19/03/2019
There is a widespread belief, without a true base but widely accepted, that tends to associate the Camino de Santiago as a heroic feat in which you have to suffer in order to overcome. And yes, certainly the idea sounds really romantic, but actually, it is not so.
Suffering on the Camino de Santiago does not lie in surmounting the mishaps in blood, sweat and tears until you reach victorious the Plaza del Obradoiro hailed by the crowds. No. It is something more… mundane. Suffering on the Camino de Santiago has to do with blisters making your life sour (and also the trip itself), feeling exhausted with a huge back pain after carrying a huge backpack for days, arriving tired at the end of the stage and going mad to find a place where to sleep, getting up earlier than ever, setting up the alarm two or three hours ahead of a normal working day and ending your itinerary with panda eyes, sleeping (or not sleeping) in the same room with another twenty people whom ten of them snore, five make noise and four smell badly…
Peace: to conquer you do not need to suffer. Not necessarily. If you have already completed this millenary route at some point and you already own the Compostela certificate, then you know what we are talking about. If you are planning to do it for the first time, then trust us, we are true experts. Word of Galician Roots: definitely in order to win you do not need to suffer. We must dismiss this idea and stop thinking that it only consists of burning the stages and completing the route. It is an experience that offers many possibilities (tourism, culture, gastronomy, leisure, trips…) and it is really worth enjoying it to the fullest, each in a particular way. Also from the comfort and the serenity of putting ourselves in professional hands (travel agencies of the Camino de Santiago) who can help us plan the trip and can help us make the most of our experience and our days as pilgrims. Why not? This option is as acceptable and meritorious as if we do it on our own. There are as many paths and ways to complete these as pilgrims exist.
Yet the truth is that either for a commodity, lack of time or ignorance, the Camino de Santiago organised is a choice increasingly extended between pilgrims embarking on this adventure. Often we do not even have time to plan next day’s meal however we are convinced that we will have time to plan the Camino de Santiago and organise properly a trip of at least 7 days on our own where we have to take your house in a backpack, comply times and book six different accommodations in six different places while other 700 people are trying to do it at the same time.
Walking the Camino de Santiago organised by a travel agency offers many advantages, especially regarding the accommodations. We have to keep in mind that they are professionals and they know the best accommodations along the Camino de Santiago. They can offer these accommodations to you. Furthermore, a world of possibilities opens up beyond the typical hostel with bunk beds where snores, alarms and noise wake us up constantly and dos not allow us to sleep well. Hotels and country houses with rooms with ensuite facilities, a comfortable mattress and all the silence of the night will ensure a restful sleep. Besides, having the accommodations booked in advance, you can enjoy better the itinerary and make the necessary stops and arrive at any time since you won’t have to worry if there is a place where to sleep at the end of the stage.
Another advantage is the luggage service transfer, something that is much appreciated as we add stages. For many this may seem an aberration that goes against the essence of the Camino, but for others, it is a great relief. The truth is that carrying a backpack between 6 and 8 kilos for 20 or 30 kilometres per day does not sound really appealing especially if you are not used to carrying weight and you risk to suffer a back injury due to the excess of physical effort. Leaving your backpack at the reception of your hotel in the early morning and finding it at your next accommodation when you arrive is particularly pleasing and it will not detract an iota of merit in any way to our experience as pilgrims. We must insist: in order to overcome you do not need to suffer and all the ways of completing the Camino de Santiago are valid, as are the several motivation that spurs us to complete it: following your faith, fulfilling a promise, knowing other people or simply doing sport.
On our way to Compostela, a mishap can occur at any time. Having a phone where to call in case of need, either for health issues or to solve any doubt about the itinerary, provides a safety buffer. This is another advantage of doing our Camino de Santiago with a travel agency; knowing that you are always assisted when you need it. At this point, we need to keep in mind that not all the itineraries have the same amount of services, people and towns as the French Way which is the most travelled path. The Primitive Way, for example, that goes from Oviedo to Santiago passing through Lugo, is one of the less travelled paths and part of the itinerary goes by nature. We will not find towns often and besides, you could complete a stage without meeting any other people. In these cases, we always recommend being assisted by a travel agency that is ready to help and always available on the other end of the phone.
But let’s think about the best things that can offer us the Camino de Santiago, who are many! If you really want to take advantage of your stay in Galicia, you cannot only walk. You have to visit the most emblematic sites of our geography, enjoy our cuisine, make leisure activities, wine vacation, take excursions… whatever you like! Organising a trip of these characteristics from scratch can be tough, this is why more and more people decide to turn to travel agencies specialised on the Camino de Santiago, which does not mean that you have to adapt to what they offer. On the contrary, they listen to your needs. At least this is how we conceive it at Galician Roots where we always adapt to your preferences: where you want to start, the distance of the stages, the type of accommodation, luggage transfer, transfers, special dinners with traditional Galician music and “queimada”, massages, and much more… We are great enthusiasts of the Camino de Santiago and we know to plan a customised tour!
