idea.
I didn’t really have a map or an app, but I knew the Camino was marked with yellow
arrows and I could follow other pilgrims. Fair enough. But then reality hit as soon es
as I started. I packed way too much stuff and I don’t really know the direction.
When I got to the first pilgrim campsite, I was exhausted. My backpack was way too
heavy 11 kg! No chance I could carry that for days. That same night, I emptied out
all my stuff and reflected if I truly need all this stuff. Did I really need a fourth towel?
Five T-shirts? Nope.
One thing I learned on the Camino is that we don’t need much to be happy. I know, it
sounds like one of those clichés from self-help books, but it’s true, I learned it. After
sorting everything, I got my pack down to 8 kg: three T-shirts, two pants, a sleeping
bag, and just the essentials for hygiene. Every pilgrim hostel has a washing machine
and dryer, so it’s easy to do laundry every two or three days.
So please, learn from my mistake and pack light. There are plenty of shops along the
way. But if you’re walking the coastal Camino in Galicia, be ready,there are way
fewer supermarkets than in Portugal.
On my way to Viana do Castelo, I stopped at a pilgrim café and met two kind fellow
travelers. I asked if I could take a picture of their map, but instead, they told me about
the Gronze Maps app. Game changer. It’s free and has the full Camino
itinerary, though only in Spanish. It shows all pilgrim hostels and even divides the
route into stages, marking the difficulty of each. Super helpful.
Other apps I found useful: Camino Ninja and Buen Camino. Before meeting those
Spanish pilgrims, finding my way was tough , Google Maps does not show the
Camino route. If you’re going, take some time to plan. Think about where you want to
stop each day, what destinations you want to reach. But don’t over-plan, leave room
for the adventure!
A pilgrim once told me, "Trust the Camino, it will give you the answers you’re looking
for, or the opportunities you need." And honestly? I believe it.
So Buen Camino to all Pilgirms
Lisbongirl
