Check out the latest version of the Camino Pilgrim Android app -- now Ver 1.3.1!

Update: June 26, 2014  Version 1.4.0 is now available!

Really cool new feature!!! Share your location-- email, sms, share your exact coordinates (and address if location services are available) to your family and friends with Camino Pilgrim App.  Information links for useful tips such as budget, packing list for the Camino.  An option to donate to help me in my work. :-)
 

Update: June 1, 2014  Version 1.3.1 is now available!

This new update contains improved layouts and more stable offline map handling. Please check it out at Camino Pilgrim at the Google Play Store.

Below is an example of the Offline Maps using Mapsforge - Offline Maps.  With this option, you can browse a map of the Camino on your smartphone even without an internet connection/wifi!   The red line on the map is a simplified version of the Camino Trail to serve as a guide. When in doubt, remember to just follow the yellow arrows! The markers show the localities/towns along the way. If you click on the round/bullseye icon, your location will be displayed with a hiker icon, so you know where you are. (Screenshot from a 7" tablet)

Here is an example of the Offline Map for a chosen Lodging in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. (Screenshot from a 7" tablet)

To set the Offline maps option, go to Settings and Download offline map.  Below is a screenshot of the Settings screen.  Set Map Type to Mapsforge - Offline then choose Download Offline Maps. (Screenshot from a Phone)

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I've just uploaded a new version of the Camino Pilgrim Android app -- Version 1.30 -- to the Google Playstore . This one has German translations and a hiker icon to display your location in offline maps -- a bigger icon, as suggested by Misha, who sent feedback to me via the Camino Pilgrim App.  Previously, I increased the font sizes on the offline maps, providing more readable output. I believe having offline maps is pretty useful on the Camino. Honestly though, nothing beats following the yellow arrows!

One feature that I hope people use in the app is the option to create your own itinerary or schedule based on some basic itineraries that are provided. Please make sure to use this feature -- check out the Camino Pilgrim tutorial at the Camino Pilgrim App Blog site -- see Camino Pilgrim App Tutorial.

I have had a few people write me to thank me for developing the app and providing it for free. Thank you very much for your emails and feedback! It makes me very happy to hear from you, and imagining people using my app as they walk on the Camino everyday, as David from Australia wrote, really makes my day!

I have also received updates on albergue information (changed prices) and new albergues. I am compiling them and will update these on the next version -- please keep those updates coming. 

So to all those walking on the Camino de Santiago -- I am sure today must be a beautiful sunny spiritual soul-filling heart-opening day!

Buen Camino!!!

