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Saint Ignatius (San Ignaciano)
Walking the Camino
20 May 2021 started the Ignatian Year which will last until 31 July 2022. The Society of Jesus (Jesuits) will be celebrating the 500th anniversary of a lost battle, of a wound that for Ignatius meant a failure. Inigo de […]
Pilgrim Quotations for your Inspiration & Reflection
Walking the Camino
Pilgrim Beatitudes Blessed are you, pilgrim, if you discover that the camino opens our eyes to what one cannot see. Blessed are you, pilgrim, if you are not so much concerned about arriving, but arriving with the others. Blessed are […]
Ever Wondered about the Origin of the Yellow Arrows along the Camino?
Walking the Camino
Since the Middle Ages pilgrims have walked to Santiago de Compostela to honour the apostle Saint James and to gain spiritual indulgences. Originally, they started from their own front door, following in the footsteps of previous walkers. Due to the […]
The ubiquitous (& beautiful) Fleur de Lis
Walking the Camino
On my morning walks, I am constantly reminded of the Camino as I walk past the iron fences with the iconic fleur-de-lis incorporated into many of our modern fence designs. I find it fascinating how this symbol has spanned the […]
Strategies for Keeping the Camino In Our Lives
Walking the Camino
Reprinted with permission from La Concha (American Pilgrims on the Camino) Sept 2020 Many of us were planning to walk the Camino this year and are disappointed. Here are 4 ideas to bring the Camino to your home. Eat like […]
Discovering the Saints Along the Camino
Walking the Camino
Many of the churches and cathedrals along the Camino routes were built during the Middle Ages. The 11th and 12th centuries marked the heyday of the pilgrimage. After Rome and Jerusalem, Compostela became the most important destination for Christians. The […]
Spiritual Walks in Australia / Australian ‘Caminos’
Walking the Camino
At the 2019 AFOTC National Conference, your committee was asked to ‘Encourage Australians to explore local Camino paths’. Here is some information to help you further investigate some of the spiritual walks provided here in Australia. The Way of St […]
The Life and Times of a Hospitalero
Walking the Camino
This article is intended to give an idea of what it is like to be a hospitalero, the duties, rewards, the good and the bad. The way each albergue is organised can vary greatly, and this description is intended to […]
Flora & Fauna on the Camino
Walking the Camino
Having now arrived in Santiago de Compostela on four occasions and walked in excess of 3,000 kilometres in Spain and Portugal, I have seen endless flora and encountered a reasonable variety of fauna. Commencing with the Camino Francés in 2013, […]
Hórreos – mausoleum, granary, living quarters, garden ornament – what are they?
Walking the Camino
An hórreo is a typical granary from the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula (mainly Galicia, Asturias and Northern Portugal), built in wood and stone, raised from the ground by pillars ending in flat staddle stones to prevent access by rodents. […]
Why Walk the Camino?
Walking the Camino
Why, I often ask myself, do over a hundred thousand people [Editor: 301,036 in 2017] walk the Camino de Santiago each year?
A Dummies Guide to Starting a New Camino Group
Walking the Camino
I am well qualified to write a ‘dummies guide’ because a year ago I knew nothing about starting a group/club and, as for Facebook, I wanted nothing to do with it. But I did have a fair knowledge of walking […]
Antoni Gaudí, the outstanding Catalan architect – Fool or Genius?
Walking the Camino
At the February gathering of Pilgrims in Adelaide, we had the pleasure of a very informative talk by Dr Rosemary Nursey-Bray, a guide from the SA Art Gallery. The subject was the life and works of Antoni Gaudí, the outstanding […]
Hiking Trailers
Walking the Camino
On the various Camino routes pilgrims are occasionally seen walking with hiking trailers, shopping trolleys and even strollers with backpacks on board taking the place of a toddler! There are Pros and Cons to walking with a hiking trailer in a general sense and as I found out with my hiking trailer, Spot.
Festival of San Juan
Walking the Camino
The festival of San Juan is celebrated across Spain, Portugal and some Latino countries on 23 June, the eve of St John’s day, and coincides with midsummer feasts and the shortest day of the year. Traditionally bonfires were lit to […]
Safety and Commonsense on the Camino
Walking the Camino
My first Camino was a solo one in 2005. As a woman in my fifties, I was relieved to find that I felt very safe. Since that time, I have walked many solo Caminos and have never felt afraid for my personal safety.
Thinking of Walking in Spain or Portugal? Festivals Galore…
Walking the Camino
The Iberian Peninsula is a land rich in history, tradition and superstition. Portugal and Spain being “Catholic countries” share many of the same holidays and religious festivals. There are also many legends, some based on vague historical facts, others coloured […]
About San Roque
Walking the Camino
Often San Roque is depicted, one leg exposed, with a dog – carrying a bread roll in his mouth – by his side. Why? Legend tells that this man, whose parents died when he was 20, gave his inheritance to […]
Australian Camino Travel Companies
Walking the Camino
The Australian Friends of the Camino (AFotC) does not organise guided or self- guided Camino pilgrimages or tours. If you are seeking such assistance with your pilgrimage, we have compiled the following alphabetical list of Australian tour operators to help […]
Safety on the Camino
Walking the Camino
Do not leave your belongings unattended keep your valuables with you at all times even in the shower in albergues. Carry a mobile phone – or have access to one. Telephone numbers of the emergency services are on the reverse […]
Twenty Things to do in Santiago de Compostela
Walking the Camino
1. Cathedral The great Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela dominates the medieval city. As other buildings were constructed over time none were allowed to be higher than the towers of the Cathedral. Legend has it the Cathedral is the burial […]
Pilgrim Guide to the Camino Inglés
Walking the Camino
An 80-page guide to the Camino Inglés, in English, by Johnnie Walker.
Camino Companions
Walking the Camino
"We had the experience but missed the meaning." Why not deepen your Camino experience? Reflection and individual/ group sharing.
Walking the Camino – How do I Begin?
Walking the Camino
Here are a few simple steps you can take to start you on your Camino. But first, the Spanish El camino simply means the way or the path in English. There is not just one Camino to Santiago de Compostela in […]
Blister Prevention – A Helpful Bootlace Tying Method
Walking the Camino
David is a veteran first-aider who has given first aid, pastoral care and support to pilgrims on the Camino for the past nine years – all on a voluntary basis. His twice-yearly first aid Caminos are funded partly from the […]
Getting To The Camino Frances
Walking the Camino
(Note: Of course there are other ways to get to St Jean Pied de Port …. for example, flying into Barcelona and catching a train or bus to Pamplona, then a bus to St Jean Pied de Port or Roncesvalles […]
Camino Routes in France
Walking the Camino
There are 5 Camino Routes in France: Via Podiensis (Le Puy); Via Lemovicensis (Vezelay); Via Turonensis (Paris); Via Tolosana (Arles); Les Chemin du Mont Saint Michel.
Packing Light for Your Camino
Walking the Camino
A list of items to ensure you carry a light pack, only carrying what you need, with tips to lighten your load.
Alternative Pilgrimages to the French Caminos
Walking the Camino
Aside from the main French Camino routes listed on our Walking the Camino page, there are numerous other pilgrimages of interest to Australians:.
Garry Budin, Australian Guide living in Santiago de Compostela
Walking the Camino
Garry Budin is an Australian who lives in Santiago de Compostela and helps nervous pilgrims plan their Camino, acting as a guide where necessary. Visit his website at doncamino.com.
Camino Chaplaincy
Walking the Camino
The Camino Chaplaincy is an apostolate formed of volunteer priests, ministers, religious and lay people. All have walked the Camino to Santiago. The President of the Camino Chaplaincy is Bishop Ralph Heskett C.Ss.R., the Bishop of Hallam, England. The Camino […]
The Schengen Travel Visa For Europe (Or… Count Your Days!)
Walking the Camino
26 countries make up the Schengen Zone and have seamless borders for entry/ exit between them ie they have abolished passports and any other type of border control at their common borders. Fortunately, the UK is not included. It takes […]
Short Caminos
Walking the Camino
Pilgrims travelling to Santiago de Compostela require a credencial or pilgrim ‘passport’ to establish their bona fides to stay in the albergues or refugios on the Camino. That is that they plan to walk, cycle or go by horseback to […]
More on Bedbugs!
Walking the Camino
I would like to share a hint found useful for dealing with bed bugs and the treatment of bed bug bites. Firstly, before leaving Australia I treat my sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner, pillowcase, backpack & boots with Permethrin (Debugger), […]
Technology and The Camino
Walking the Camino
This article is not meant to be a definitive guide to technology and the Camino rather a starting point, an introduction to how technology might be used to research and plan, aid whilst on the Camino and to keep in […]
GPS tracks & waypoints for the Camino Francés as per 34 Camino John Brierley stages
Walking the Camino
This article gives an overview of a set of GPS tracks and waypoints for the Camino Francés from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela.