.. Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using them, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support! For me, the name Sarajevo has always evoked memories of the early-mid 90s. I was in middle school, Bill Clinton was president, Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan were making headlines ahead of the '94 Olympics. We were seeing snippets of Sarajevo on the news, but not really understanding the impact of what was going on. I was originally going to visit Sarajevo with some friends that were coming to visit me in Barcelona (one of whom is Bosnian), but we didn’t end up going. But the idea was planted and I wanted to go, so I went solo. At first, I wasn’t sure if it was safe to go alone to Sarajevo. Sarajevo didn’t exactly seem to be a top 10 vacation destination. But I started talking to people that had traveled to Sarajevo solo and had loved it. Now that I’ve been, I don’t know why I was ever worried. I suppose it was just fear of the unknown. But what I found was beautiful landscapes, cheap beer, great food, kind people, and of course, a tumultuous history. But as Neno the tour guide said, you don’t have to walk around wearing a bulletproof vest as the war’s been over for over 20 years. He laughed when he said it but it’s sad to think that was actually the reality such a short time ago. Sarajevo is a really interesting city because of the blending of cultures - you can find cathedrals, Continue Reading
Stages on the Camino Frances from Astorga to Santiago
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. (It also contains a lot of numbers and data because I love numbers and data.) If you make a purchase using them, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support! In September 2017 I hiked the last 265 kilometers (approximately 165 miles) of the Camino Frances, one of the routes that make up the Camino de Santiago. I walked from Astorga to Santiago (distance is according to what I tracked on Runkeeper but according to the magnet I bought it’s officially 260.4 kilometers). This article outlines the stages between Astorga and Santiago that I completed, and some of my experiences along the Camino. The best thing about the Camino is that you can choose to make each day as short as long as you want, this is by no means a set itinerary. I walked a total of 11 days, an average of 15 miles (24 km) a day, with the longest day being close to 18 miles (29 km) and the shortest being 12.5 miles (20.12 km). For other information on the Camino de Santiago, be sure to check out my other posts regarding costs, a packing list, and other resources! Here is a summary of the stages and the hotels and albergues I stayed in. You can also click on the stage to skip to the details of that stage. Day Origin-Destination Walking Distance Accommodation Type of Accommodation Travel Day Barcelona-Astorga N/A Hotel Gaudi Hotel with private Continue Reading
Resources and Tips for the Camino de Santiago (Camino Frances)
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using them, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support! Resources and Tips for the Camino de Santiago aka what I wish I knew before starting the Camino de Santiago! I have compiled my collection of resources and tips for the Camino de Santiago, including guidebooks/apps, what types of albergues you may encounter, how to get your Compostela, etc. (If you want to know what the Camino de Santiago is, check out this post!) I have broken this guide down into the following sections: Digital Resources for the Camino ForWalk Digital Guide Camino Companion App Runkeeper App Facebook Group Forum Where to Start on the Camino Frances Getting Your Credencial del Peregrino Types of Albergues on the Camino Frances Donativo Municipal Private Booking Albergues on the Camino Getting your Compostela Beyond Santiago de Compostela Digital Resources for the Camino There is a ton of information on the web and a ton of different mobile apps relating to the Camino, and it can get a bit confusing. The ones I ended up using are below. ForWalk: web/e-book With ForWalk, you can sign up for a free account and create your own route guide for yourself, based on starting point and walking speed, and download it as an e-book to your mobile device. It includes information for albergues available at each stop, with price Continue Reading
How much does it cost to hike the Camino de Santiago?
How much should you expect to spend hiking the Camino de Santiago? (If you want to know what the Camino de Santiago is, check out this post!) My 11 day trek from Astorga to Santiago in September 2017 cost around 25€ ($30 USD) per day, including accommodation. This doesn't factor in transportation costs getting there and leaving. I also booked a private hotel room for about 60€ each for my first and last nights, which also wasn't factored into this daily amount. Transportation ~ 165€ Transportation to and from came out to about 165€ as I was already in Barcelona. I took the train to Astorga, and flew back from La Coruña in the north of Spain via a bus that cost approximately 15€. If I hadn’t waited until the last minute to book my return flight it would have been even cheaper. Accommodation and Food (daily expenses) ~ 275€ (for 11 days) For the 11 days I was hiking, I paid between 6-12€ a night depending on whether or not I stayed in a municipal (government run albergue, which I did once, for 6€) or private albergues (between 9-12€). They also have donativos which are technically free but you'll want to donate a little something (I think 10€ is fair, depending on amenities). Most all of the towns have the “menu del peregrino” or Pilgrim Menu which is a daily menu offering of generous portions of 2 courses, a drink and dessert for around 9-10€. If you order wine (which I obviously did) they will usually be VERY generous with the amount they give you. I also usually Continue Reading