YOU on the Camino de Santiago

JOIN ME ON THE TERRACE OF THE SPANISH BAR How many months did you spend – or have you spent – planning and preparing for your pilgrimage? What if you planned to spend that much time on bringing back the benefits of your journey? It's an interesting question, yes? The thing is, we can't really avoid spending that time integrating the Camino into our lives - it has to be done - so I think a better question is how do we do that well? That's what this big reveal is all about. How do we keep that spirit alive? The answer: community   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

WHEN IT'S TIME FOR YOU *** The podcast is taking a break next week and will return on Tuesday, July 15*** Some dreams have to be put on hold for a very long time. What I love about this week's pilgrim conversation is Katey's honesty and vulnerability as she explores the themes of her pilgrimage. Specifically, what is the significance of going after your dream – you know, the one you have been hanging onto for decades. And what happens when you finally give yourself permission to make that dream come true? Maybe you will hear parts of your own story in Katey's story.   GET ON MY EMAIL LIST . . . NOW! I have some exciting announcements coming up in July 2025. To be the first to hear of all the cool stuff coming your way, be sure to get on my email list. You will also get my Camino planning Roadmap and my Top 10 Camino tips (that don't usually show up on the top 10 lists). Go here: http://thecaminoexperience.com/roadmap    #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

TESTING BOUNDARIES, EXPLORING FAITH Telling our stories is such an important part of the Camino experience, and it starts long before we take our first steps on the trail. My guest this week, Eden, does an amazing job of showing just how important the pre-Camino story is. And she shows us that pilgrimage isn't just about the pilgrim; rather, it touches the lives of everyone who knows you are going to make this journey. You'll see. There's more to it, too. Eden reminds us that walking the Camino is so much more than the physical walk. So getting ready to walk the Camino can't be all about packing and getting the right backpack and boots and other gear. It also has to be about getting ready mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. This is a story of courage, on several fronts. I hope you enjoy it!   WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE MY GUEST? I am always looking for compelling stories to share on this podcast. Right now I am looking to talk with people who have walked more than one Camino and who can share about their experiences bringing the Camino home. Let me know you are interested here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/podcast-guest-request-form/    #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

THIS IS NO SMALL FEAT Life can be challenging at times, but what do you do when those tough times come at you rapid fire, one thing right after the next?  You walk the Camino. Life: no small feat The Camino: no small feat Pilgrim Kristen will be walking with one of her best friends, and they intend to walk an "entire Camino." Find out why, along with some solid inspiration to make this journey your own. Here are the shows Kristen talked about in the interview: Rick Steves' Europe on YouTube Alex Polizzi's Secret Spain on YouTube Alex Polizzi's Spectacular Spain on YouTube Here is the poem she shared: I Will Leave This House, by Joseph Auslander   BE THE FIRST TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT'S NEXT The Camino Experience has some exciting things coming your way soon. If you would like to be the first to know about them, join my email list and grab your free copy of my Top 10 Camino tips (that don't usually show up on the top 10 lists). Sign up here: https://pages.thecaminoexperience.com/tips    #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

SHARING MY BIG VISION! Today I have some updates on the pilgrim registration requirements and for the Francés route:  >> updates to the luggage transport services  >> new places to buy gear, and  >> where to find the best pizza And then my favorite topic:  >> How do we deal with the hardest part of the entire Camino experience?  >> How do we fill our lives with what I call Camino-grade experiences? To jump ahead to this part of the episode, when I talk about bringing home the Camino experience, go to the 14:20 minute mark. Here are the places mentioned in this episode:  >> Caminoteca pilgrim shop: https://caminoteca.com/  >> Rock N Roll Pizza: https://rockandrollpizza.es/  >> Jacotrans, use discount code DAG: https://www.jacotrans.es/en/ GET REGISTERED BEFORE YOU GO In 2025 and beyond, accommodation hosts are required to collect additional data on their guests. For a list of albergues currently using the Pilgrim Pass system, go here: https://pilgrim-pass.web.app/#/lodgings If you would like to get this taken care of before go, here is the website: https://cms-pilgrim-pass.web.app/preregistration TELL ME ALL ABOUT IT! If you have walked at least two Caminos, I would love to have you as a guest on the podcast to answer this question: What has been the secret of your success in bringing home your pilgrimage? Or maybe you haven't been all that successful. Let's talk about that too! You can let me know you're interested in being a guest here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/podcast-guest-request-form/   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

LET'S CLEAR UP A FEW THINGS! In this episode I am going to answer a handful of first-time pilgrim questions that are showing up nonstop on social media. Questions like: How hard is it, really? Do you have to train? What's the weather going to be like? Do I need a sleeping bag? Do I need to reserve a bed or room in advance? READY TO TELL YOUR STORY? I would love to help you do that! If your pilgrimage had an "alternative ending," meaning you didn't finish in Santiago, I would love to have you as a guest on the podcast. You can email me directly at nancy@thecaminoexperience.com or complete this form to let me know you are interested.   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

MAKING MEMORIES, LIVING HIS DREAMS My guest in this episode said yes to walking the Camino before he even knew what that really meant. Is it a leap of faith or simply saying yes to life? Either way, Ron shows us that now is the time to say take on those big dreams and goals. After losing nearly 80 lbs by eating less and moving more, Ron is ready to take on the physical, mental, and spiritual challenge of walking the Camino. Wondering about the "marvelous resource" Ron refers to during our conversation? That's the Camino Planning Kit, available at https://thecaminoexperience.com/kit/ It will take you from where you are now - wherever you are in the research and planning process - all the way to taking your first steps on the Camino Francés and beyond.   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

SAY YES. YES, THIS IS POSSIBLE. What happens when you sense a loud, clear calling to walk the Camino de Santiago? Well, you do it. You put some dates on the calendar and you plan this thing. That's what my guest today, Noel, did. The calling was mysterious yet unmistakable, so who was she to refuse it? And the timing coincides perfectly with a big milestone birthday, so this is the perfect time to take this journey.   DON'T MISS ANYTHING! Everything I offer to the pilgrim community is announced first on to my email list. You can join that list and also pick up your free copy of my Camino Planning Roadmap here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/roadmap/   FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA Looking for some Camino tips, wisdom, and inspiration? It's all here: https://www.facebook.com/TheCaminoExperience https://www.instagram.com/thecaminoexperience/   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

WHEN HEALING TAKES PLACE ON THE PILGRIMAGE TRAIL I hope you are ready to be inpsired, because today I have the compelling after-the-Camino story of US veteran Paul who walked the Camino last October with the life-changing program offered by Warriors on the Way. (https://warriorsontheway.org/) Warriors on the Way is a pilgrimage on the Camino De Santiago that is designed to facilitate a combat veteran's healing from PTSD and Moral Injury. This program works to reduce PTSD and Moral Injury symptoms, which in turn improves quality of life and helps in the effort to reduce the veteran suicide rate. The pilgrimage is led by Fr Steven Rindahl (US Army, Retired), who is an experienced pilgrim. Fr Steve has designed this pilgrimage based on his own pilgrimage experiences and supported by his doctorate in responding to combat trauma and through the US Army Chaplaincy course he developed and taught on how to provide a Ministerial Response to Moral Injury.   JOIN ME ON THE PODCAST? Do you have a story to tell? Of course you do! Let me know you are interested in being a guest on the podcast here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/podcast-guest-request-form/   FOLLOW ME ON THE CAMINO FRANCÉS During the month of May I will be posting tips and tricks right from the trail. Follow me here: https://www.facebook.com/TheCaminoExperience https://www.instagram.com/thecaminoexperience/ Or better yet, meet me out there somewhere!   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

THE WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, AND HOW OF IT Diana will be walking the Camino Portuguese with her daughter, and in this episode she reminds us that it is as important to plan the journey home from the Camino as it is to think about and plan the actual walking part. I won't spoil the surprise; instead, I will invite you to open your mind and heart to new ways of doing things. In all, this is a story of getting the most out of the pilgrimage experience, and noticing before you go that reaching Santiago de Compostela isn't the end of the journey. This is a story of love and the relationship between a mother and daughter, who are each finding their own reasons for making this pilgrimage, and for making it together. I also sneak in some thoughts on how to plan your return home from the Camino, in case you would like to make that transition go a little bit more smoothly.   LAST DAY TO TAKE 20% OFF THE CAMINO PLANNING KIT! Get your hands on all the instructions - all the how-tos – for how to plan your pilgrimage on the Camino Francés. But it has to be today if you want 20% off! Here's where to find it: https://thecaminoexperience.com/kit/   DON'T MISS ANYTHING! Everything I offer to the pilgrim community is announced first on to my email list. You can join that list and also pick up your free copy of my Camino Planning Roadmap here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/roadmap/   FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK OR INSTAGRAM I will be posting right from the Camino trail throughout most of May as I make my way from Logroño to Burgos and then from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona. (I know, it's a bit out of order. Crazy pilgrim that I am.) https://www.facebook.com/TheCaminoExperience https://www.instagram.com/thecaminoexperience/ Hope to see you out there!   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

WHAT CHALLENGES DO COUPLES FACE ON THE CAMINO? Claire and Richard walked the Camino Francés in 2023 and had the time of their lives. While they walked the same trail, the same day-to-day stages, and they stayed in the same places every night, they still had their own unique experiences. What is it like to walk the Camino with a partner? Well, it's time to find out. The book we talked about is called In Movement There is Peace: Stumbling 500 Miles Along the Way to the Spirit, by Elaine Orabona Foster and Joseph Wilbred Foster III.   NOW THROUGH MAY 6 - 20% OFF THE CAMINO PLANNING KIT! Imagine a box delivered to your doorstep with everything you need – all the instructions, all the how-tos – for how to plan your pilgrimage on the Camino Francés. Imagine that rather than searching high and low on the internet to find the answers you need, you have it all in one place, at your fingertips, on one website or on in one app. That is the Camino Planning Kit, and now through May 6, 2025, you can take 20% off and get started right away with putting together your pilgrimage plan. Here's where to find it: https://thecaminoexperience.com/kit/   FOLLOW ME ON THE CAMINO FRANCÉS During the month of May I will be posting tips and tricks right from the trail. Follow me here: https://www.facebook.com/TheCaminoExperience https://www.instagram.com/thecaminoexperience/ Or better yet, meet me out there somewhere!   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

6 FRIENDS MAKE THE JOURNEY TO SANTIAGO Kimberly shows us the value of making this pilgrimage with friends, with "your people." Any way you do it is valid, and I believe that each person ultimately chooses the way that is best for them, but there is definitely something to be said for sharing this journey with people who know you well, who know you at your best and at your worst and who love you anyway. Did someone say cheesecake?!? Yes! Here is where you find the best cheesecake in Santiago de Compolstela: Airas Nunes Café (easy to find with Google maps or similar)   GET YOUR CAMINO PLAN TOGETHER - 20 % OFF! The promotion on the Camino Planning Kit starts on Friday, April 25, here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/kit/   FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK OR INSTAGRAM I will be posting right from the Camino trail as I make my way from Logroño to Burgos and then from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona. (I know, it's a bit out of order. Crazy pilgrim that I am.) https://www.facebook.com/TheCaminoExperience https://www.instagram.com/thecaminoexperience/ Hope to see you out there!   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

READY FOR A WHOLE BUNCH OF PILGRIM WISDOM? It's all here! Pilgrim Sandra is taking a thoughtful and well thought out approach to her Camino experience. There's gold in here! Here is the pilgrim planning resource in Porto (Nicoletta) that Sandra used: https://your-camino.com/  WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU FACED? If you have already walked one of the Camino routes, I would love to hear from you about what challenges you faced in returning home from the Camino. You can take the survey here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/aftersurvey/ BE ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO GET THE NEWLY REMODELED "CAMINO PLANNING KIT"! Promotion coming the last weekend in April. Let me know you are interested here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/promo/   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

WHAT IF YOU ONLY HAVE 21 DAYS? How do you break up the Camino Francés route if you have only 21 days for your pilgrimage? Jarrett and Amy tackled that challenge and came up with a plan that suits them perfectly. Find out how they did that, using this podcast and my Camino Francés Getting Started Audio Guide. Be the first to know when the audio guide gets its remodel and goes on sale at the end of April 2025. Go to https://thecaminoexperience.com/promo/ Here is the planning tool we talk about: https://godesalco.com/plan Full instructions for using the Godesalco tool and for how to plan your entire Camino journey are in the audio guide!   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

THE ENTIRE CAMINO EXPERIENCE Our pilgrim wisdom continues this week, this time with someone getting ready to walk the Camino, rather than with someone who has already walked. Today you are going to meet pilgrim Annie who is walking the Camino Francés this spring. You'll hear what Annie says about the intersection of human spirit and Camino spirit and how she intends to explore how the themes of surrender and restoration will work into her pilgrimage. I think Annie is going to speak for many of us, as she shares how she is being called to walk the Camino as a long walk with God, to discover what God is trying to do in her life. Beautiful, right? It reminds me that the Camino experience isn't a one-off experience. Yes, it can be an incredible experience, and there is so much to explore and discover along the many Camino routes. So much to see and feel and smell and taste and touch. It is truly a journey of the senses. Enjoy! READY TO TAKE YOUR FIRST STEP? Head back to season one, episode one to start at the true beginning, and don't forget to grab your free copy of Nancy's Camino Planning Roadmap: https://thecaminoexperience.com/roadmap/   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

