The Camino Primitivo is the most challenging of all the ways to Santiago de Compostela but also the most rewarding ones as you will pass through the untouched nature of Asturias.

There are less people on the Primitivo than on the Frances or the Portugues and you can enjoy the scenery all for yourself at some times.

However, I seem to be spoiled as one my followers, Sindre Sandvik is currently walking the Camino Primitivo and uploading videos on a daily basis. He has formed a great Camino family and you can really feel that a bond has been formed. Check out his blog Sindrealmost.com.

This morning, Andrew Suzuki uploaded a new video to his “Beyond the Way” series (entited The Professor & his Puppies). In it, he talks to Mark, a veteran firefighter from Manchester who started his Camino in torrential weather and was close to giving up and heading home due to bad blisters. However, he met some great people and they are one of the reasons he has stayed and continued. You will never beat a Camino family! They give encouragement when down and meeting new people are what draw me back year on year. The end of the video is just perfect though, when Andrew travels forward to meet his first Camino family as they walk into Santiago!

The Future for Beyond The Way: More of Andrew’s videos can be found on his website Beyondtheway.net. He has been creating inspiring videos both about planning for the Camino de Santiago (Don’t Stop Walking) or about his time walking the Camino (Beyond The Way) since the end of 2014 and the above is part 8 of 10. Once the last episode is over, he wants to continue. Season 2 is being planned with more goodness for us Caminoholics! However, Andrew is relying on those who have watched his videos to support him while he produces Season 2 and beyond. An Indiegogo site has been created so you can contribute. By passing on what you can, he will send you perks including social media shout-outs, behind the scenes footage, baseball caps, photos and a badge to sew to your backpack. But most of all, you are helping by passing on real stories, tears and humour from the Way. This is the real thing, blisters and all.

Links:
www.beyondtheway.net
Beyond The Way Indiegogo
YouTube channel
Beyond The Way on Facebook
I’m a BTW supporter, are you?

Around 7 kilometres outside of the town of Astorga is La Casa de los Dioses,  the Home of the Gods. It is not a hotel, an albergue or anything fancy, but quite the opposite. It is a small piece of property owned by David Vidal (link to google maps). This was the most interesting donativo (donation only) that I have encountered on the Camino Frances. This building is the definition of simplicity and he was offering drinks and fruit while not asking for money. Each morning, he travels the short distance to Astorga, buys what he needs and gives what he has to pilgrims that pass. He is what the Camino should be about, keeping it simple and giving what we have to help our fellow pilgrims. Money doesn’t mean much to David. I admire that.

On passing his humble abode in 2012, I wasn’t quite sure what to make of it but there were many people stopping to ask him why he was doing this. Something must have hit him to give up a working life and to live on the Camino. He said to me that he believes that it is all about sharing. That’s a strong reason, no doubt! Last year, 2015, David had moved his building slightly and had started to build a garden to grow. He loves to talk, and is really happy to have pilgrims stop by for a while. The below video shows you La Casa de los Dioses and David talks for a while. Don’t forget to take a few pictures when you pass as the Camino will miss him if or when he goes.

While I type, the Republic of Ireland football team are preparing for their 2nd round match with France tomorrow at the European Championships in Lyon. Thousands of fans have made their way there by plane, bus, train and caravan to support the team. Each and every fan have behaved superbly with the French calling them the best fans. But this is nothing new. Every supporter who has traveled in the past has given the country a great name.

This is very much the same for people who travel to the Camino. Obviously, they may not be celebrating in the same way as Irish supporters, but they give this country a good name and it’s rare that you would not meet one or two each day. For 2015, 5.367 Irish pilgrims received compostelas in Santiago. If you put that in perspective, 5.417 people from a much larger USA received a compostela. In 2013, I met a group from a college in Dublin who were well loved by their fellow pilgrims. I also met J and C whom I keep in touch with to this day. In 2014, I started my Camino in St. Jean Pied de Port with an Irish girl and walked a full day with one man up and over the Alto de Perdon. And last year, my family was made up with 2 Irish people. I hope to walk with them in the future.

While the whole idea of the Camino is to walk a pilgrimage to Santiago, meeting people from around the world and learning from them, it’s good to meet people from the own country the odd time. The Camino Society in Ireland has been doing trojan work spreading the word of the Camino and long may that continue. Also, in recent years, a number of Caminos inside of Ireland have sprung up for those who do not wish to travel to Spain. I may walk one or two of those. But my next aim is to walk to Finistere. I hope I meet some Irish!

Do you have any fond memories of Irish people while on your Camino? Let me know in the comment box below.

It’s the weekend once again and the sun is out in Dublin. I feel it’s about time to post another Weekend Watch. This video has been on YouTube for a month or so now and is probably the most realistic videos I have watched regarding the Camino. The pilgrim, Jamie Nicoll, started his Camino in St Jean Pied de Port in April 2014 and from there, he has brief conversations with the people he meets. These brief conversations turn to friendships and you can see the friendships, as well as the aches and pains, grow as the video and his Camino goes on. It is a little bit long at 2 hours but if you have some time to spare, it is well worth the watch. Keep an eye out for a number of Irish peregrinos! 🙂