Taking breaks. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Well, it does if you’re well used to the Camino experience, but it’s not so obvious to those considering the Camino for the very first time. We know full well that the Camino can intimidate. The prospect of walking long distances for several days is daunting, yes, but let’s not exaggerate the task either. Whether as a result of inexperience or faulty reports, there is a presumption out there that walking a section of the Camino requires an almighty effort to complete. Turning such misconceptions about the Camino on their head is one of the goals of this blog series. The purpose of the last blog was to remind people about a fundamental part of CaminoByTheWay’s service, one that helps you cover long distances on foot—namely, luggage transfer, transporting your luggage from one hotel to the next, thus removing the challenge of carrying a heavy backpack as you hike along. In this blog, we address an aspect of Camino walking that, like all things glaring, is often overlooked.
TAKING BREAKS ALONG THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO
Feelings of apprehension towards the Camino are sometimes based on the assumption that a day’s stage has to be completed in one go, from start to finish, as if it were a race or an official athletic challenge with stipulations. It’s no such thing. A challenge, yes, but an arduous test of physical strength with the prospect of disqualification if you don’t adhere to the rules? Not at all. In fact, it’s pretty much the opposite: An undertaking that is physically feasible and free of conditions determining success or failure.
So, bottom line, we never walk a stage in one go. We take scheduled breaks. And here’s why they’re great:
- You get to taste that café con leche, té verde or whatever
refreshment you’ve been picturing in your head since three kilometres back.
- These are moments to relax, reflect and remind yourself of the things that have brought you hear in the first place.
- These can be social moments, too, opportunities to share your experience with other pilgrims over a snack, to hear tell of fascinating backgrounds and personal stories, to offer solidarity and support—the true ingredients of the Camino journey.
- Maybe you’re the type to pore over a map or read about the history of the hamlet you’ve found yourself in. Our scheduled breaks provide the perfect opportunity to learn, to increase knowledge.
- Why not practice your Spanish? Learn a few key phrases
before you leave home (ordering food/drink, asking for directions, etc.) and try them out in any of the bars or cafés you stop in along the way. You’re in another country now and if you want to communicate with the locals, the responsibility is on you to learn a little of their language. Think about it: If you’re going to set yourself the challenge of walking over 20 kilometres a day for several days, you may as well throw the basics of Spanish into the mix as well.
- If none of the above appeal to you, then there’s nothing stopping you from simply putting your feet up and recharging in silence.
So that’s the lowdown on breaks. A day’s stage always features carefully selected scheduled breaks in the villages or towns we encounter along our route. Our stops respond to factors such as the length or grade of the stage; on longer days, for example, we’ll take an extra break or squeeze in lunch. Sounds so simple, doesn’t it? All the more reason to spotlight it.
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