Thinking of packing up your backpack andhitting the road?
The Way of Saint James is one of life’s experiences that can be done in many different ways.
Here I present the advice from various fields so that it can make your trip easier.
Here I reveal some recommendations in order to enjoy the passage of the Way of St. James.
First Think how to be always available online to check the road and to stay in touch with your beloved ones.
Is There Cell Service on the Camino?
Yes, there is but not everywhere.
There, at long distances, there is no housing, no water …
Suddenly, a heat stroke can happen. It’s good if there is a mobile connection, otherwise there is no one to help, because no one walks by all day long.
And at two stages (mountain villages) there was no connection from Vodafone, only from Movist but it was very weak.
Does AT&T Work in Camino?
Yes, it must work.
For not wasting your data, you can keep your phone in airplane mode and connect to wifi at your hotel in the evening.
But still remember, there are some areas without cell service.
Can I Use My Verizon Cell Phone in Spain?
Yes, Verizon operates in Spain.
Verizon offers high-speed 5G and 4G LTE coverage in Spain in partnership with local service providers.
Using Verizon TravelPass International Plan is a great way to stay connected on the road.
Think about buying a tariff before otherwise, you may pay excessive fees for international calls, text messages, and data usage.
Does Verizon Have Service in Spain?
Yes.
To avoid high roaming charges, you should register your iOS or Android smartphone for Verizon TravelPass International or Monthly International Plans.
Is there WIFI on the Camino?
Yes.
On popular routes, almost all albergues have wifi.
Our route passed through rather remote places, there was almost no wifi anywhere, so we took a mini-router with us, which had already helped us out in Brittany last year.
It must have worked everywhere but surprisingly, in 3-4 villages it didn’t work at all, we even thought that it had broken down.
This router has a SIM card, it uses the mobile Internet of those operators that cover a specific area, the tariffs are quite affordable (better than the tariffs of local mobile operators).
Our version of the router works from an external battery or from the network, you can distribute the Internet to several mobile devices, up to 5 pieces. It was very convenient.
In some albergues, there is no wifi ,because locals support pilgrims to communicate with each other.
Other Important Recommendations
1.Training
I recommend training for several months in order to be able to overcome sections of 12- 19 miles in any terrain.
I also recommend doing strength exercises for the lower limbs and body, as well as exercises for flexibility, stretching, as during training, and at the end of each stage, to relax the muscles and joint tension.
2.Documents
Always have an ID with you, keep things in plain sight, keep money in a safe place and distributed in different places, always walk on marked roads, make sure that there is enough charge on your mobile phone.
3.Clothes
Wear brightly colored clothing with reflective details so you can be seen, try to walk on the side of the road against the direction of traffic and always in single file.
For any emergency, call 112, or if you prefer, 092 or 091 if you are near the city, and 062 if you are in the countryside.
4.Control Your Thoughts
It is equally important to set out on the journey with an open mind available to touch this deep experience of the journey.
Every step, every encounter with other pilgrims, open to what the path presents you.
The path of St. James is a metaphor for our life, each stage of the path is a stage of our life.
My Experience at Albergues on Camino Way
Usually, any Albergue is nice, clean, modern, with a kitchen.
There are always separate rooms.
Besides us, there were only two pilgrims there: the Italian Antonio and an elderly Swiss (we do not know his name), we later met with them several times.
Instead of sticks or a staff, Antonio had an umbrella-cane, and during the rain he used it for its intended purpose, it looked funny.
He walked very fast, at a speed of 4.35 mph, and always arrived at Alberga before anyone else.
There was no Internet in Alberg, but there was an announcement that there was Wi-Fi in the square and its password was indicated.
We went on a tour of the church and sat in the square to call our beloved.
Alone on Camino Way
Many people go alone on Camino Way, both men and women.
But I wouldn’t go this route alone.
I once read the statistics of deaths in Camino for many years on the site of the office of the Cathedral.
Most often because of heart attack, and, often at night after a difficult stage, there was even a case when a guy of 16 years old died for this reason.
Also – heat stroke (that’s why the site does not recommend going in the summer via Via de la Plata, from Seville, and Via Madrid too), and also, pilgrims die on highways.
Fortunately, all this rarely happens.You can walk there, but also ride, with the exception of the last 62 miles, which must be done on foot.