WHY DO CAMINO CONNECTIONS HAPPEN SO QUICKLY? This is just one of the questions my guest Maurice and I ponder in this episode of the YOU on the Camino de Santiago podcast. Before he walked his first Camino, Maurice spent some time exploring the question of why he was going to do this pilgrimage. It's a question I recommend every pilgrim ponders. You may not know exactly why you want to walk the Camino, but simply by asking the question, you invite answers that may take you off in new and exciting directions. Here is the book we discussed: The Art of Pilgrimage, by Phil Cousineau   READY TO GET MOVING ON PLANNING YOUR PILGRIMAGE? Check out Nancy's 13-eBook series and watch your plans come together. https://thecaminoexperience.com/start/ For the DIY pilgrim. Or, let's do this together! Join the Camino Experience group in September - only two spots left as of March 25, 2025. Let me know you are interested here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/inquire   HOW TO PROCESS YOUR CAMINO EXPERIENCE WHILE IN SANTIAGO Here are the two places in Santiago that we talked about where pilgrims can go to process their pilgrimage: Pilgrim House in Santiago: https://www.pilgrimhousesantiago.com/ Camino Companions: https://www.fcjsisters.org/who-we-are/where-we-are/europe/camino-companions/    #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT OUT OF YOUR CAMINO EXPERIENCE? Colleen does. Walking the Camino isn't a life-long dream and she doesn't have a deeply compelling reason to walk the Camino. So why do it? Let's find out! Colleen also shares the common pilgrim concerns – how to find beds and if there will be beds available when they need them, how to use trekking poles without doing a lot of flailing about, how to pronounce those tricky Spanish words for the cities and towns you will be walking through. We talk about all those things and more in this episode. Here are the resources we talked about: How to use the straps on your trekking poles How to get the most out of your trekking poles How to pronounce Spanish place names LET'S GET YOUR CAMINO ON THE CALENDAR! If you are tired of dreaming and are ready to make this pilgrimage happen, or if one of your goals is to start the Camino Francés in September this year, let's connect. I still have three spots left in my September Camino Experience group, and I would love to have those go to three of my podcast listeners. https://thecaminoexperience.com/walk-with-me/ Email me at nancy@thecaminoexperience.com   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

A JOURNEY OF BECOMING Why walk the Camino de Santiago? Why walk it now? These are questions that will take you from the idea or dream of walking the Camino to a full-on pull to make it happen. In this episode, Janet shares her plans for walking the Caminho Português with her sister in a journey of becoming. And without too much consideration, she knows she will be doing it her way. Find out what that means as we explore Janet's plans and the health benefits of walking.   WALK WITH ME IN SEPTEMBER! If walking the Camino this year is one of your goals but you haven't quite gotten around to planning, or if you want to walk the Camino but the idea of getting started alone is holding you back, let's talk. I have four spots left in my September Camino Experience group, and I would love for you to take one of those spots. Interested? Go here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/walk-with-me/   JUST GETTING STARTED ON YOUR CAMINO PLANS? The Where to Start eBook series will take you from where you are now - wondering what to do first or next - all the way to getting your Camino on the calendar. Get it now: https://thecaminoexperience.com/where-to-start/   READY TO TELL YOUR CAMINO STORY? Be a guest on this podcast! Go here to let me know you are interested: https://thecaminoexperience.com/podcast-guest-request-form/   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

TURNING DOWN THE NOISE OF EVERYDAY LIFE For many people, the story of a Camino dream is a series of false starts. You hear about the Camino and hear its call, but it's not the right time to go. Then it is the right time, and you put some dates on the calendar, and something comes up – a significant family event, like a wedding, graduation or birth of a grandchild, a loved one gets sick or injured, you get sick or injured, there's a global pandemic, or you have to move unexpectedly. There are so many things that can derail our plans. Today I am talking with a pilgrim whose Camino dream has been brewing for quite a long time, and he is finally going to be taking his first steps on the trail next week. After a series of setbacks – some quite intense – Erik from Colorado has the perfect window to walk the Camino Francés. It's time for him to step away from the noise of everyday life and celebrate how far he has come.   GET YOUR CAMINO ON THE CALENDAR! If you are sensing that it is time to set the noise aside and get your Camino on the calendar, I would love for you to join me on the trail this September.  Walk with Nancy and a small group in September 2025 and get your pilgrimage off on the right foot. Learn more here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/walk-with-me/ Or send me an email to let me know you are interested: nancy@thecaminoexperience.com   GUIDEBOOK BY SANDY BROWN Here is the guidebook Erik mentioned in this episode: https://sandybrownbooks.com/ Sandy and his sister, Rocky, also run Pilgrim Paths, which leads guided walks throughout Europe. They offer a Concierge Service that books rooms and luggage transport along the Camino routes. Learn more at https://pilgrimpaths.net/   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO YOUR GOALS In this episode we pick up where we left off in episode 101 by taking my #1 strategy for goal success to an even deeper level. Then I am going to share with you five tactical steps and top ideas that will guarantee your success of reaching your Camino goals.   DO YOU NEED THE HIGH-LEVEL PLAN FOR HOW TO MAKE YOUR CAMINO DREAM A REALITY? Get your free copy of my Camino Planning Roadmap: https://pages.thecaminoexperience.com/roadmap and reach your goal of walking the Camino step by step by step.   WHAT'S STOPPING YOU FROM WALKING THE CAMINO? Bust through all your obstacles by starting your pilgrimage with my September 2025 Camino Experience group. Walk with me: https://thecaminoexperience.com/walk-with-me/   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

SAVED BY WALKING! Pilgrim Adam walks the Camino Portuguese to process and heal from some devastating losses . . . and finds his way to peace and connection. Content warning: My guest in this episode mentions his personal experience with suicide ideation and suicide within his circle of friends. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or is in a crisis situation, please know that help is available. If you are in the US, you can call 988 from any phone to access the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If you are outside of the US, there is a list of hotline numbers for the countries where most of my listeners reside below, as well as a Wikipedia link with numbers for additional countries. Again, help is available. And you deserve that help. If you are struggling, please reach out to one of the hotlines provided below, or to a trusted friend. RESOURCES  FOR SUICIDE AND CRISIS HELP : USA and Canada: call 988 For more help: https://988lifeline.org/ Australia: call 13 11 14 New Zealand: call 1737 Spain: call 024 United Kingdom: call 999, 112, or 0800 689 5652 For more help: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/behaviours/help-for-suicidal-thoughts/ The charity mentioned by Adam: https://www.thecalmzone.net/ List of global suicide crisis lines from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_suicide_crisis_lines MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE The albergue on the Caminho Português with the heated pool: https://www.gbchostel.com/   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

