Mike On The Camino is a channel to help fellow pilgrims, past present or future with information about this great experience walking the Camino de Santiago.
I found 5 listing on amazon us and it's on amazon au too www.amazon.com/Nitecore-Tube2-B-Tube-V2-0-Keylight/dp/B0813STC9V or just google Nitecore Tube V2. The V2 is even better than the version I had. My last Camino I took took an Olight i1R 2 Pro which is more than twice the weight but will throw a light good enough to walk with for 12 hours and it's USB C rechargeable. It did not sit on my new pack as well as the old one and I did not night walk anyway, so the nitecore would have been fine. The olight has a stronger body and larger battery, that's why I gave it a shot. ¡Buen Camino!
Thanks, mate. Am contemplating doing the Camino this fall and you laid out the pitfalls of the first leg quite well. I'm 73 and will need all the help and advice that I can get. Cheers.
If the weather looks questionable, the Valcarlos route is safer than the Napoleon route. It's at a lower altitude. Although I haven't walked it myself, I spoke with a father-son pilgrim team who started on the same day as my son and me. Despite the guidebooks mentioning that the Valcarlos route follows the road a lot, this team told me that it often runs near the road but not on it for most of the time. They also appreciated the slightly warmer weather due to the lower altitude of Valcarlos. On our journey, we faced horrendous whiteout conditions and walked right past The Virgin of Orisson, not seeing it because the fog and sideways rain was so bad. If you choose the Napoleon route, there's a new albergue a bit further up the road (1 km to Albergue Borda) that has received good reviews. On my next Camino (God willing), I plan to try Albergue Borda - but I think you need to book well in advance like Orisson. Also Borda makes your first day a little longer than just Orisson (8km vs 7km) which means a shorter day 2 to Roncesvalles, even if only 1km less.
What does the "Registration date" mean? Does the passport need to be "registered" before starting collecting the stamps? And who will assign and fill in the "alphanumerical code"? I will be starting the Camino Sanabres in a small village 200km from Santiago, with passport brought with me from home (purchased in advance from official source).
I just checked 2 of the 3 types of passports I have and neither has a registration date or alpha numeric code on them. The pilgrims office put their stamp in as your last square and on the inside cover where your other personal details are. This also has a date stamp, so maybe the registration date is the completion date? I am not 100% sure though. However that inside cover has no starting date, just a finishing date of when I registered my completion.
Book now if you can. I have no idea how we lucked it without a booking. I hear others saying you need MONTHS in advance. I think walking with an 11 year old helped us.
And book far in advance if you want to stay in Orrison. One month before you start is not enough. I will have to do the whole stretch, let that be a warning.
Oh they look lovely! I think they are new. Google street view shows a newish driveway and their domain name was only registered in Dec 2022. Great alternative to Orisson which is usually booked out.
I stayed at Orisson in 2016 on my first Camino and also have booked it for my next one in April. You need to book well ahead as spaces are limited. It's very like when we were in Paul McCartney's childhood home (owned by the National Trust) and we saw tourists outside wondering how we were inside and they weren't. If you don't book ahead, you will not get in for the night. I walked into Orisson with two other guys and the lovely girl on reception guessed who each of us were. In the morning one of the guys in my room complained he could hear six people snoring, I chipped in that I could only hear five! There is also the distinct advantage that setting of for Roncesvalles you have several hours head start on those setting off from SJPdP and can book in there ahead of the crowd.
I did not do the yoga but those that did raved about it. Such a warm wonderful place. If I get a 3rd Camino in I might see if I can fit a week or so extra to volunteer there.
Hah, that's a statement, not a question. 🤣 I do mention 4 other places to get them at 3 minutes 56 seconds in the clip. But to save you looking back - bars, cafes, restaurants, pilgrims offices, tourist attractions (including some churches) and I believe even Post Offices. Most pilgrimy places really. I think farmacias (pharmacies) should too, seeing that it felt like I was there a lot too! Maybe they do?? I never got one there. Basically I get one at the albergue, when I eat / coffee up and any time I see one that is either very pretty or the place has special meaning. You will meet or exceed your 2 a day minimum with little effort.
Hey Mike, Hannes here. From your last Camino. I wanted to ask if you were still able to find your mafia boss and if there will be an update. I would be delighted. Best regards from Germany
Yes there will be an update... I'm hoping to start a new season of videos in the new year. Work is super busy since I got back and January is usually a bit quieter. Buen Camino!
g'day mate.... hahahah question? can 1 pilgrim get 2 passports at the start... 1 doesn't seem to have enough squares for "collecting" stamps... ?? buen Camino cob how ocker is that 😂😂😂😂
No wukkas mate! I carried 2 passports from the start of my last Camino. When one was filled I did just used the other. However you can get new ones easily along the way.