Pinay Pilgrim's Camino de Santiago Packing List

Pinay Pilgrim's Camino de Santiago Packing List

Item	Quantity	Description
Equipment
Backpack	1	30 liters volume or more, lightweight with good suspension, hip belt and sternum strap. Try out with at least an 8 kg load at the shop before buying. I used the Deuter ACT Trail 28. Check out Deuter, Osprey packs.
Pack raincover	1	Preferably integrated into backpack.  It rains quite a bit.
Water bladder	1	1.5 - 2 liters, should fit in backpack.  Easier to sip water while walking. i.e. Platypus, Camelbak
Drybag	1	12 liters or more, waterproof, and with compression valve.  Put your clothes inside to keep dry, and compress (take out air) for a compact package during your hike. This can also be used as a pillow. i.e. Ortlieb, Sea to Summit
Hiking boots/Trail shoes	1	Well-broken in, Goretex, preferably with ankle-support, i.e. Lowe (boots), Salomon (trail shoes)
Small knife	1	Lightweight #4 Opinel (can be bought in France/Spain) or basic Swiss knife. For cutting cheese, ham, bread
Spork	1	Integrated spoon/fork for light weight
Folding mug	1	Lightweight plastic, available at camping stores
Nalgene bottle	1	500 ml bottle, aside from water bladder in backpack, for fast filling in fountains along the way. Can double as hot-water bottle
Travel towel	1	Small and lightweight, fast-drying. i.e. Sea to Summit
Sleeping bag/Bed liner	1	Preferably bring a sleeping bag, specially for cold weather - very light weight (i.e. light down fill weighing less than a kilo);  Lighter bedliner/sleeping sack for warmer season
Headlamp	1	Choose a small and light headlamp. Very useful for going to the washroom at night!  i.e. Petzl, Black Diamond
Whistle	1	For emergency
Small tweezers	1	From Swiss knife
Tying rope	1	About 2 - 3 meters, for making clothesline or tying on stuff to your pack
Clothes
Hiking pants	1	Comfortably loose, with belt, as you may lose some weight. Sturdy, non-cotton, synthetic polyester material for easy washing, drying. Preferably with zip-off pants so you can also use as shorts i.e. North Face, Mammut, Marmot
Extra Lightweight Pants	1	To change into, very lightweight easy washing material
Long sleeve top	1	In cold weather, to use when hiking as another layer. Nice if light wool/woolblend with zip-up top, that stays warm even when wet, and dries fast. i.e Icebreaker, Smartwool, Odlo
Short sleeve tops/Tech shirts	3 -4	One for hiking and two or three extra changes.  Lightweight, quick-drying, i.e. I used Icebreaker 150 merino wool tops -- they were great for cold and even warm weather
Light Wool bottoms	1	Only in cool to cold weather, to use under hiking pants as another layer. Nice if light wool/woolblend, that stays warm even when wet, and dries fast. i.e Icebreaker, Smartwool, Odlo
Extra lightweight shorts or light cotton dress (for ladies)	1	For walking around once you get to hostel, for sleeping, and for changing into from your shower.
Sleepwear	1 set	(For cold weather) I used light wool thermals, top and bottom. For warmer weather, just use the extra short sleeve top and the lightweight shorts
Sports bra (for ladies)	2	(For ladies only) One for hiking, and an extra one to change into when the other one is washed. Dryfit/quickdry material.
Underpants	4	Lightweight, polyester, quick-drying.
Hiking socks	3 - 48	One for hiking and two to three extra changes. Socks should be washed everyday to prevent blisters. One to double as a sleepsock in cold weather.  Wool socks preferable. i.e. Icebreaker, Smartwool, Woolpower
Sports Sandals	1	Lightweight and supportive sandals, to change into, shower with and walk around with (to rest your feet) when you arrive in the hostels, and in a pinch, to use for hiking. i.e. Teva or Crocs
Fleece sweater	1	For cool to cold weather, pullover with zip top to save on weight. I used a relatively thin fleece and added layers when it got too cold, i.e. Odlo
Lightweight gloves	1	Lightweight and warmth retaining, wool or polypropylene
Lightweight skullcap	1	For cool to cold weather, wool or polypropylene material. i.e. Odlo
Hiking hat	1	For sun and rain. Sun can be extremely strong, and it rains pretty hard too, so it's nice to have a waterproof or Goretex hat. i.e. Outdoor Research
Rainjacket	1	Very important piece of clothing.  Choose a lightweight Goretex. i.e. North Face, Marmot, Arcteryx
Rainpants	1	Choose a lightweight Goretex. i.e. Montrail, Marmot
Windbreaker	1	Lightweight and easily packable, i.e. Arcteryx, Marmot.  Use with light wind, and layer under rainjacket when cold
Buff or scarf	1 - 2	Use a Buff scarf, very useful to cover head, neck
Sunglasses	1	Important for strong Spanish sun
Reading glasses, small screwdriver	1	Bring if needed
Important Stuff
Money Belt/ Fanny Pack	1	To hold important stuff that needs to be accessible, i.e. cash, credit cards, passport, cellphone, medicines for the day (I always have arnica globules), sunglasses, reading glasses, comb. Make sure it is waterproof, or put things in ziplocs. I also bring this when I shower (or put them in another stuffsack). Find a sturdy fanny pack.  The zipper of mine broke so I stuffed most of my things in my pockets or my money belt
Passport, Residence Card (and photocopies)	1	Put photocopies in your backpack, store soft copies/pdfs in your smartphone
Health Insurance card	1
Cash		Bring enough, you can also withdraw along the way. Always have some cash, as not too many places accept credit cards.
Debit/Credit Card	1	There are ATMs in bigger cities where you can withdraw cash
Cellphone and charger with EU plug adapter	1	A smartphone is great to have, although you need to charge everyday. I sometimes charge my phone at lunch stops. Do not leave your phone as it is charging, as there have been cases of lost phones. I did not bring a camera and used my smartphone for taking photos, and uploading my blog to the internet.  I have seen pilgrims with extra power packs/batteries, and I would bring one next time (as they are quite lightweight now).
Journal/Notebook	1	Very light/small. To write emergency numbers/contacts and other scribbles.
Pen/Pencil	1
Travel Documents	1	Booking certificates, train and flight tickets
Guide to the Camino (app on your smartphone, printouts, or a guidebook	1	Load a camino app into your smartphone if you are bringing one! Check out my Android App Camino Pilgrim! :-)  You can create your own schedule, check out facilities in localities, albergues and look at their location on offline maps (even when there is no wifi).  You can also bring printouts of itinerary, distances, hike profile, list of albergues), or bring a guidebook. Refer: Guides, Books and Apps for the Camino. If you do bring a book, make sure it is lightweight!
Pilgrim Passport	1	You should have one to be able to stay in pilgrim albergues! Get this from one of the bigger towns on the Camino, i.e. Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Roncesvalles, Pamplona, Burgos...
Pilgrim Shell	1	Nice to have to show you are a pilgrim. I made one for myself and my sister from a scallop. I bought 2 big Jakobsmuscheln, cooked and ate them -- yum! -- dried the shells, drilled 2 holes along the hinge part and put a string through it. You can also find them for free ( I saw them at the St Jean-Pied-de-Port pilgrim office), or for sale in albergues along the way.
Toiletries
Toiletries organizer	1	Important to organize your toiletries. Find a lightweight organizer, with mesh pockets, a little mirror and a hook for hanging. i.e. Eagle Creek, Deuter. I also put my medical kit in here.
Deodorant	1	50 ml in a plastic bottle is enough for one month
Toothbrush and toothpaste	1	Bring a 75 - 100 ml toothpaste tube, you can buy along the way
Moisturizer	1	50 ml/50 g in a plastic tube, should be enough for a month, for your face
Sunscreen	1	Small plastic tube, can buy refills along the way
Soap	1	In a soap case, or if liquid, in a 100 ml refillable plastic bottle
Shampoo	1	In a 100 ml refillable plastic bottle, refill along way
Comb	1	Small
Lip Balm	1	For chapped lips
Soap	1	In a soap case, or if liquid, in a 100 ml refillable plastic bottle
Nailclipper	1	Small
Toilet Paper	1	Half a roll for emergency (remove inner cardboard part). Usually, hostels have them in supply
Sanitary napkins	1	(for ladies) If necessary
Hand Tissues	1
Earbuds	1 pack	Enough for the hike
Laundry soap	1	If liquid, in 100 ml refillable bottle or a small pouch of detergent for daily washing. At some hostels, when you use the washing machines, they provide some detergent
Medical Kit
Blister tape	1 pack	i.e. Compeed is best, you can buy these in pharmacies along the way. Compeed also has a blister stick which some people use to prevent blisters
Foot ointments/Muscle pain ointments	1	50-100 ml tube i.e. Voltaren gel, Hirschtalg/Milchfett (in Germany). I used these quite a bit to relieve painful feet at the end of the day, and to prevent blisters/pain at the start of the day. See also my blog entry on:  Caring for your feet and Legs during the Camino
Ibuprofen	6 pcs	For aches and pains. i.e. Voltaren, Alvedon. Use sparingly as it is not so good for the liver.  I also brought Arnica globules (homeopathic medicine from Germany) to relieve pain and swelling
Paracetamol	6 pcs	For fevers and pains. i.e. Biogesic, Tylenol, Advil
Antibiotics	21 pcs	For infection, one cycle is 3 times a day for 7 days, use only for emergency. I used them when I had cough, colds that did not go away for 5 days.  Always finish the cycle of 21 tablets.
Antihistamine	4 pcs	For allergies
Diarrhea medicine	4 pcs	For diarrhea
Betadine/Iodine	1	Small plastic bottle, about 15 ml. For external use, for cleaning and disinfecting blisters, wounds
Cotton	1	Just a few cotton balls, store in a little plastic bag
Katinko/Anti-itch cream	1	Bring a small pack of pain and itch relieving, mentholated cream. i.e. Katinko, Vicks
Bandaid	6 pcs	For wounds
Special Medicines		Bring any/all special medicines you may need as they may not always be available on the way. i.e. Asthma medicines, blood pressure maintenance doses, etc
Vitamins		Bring enough of the vitamins you need. Vitamin C always useful (repack in small plastic bags)
Oral Rehydration Tablets/Salts	2	Used as fluid replacement for dehydration, after bout of diarrhea/vomiting. Can also be made with one teaspoon of salt and six teaspoons of sugar added to one liter of water
Miscellaneous Items
Sewing kit	1	Needles, thread, buttons, i.e. bring one they provide in hotels
Safety pins	6	For pinning wet clothes to backpack to dry
Earplugs	1	Important! For noisy nights in albergues, to be able to sleep.
Extra ziploc bags	4 - 6	For all sorts of uses
Food to bring along way
Energy bars	2	Bring along a few
Dried fruits and nuts	1 pack	Bring some, then buy along way
Bread, hams, cheese	1	You can buy food along the way for quick and fast lunches/snacks along the way.
Chocolate bars	1	For energy, bring some, then buy along way
Other Items you may want to bring (not necessary)
Walking poles	1 set	If you need extra support for walking. I used them but discarded them later. Note that this is not allowed as cabin baggage for airlines
Camera	1	A smartphone does the trick, others may prefer a small camera or even an SLR
Rain Poncho	1	I preferred to use a rainjacket/rainpants combination (which also doubles as cold weather gear for me) and a raincover for my backpack, but others prefer to also bring a poncho for the rain and to cover their packs. I noticed that when the wind blows, people have a hard time with their ponchos. Because of the wind, it is not a good idea to use an umbrella for the rain.

Fully-packed Backpacks

The list above contains all the things I brought with me for a 35-day Camino during Spring (March-April), with temperatures from 5 to 15 degrees Celsius. I used each single piece I brought!  The only things I added were an extra pair of shorts for sleeping and one walking pole that I bought halfway through but discarded later.  I weighed each piece I brought (with a kitchen scale).  When I started, my backpack without water weighed about 4 - 5 kilos, and with water and food, about 7 - 8 kilos. My weight then was about 55 kilos and I had lost 5 kilos by the end of the Camino and felt great!  Also refer to how I planned my packing at What to bring to the Camino?  A Packing List for the Camino de Santiago.  My pack also was acceptable as cabin baggage (note that per EU air regulations, a knife with not more than a 6 cm blade is accepted as hand luggage so the Opinel #4 was okay). You can also very easily buy this folding knife or a similar one in France/Spain then just leave it, as it does not cost much.

Remember that for a comfortable Camino, the total weight of backpack and contents should not be more than 10% of your body weight. Choose the most functional and lightweight equipment. A comfortable broken-in pair of hiking boots or trail shoes is very important for a enjoyable hike, together with good socks.  In the list above, I noted the brands of the gear I brought.  Test them all out before you go. Pack your backpack and hike a few kilometers with what you plan to wear -- you will be bringing this pack for 800 kms so make sure each piece counts.

When cold, use layering -- noted here from the inside/closest to the body going outward (top: short sleeve tech shirt, longsleeve wool, fleece jacket, windbreaker, rainjacket; bottom: wool thermals/bottoms, hiking pants, rainpants; buff scarf, fleece cap and mittens). These layers were enough for me up to 3 degrees, even snow, and I generally always feel cold! :-) The extra changes were used when my clothes got wet during rains - it rains quite a lot in spring.  Make sure you keep your extra clothes in your pack dry with a drybag or plastic bags.

You should have a basic medical kit with you as specified in the packing list above, but you can resupply at pharmacies available in bigger towns along the way. Remove all unnecessary packaging to minimize weight.