GO FROM CAMINO DREAM TO CAMINO REALITY Have you ever wanted something, dreamed about something, maybe even longed for something, but the wanting and dreaming wasn't making anything happen? What's missing there? Well, what's missing is a clear goal. In this episode I explore: Why we're not reaching our goals How to craft a goal that hits the mark My #1 success strategy for reaching your goals Let's do this!   READY TO GET YOUR CAMINO VISION ON? Here's how: https://pages.thecaminoexperience.com/visioning   IS 2025 YOUR YEAR TO WALK THE CAMINO? There are still spots available in my September 2025 Camino Experience groups. Get your Camino on the calendar! https://thecaminoexperience.com/walk-with-me/   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

THE 100th EPISODE! Thank you for tuning in and for making this podcast one of the most sought after and reliable resources for first time pilgrims walking the Camino routes in Spain, France, and Portugal. With this episode, the podcast hits a milestone – the 100th episode! I love milestones. I love the feeling of hitting a mark, of reaching a big goal, of noticing and noting when you do something significant. The significance for me is helping thousands of pilgrims get ready for their first-ever pilgrimage on one of the Camino routes. YOU on the Camino de Santiago! [grin] In this episode I lay out where we are heading next: we will be following two different themes that are sure to inspire you and also ensure your Camino dreams becomes a reality.   I NEED YOUR INPUT! What happens after the Camino? That is my "topic of the year", in terms of creating impactful content for my listeners. To help me hit the mark on that, will you take a few minutes to complete this survey? https://thecaminoexperience.com/aftersurvey/   WALK WITH ME IN SEPTEMBER Overcome your fears and doubts about walking the Camino by joining my September Camino Experience group. Details are here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/walk-with-me/   JUST GETTING STARTED ON YOUR CAMINO JOURNEY? Don't miss a step with my Camino Planning Roadmap! Available from the home page of my website, https://thecaminoexperience.com/   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

DEAR YOU . . . Now we come to the final step of our year-end practice. The only thing we have left is my favorite New Year's tradition. This is the one I have been doing since 1976, long before I started setting goals and intentions for the new year. Uh, long before I even knew what that meant, because in 1976 I was 11 years old. My best friend was Kristi, who lived next door and who had all kinds of fun and creative ideas. Usually, they involved getting into a little mischief and making it look like it was my idea rather than hers. The New Years idea, though, was a good one, and completely trouble-free. Although, it did involve eating an ill-advised amount of Reese's peanut butter cups as we pushed ourselves to stay awake until midnight. I hope you enjoy this tradition as much as I do, and I hope you will incorporate it into your year-end practice each year from here on. You may even want to use this tradition when you are getting ready to leave for the Camino!   MAKE YOUR CAMINO DREAM A REALITY https://thecaminoexperience.com/ Here's how I can help:  >> Guided start on the Camino Francés   >> Camino Francés Getting Started Audio Guide - 20% off through December 26th!!!  >> One-on-one Camino coaching   P.S. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

LET'S SET THE STAGE FOR YOUR BEST YEAR YET Forget asking Santa for what you want . . . go after it yourself! In this episode we walk through my annual goal setting process. We have already reviewed our accomplishments and successes (episode 18). We tallied up what didn't go as well as hoped and planned. And we mined both those lists for lessons and messages (episode 19. Now it's time to pick our priorities for the coming year and think through and draft our goals and intentions. What do you want more of in 2025? How about less of? Let's get that going! And hopefully one of the goals on your list will be walking your chosen route of the Camino de Santiago!   MAKE YOUR CAMINO DREAM A REALITY https://thecaminoexperience.com/ Here's how I can help:  >> Guided start on the Camino Francés   >> Camino Francés Getting Started Audio Guide - 20% off through December 26th!!!  >> One-on-one Camino coaching P.S. Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, and Happy Kwanza! #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

NOW WE LOOK AT OUR NOT-SUCCESSES In last week's episode we spent time reviewing our wins and successes for the year. This week we are moving on to the second step of the year-end process by listing our regrets and disappointments. Wait! This is not about beating yourself up or dragging yourself through the mud, or finding fault with who you are as a human being. If you are prone to self-criticism, I invite you imagine yourself setting down whatever you usually use to beat yourself up with – the frying pan, the baseball bat, the mean words. Agreed? Okay, let's dive into this.   MAKE YOUR CAMINO DREAM A REALITY https://thecaminoexperience.com/ Here's how I can help:  >> Guided start on the Camino Francés   >> Camino Francés Getting Started Audio Guide - 20% off through December 26th!!!  >> One-on-one Camino coaching     #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

THANK YOU 2024, AND GOODBYE! (WELL, ALMOST) As this episode releases on Tuesday, December 10, we have four Tuesdays left in 2024 and four episodes left in this season of the podcast. That timing feels perfect for me to share with you something I do every December to wrap up the year. In this episode and the next three, I am going to share with you my four-step end-of-year practice, in the hopes that you will find value in ending the year strong and setting a solid foundation for the New Year (which I am not-so-secretly hoping will be the year of your first Camino pilgrimage.) 20% OFF DECEMBER 13th - 26th! Nancy's 12 days of Christmas (plus two more, but who's counting?!?) begins on Friday, December 13th, when I will be taking 20% off my Camino Francés Getting Started Audio Guide. Through Boxing Day. Get the guide here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/getting-started-audio-guide/ GET CAMINO CONTENT IN YOUR INBOX WEEKLY! How? Easy, join my email list. In addition to my weekly Friday email which is filled with Camino tips and stories, you will also receive my Top 10 Camino tips (that don't usually show up in the top 10 lists) and my Camino Planning Roadmap. Sign up here: https://pages.thecaminoexperience.com/   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast  

A "TRIP OF A LIFETIME" - FOR REAL! John covers all the bases as he shares his story of walking the Camino Francés in May and June 2024. Overnight in the Pyrenees? Check. Stay at a monastery? Check. Sing with the nuns? Check. Meet an undertaker who wants your business? Wait . . . check? Here are the places and helpful tools John referenced in this episode:  >> Book your bed at Refuge Orisson: https://www.refuge-orisson.com/en or  >> Auberge Borda: https://www.aubergeborda.com/  >> Stay with the nuns in Santo Domingo de la Calzada: https://www.cister-lacalzada.com/albergue/  >> Enjoy the vocal talents of the nuns in Carrion de los Condes: Albergue parroquial Santa María  >> Retreat for a couple days at the San Salvador de Monte Irago Monastery in Rabanal del Camino: https://monteirago.org/en/  >> Document your pilgrimage using the Find Penguins app: https://findpenguins.com/  >> Grab one of the coveted 10 spots for lunch at the Parador Hotel in Santiago de Compostela: https://paradores.es/en/blog/pilgrims-treat-parador-santiago-de-compostela  >> Get your Spanish language skills just right for the Camino with Maria Seco of Spanish for the Camino: https://spanishforcamino.com/   BUILD YOUR CONFIDENCE WITH CAMINO COACHING with Nancy Make sure your pilgrimage plans are on the right track for the kind of experience you are hoping for. Nail your pre-Camino confidence. Give your family or spouse the peace of mind to know that an expert has looked over all your plans, with Camino coaching with Nancy. Now scheduling for January 2025: https://thecaminoexperience.com/camino-coaching-with-nancy/   WALK WITH ME IN 2025! Start building your Camino family now! If you want the freedom to walk the Camino your way, to walk at your own pace, take breaks when you need them, choose the accommodations – dorm rooms or private rooms – that suit your needs and budget, AND you want the confidence that comes from not starting out on this – I'll say it – epic journey alone, start your pilgrimage with one of Nancy's Camino Experience groups: https://thecaminoexperience.com/walk-with-me/   JOIN ME IN SAN FRANCISCO ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2025 I will be talking briefly about WHY I walked the Camino de Santiago, and why it might be calling you, too. Where: Sports Basement store, 610 Old Mason St, San Francisco, CA When: Sunday, December 15, 2025, 9:30 am to 11:15 am (I have the first 10-minute time slot) Who: YOU! Whether you are Camino-curious or your flights or booked . . . or if you have already walked one of the Camino routes, all are welcome. Hope to meet you there!   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast  

WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU? That is the question pilgrim Danielle had to ask herself over and over again as she walked the Camino Francés in April and May 2024. And as she answered that question, she gradually learned to trust herself and to know that she did, in fact, know what is most important and what is also best for her. Danielle had the honor of carrying Tracy's backpack, and you can hear that whole story in Danielle's first interview, in season four, episode five. She is going to share with us the bumps she hit on the Road to Santiago, along with how she addressed those bumps. What kind of bumps? Illness, injury, anxiety, bad weather, and the unexpected physical toll of walking the Camino Francés.   JOIN ME ON THE TRAIL IN 2025! Want to get your pilgrimage started in the best possible way, with all the support you need in the planning and preparation phases? I still have a few spots left in my May and September 2025 Camino Experience groups, and I would love for you to join us! Take the next step here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/walk-with-me/   GET STARTED ON THE RIGHT FOOT Have you claimed your free Camino Planning Roadmap? How about my Top 10 Camino tips (that don't usually show up on the top 10 lists)? Get both delivered to your inbox when you join my email list. Here's how to do that: https://pages.thecaminoexperience.com/roadmap Let's get you off to a successful start!   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

WHAT HAPPENS IF . . . ? That seems to be the theme of Roger's pilgrimage on the Camino Francés! What happens if . . . . . . you become injured? . . . you need a dentist at 6:30 am on a Saturday in a small village in northern Spain? . . . you don't want to book accommodations in advance in July? Find out in this episode. And Roger has some well-earned, fabulous advice for first-time pilgrims.   JOIN ME ON THE TRAIL IN 2025! Want to get your pilgrimage started in the best possible way, with all the support you need in the planning and preparation phases? I still have a few spots left in my May and September 2025 Camino Experience groups, and I would love for you to join us! Take the next step here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/walk-with-me/   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast  

SHIFTS HAPPEN ON THE CAMINO FRANCÉS Back today with a story of peace from one of the pilgrims who you met in season four (episode six) – Joshua from Corpus Christi, Texas. It is also a story of plot twists and disappointments. But in true Camino fashion, the trail brought it all full circle, and Josh found out what blessings really feel like. Like many of my guests in this season of the podcast, Josh's biggest lesson came from the adversity he experienced on the trail, and it's a lesson I am taking to heart right now. Spoiler alert: it's something about moving forward no matter what. In last week's episode I talked about how to deal with uncertainty – on the Camino and at home. Josh's experience on the Camino perfectly echoes a few of the strategies I shared – especially the idea to connect with community (code name: Camino family).   WALK WITH ME IN 2025! Ready to find the peace and life-shifts that come from walking the Camino Francés? If you are dreaming of walking the Camino in 2025 but are hesitant to venture out on your own, I would love for you to grab one of the last two spots* in my May Camino Experience group or one of the five spots left* in the September group. Here's where to get all the details and to take your first step: https://thecaminoexperience.com/walk-with-me/ *Available as of November 11, 2024 I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! I love hearing from my listeners - what you like, what you find most useful, what you want more of. I would especially love to hear how you are using the 6 strategies for dealing with uncertainty from last week's episode. You can reach me at nancy@thecaminoexperience.com or youonthecamino@gmail.com   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

WHEN THE WORLD IS CRAZY AND LIFE IS UNCERTAIN Our topic today is dealing with uncertainty, and I have been thinking about this a lot lately. About two weeks ago I noticed that I was feeling really anxious, super worried, and nervous about the outcome of the upcoming election. But I won't be talking about politics because that's not what we are here for. We are here to get you ready for your pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago, to inspire you to make that dream a reality. But what about the rest of reality? What about the things going on in the world and in our communities that aren't so inspiring and are definitely not dream-like? In this episode I am going to draw some parallels between how we deal with uncertainty in our daily lives and how we deal with uncertainty on the Camino.   HELP THE FLOOD-DEVASTATED REGION OF VALENCIA, SPAIN If you would like make a donation to support the relief efforts for the recent devastating floods in the Valencia region of Spain, please check out the resources shared by Americans-living-on-the Camino Kelli and Jeff Fields. Here is the specific page on the website: https://vivaespanamovingtospain.com/2024/11/02/valencia-flood-relief/   WALK A LABYRINTH, FIND PEACE One of the things I will be doing on election day to find some quiet amidst the noise is a meditative walk on a labyrinth in my neighborhood. led by my friend Mary. If you are in the Santa Rosa/Rohnert Park, California, area and you would like to join us on Tuesday, November 5, we will be at Doratea Park in Rohnert Park at 5 PM. To get directions on Google maps or similar, use "Donna Ct Rohnert Park." You can find a labyrinth near you using this tool: https://labyrinthlocator.org/ And to find out more about labyrinths in general, check out this website: https://veriditas.org/   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast    

CAN YOU FIND VEGAN FOOD IN SPAIN? My guest today, Kurt, from Palm Springs, California, follows a vegan diet, which is sometimes difficult to do in Spain. But it doesn't have to define your pilgrimage. He has some great tips for finding vegan and vegetarian food amidst the landscape of pork-based meal options. Kurt is a fairly speedy walker, and his pace did help define his experiences. And he did something I recommend every first-time pilgrim does and does thoroughly – he trained for the physical challenge of the walk. He is going to share with you how that helped define his experience. Spoiler alert: Training makes a difference! And he is going to share his perspective on Day One walking on the Francés route, from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles in one day – what that experience is like for a first-time pilgrim filled with anticipation and excitement for what lies ahead. What does lie ahead? In a word, the unknown. How to get the most out of this once-in-a-lifetime experience? That's in this episode, too!   GET STARTED ON THE RIGHT FOOT Have you claimed your free Camino Planning Roadmap? How about my Top 10 Camino tips (that don't usually show up on the top 10 lists)? Get both delivered to your inbox when you join my email list. Here's how to do that: https://pages.thecaminoexperience.com/roadmap Let's get you off to a successful start!   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast  