@@MikeOnTheCamino ta cobber....will i need or.get another cert if i do tue Finisterre Muxia hike ? not sure if that is classed as.another separate Camino or just an add on... of i have rime... i will keep going when i do the Frances... 🚶🏾♂️🚶🏾♂️🚶🏾♂️
Yes they will take a copy of your international passport at each Albergue. That is so if something bad happens to you or they need to find you, the police can figure out your path. But you will need that to fly in anyway.
Yeah but they freak out even if you pick it up and put directly into your bag. This video is for folks who come from countries where touching fruit is common place. While I had not thought of all the people touching it making it spoil and therefore be unsalable, if this were a major issue I'm sure all countries would have similar policies. The take away of this episode is if it is the culture of your home region to touch the fruit, it's not the culture in Spain.
I now wish that I had stayed at Orrisson, a lot of friends had described it to me as the best breakfast at the edge of France. Me though, I carried in through, it was fantastic weather and I was more interested in the Golden Eagles, overhead.
Mike have you ever tried to get “Wizz Fizz” through customs? As for handling fruit in Spain, some places they look at me as though I’ve just insulted their mothers and others smile on me for having used my cooks nose, guile and wisdom. I’m almost sure it depends as to which region of the Camino you happen to be in. As for differences between juice and table oranges, I find that if you give the orange a good grope and a sniff, that the table oranges smell more “orangey”.
I'm just back from another Camino getting ready to film season 2 for this channel. I think it's nation wide, but maybe they are more tolerant of disgusting, mother insulting, fruit touchers in smaller towns. I see most supermarkets provide disposable gloves now and signage in English. Next time I will try the sniff test.
Wow, that's gone up. I hear they provide wifi now which is a minimum these days - especially for a such an expensive albergue. As we had no simcard my family did not hear from us until the end the end of the second day of Camino. Not ideal. I also did video on Orisson ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0NgKzVTVJgQ.htmlsi=cu0T2yHFQJUaFCzP
Is the albergue in the thumbnail Hostel Casa Ibarrola in Pamplona? I stayed there for a couple days on my most recent Camino I just got back from last night. I think I actually stayed in the bunk you're sitting in!
Awesome observation there! It sure is. It was great. SUPER fast internet. I was up the back and to the left. The only downside, someone got my paypal password while I was there. I'm just back from Camino again (back less than a week) and I will be doing a video in the upcoming season 2 on phone security, so make sure to subscribe. I was pretty lucky they only got into an account that had a zero balance, but they tried withdrawing hundreds!
Thanks Mike. Interesting to know that some places don't want people handling fruit they want to buy. I do wonder if this came about due to COVID? Regardless, I will learn how to ask in Spanish if I can select my own fruit. Cheers.
Nope this was PREcovid. If you know about it, it's fine. Otherwise you just keep making the same mistake and get looks as if you sneezed all over the fruit. I will be doing an update to this video with new footage from my Camino I finished last week. I found this time many supermarkets have have plastic bags AND plastic gloves, so you can still select what you want. Make sure to subscribe and you wont miss the new season coming up soon.
That's my number 1 fear. I have a bug phobia. Will a hot steam iron kill them? That's the only reason why I might not do this journey. What about the better hotels? Do they have issues with bedbugs? All your recommendations are great, but they will not stop my phobia.
I'm actually nearly finishing the Camino again as I am typing this reply. I have not encountered bedbugs at all on this trip, and I have been staying in private Albergues, I have only heard of one Albergue that had the and chatter amongst the pilgrims was quite strong about it, also checking the reviews on several Camino apps, will often let you know if a place has bedbugs. When I check in I always look under the mattresses for black spots and check around the corners by the floor for anything under the ordinary. I also spray my bed and sleeping equipment with a couple of squirts of eucalyptus and tea tree oil mix each night so if there are any they will avoid me. As I am traveling at the tail end of summer I am far more likely to encounter them, but so far all has been great. You sound smart and aware of the issues I think you would be fine to manage and look after it all by yourself.
