Funny But True Things about the Camino de Santiago

Funny But True Things about the Camino de Santiago

On Monday, June 27th, 2016, I embarked on perhaps one of my greatest adventures of my life. I flew to Europe and made my way to France so that I could fulfill Adventure Activities and Experiences Bucket list item:

#109) Walk the Camino de Santiago from France to Santiago, Espana.

The Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of St. James, is 490+ mile pilgrimage across Spain. There are multiple routes, but I had decided to join the traditional Camino Frances Route. This route, in general, starts in St Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the Pyrenees. From there, I became a pilgrim or peregrino and began my walk toward Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Why does one walk the Camino?

The main purpose for the Camino is to make your way to the city of Santiago de Compostela. It is here where it is believed that the remains of the Apostle St. James the Greater are buried. But, people make the pilgrimage for many other reasons. Some use it as a retreat for their spiritual growth. Others walk to discover their past or reveal their future. There are even some people walking in hopes that a miracle. To them, they believe that the Camino may heal them or someone they love. It all kind of sounds like some mystical, religious, self-discovery adventure right out of a C.S. Lewis or Paulo Coehlo novel.

People walk the Camino de Santiago for many reasons. But while you walk, there are some funny but true things & even a few insanities that'll accompany you on this journey. #CaminodeSantiago #CaminoFrances #BuenCamino Click To Tweet

Funny But True Things about the Camino de Santiago

Graffiti wall art found along the Camino Frances Route of the Camino de Santiago
For me, I walked for a mix of it all discovered a lot about myself and my relationship to others. But while you walk on the Camino for days on end, there are also many real-life quirks, funny truths, and even insanities that accompany you on this journey.

Here are some of the funny but true things about the Camino de Santiago I learned along the Way:

1) You will give away the deed to your house back home for a bottom bunk

It doesn’t seem to matter if you are 18 or 80, the idea of climbing up to the top bunk at the end of a hard day of walking is enough to make anyone cry! In most albergues, it is kind of a first come first serve situation, while in others they have an over 40 rule.  However, you will bargain your treasures for the bottom bunk. If you are unfortunate enough to get the top bunk, then you must take care of everything before the climb because you will then enter the contest of “how long can I hold it before I have to climb back down to use the bathroom!”

2) You will politely HATE ALL CYCLISTS!

Two Riders on bikes along the Camino de Santiago, in Spain
The first time you see a cyclist struggling to push their bicycles loaded with their saddle bags up a mountain, a sense of pity will encompass you.  Don’t fret, that will only last about 4 hours because then you will pray for them to crash down a mountain.  Why? Because these cyclist will come zipping by you, out of no where, at top speeds nearly clipping your arms and shoving you off the trail as they happily shout, “Buen Camino!” It’s insanity to say the least.  They own a $1,000 bicycle and can’t afford an effing $2.00 bell to warn you!  Stupid Cyclists… “Buen effin Camino!!”

3) By day three everyone qualifies as a registered podiatrist

Feet, feet, feet!  Everyone discusses their feet or the feet of others on the Camino.  Between blisters, bruises, twisted ankles, and lost toe nails every possible subject regarding feet is discussed – by everyone!  The earliest records of visits paid to the shrine dedicated to St. James at Santiago de Compostela date from the 9th century. So, as you walk you will start to wonder what type of space aged leather the pilgrims used for shoes as the Roman roads beat your feet into mush like Ivan Drago beat Apollo Creed’s face in Rocky IV!

Safety Tip: Walking the Camino de Santiago is a relatively safe adventure. But as in any place you travel please use common sense and stay to main areas while exploring. Plus, with any physical activity, please make sure you pay attention to your body. To give you some added security while in Spain, we strongly recommend that you consider getting Travel Insurance from World Nomads.  It is simple and flexible insurance to keep you safe while tackling any bucket list adventure.

4) Everyone has seen The Way, read The Pilgrimage, & owns a Brierly guidebook

Reading my Brierly guidebook and keeping a daily journal while smoking a cigar along the Camino de Santiago
You are so excited to start walking in the beginning, especially after seeing THE WAY or reading The Pilgrimage or your Brierly guidebook!  You will ask everyone if they have seen or read them and openly admit that you they are the catalyst to this adventure for you.  I mean why not, they make it seem so wonderful and easy!  But by the first week, you will wonder what map Martin Sheen had because his character was all over the place! On day 2 you will start to create voodoo dolls of John Brierly and wonder if he has ever even walked the Camino because this is way harder than he describes.  With regards to The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coehlo, you will think he must have been tripping out on some serious shrooms as you walk through towns he visited and had his visions yet see nothing that resembles the mystical world!

5) Spain’s metric system is more of a general average rather than an exact science

Eric Gamble looking at a Santiago de Compostela Sign post with how many kilometers left to walk
Perhaps one of the most insane and funny but true things about the Camino de Santiago has to do with math. Spain’s definition of 1 kilometer seems to vary from place to place and sign to sign with a +/- variance of +4 or +10! Wait or was it -22?

But seriously, reading your guidebook or maps will drive you insane as you walk for endless kilometers on end with no similar scale from day to day.  Even legitimate government road signs will vary along the many hours you spend walking toward Santiago, only to find out the next sign added 5 kilometers to the initial sign you read that morning!

6) You will hate energy & water conservation, but only in the bathroom

Spain seems to be doing wonderful work with energy conservation as you see the beautiful horizons lined with windmills.  However, after awhile you are willing to sign any petition that will get the timers off the bathroom lights or the shower water button to last longer than 38 seconds!

7) No one will question that you are following graffiti to your destination

One of the Million Yellow painted Arrows pointing Pilgrims the right direction along the Camino de Santiago

The Camino de Santiago might be the only time in your life where you will deliberately follow crappy yellow spray painted arrows across an entire country and no one will think you are crazy!  I mean imagine if you were back home and you told your parents that you found some spray paint markings under some bridges or on random trees & you wanted to see where they led. They would definitely try to talk you out of it! But on the Camino, you search for them and start get nervous when you don’t see them after awhile!

8) You will carry the Camino with you every day

No this isn’t some sort of deep thought! This is a literal statement.  Of course, you will carry with you, the symbol of a pilgrim, your scallop shell. But also, every time you take off your boots you will pour out pounds of dirt, rocks, and unknown particles!  Suddenly you will feel like Andy from the Shawshank Redemption as he emptied his escape route into the prison yard.

9) You will become a Pyrenees Snob

Well you might become a Pamplona snob, a Burgos snob, a Leon snob, or another location snob to anyone who starts after you! I mean come on, you suffered far harder circumstances and have become an expert on the Camino in the 3 days before they started! Well, everyone can agree that the jerks that start in Sarria will never understand! It’s weird when you realize your contempt for those who start in Sarria as they complete the bare minimum length of the Camino.  Even in John Brierly’s guidebook, he warns to “Beware of signs of irritation at the intrusion on ‘my’ camino…” as new pilgrims enter at Sarria!

10) You will Gain Weight

Three friends drinking Pints of Estrella Beer after a long day walking the Camino de Santiago
The Camino de Santiago must be the only event where you will burn 9 million calories a day hiking and come home 15 lbs. heavier! How? Perhaps, it is because the only things to do besides walking is eating & drinking!  Every day you stop for a second and third breakfast before lunch. Then, there is the pilgrim’s menu served everyday for $10 or less where you eat like Arnold getting ready for a Mr. Universe body building competition.  Plus, with 95% of the Camino participating in Siesta, the only thing you have to do in the afternoons is eat and drink wine or ice cold pints of beer!

11) Everyone smiles in the same language

Eric Gamble enjoying a day of laughter with new Korean friends along the Camino de Santiago
It doesn’t matter where people are from or how good your foreign language skills are, you will be able to talk to anyone – if you want. Don’t get me wrong, you may become an expert at charades by the end of the Camino, but it will be worth all the laughter and memories!

How to walk your own Camino to Santiago de Compostela

 

 

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38 thoughts on “Funny But True Things about the Camino de Santiago

  1. Haha I laughed out loud a lot reading this post. “You will bargain all your treasures for the bottom bunk!” I get it and I haven’t even embarked on the walk. I can totally imagine the contempt towards the ‘cheaters’ who wander in at Sarria. I can see how much you would learn and grow as a soul through an experience like this. You go through all of the thoughts and emotions and yet still endure. I can almost hear you saying these quirks out loud through gritted teeth as you follow the yellow spray-painted signs for yet another day.

  2. The math part made me laugh so much “exact science” >0< I can see myself gaining weight from eating and drinking too! It's THE best to sit down and enjoy a cold glass of beer after a long day of walking.

    1. Definitely, I was kind of shocked after walking so much how I didn’t lose a single pound but then I remembered all those amazing Tortilla breakfasts, the tons of Beer and Tinta wine and pounds of Chorizo I kept eating!

  3. Eric, you had me in splits reading this post! From Coehlo tripping out on shrooms to the magical bottom bunk. And a sign adding 5 kilometres to the initial sign, haha, Spain’s metric system does sound insane!

    It sounds like a wonderful adventure and I’m glad you got to check off an item from your bucket list. I’m sure you will carry the Camino with you forever, and I mean the lessons learnt from it, of course, not the pounds of dirt & rocks in your boots!