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE WEATHER! Coming to you today with another healthy dose of reality on the Camino Francés. This week you will hear from Melissa, who you met in season 4, episode 10. Melissa had a plan to walk the Camino as a way to reclaim what she remembered as her "bad-ass self from her 20s". Who wouldn't want that, right? Melissa had a few surprises along the Way, including a vastly different experience of the meseta than she had expected. She discovered why you don't want to rush the start of your pilgrimage and why the end – from Sarria to Santiago – isn't as bad as people say it is. Melissa lost a few things and ended up finding even more than she lost. She almost went home due to illness but by sticking with it she discovered something very significant, which you are going to hear about. And Melissa is going to share her pro tip for getting a bed at Refuge Orisson, which is one of the places you can stay to break the first giant stage out of Saint Jean Pied de Port into two smaller stages. RIDE A HORSE UP THE BIG MOUNTAIN TO O'CEBREIRO Would you like to add a different and unique experience to your pilgrimage and take an easier path up the mountain to O'Cebreiro? You can make that climb on horseback! Reservations are essential. Contact: Victor Echeverria v.vigaray@gmail.com JOIN ME ON THE CAMINO IN 2025! My Camino Experience groups start in Saint Jean Pied de Port on May 10 and September 14. Join me? All the details are here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/walk-with-me/   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

PLOT TWISTS AND DEEP CONNECTIONS Day two: plot twist. And that's the day that set the tone for the entire pilgrimage for John and his son. In this episode, you will hear how John describes the impact of that day as well as lyrics from his Lizard Song, how their rain gear worked out, and what's next for this now-Camino family. FREE MINI-WEBINAR: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24 What is it really like to walk the Camino Francés? I will show you - through photos and stories from the trail from this year - in a free mini-webinar coming up soon. And I will share my list of top four ingredients for a successful start on the Camino. But only if you are on my email list! Join the list and get your free copy of Nancy's Camino Planning Roadmap by following this link: https://pages.thecaminoexperience.com/roadmap Full disclosure: This is also a promotional event for my two 2025 Camino Experience groups. Learn more about starting your Camino with Nancy: https://thecaminoexperience.com/walk-with-me/ Hope to see you on the 24th! Listening to this episode after that date? For current information on what Nancy has going on, join the email list and go to https://thecaminoexperience.com/   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

PILGRIMAGE BECOMES A WAY OF LIFE Fiona walked the Camino Frances in 2023 and now she is hooked on walking pilgrimages! This year she took on two new routes, and she has a third one - not a Camino - planned for later this year. And then next year she plans to become a "dual pilgrim" by walking the Kumano Kodo in Japan. Here are the resources we talk about in this episode: The Kerry Camino in Ireland, https://www.caminosociety.ie/ Kumano Kodo in Japan, https://www.kumano-travel.com/en/kumano-kodo   MAKE YOUR DREAM OF WALKING THE CAMINO A REALITY Walking the Camino Francés is a huge undertaking. But you don't have to dive into this all on your own. Instead, you can start your journey with a group and then venture out on your own! Find out how here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/walk-with-me/ Registration is now open for my May 2025 Camino Experience group, and registration opens soon for my September 2025 group. Follow this link to let me know you are interested.   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

LIVING THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL ON THE CAMINO Pastor Rich takes his faith out for a long walk as a way to get to know God and his daughter-in-law better. Along the Way he finds a deeper sense of compassion and an understanding of what it means to walk through pain. I met Rich through my email list, and I am so glad I did! He brings his kind, gentle spirit to this post-Camino conversatation and shares four words that could change your life.   I'VE GOT MORE GREAT CAMINO INFO FOR YOU! Starting with my Top 10 Camino Tips (that don't usually show up on the top 10 lists), and then more Camino-themed info in your inbox every week. To get the tips and get on the list, follow this link: https://pages.thecaminoexperience.com/tips   MAKE YOUR DREAM OF WALKING THE CAMINO A REALITY Walking the Camino Francés is a huge undertaking. But you don't have to dive into this all on your own. Instead, you can start your journey with a group and then venture out on your own! Find out how here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/walk-with-me/ Registration is now open for my May 2025 Camino Experience group, and registration opens soon for my September 2025 group. Follow this link to let me know you are interested.   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

A DEEPER CONNECTION TO NATURE BRINGS A DEEPER CONNECTION TO SELF Kate was pretty clear on why she was walking the Camino. As a nurse, she was feeling beyond burned out after the intensity of pandemic and the huge impact it had on people serving in her profession. She wanted to focus on well-being, and actually discover a deeper meaning of what those words meant. That she did. In her quest for well-being, Kate discovered what she now recognizes as the Aboriginal practice of "Dadirri", which is the practice of deep inner listening and quiet still awareness that connects us and nurtures spiritual well-being resident in the indigenous people of her home country of Australia. For a visual introduction to Dadirri, check out this video on YouTube.   READY TO MAKE YOUR CAMINO DREAM A REALITY? Let's get started together! Join Nancy's next DIY-plus Camino planning program, which starts in October. Our first group planning and coaching call is scheduled for November 7. Get all the details and register here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/diy-camino/ If you prefer to start your Camino with a small group, and then venture off on your own, consider joining one of Nancy's Camino Experience groups. Registration is now open for the May 2025 group, and early registration begins for the September 2025 wait list on October 7. Details and registration here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/walk-with-me/   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

WALKING AS A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE Chad has now walked the Francés and Primitivo routes, plus the Camino Portuguese from both Lisbon and Porto. But it's not about how many routes or how many times he has walked. He's not keeping score. What matters most about pilgrimage? Chad explores this question as well as the role of his shadow on and off the trail. On his most recent pilgrimage, Chad walked to honor the life of a beloved family-by-choice second son. He shares this story as well as how he brings the Camino back home into his daily life.   WALK WITH ME IN 2025 Registration is now open for my May 2025 Camino Experience group - only 2 spots left! Early registration opens for my September 2025 group on October7, and the first 10 people on that wait list are guaranteed a spot in the group. Find out all about how we get started together and let me know you are interested here.   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

