On my first day walking over the Pyrenees I was unexpectedly overcome with emotion. Tears streamed down my cheeks. Gratitude washed over me like summer rain. Gratitude for my body that was fit enough to take me, gratitude for a life that allowed me the opportunity and gratitude for my husband who walked beside me. Buen camino x
I am so excited to read your reply. It's so touching. You wrote such a wonderful emotion which you had experienced during the climbing the Pyrenees. I skipped the Pyrenees last spring. Next time, I will start at St. Jean. Thanks a lot. from a South Korean elderly. pilgrim.
@@RobertBernardoKim Thank you Robert! We walked over the Pyrenees in early May 2018. The weather was cool and the skies were clear so we had amazing views. I'm hoping to return in September 2024. I sincerely hope you get to experience the trek over the Pyrenees. It was an incredible experience. xx
We loved the Meseta but also began the Meseta during the heatwave. I think we were just behind you. Thanks for another great video, I wish I would've known about the albergue with the connection to Emilio!! We love The Way, my friend Debra who first told me about the Camino years ago had me watch it. Since then she walked it and also sadly passed away. But it is a calling I think. It's no coincidence you were walking it. For me as well. Buen Camino pellegrina!! 🚶♀️
The video quality is exceptionally good, the colors are more intense than any eye can appreciate on the site. That's why I watched it until the end. A delight.
I love how genuine your commentary is! I walked the Portuguese Camino in September and often found myself sobbing with the pure joy of my walk. I felt for you when you reached the halfway point and couldn’t hold back the tears. The Camino does that. I saw a bunch of cats I wanted to take home with me but couldn’t. I started my Camino shortly after having to put down my 19 year old Simcha…he was in my heart the whole way as I walked. I planned to do a selfie stick travelogue similar to yours but my cellphone was stolen from me on the first day out of Porto…oh well! I very much enjoy your honest dialogue. Thank you for sharing. Paul❤
Once again, your vlog left me captured from beginning to end. You are amazing and you are so talented in telling your story. So loving this series! Thank you for your hard work!
Beautiful video - really enjoying your journey. I did the Camino del Norte, and the amount of community recognition and support for pilgrims was beautiful. I was a bit worried about being perceived to be an 'annoyance' by the locals, but this never seemed the case 🙂 Nothing like the Camino to bring gratitude for all the little things in life!
The meseta is that time to really ask yourself all the questions that will help you identify your beliefs and capabilities. The climb out of castrojerez and the following solitude really gave me a sense of what I could accomplish if I devoted my energy to pursuing that dream. Found out I’m a rock star! And I control my life!
In 99, at Alto de Mostelares we met a german shepherd that accompanied us until Itero del Castillo. People in Itero del Castillo said that it was doing this for some years.
I've never even heard of this walk and found your channel because of your old van tour then was scrolling thru your videos and found these and omg I want to so this! I love traveling, hiking and walking and I literally just watched Reese Witherspoons movie "Wild" last week AND 2 wks ago I made myself a summer hiking challenge to get back out on a trial once a week this summer to commit to my old love because I love being in nature!
I’m so glad you walked the Meseta. I had a few concerns myself but in the end it was where I gained my endurance, strength, and more. It is now my fav part. Oh, should you do another Camino, I’d suggest wearing liner socks under your socks to help “absorb” friction. I got a pair in Estella and I had no more blisters. I’m looking forward to the rest of your videos. 🥾💫
My son and I arrived in Castrojeriz late in the day. We stopped to have a drink and rest. Dumb luck, the bar had a drink from South Korea (SoJu) that I love, but is difficult to find. After a few hours, we decided to stay overnight only to find out that everything was full. So, being "true" pilgrims, we decided to sleep in the castle, "Castillo de Castrojeriz," located on top of the hill overlooking the town. We had a blast. An experience of a lifetime.
I met that same sweet kitten when we went in 2022 at La Fuente. It truly made my day!! Love your videos and reliving my own journey through yours. Ready to go again 2025!!
I had fond memories on this section, I enjoyed my time alone with myself on this section. Burgos - Hontanas - Fromista - Calzadilla de la cueza - El Burgo Raneiro - Leon. I would walk this section again.
Your video are great. They not only show how beautiful the Camino is, but the beautiful change in you and all pilgrims Your video editing is very professional. I’m curious how you get the map with track you show Thanks. Looking forward to all your videos
Speaking of moments --22:09 you're walking by the ruins of the castle that overlooks CastroJeriz, which is a great memory for me (oh, correction that was wrong). I really really like how sincere and real you are in your video journal here. Not an "aren't I glamorous" but rather here I am in my doubts, vulnerability, and serendipitous joy. You would be the best of Camino partners.
This is the best content on RU-vid. You’re amazing, I feel like I am walking next to you and we are friends chatting. You are doing an incredible job walking and creating a wonderful cinematic adventure for us to journey along with you. Thank you for taking us with you. I cannot wait for the next one.
What a wonderful experience you are having on the Camino. It's pretty clear that this experience will be with you forever...which is marvellous to think about - even for us.
Crystal, you are amazing! We are watching you grow with each mile. I’m wondering if there may be a book somewhere after this adventure. You are a wonderful storyteller. The way you share your insights & feelings is so touching and inspirational! Thank you for taking us along. Much love & prayers as you continue. I’m so looking forward to seeing you again! Blessings! ❤️🙏🏻
Crystal, you are inspiring! I so appreciate your attitude; which is so genuine and your perseverance! I am working up the courage to do the Camino on my own and your videos are helpful and encouraging. Thank you for your gift of sharing. Take care of yourself! Buen camino!
Wonderful to follow your journey Crystal and hear how you are meditating on things in life & the space and place the Camino is giving you to do that. Although I must admit my envy when you said you travel full time as I am going through some mental challenges in life & currently I find no joy in anything but when I think of traveling & places I have been I get a stirring of internal happiness so perhaps that’s a calling. But how to do it is another question. Your journey & channel is inspiring
I know I probably say this every time Crystal, but you are amazing! I couldn't ever do a journey like that on my own. I so admire you! See you next time!
I wanna encourage you as a fellow RU-vidr you really put together a beautiful video maybe a little too much drama for me but you’re really good and I know how much time it takes to put together a video at this level so well done and thank you for all the information it’s been really helpful I start my journey in two days!
I am very happy you didn't skip the meseta. I personally found it to be very importend on your camino. To have time to reflext on your self and yes all things come up, but it' very imported to give time to your self on thse things. thank you for this loveley video
Hi Crystal, I just came across your channel so I’m binge watching your Camino trek, amazing!! I don t know you but I’m so proud of you!! I grew up in Oregon so we use to be neighbors, we are now calling Utah our home and we love it. Know I’m cheering you on and praying safe and happy trails each step of the way. Blessings🙏🥾
Stick with the channel her and her husband are lovely people and were/are living the Van Life..I think he's a concert tour producer and is on tour working, and she's doing this journey..fantastic!
Crystal, I am really enjoying following your Camino journey! Love your openness and honesty. I'm from Belfast, Northern Ireland. We have walked the Camino a few times, various stretches, but not so far completed it, agree that long and flats are often the toughest parts! Keep going, you're doing great, it's a wonderful life experience! Bueno Camino 🙏🥰
Re: Skip the Meseta- actually kind of true. Many start from Leon, Sarria, etc. to complete the required 100km. There are also the other routes to pick from - Norte, Portugese, Primativo, etc. Just sayin.
You got this!!!❤ so good to see you are doing well! I feel for you bout the blisters, after almost healing from my ankle injury, I just missed a step on stairs and believe to have fractured the side of the same foot, bout to go to the doctor tomorrow for x-ray, very painful! Continued prayers and love for you all!!❤❤ thank you for sharing
So beautifully real. Thank you for sharing yourself. I think we were on the caminno around the same time. My friend and I started Sept. 5 from SJDP. I hurt my foot very early on and skipped several parts including the meseta. I enjoyed getting a glimpse of your experience!
I've been curious how women handle their periods on the Camino. Thanks for being so open with your experience! I often use a Cup but suspect that would be incredibly challenging to empty in the "wild".
La Meseta is where the "open-heart surgery" takes place, if you let it. Although, this could happen anywhere and anytime, on La Meseta there is more space, time and isolation for one to go deep and really let go. It is often said that for many the Camino has 3 distinct stages: physical, emotional and spiritual. For me, La Meseta, and on the approach to El Bierzo, had the most impact emotionally by far. It really was out of this world.
I didn’t skip it. Although for one day on that route it was the only time I had my backpack driven from one town to another. I knew it was a long , hot trek of a day so I made that decision. Roncesvalle/Santiago 2013. 31 days
i love your videos and thankyou so much for sharing. Im yet to do my walk. im wondering? did you take your laptop with you and edit and post each day or did you wait till you got home?
Thank you :) I edited it post-camino. I wanted to focus on just BEing in the energy fo the Camino and enjoying the experience first. It takes us about 30 hours per video to edit (each video in this series took 30 hours-ish) and editing everything together into this documentary took another 2 weeks in itself. My hubby and I edited it all months after I was complete. I did bring my laptop to organize all footage and transfer files onto a hard drive each night. That was all I had time for.
How are you traveling with your luggage but separately? Sometimes I think rushing here, there, everywhere is part of our American culture. We are typically so busy, with so many options of things to do that we get caught up in the "rat race". It's all about money and how we spend our time outside of work.
Such a mistake to skip that section.... I did the entire Camino and I was actually disappointed with the end. There are many gems between Logroño and Leon which people miss on. Again getting to the end was not the happy moment I thought it would be. The best was definitely the way.... I lived in Burgos for about 5 years and there are so many beautiful small villages around to see....so much history ... I hope to do others parts of the Camino like the one along the north coast.
When I was walking through the Meseta this summer end July/beginning August it was so hot that we had to start at 4h30 in the morning because after 11am it became incredible hot and you couldn't stay outside anymore xD
"Oh the cat. Definitely didn't want to snuggle with me." LOL. Then she found a doggie. Lovely!!! She has her period, poor thing. This is all too funny. Lovely life.
@@vanhallaadventures Pretty much everyone is. Even Buddhist monks. You cannot stop the "monkey mind" chattering. This walking is almost like a meditation retreat. Maybe without the alcohol will allow a better assessment of the blossoming emotions. Even when I went to a Vipassana meditation retreat which involves sitting for hours a day, no talking , no reading, no listening to music, no looking at your phone, no making eye contact with your fellow meditators. 2 times. That was something else. The mind empties a but but it still bubbles. Your reaction to the bubbling is the difference; it calms so very much and the effect lasts for months. I recommend it. Very healing. Thank you for your honesty. Another pilgrim recommends little wads of loose Merino wool stuffed in the socks around the sore area. He claims the lanolin and padding deter blisters. That guy Robscamino. Anyway I have yet to walk. Buen Caminos all of your pilgrimages to you!!!
You can bus from different cities/towns/villages in Spain or use a taxi to jump ahead. Some people will meet back up near Sarria and do the last 100km or some just walk the last 100km and skip most of the Camino Frances altogether due to lack of time, health reasons, or other reasons. There is a lot of infrastructure on the Camino so it is easy to hop on and off the trail if you choose. I loved the Meseta and found it was my favorite part. Buen Camino!
Your pee stories are so funny. You really should have got yourself a peeing aid so at least you can pee like a guy, standing and discrete 😂 Enjoying your journey very much, you rock!
Is Brian coming back? You have proven that women are stronger. LOL! All kidding aside, it's really hard to go solo, to go it alone, and to do all this internal inventory stuff. I'm pretty sure you were already super strong even before all of this female solo journey!
I think that the section of La Meseta (Burgos-Astorga) is precisely very attractive. You have Romanic churches in Frómista, Carrión de los Condes, Sahagún. You have to your right the impressive profile of the Cantabrian Mountains. And for those who want to walk on an authentic Roman road fossilized in time, there is an 18km stretch between Calzadilla de los Hermanillos and Reliegos.
@@vanhallaadventures The alternative that I’m mentioning, that of the Roman road, begins after Sahagún, in Calzada del Coto, where we take the north detour that goes to Calzadilla de los Hermanillos, and there begins the 18 km section on a Roman road that reaches Reliegos. From Reliegos it continues to Mansilla de las Mulas, where it joins the French road again. This section that I mention, is called "Calzada de los peregrinos", it’s less frequented, but it must be older, because it is precisely a Roman road.
Not really click bait. All the alburgue owners I asked said most people skip this part and most do - most people start in sarria or skip this altogether. I asked A LOT of people before writing this title. But everyone has their own perceptions. Buen Camino!
I would say that it is helpful to know just general terms you use everyday. I found that to knowing how to ask where is the toilet/bathroom, to get the check, please and thank you, what direction something is, and other small things like that is super helpful. I also have dietary needs so being able to ask or tell that is REALLY important if that applies to you.
