Planning for the Camino - Part 1. Training

Before embarking on a journey to Santiago we usually feel a lot of excitement, but we also have many doubts and questions that we want answers to. How do I reach my departure point? Which route should I take? Carry my bag or send it to my next stop? Do I choose a more busy or a more quiet route? Should I walk or go by bike? There is a lot of useful information for pilgrims out there so here we try to condense some of the answers and fill in your gaps in several posts. 

Let's get started! 

1. Preparing ourselves for the walk

Walking the Camino is both physically and mentally challenging. Most of us are not used to walking several tens of kilometers with a backpack on our shoulders for many days in a row. This does not mean that we should not or cannot do just that if we are not in our best shape to begin with. It just means that we might want to train ourselves into longer walks with a load, and the shoes! We are all different and it is of course up to each and every one of us to decide whether we will train or not, with the bag or without it.

Normally we would start taking short walks with a light load, 4 times a week, around 2 months prior to departure. Try to gradually increase both the length of the walk and load in your bag. This will also help you know how much luggage you can carry without it being too demanding. The most important thing with training is to achieve a constancy in time so that both body and mind get used to the wear and tear of walking on a continuous basis. Beating ourselves up the week before traveling will only have us starting the journey with sore muscles and at risk of injury. So give yourself the time you need! Plan ahead!

BUEN CAMINO!! ⧝

Making the Camino better and safer for our Pilgrims!

The goal - Santiago de Compostela - is of course important, but the Camino itself also matters a lot.

Looking forward to the Holy Year 2021 the Xunta de Galicia is investing more than 12 million euros in order to improve the signaling of 1,600 kilometers of pilgrimage routes. The Camino maintenance plan foresees a total investment of 15.6 million euros on the different routes throughout the whole of Galicia, about 1,250 kilometers of routes in 121 municipalities. The largest investment of about 1.7 million euros will go to the French Camino, through which 57% of pilgrims travel to get to Santiago de Compostela every year.

Source https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/galicia/2020/01/04/

What is Cee YoU Walking in Spain?

Hi!

We are Cecilia and Urban - Cee & U - and we are here to help you plan your once-in-a-lifetime travel and walk through the gorgeous landscapes of Northern Spain on the Camino de Santiago Francés.

But why do you need US you'd think.... well, there are quite many things to take into account when planning your trip, and it can be both complicated and really time-consuming. Some things can be somewhat overwhelming for you to handle on your own. Especially if you don't speak Spanish! Some of the most common questions to deal with are e.g.
How do you start organizing your Camino de Santiago?
Are you doing the whole Camino or just some stages?
Where do you want to start?
When do you want to do it?
How many weeks can you dedicate to this?
What is the best time of the year to do it?
How will you get to your starting point?
How many hours/km can you walk a day?
On foot, by bike, with your pet, on horseback. How do you prefer to experience your Camino?
How much/what type of luggage will you have with you?
Are you carrying it through the Camino or do you want it sent to your destination of the day?
What type of accommodation is best for you? Do you want to book in advance or maybe not?
What do you need to do
- Before starting?
- While you walk?
- By the end?

Having spent some years now living in Spain and managing a B&B on the Camino Francés, we are familiarized with most of the troubles you could face. And we have helped a number of customers, familiý members, friends, and acquaintances minimize possible headaches, making their experience one of the best to remember for life! Being fluent in 3 languages (Swedish - Spanish - English) really does help! Knowing the area as locals is also a great advantage.

All of our knowledge, expertise and engagement we will put to your service.  We are here to save you time, money and most of all, disappointment and trouble through your journey. So we are looking forward to Cee YoU Walking in Spain!

Buen Camino!