AN EPIC, TRANSFORMATIVE JOURNEY FROM LE PUY TO SANTIAGO Join me as pilgrim Nysie shares her journey from Le Puy, France, to the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. Along the way she discovers that bumps in the road are an essential part of the transformation found by walking the Camino de Santiago. With higher highs and lower lows than every before experienced, Nysie finds her power and comes home strong and even more determined. Nysie walking into the plaza in front of the Cathedral Here is the blog post in which I share Chad's version of Nysie's arrival story, including the video he made. (You might want to have some tissues on hand.) Follow Nysie's art journey here: https://www.nysiehurstart.com/ MEET ME IN PAMPLONA? If you will be in Pamplona on September 10 & 11, drop me a quick email and let's see if we can meet up for a café con leche or a pintxo or two. Email: nancy@thecaminoexperience.com   CHECK OUT GEORGE AND JOHN'S STORY George and John walked the Camino Frances from Saint Jean Pied de Port in honor of the memory of George's friend Aaron. You can listen to this incredibly moving two-part story in season two, episode 19 and season one, episode 1 of this podcast series.   READY TO MAKE YOUR CAMINO DREAM A REALITY ? I am right there with you! Find out how to make it happen here.   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

INTENTION AND ATTITUDE ARE EVERYTHING What do you do when your pilgrimage gets "rained out"? How do you cope with walking in the snow? Joycelyn shares how the motivation and intention behind your pilgrimage can set the tone and bring the experience you are seeking. She and Nidia (from episode 3) shared an incredible journey on the Camino Francés and even added a third generation to a real "Camino family." TELL ME YOUR STORY! Has this podcast helped you get started on your pilgrimage? I would love to hear how. Drop me an email: nancy@thecaminoexperience.com Join me on the Camino in 2025? Here's how. Wishing you a beautiful journey!  ~ Nancy   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

. . . ABOUT THE WEATHER Nidia's story shows us that having an incredible, life-impacting pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago isn't dependent on the weather. What is it dependent on? Listen in to hear Nidia's moving and inspiring stories of love, faith, and connection.  To listen to Nidia's before-the-Camino interview, check out episode 16 in season three. GO FROM CAMINO DREAM TO REALITY With the Camino Experience. Everything you need to get started on your pilgrimage on the Camino Francés. https://thecaminoexperience.com/ Get your free copy of Nancy's Top 10 Camino tips (that don't usually show up on the top 10 lists). Go here: https://pages.thecaminoexperience.com/tips   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

PILGRIMS HELPING PILGRIMS, THAT'S HOW IT'S DONE Cinda's story shows us that trail angels are everywhere. In fact, YOU might be a trail angel to someone on the Way. What gifts do you have to give? Cinda shares with us how training walks do and don't prepare you for the rigors of walking the Camino. She discovers the joy of movement and the delight of connecting with others who are headed in the same direction with a similar purpose. And she shares with us the internal battle of taking a taxi or not, and how she resolved that for herself. That and more. GO FROM CAMINO DREAM TO REALITY With the Camino Experience. Everything you need to get started on your pilgrimage on the Camino Francés. https://thecaminoexperience.com/ Get your free copy of Nancy's Top 10 Camino tips (that don't usually show up on the top 10 lists). Go here: https://pages.thecaminoexperience.com/tips   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

SHOULD WALKING THE CAMINO COME WITH A WARNING LABEL? In season five of the YOU on the Camino de Santiago podcast you are going to hear some amazing stories of perseverance, courage, determination, adventure, and community. Stories of shared meals, life-changing conversations, and new friendships, trail tested and built to last. You are also going to hear that things didn't always go as planned. In fact, sometimes things went completely sideways. You are going to hear about injuries, illnesses, lost items, getting lost on the trail, boots that gave out, unexpected expenses that blew the budget, accommodations that were unexpectedly far away from the center of town, and missed transportation connections. These stories have prompted me to ask the question: Should walking the Camino come with a warning label? And if yes, what would it be? Episode one answers those questions and introduces you to the pilgrims stories coming your way this season. Here are the pilgrims you will be hearing from, along with the season and episode of our first conversation, in case you would like to refer back to them: Chad - S2 Ep 18, S3 Ep 12 Fiona - S3 Ep 3, 20 Nidia - S3 Ep 16 Danielle - S4 Ep 5 Josh - S4 Ep 6 Nysie - S4 Ep 9 Melissa - S4 Ep 10 Kate - S4 Ep 12 Cinda - S4 Ep 13 John V - S4 Ep 14 Plus peregrinos Kurt, John M, and Rich, who you haven't yet met! JOIN ME ON THE CAMINO IN 2025 If you would like to find out why people start their pilgrimages with the Camino Experience, check out the Walk-with-me page on my website, https://thecaminoexperience.com/ Don't want to start your Camino with a group? Then check out my DIY-plus Camino planning program and get all the great content my groups get, plus access to the same six group planning and coaching calls as the pilgrims in my groups. Go to my website, above, and click on DIY Camino on the home page menu. You can also get on my email list to get advance notice of what I have coming up for first-time pilgrims planning to walk the Camino Francés. As a thank you for signing up, you will immediately receive a free copy of my Top 10 Camino tips (that don't usually show up on the top 10 lists). Sign up on my website or by following this link. I can't wait to hear from you! nancy@thecaminoexperience.com   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast  

FINAL EPISODE OF SEASON FOUR! Thank you for joining me for this fourth season of the YOU on the Camino de Santiago podcast. I hope you have enjoyed the season and are many steps closer to taking your first steps on your chosen Camino route. Need more assistance getting started?   2025 CAMINO EXPERIENCE GROUP REGISTRATION STARTS SOON! Let me know you are interested in joining one of my 2025 groups here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/walk-with-me/ Get on my email list so you are the first to know when registration opens (and get your free copy of my Camino Planning Roadmap): https://pages.thecaminoexperience.com/roadmap Prefer email? I'd love to hear from you! nancy@thecaminoexperience.com   NANCY'S SPRING 2024 ACCOMMODATIONS Pension San Lorenzo, Nájera: https://pensionsanlorenzo.es/?lang=en Casa Victoria, Cirueña: reserve on https://www.booking.com/ Apartmento Mirador de Grañon, Grañon: reserve on https://www.booking.com/ Albergue Caminante, Belorado: reserve on https://www.booking.com/ Hotel San Anton Abad, Villafranca Montes de Oca: https://www.hotelsanantonabad.com/ Casa Rural El Brocal, Fresno de Rodilla: https://www.atapuercarural.com/en/ Hotel Cuéntame La Puebla, Burgos: https://hotelcuentamelapuebla.hotelescuentame.com/   HOW TO FIND THE RIVER ROUTE INTO BURGOS When walking into Burgos, the most beautiful route is along the river. The Wise Pilgrim app has the best mapping of this route. And here are some general directions: Follow the trail markers from Atapuerca Pass through the village of Cardeñuela Riopico Pass through the village of Orbaneja Riopico Cross the highway overpass Take the first left turn and follow the dirt path, not the street Continue for about 45-50 minutes to the town of Castañares Cross the road and continue on to the river Cross the river and turn right, then follow the trail markers through the park and along the river, all the way to Burgos LUGGAGE TRANSPORT COMPANIES Donkey Service, from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Refuge Orisson and Roncesvalles: https://sites.google.com/view/donkeyservice/transport-bagages-en Express Bourricot: https://www.expressbourricot.com/ Jacotrans, discount code = DAG: https://www.jacotrans.es/en/   ADDITIONAL RESOURCES For all your pilgrim gear needs in Pamplona, visit the Caminoteca shop: http://caminoteca.com/ To take the worry out of booking your accommodations, check out the Concierge Service offered by Pilgrim Paths: https://pilgrimpaths.com/   Wishing you a beautiful planning journey, ~ Nancy   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast  

TRIGGER WARNING: In this episode we touch on the subject of suicide among military veterans. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or is in a crisis situation, please know that help is available. If you are in the US, you can call 988 from any phone to access the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Additional resources are listed below. US Veteran Paul has been selected to join the Warriors on the Way pilgrimage this fall. In this episode Paul shares his experience serving in the US military and what he hopes to gain - or heal - by walking the Camino de Santiago with his fellow former comrades-in arms. For Paul and other veterans, failure is not an option. With a staggering success rate in reducing PTSD in veterans, Warriors on the Way is bringing peace and healing to those who have served. SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR WARRIORS ON THE WAY From their website: Veterans who go on pilgrimage with Warriors on the Way are all fully sponsored so that nobody misses a healing opportunity due to lack of funds. We rely on donors like you to put Warriors on the Way to healing. To support this organization: https://warriorsontheway.org/   RESOURCES  FOR SUICIDE AND CRISIS HELP : USA and Canada: call 988 For more help: https://988lifeline.org/ Australia: call 13 11 14 New Zealand: call 1737 Spain: call 024 United Kingdom: call 999, 112, or 0800 689 5652 List of global suicide crisis lines from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_suicide_crisis_lines   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

HOW DO YOU MAKE THE "RIGHT" DECISIONS FOR YOUR CAMINO? The ongoing dilemma: how to see everything on your first pilgrimage, or how to tame that fear of missing out. My guest in this episode is Natasha, and she loves to plan travel. She will share with us how that planning journey has been going and the role FOMO is playing in the process. We also touch on the topic of loss, but it's not the kind of loss we usually talk about. We kick off the episode with a chat about how to decide what to do after the Camino, before heading back home across the sea.   WALK WITH ME IN 2025 Are you dreaming of walking the Camino Francés in 2025? I would love to help you make that dream a reality! Let me know you are interested by visiting my website and adding your name to the wait list for one of my 2025 groups. You can do all the details and get on the list here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/walk-with-me/ Can't or don't want to start with a group? Check the DIY-plus Camino planning program and get on that wait list instead! https://thecaminoexperience.com/diy-camino/   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

***CONTENT WARNING*** We are talking about some difficult topics in this episode, including mental health, suicide, and human trafficking. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or is in a crisis situation, please know that help is available. If you are in the US, you can call 988 from any phone to access the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If you are outside of the US, there is a list of hotline numbers for the countries where most of my listeners reside below, as well as a Wikipedia link with numbers for additional countries. To give you some more specifics, my guest in this episode will be sharing his experience with multiple cases of suicide within his immediate circle of friends, his own suicidal ideation, and his career work with Safeguarding programs helping victims of human trafficking in the United Kingdom. If these are difficult topics for you, you may want to consider not listening to this episode. On the other hand, you may find this conversation incredibly inspiring. Again, help is available. And you deserve that help. If you are struggling, please reach out to one of the hotlines provided below, or to a trusted friend.   RESOURCES  FOR SUICIDE AND CRISIS HELP : USA and Canada: call 988 For more help: https://988lifeline.org/ Australia: call 13 11 14 New Zealand: call 1737 Spain: call 024 United Kingdom: call 999, 112, or 0800 689 5652 For more help: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/behaviours/help-for-suicidal-thoughts/ The charity mentioned by Adam: https://www.thecalmzone.net/ List of global suicide crisis lines from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_suicide_crisis_lines   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

TROUBLE AT HOME WHILE ON PILGRIMAGE What if something happens at home while you are away on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela? What do you do when someone you love is in trouble, hundreds or thousands of miles away? My guest today is going to share her real life experience with that very thing. In this episode you are going to meet Natalie from near Portland, Oregon in the US. Her Camino story has – at least – two parts, one that has already happened and one that will happen in 2025. And it is so much more than a story about trouble at home!   WALK WITH ME IN 2025 Are you dreaming of walking the Camino Francés in 2025? I would love to help you make that dream a reality! Let me know you are interested by visiting my website and adding your name to the wait list for one of my 2025 groups. You can do all the details and get on the list here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/walk-with-me/ Can't or don't want to start with a group? Check the DIY-plus Camino planning program and get on that wait list instead! https://thecaminoexperience.com/diy-camino/   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

SANTIAGO + FÁTIMA + LOURDES After an unexpected and devastating loss, the whole family is in on the Camino plans. Learn how pilgrim Roger will make the journey to three major pilgrimage sites, in Spain, Portugal, and France.   VISIT BURGOS ON THE CAMINO FRANCÉS Visit the beautiful Catedral de Burgos: https://catedraldeburgos.es/ Visit the Atapuerca dig site: https://www.atapuerca.org/   GET YOUR FREE CAMINO PLANNING ROADMAP Discover all the big decisions you will need to make and the steps you will take to get you from where you are now – saying yes to your dream – all the way to your starting point. You can get the roadmap for free by following this link: https://pages.thecaminoexperience.com/roadmap Be sure to download the roadmap to give your consent to receive future emails from me. GET STARTED ON YOUR FIRST CAMINO HERE: The Camino Experience, with Nancy: https://thecaminoexperience.com/   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

PONDERING ON THE CAMINHO PORTUGUESE In this episode you are going to hear from John from Canada, who will be walking the Portuguese route in May. As you will hear, John is looking ahead to his next decade and pondering what it will look like. We talk about some practical considerations, such as the debate between taking a rain jacket or a poncho, if you really need trekking poles, and what to do if your walking pace is different from that of the person you are doing the pilgrimage with. We also touch on some more contemplative topics like how to embrace whatever the Camino throws at you, how to make the journey significant if it truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and what does religion or spirituality mean at different times in our lives.   GET YOUR FREE CAMINO PLANNING ROADMAP Discover all the big decisions you will need to make and the steps you will take to get you from where you are now – saying yes to your dream – all the way to your starting point. You can get the roadmap for free by following this link: https://pages.thecaminoexperience.com/roadmap Be sure to download the roadmap to give your consent to receive future emails from me.   ALL ABOUT THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO Find out what it is, how it works, and who does this pilgrimage. Also, information on the terrain, where to eat and sleep, and how to document your journey. https://thecaminoexperience.com/about-the-camino-de-santiago/   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast