El Camino de Santiago.....The Way.....A walking across Spain.

[richardgurtler]

A really enjoyable reading with stunning photos, thanks a lot for sharing, Julio!!!

Richard  :)

[Julio Di Benedetto]

Hi Loren & Richard.....many do walk the Camino in stages because they don't have a month or more time to give to it in one shot or due to injury.  I mentioned this to Susan and she lets just rent a car  :o ;D.  The last 100 kilometers is were many many people start from and they are still able to get the official stamp of recognition in Santiago.  Apparently the "way" becomes very crowded in that final stretch. 

It was a great adventure indeed.....Life changing!

[petekelly]

Hi Julio,

Will have a good gander at this 'blogumentary' soon !

cheers,

[chris23]

I enjoyed reading the blog; thanks for sharing! That's too bad about the injury, but it sounds like you two found a way to make the most of the trip. What a great experience.

And amazing photos too! Beautiful!

[Julio Di Benedetto]

Hi Chris....We still are asking ourselves if the knee issue had not occurred how far would we go, all the way, half way. Our friends that we started with have just finished.  It really is an immense amount of walking.  Makes me wonder how people manage to do the Appalachian Trail, 2000 plus miles.

Photographic side note......I took 2 cameras, a 35mm full frame camera and a point and shoot, both digital.  I dropped the 35mm in its case the first day and damaged the shutter, that left the point and shoot that Im not fond of...I remembered a British landscape photographer, Julian Calverley who did a book using his iPhone camera http://www.juliancalverley.com/books/iphoneonly-ibook/. Most of the photographs in the blog are made with my iPhone 6.  I love the way the camera in the phone renders its images. 

[petekelly]

Hi Julio,

A fascinating read, I believe it's no bad thing to be flexible with plans are adapt to changing circumstances, if need be.

Great images too, I particularly like 'IMG_0580'. I've been using an iphone 6 too recently and have been surprised with how good it can be. That HDR setting actually tames over-exposure (generally) rather than adding the 'garish HDR' look.

[hdibrell]

Enjoyed the blog and pictures. Life is all about adapting to the situation. It still looks like it was a great experience for you. I like the idea of breaking the walk up into smaller stages. At my age and physical conditioning, I don't think I would make it far trying to do it all at once. From reading your blog, I know Kathy wouldn't be able to do any part of it. Thanks again for sharing your experiences with us.

[Julio Di Benedetto]

Hi Pete....yes we needed to be flexible at least with plans even if our bodies were not.  The iPhone 6 is quite a camera....honestly I like  the way it renders better than my big camera thats several thousand $ more expensive. Obviously the image will not take being enlarge much, perhaps up to 8x10. Its got such a film quality to it.  Its quiet brilliant!.

Yes Harry, many do break up the walk and come back each year and do  some more to make it a little easier.  I am very proud of Susan at 61 years old she did really well and would have done more if she could. Fortunately she had no problems surfing once we got to Portugal.

One thing, Europeans have it easier financially if you live say in Germany, it could cost a couple hundred euros ($250) to get to the start of the Camino...from the USA you have to add another zero to that figure per person, perhaps less but you get the idea.

I cant believe how affordable and good the food in general is in Europe. The quality is so much better than what we have available here in the US, but thats another discussion.

[LNerell]

Maybe we should create our own pilgrimage kind of walk here in the US, something a little easier. Say a walk across Portland to visit Hypnos headquarters.  ;D

[Julio Di Benedetto]

With my one week / 50 miles intense "wilderness" experience I could teach some 101 survival techniques for the Portland walk.  :D

Actually wasn't that movie "Wild" based on a pacific hike from Bahia to Washington state.

[LNerell]

This was on NPR this morning:

http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/09/04/437596582/safety-concerns-emerge-along-world-famous-pilgrimage-route

[Julio Di Benedetto]

I had heard of this sad event....we saw lots of girls on the Camino and mostly they travelled in groups, either friends from their own countries or became travel companions. This time of year there were a lot of younger pilgrims because colleges and universities were closed for the summer.  Everyone on the Camino had each others back, however there were times we saw no one for miles, so it can be isolated.

   

[ffcal]

A belated welcome back, Julio.  Sorry to hear you didn't make it all the way, but it sounds like you had some very memorable experiences along the way.  Thanks for sharing the photographs--very nicely done.

Forrest

[Julio Di Benedetto]

Thanks Forrest...it was a very memorable experience indeed!

[drone on]

I saw "The Way", fantastic movie.