Good luck and Buen Camino!

My Camino Pilgrim Android app in Google Play Store

I finally finished my Android app!!! It's called Camino Pilgrim, it's free, and it is now available in the Google Play Store here Camino Pilgrim App on Google Play Store.

I decided to make an app after my own trip on the Camino de Santiago.  While planning for the trip, I had a hard time fixing and finalizing a schedule.  During the trip, I was worrying about places to stay and facilities available. I was also always wondering what town I was in and how far to the next town.

Hopefully, this app will answer those issues.  I will also put this same page on the app website linked here: Camino Pilgrim App Blog.

I have provided some sample itineraries in the app of 31, 32, 34 and 35 days (from my own trip here, adding the Muxia leg, as this was my original plan, except I did not have the extra day that time).  You can make your own schedule based on any of these itineraries -- add a rest day, combine 2 days, insert an in-between day, add an extra day.  Using the base itineraries or your own itinerary, you can look at the localities or towns that you will pass by and approximate distances to there. You can check out the lodgings at a town, together with information such as costs, beds, opening times and seasons, and even see it in a map in relation to where you are.

Here are some screenshots, but the best thing is to try it out yourself, and let me know how it goes.

Here is the main page, showing a sample itinerary:

Here are the itineraries you can choose from, by clicking on the spinner:

Here is how you create your own itinerary based on one of the system-provided itineraries. You need to click on the Hiker with the + sign. You may also specify your start date and a schedule will automatically be created for you:

Here is how you edit the itinerary. You can just long-click on each of the items, in this case, the itinerary stages:

Then you will have your own itinerary and schedule with the dates of your trip!

If you need to know more about your locality stops of your Itinerary/Schedule day. The next screen shows that:

Clicking on the Map icon (the globe icon) shows you the locality stops in the stage. Clicking on the Overlay Camino Trail (the route icon), will put a simplified version of the Camino Frances route over the map. Clicking on the Show my location (the direction icon) will show you where you are if you have the GPS enabled (even if you are not yet on the Camino :-) ).

And clicking on a locality will show you the lodgings available.

Clicking on the Map (the globe icon) or clicking on one of the Lodging names (i.e. Refuge Municipal) will display a map with the available lodgings in the locality.  If you clicked on the lodging name, it will be shown in orange as in the screenshot below:

I tried to make the app as intuitive as I could. You can also change the settings such as the default itinerary name (defaulted to "Camino Pilgrim"),  the default Measurement units (defaulted to "metric") and the default map (defaulted to "Google Maps Online"). You do this by clicking on Settings (click the 3 dots on the lower right hand side):

Please note that showing the online maps requires a data connection. If you are using your phone, it may use up your bandwidth.  Please remember to turn OFF mobile data on your phone if you do not want to use it! Maps take up a lot of data. This can be done in Android by choosing Settings, going to Mobile tag, then setting Mobile data OFF.

You may use any of three map types: Google Maps online, OpenStreetMap online and OpenStreet offline.  If you want to use the offline option -- what I suggest is that while you are in a place with wifi, browse over the map sections you will need to use. This caches the particular map data on your phone and will show the map sections even if you are offline (note that even if you choose this option but you have data roaming on, the online maps will be downloaded, so again, please remember to turn OFF mobile data on your phone!)

Ok then, I think this is enough to get you started.  Have fun and Buen Camino!

Camino de Santiago Map with Elevation Profile

Here is a new web map I made using the ArcGis mapping application.  It shows the elevation profile of the Camino Frances route of the Camino de Santiago together with some waypoints.  http://www.arcgis.com/apps/ElevationsProfile/index.html?appid=59e116acfc7542a6972e562773af7bc5.  The gpx file with the track and way points are courtesy of Peter Schloefell: http://www.afotc.org/index.php/2012-06-14-03-41-46/camino-frances-gps.

It might take some time to load up, but be patient. Zoom in to the portion you want to see, then click on the track. When it becomes blue, the elevation profile will show up.

Camino de Santiago Map with Elevation Profile

Budget for the Camino de Santiago

One of the very first things you need to consider when you plan your Camino de Santiago, is to determine how much you need to budget for the walk.  I was just asked this question and I remember that this was also one of the first things I needed to think about. I hope to answer that in this blog post.

Basically, once you are at the start of the Camino, and you have all your equipment with you, and plan to walk the entire way, then your costs will only be for lodging and food, and maybe washing/drying if you do not want to do laundry by hand.

Lodging

On the Camino Frances, lodging costs run from 5 to 10 euros a day if you are planning to stay in the municipal albergues, or from 8 to 15 euros if you stay at a private hostel.

Maybe twice during the walk, we splurged on a double room for about 20-25 euros each. Some albergues are actually donativos, or by donation, in which case you can donate whatever you want.  I believe one should always donate something, at the very least from 5 to 15 euros or more, and do it once you step in the door, as you might forget before you leave.  The municipal albergues usually have bunk beds (in some like Viana and Villadangos de Paramo, even triple bunk beds) in big halls shared with a number of people, so you have to remember to bring earplugs as it can be quite difficult to sleep at night.  Generally, though, it is lights out at 10 pm and there is a curfew also around that time, so you will sleep quite well after a day's walk.  I had no problems at all with any of the municipal albergues I stayed in.  I remember them all as quite clean and the beds comfortable.  Once in a while, though, you may want a bit more quiet and space, so you stay at a private hostel.  It may be a little more expensive, from 8 to 15 euros but sometimes there are less people to a room.  I remember though, that the municipal albergue in Ponferrada was a donativo, and there were only 4 to a room.  By the way, some albergues may not have heating. This will matter in the cold weather. We traveled in spring, with temperatures from 5 to 10 degrees Celsius.  I had a light down sleeping bag and wool sleepwear, so I was quite warm even in the albergues with no heating.  Usually they have wool blankets that you can use, so I put one or even two if available, over my sleeping bag.

Food and Water

In terms of food, you can make do with from 10 - 25 euros a day, depending on if you prepare the food yourself or eat out.

Sometimes, the bed cost also includes a simple breakfast, usually coffee, and bread with jam and butter, and once in a while, with some meats.  If the breakfast is not included, you can just stop at any cafe and get an espresso for 1 euro or a cafe con leche or milk coffee for 1.20 to 1.50 euros.  A croissant or pan neapolitana (chocolate croissant) would be about 1 euro. A set breakfast of bread, butter and jam, coffee would be around 4-6 euros. Once in a while, we would indulge in a full breakfast with bacon and eggs, coffee and a freshly squeezed orange juice and it would cost from 6 to 10.  Normally, we would just bring a picnic for lunch, such as a bocadillo, which you could buy from some stores (from 2.50 to 5 euros) or can make yourself for even less.  A bocadillo is actually a sandwich made from a baguette (50 cents to a euro) with different fillings of either meats (chorizos, ham) or even tortilla con patata (potato omelettes).

Spain coffee culture

Lots of restaurants usually offer a pilgrim meal for lunch and dinner which is a great deal for around 8 to 12 euros.  This would include a salad, a main course, a dessert and all the wine and/or water you can drink.  For lunch, though, this might be too much as you need to walk again, so sometimes, my sister and I would just share a pilgrim meal, or grab a bocadillo. During our walks, we would also oftentimes stop for a coffee or an Aquarius energy drink.  Usually, for dinner, we would have a pilgrim meal, allowing us to try out some of Spain's regional specialties, which are usually offered in this menu. This usually comes with wine, although you can also ask for a beer instead of the wine (which we sometimes did). Vegetarians also usually will have a choice in the pilgrim menu, or you can just ask them to leave out the meat.

In the Rioja region, starting from Logroño, there were a lot of places with tapas, or little plates of food, which I really love! The common ones that are quite filling are the tortillas de patata, callos (tripe stew with chickpeas), chorizos on bread and just about everything -- they're all good!  An order or one serving is called a pincho and would cost from 1.50 to 2 euros.  Three of these would be a meal for me.

You can make do with much less, if you just have a picnic for lunch and cook for dinner.  If the albergue has a kitchen, and you just buy food and cook -- then a meal of say, pasta or rice with eggs and sardines would cost less than 3 euros each! It is also a great chance to interact with other pilgrims. Sometimes, a group of pilgrims would plan, buy and share a meal with each other. Sometimes, I would join a group of pilgrims who would organize themselves and go out for dinner at a restaurant.  For my sister and I, we saw the walk also as a chance to try the local cuisine, so we tried the tapas and wine in the Riojan region like Logroño, the trucha (trout) in Roncesvalles, the cocido maragato (boiled meats) in the Astorga area, caldo gallego (cabbage soup) in Galicia,  pulpo (octupus) in Melide, and churros con chocolate and paella everywhere.   The food in Spain is great!

Tapas, tapas, tapas!!!

The meals I remember quite well were the ones shared with me by pilgrims, like the rice, tuna and egg with the Korean guys Edison, Jay and Tong in Puente la Reina, the shared communal meal in Tosantos caringly prepared by Jose Luis, the pasta given by Josef in Atapuerca when we were incredibly hungry. It was the act of breaking bread and sharing that added an extra flavor to the meal.  It is true that man does not live on bread alone.

If it might seem by now that all we did was eat on the Camino -- I think part of going to another country is enjoying its culture, and food is part of the culture.  So many of the foods in Spain, I recognize in the food of my own country, the Philippines, as we were colonized by Spain for more than 300 years.  Ferdinand Magellan landed in Mactan in the Philippines in 1521 and proceeded to "claim the islands for Spain" (how anyone can just come and claim a group of islands and people, I don't know!), and this lasted until June 12, 1898 when the Philippines and the Filipino people declared its independence from Spain. Anyway, this period of history lives on in our food, as well as in the Filipino language which is sprinkled with Spanish words (like kuchara, lamesa, baso -- related to eating again).

Spanish food

About water, we did not have to buy any bottled water.  We just filled up our water bottles and backpack bladder with water from the fountains/faucets along the way (as long as it says agua potable or potable water), and before leaving in the morning, filled up from the albergue kitchen tap water.  A beer and/or wine is also very reasonably priced, about 1-1.50 euro for a glass.  A bottle of a reasonable red wine at the grocery could cost maybe from 2-4 euros, but we just normally had wine which went with the pilgrim meal.

Laundry

At some point, you will need to wash your clothes.  Usually, albergues have a washing area.  It's easier if you have some washing liquid with you and handwash some clothes, which I did when I was walking alone.  Later, we would do laundry with my sister every few days or so at some albergues who had washing/drying facilities. This would cost from 3 to 6 euros for a load.  At several places, we paid from 6-9 euros and the albergue just took our clothes and it came back to us washed and dried. Wonderful!

In summary, it would be reasonable to allocate a daily budget in the Camino of about 30-40 Euros a day for lodging, meals and the occasional laundry. If you plan to stay only at the municipal lodgings and buy and cook your own food, then you can bring maybe 10 euros less. If you plan to stay once in a while at private hostels and take the occasional single/double room, then just add another 10-20 euros to this amount, or  budget of 40 to 50 euros/day.

I somehow think that any more luxury than that would really not feel like a pilgrim experience any more.

Interactive Story Map of my Camino de Santiago, Spring 2013

Here is an interactive story map on my Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, that I made for a maps course on corsera.org.  Below is the first page screenshot and a link.  This is a precursor to my planned Android app -- coming soon. Hope you enjoy the map!

Story map on Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage, Spring 2013

Updated Packing List for the Camino de Santiago

While planning for the camino, I compiled packing lists based on research I did on the internet.  I came up with a final list to bring in my blog post What to bring to the Camino/Packing List -- which I have updated with some other things I brought along.