  4. This was funny, light hearted and I learned so much. I love all the little nuances, I would die over those road signs not being correct, and so agree about the cyclists.

  5. One of my favorite things about Europe has always been that I eat like crazy when I am there, but don’t gain weight because the food is real and I walk so much. I would think the Camino would be so magical that there was no way I could gain weight. `

    1. Haha, yeah I ate and drank like I was starving every day & didnt really gain anything while walking the Camino Frances route! Best side effect ever!

  6. This was such a fun read! I don’t know that I could ever make the pilgrimage myself, but it sounds like you had a wonderful journey!

  7. This was such a fun list to read. I would agree that I would want water and electricity to last a bit longer for the loo. At least a minute for the lights! I also would not have imagined one gaining weight when so much walking is involved.

  8. I heard some great things about the Camino, I would love to do it but I’m not sure I could deal with the crowds, it looks very busy. The food and drink would be great after a hard day’s walk though!

    1. There were some days where you completely walk alone and others when you walk with a group. But ultimately it is up to you on how you travel. I went completely by myself and decided to make friends along the way. But there are many who walk alone and reflect. I would say it is probably less crowded than several of my big hikes on the PCT or Appalachian Trail on certain days!

  9. I know several people who have done the Camino De Santiago walk. None reported any miracles however! I can imagine that everyone is talking about feet. Except maybe those crazy bicycle riders! The 38 second shower might be a game ender for me. Although beer drinking during siesta may be a draw. Congratulations on your accomplishment. I am sure the memories will last a lifetime.

  10. I have seen and read about it too. Inspired, but not enough to actually do it! Good for you. I have hiked a portion of the trail in the Pyrenees, Spain but it was an easy 4-5 km picturesque hike, not the gruelling day in and day out hike you did.

  11. I thought walking the Camino would be something I would be interested… until you spoke about top bunks. In junior high church camp I fell off the top bunk, freezing on the floor in pain until people woke up in be morning. I would never be able to sleep on one ever again. There goes that dream….

    1. haha, well I did it very simply Jamie. Of course, there were people who paid for Pensions or even small hotel rooms along the way. I tended to be in bunks to save money for food and wine and because I was walking with a friend from Ireland and it was better price wise for us to share a bunk bed!

  12. Omg! I’ve always wanted to do the Camino!!! Was literally strategizing how to do several weeks away and have the husband join me at the end when Covid hit! Great list.

    1. Hey Jordan,
      Of course this post is the funny aspects of the Camino de Santiago. However, for me, walking the Entire Camino Frances and then adding the Camino Finisterre and Camino Muxia afterward was pretty life changing for me! I hope to be able to return and take Darcee on the Camino Portugese route because we have a new deep devotion to Our Lady of Fatima that Darcee chose for us on our wedding day!

  13. My husband did the Camino last year and came home 10kg lighter but seemed to have a beer in his hand in every photo! I can’t wait to do it in 2023

    1. Haha, to be fair, I think I came back a pound or two lighter and a bit more tanned as well! But, it wasn’t for a lack of trying not to eat my daily weight in Menu del Dia or drink all the Rioja in Spain!!

  14. This sounds so frickin amazing! I didn’t even know I wanted to do this until I read this post (I actually didn’t even know this was a thing to do if I am being honest).

    I got so caught up reading your post, I almost forgot to stumble! oops. I will make up for it by subscribing 🙂

    1. Haha, thank you so much Dara! The Camino is a Fabulous Adventure that has been around for hundreds of years. I hope that one day you get to enjoy it as I did, it was amazing

  15. Nice writing! Ha! I have to admit to being totally a lamb, and a wuss 🙂

    The only things I could agree with/commiserate on is that I hate cyclists everywhere. I hate them politely except in my head. And mopeds. If I was President, my first law would be all cyclists and mopeds have to get over when a car comes.

    My grand-dog is a Pyrenees. Can that count for something? And I love me some Andy Dufrane.

    I’ll just be over here sitting on the couch eating Cheetos (and ham), hearing about your adventures.

  16. This is incredible and insightful! One of the first things Mr. Nerd and I plan on doing when we travel full time is tackle the Camino, and it made me laugh to read about how NOT like The Way it is (and yes, we’ve both seen it, haha). Even if we gain weight, have to sleep on the top bunk, and fend off insane cyclists, it sounds like a journey of a lifetime! So glad you could experience it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us!

    1. I agree Anna I think you guys definitely need to walk the Camino and accept everything that it has to offer! It was truly one of the greatest experiences I’ve had despite the insanity! I wouldn’t change it for the world! I hope you get the chance with mr. Nerd to be able to have the same if not a greater experience as I did

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