I am looking at doing the Camino next year but had no idea this was a problem. Can I ask how much of it is a problem? Am I guaranteed to come in to contact with them at some stage of the trail? Any advice would be great. Thank you :)
I have just gotten back from my second Camino (last week). So I have done a June and a September Camino. In June did not even hear of it until Santiago (the end). In September, I found people who had them, and word on the trail let folks know about a few albergues that had them, some folks I walked with even had bite marks (they last for weeks on some people), but I never saw them again. I will be doing an update to this video at some stage with more info from my last Camino, so make sure to subscribe so you don't miss them.
We had a similar experience with the snow and freezing!! But if you can survive the first/second day, it’s downhill all the way… well not downhill literally as there are so many wonderful hills on the Camino!🥰
Yeah it is a hard start that from SJPdP. I think I would recommend folks with kids start at Roncesvalles or Pamplona now. Or further back even. I just think that's a really starting point for kids - even in good weather.
Hi! I saw your electronics video. Do you have lings for the charger, cables, and usb small flashlight? With the voltage difference in spain is it ok to charge your iphone? It wont damage it?
Spain is 230V 50Hz, which is very compatible to Australia's 240V 50Hz. If you are in a 110V country, just check your phone charger is a multivoltage input one. Most are, because people travel and chargers these days are not the old transformer type, they are a switching mode power converter and as such they usually will handle a much wider range of inputs such as 100V-250V without issue. Links keep changing, I got mine from Aliexpress, so search EU USB charger and you will get many low cost options often with free shipping. One like this www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005846068078.html The flashlights are harder to come by now. Search nitecore tube and see if you can find some near you. This last Camino (last week for me) I took an Olight i1R 2 Pro EOS Max 180 Lumens USB Charging Keyring which worked nicely although I still prefer the 2 flashlights in the video, if you can find them. I will be doing an update in a new series of videos coming soon! Make sure to subscribe so you see them as they come out.
You know I am on the Camino as I am typing this, and I have to say NO GIVES A STUFF ABOUT PRONUNCIATION. Mate, I'm Australian. I speak with an Australian accent. We don't have ANY spanish influences on our language or our culture. It's a bit like asking is it Comicon or Comic Con, who cares! Just don't start a Star Wars Vs Star Trek fight!
Relish In the Tread ... a book that follows one mans walk 3,000 km across Europe to Istanbul. Beyond the main storyline it's goal is to display the whole lifestyle of modern day pilgrimage or long term travel through the main character's sacrifices and experiences of hospitality across Europe. Would be great to have you discuss it. ❤❤
@@MikeOnTheCamino I think you'd really dig it. Some great reflective aspects of the Francés with a very unique individual pilgrimage... lots to take in. Essence of travel
Google translate was a bit off when I translated but the sello I think you are after is spoken about in this video ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TfbfDSTLH6w.htmlsi=499dLNcpfjRHcsak
In a bar (at least in Australia) when someone drops a glass, the assumption is they have had too much to drink. So your mates yell "Taxi" from their bar stools as if they are calling a taxi for their too drunk friend to go home.
Great info Mike, thanks a lot! One comment though... Spanish speakers like myself find it sometimes lazy, ridiculous, and some even disrespectful, that native english youtubers who put so much effort into making great online content, don't even bother learning how to pronounce some absolute basic words in spanish, like ALBERGUE, SELLOS, CAMINO FRANCÉS, and many more. It's nothing like learning a new language, but you use these words everyday and can't be bothered to learn to pronounce them correctly. Please note this is not a complain about you, but merely an observation involving hundreds (maybe thousands?) of youtubers. You make very useful content and I've watched many of your videos. It'd be great to hear those words pronounced in a better way. Thanks and compliments!
No disrespect intended and none taken either. The fact is I don't know ANY native Spanish speakers, so I often get my pronunciations wrong and I only have the RU-vid community to correct me, which they do to no end. I do try to get correct pronunciations and so I often rely on, as you mentioned, other youtubers but I also rely on Audiobooks. And every audio book pronounces everything differently. Ironically that video was made a year ago and I have learnt much about pronunciations, but I can't change that recording. It is one of few well ranked (by the algorithm) videos so I don't want to delete it and start again. The funny thing is, nobody gave a stuff about my waaaaay worse pronunciations when I was actually on Camino. If you think I'm bad no now, you have no idea how bad I was then. I found the Spaniards to be so forgiving of mutilation of their language when in person. If I tried to get everything perfect, I would never make any videos.
Great idea, however it is not like playing 'the floor is lava' when we were kids. Bugs can walk over it. It's more like a concrete analogy. You can walk over concrete, but you can't walk through concrete. The backpack is less of a target as it does not breathe. A plastic bag would work and would be lighter for the pack (not you). I never did nag my pack and had no problems. A silk pillow case might be too small or might be heavier than a whole second silk sleeping bag liner. They are really thin and light. From a weight perspective, sleeping bag liner and a garbage bag for the pack should do. Is there a reason to avoid a silk sleeping bag liner? They come in different sizes if you are worried about feeling wrapped up.
@@MikeOnTheCamino Good points! I could not find a silk liner with a zipper which is important to me because I’m 64 and can’t see myself wiggling in and out of the liner two times a night when I get up to use the bathroom! I found a polyester liner with a nice zipper down the side and along the bottom. First Camino is in six weeks-April and hopefully the little buggers will have a slow start at the beginning of the season. Thank you!
@@karenharway5142 Wear silk pj's and you will slide out in an instant! Actually one Albergue we stayed at charged extra for disposable sheets, so we tried without. So slippery. At 2am my sleeping son fell off the top bunk and landed upright in his sleep between very close bunks. Amazing. Maybe go to a camping shop and try it out instore. They come in different sizes too so maybe a more baggy one is easier to get in and out of. The zipper would not work as bugs can get in through the zipper gaps too.
I plan on leaving on April 1st (2023) and traveling the Napoleon Route out of Saint Jean. Did you take the Napoleon Route? When did you leave? Most people say you can’t take the Napoleon Route in early April due to snow and tough travel. Thanks!
I might be doing May June this year from Logrono. Last Camino was May June from SJPdP and Orisson is smack on the Napoleon way. We had snow on Pyrenese and others we spoke with also had it on cruz de fero. If the weather is looking bad at St Jean, hold off or take valcarlos route as walking in white-out past great views is like looking at a piece of blank paper!
Socks is a topic I'm thinking of covering. It's very personal. Merino makes my feet sweat. I go 2 pairs of thin nylon 'coolmax' types. Wicks moisture nicely and they quick dry. BUT! It's very personal, so get both at home and smash some kms and see what your feet prefer.
Thank you for the information. I am not very good with technology so any help I can get is just super! BTW you asked in another vlog if we liked your “dad joke” well, yes and my kids also call those Mom jokes. 😂
Yeah this episode gets a little wordy when I talk about what I would do in a day, most people have less gear, but the concepts apply. I was looking at my chargers today, wondering about a 2023 camino??
I think C.W. Lockhart and Angela Leslee's audiobooks are my all time favourites. Just finished Angela's The Way of Love. Will do a review at some stage, although the reviews don't perform as well in the views.
Im interested in the rules of receiving the compostella certificate. Does it say in the document how long you've walked? Also I heard you should have a new stamp every day for the passport to be valid. Does that mean I can't stay somewhere for 2 or more days if needed? What if I am injured?
Great question. You only need it for the last 100km if on foot, but if you want the certificate with your total km showing, you need to collect them from the start. You need 2 per day for the last 100km, before is not so important, but get at least one a day. If you take time off for injury that's okay. They will see you continued on. Many people split a full pilgrimage over several holidays (if you live nearby) and you get a compostela for the full amount. I will collect them at every opportunity next time, even if I fill multiple books. They are great memory anchors - and they are so pretty.
I thought I was going to get to go in 2013, but life got in the way. I remember going to work and thinking, "Right now, I'd be in St. Jean, getting ready to go up the Pyrenees." I had to wait until March of 2014 before I got to walk. When I got back home, I told myself I'd go back in 3 or 4 years. Well, it'll be 9 years this coming March. And with any luck, I'll get to walk again, next March, in 2024. Where does 10 years go????
10 Years! Aaaaah. Life must be busy. Yes I thought where I would have be all the time through my journey window. I still miss it. Maybe 2023? I hope to get my feet right, so maybe 2024?
@@MikeOnTheCamino Life gets away from a person, and takes directions you had no way to plan for. But, one thing that pilgrims say is that we walk when we're meant to, not when we want to!
So question you said you need 2 stamps per day Question can i get more stamps is their more space. I am going to do the Porto to Santiago in 12 days so wanted to know if passport holds enough or you have to buy a second one in the route
Great question. You can get as many as you want - you sellos junkie! You can always grab an extra passport easily along the way, so no problem there. Stamps are lovely and next time I too am going to get as many as I possibly can. The "minimum" requirement is 2 per day for the last 100km but you can get as many as you want.