Looking back, I am happy that I took the time to plan what to bring and I am glad to say that I brought exactly the right stuff for a late Spring (March-April) hike.  My 28 liter backpack was filled just right, with my total walking weight varying from 5 to 8 kilos.  Okay, I actually spent a lot of time weighing everything on a kitchen scale, shaving ounces here and there.  I also looked for the lightest weight stuff with maximum function that I could bring.  I found a 600 gram down sleeping bag that worked perfectly for me. Yes, you need less than what you think you need.  Remember that you will be carrying all these yourself.  There were a number of pilgrims who were leaving things behind as they walked along.  You can prevent that by just bringing what you need. And what you do not have usually you can buy or sometimes, as we found, the Camino provides.  (It seems now that, always, when I pack for a weekend trip, I bring 4 times as much as I brought on my month-long Camino!)

There was one thing that was not in my original packing list but added at the last minute.  It was an Ortlieb drybag (12 liters) with a compression valve.  This allowed me to just stuff all my clothes in one place and compress them so that they all fit in my small pack.  It was also great to have a toiletries bag so all of my toiletries were organized in one place.

Later during the walk, I bought a trekking pole which was helpful but maybe not totally necessary.  In fact, I forgot it at an albergue.  For those who have problems with their knees, though, I think that having trekking poles would be a good idea, as they help stabilize you, specially on downhill portions.  Just know how to use them right, otherwise, they will be more of a burden than a help to you.  (See: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/hiking_poles_technique.html.  I realized I was not using my trekking pole right when Joe commented about it.)

Other things that I should have brought more of, but in the end was able to buy along the way are the following: Voltaren gel for aches and pains, Melchfett/Hirschtalg ointments and Compeed blister stick and blister pads.  You must have noticed that the additional stuff are all for taking care of my feet. 

I left behind my Swiss knife because I just wanted to bring a handcarry on the plane.  I instead brought a small Opinel folding knife with a 6 cm blade which was acceptable on European flights.  It was really a great thing to have.  You can buy them in France or Spain and are just perfect for cutting cheese and bread and tomatoes for the picnics we had.

Here are just some other thoughts regarding packing and other things you may need.

1. Break in your shoes

As you probably read in every other packing list, the most important thing on your walk is your boots. Make sure they are comfortable and break them in.  I used Lowa Goretex leather boots for my walk and got a total of 2 blisters. I had some trouble at the start because I had made a last minute boot switch and was not able to break them in completely, but they were great.  I was happy with them because it was a bit cold during my walk, plus there was a lot of mud and rain. Others wore running shoes. One that I would consider using next time would be Salomon trail runners XA Pro 3d Ultra2 which was worn by some people and did not give them trouble.  This does not discount the small possibility that your shoes might suddenly disappear, which happened for my sister (I do not think this really happens often -- we were just lucky ???).  In this case, just hope there is a good shoe store where you are, and that the shoes you get will fit.

2. Care for your feet

As I walked the Camino, I realized how important it was to care for your feet and legs.  My sister and I massaged our calves and feet before sleeping.  Another tip I got from some other pilgrims is to lather on some ointment/salves on your feet before walking.  Maria, from Spain, used alcohol de Romero after which she used a Compeed blister stick on areas prone to blisters. The two Tinas shared with us something called Melchfett (I saw this only in Germany) and Hirschtalg (loosely translated as "deer tallow"). We used them and they were great.  Most times I also massaged Voltaren gel on my aching muscles. I also drank some little arnica homeopathic pills once in a while, which is supposed to bring down inflammation and swelling. The first few days I also drank some anti-inflammatory tablets -- I am not sure they are such a good idea as they may cause some side effects and overtax some organs. I think I would not do that next time but instead just remember to massage my legs with the Voltaren gel.

3. Test your gear

 Make sure that everything works and that you are comfortable with them.  My sister forgot to test her Camelbak bladder and it was leaking on the first day. We had to leave it behind.

4.  Make sure your waterproof jacket is really waterproof

It does rain a lot in Spain as we found out -- and when it rains, it really pours, so make sure your waterproof jacket is truly waterproof (my Goretex jacket worked quite well).  It is also nice to have a raincover on your backpack, and to ensure that your stuff inside stays dry -- to have a drybag inside.  It is better and easier to pack with one drybag than a lot of separate plastic bags.

I hope I have covered everything, and please check out my new packing list updated after the hike.