Suffering on the Camino de Santiago does not lie in surmounting the mishaps in blood, sweat and tears until you reach victorious the Plaza del Obradoiro hailed by the crowds. No. It is something more… mundane. Suffering on the Camino de Santiago has to do with blisters making your life sour (and also the trip itself), feeling exhausted with a huge back pain after carrying a huge backpack for days, arriving tired at the end of the stage and going mad to find a place where to sleep, getting up earlier than ever, setting up the alarm two or three hours ahead of a normal working day and ending your itinerary with panda eyes, sleeping (or not sleeping) in the same room with another twenty people whom ten of them snore, five make noise and four smell badly…
Peace: to conquer you do not need to suffer. Not necessarily. If you have already completed this millenary route at some point and you already own the Compostela certificate, then you know what we are talking about. If you are planning to do it for the first time, then trust us, we are true experts. Word of Galician Roots: definitely in order to win you do not need to suffer. We must dismiss this idea and stop thinking that it only consists of burning the stages and completing the route. It is an experience that offers many possibilities (tourism, culture, gastronomy, leisure, trips…) and it is really worth enjoying it to the fullest, each in a particular way. Also from the comfort and the serenity of putting ourselves in professional hands (travel agencies of the Camino de Santiago) who can help us plan the trip and can help us make the most of our experience and our days as pilgrims. Why not? This option is as acceptable and meritorious as if we do it on our own. There are as many paths and ways to complete these as pilgrims exist.
Yet the truth is that either for a commodity, lack of time or ignorance, the Camino de Santiago organised is a choice increasingly extended between pilgrims embarking on this adventure. Often we do not even have time to plan next day’s meal however we are convinced that we will have time to plan the Camino de Santiago and organise properly a trip of at least 7 days on our own where we have to take your house in a backpack, comply times and book six different accommodations in six different places while other 700 people are trying to do it at the same time.
Walking the Camino de Santiago organised by a travel agency offers many advantages, especially regarding the accommodations. We have to keep in mind that they are professionals and they know the best accommodations along the Camino de Santiago. They can offer these accommodations to you. Furthermore, a world of possibilities opens up beyond the typical hostel with bunk beds where snores, alarms and noise wake us up constantly and dos not allow us to sleep well. Hotels and country houses with rooms with ensuite facilities, a comfortable mattress and all the silence of the night will ensure a restful sleep. Besides, having the accommodations booked in advance, you can enjoy better the itinerary and make the necessary stops and arrive at any time since you won’t have to worry if there is a place where to sleep at the end of the stage.
Another advantage is the luggage service transfer, something that is much appreciated as we add stages. For many this may seem an aberration that goes against the essence of the Camino, but for others, it is a great relief. The truth is that carrying a backpack between 6 and 8 kilos for 20 or 30 kilometres per day does not sound really appealing especially if you are not used to carrying weight and you risk to suffer a back injury due to the excess of physical effort. Leaving your backpack at the reception of your hotel in the early morning and finding it at your next accommodation when you arrive is particularly pleasing and it will not detract an iota of merit in any way to our experience as pilgrims. We must insist: in order to overcome you do not need to suffer and all the ways of completing the Camino de Santiago are valid, as are the several motivation that spurs us to complete it: following your faith, fulfilling a promise, knowing other people or simply doing sport.
On our way to Compostela, a mishap can occur at any time. Having a phone where to call in case of need, either for health issues or to solve any doubt about the itinerary, provides a safety buffer. This is another advantage of doing our Camino de Santiago with a travel agency; knowing that you are always assisted when you need it. At this point, we need to keep in mind that not all the itineraries have the same amount of services, people and towns as the French Way which is the most travelled path. The Primitive Way, for example, that goes from Oviedo to Santiago passing through Lugo, is one of the less travelled paths and part of the itinerary goes by nature. We will not find towns often and besides, you could complete a stage without meeting any other people. In these cases, we always recommend being assisted by a travel agency that is ready to help and always available on the other end of the phone.
But let’s think about the best things that can offer us the Camino de Santiago, who are many! If you really want to take advantage of your stay in Galicia, you cannot only walk. You have to visit the most emblematic sites of our geography, enjoy our cuisine, make leisure activities, wine vacation, take excursions… whatever you like! Organising a trip of these characteristics from scratch can be tough, this is why more and more people decide to turn to travel agencies specialised on the Camino de Santiago, which does not mean that you have to adapt to what they offer. On the contrary, they listen to your needs. At least this is how we conceive it at Galician Roots where we always adapt to your preferences: where you want to start, the distance of the stages, the type of accommodation, luggage transfer, transfers, special dinners with traditional Galician music and “queimada”, massages, and much more… We are great enthusiasts of the Camino de Santiago and we know to plan a customised tour!
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