CAMINO RULES / REGLAS DE TRES PARA LOS PEREGRINOS

     There are some unwritten rules which "rule" the 'Camino de Santiago'.

Most are known to the pilgrims, and -over the following month or so- a great number will

be written down on this page.

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1.) "No matter how you leave home, you will arrive as a pilgrim!"

     "No importa como salgas de tu casa, llegarás como peregrino."

2.) "El turista exige, el peregrino agradece." (The tourist demands, the pilgrim appreciates.)

3.) Wear 20 cm-high boots, well worn in, water proof and with a good profile.  !Botas!

4.) Do not look for love on the 'camino'. Love will find you. No busques el amor en el camino. El amor busca a tí.

5.) The old pilgrim dies in Navarra / La Rioja. The new one grows inside you on the meseta, to be born

     in Galicia. You enter Santiago as a reborn person, and you thank your guardian angel for it when you

     reach Finisterra. Navarra: morir. Meseta: empezar de nuevo. Galicia: renacimiento. Dar gracias en Finisterra.

6.) As a pilgrim you look for the 'inner you'. So, the faster you walk, the longer it will take.

     Los peregrinos buscan algo en si mismo. Cuanto más rápido andas, más tiempo necesites.

7.) A pilgrim is a person who walks a predetermined distance from a starting point to a holy place.

     Pilgrims to Santiago walk at least the final 100 kms, with spiritual intentions.

     Un peregrino anda a un lugar sagrado.

8.) A pilgrim spends €1= for every km walked. So, to walk from Roncesvalles to SDC (777 kms)

     will cost €777= Un peregrino gasta €1= cada km.

9.) The pilgrim carries 10% of his body weight in luggage inside his backpack. So: 8-10 kgs.

      Long distance does not necessarily mean: more weight. Máximo: 8-10 kgs (siempre)

10.) Do not take your boots off in a bar. No quites tus botas dentro de un bar.

11.) "There are no friendly people in the final 100 kms to Santiago."  (Galician proverb).

      "No hay gente amable en los últimos 100 kms." (Proverbio gallego)

12.) Carry 500 grams of garlic powder in your backpack, and 250 grams

        of coriander powder, but: only if you are Korean! (No garlic is sold in Spain.)

       Los Coreanos siempre llevan medio kilo de ajo. (No se vende ajo en España.)

13.) If you want to enjoy the camino to the fullest then walk alone.

       Seek contact at night in the albergues. Mejor andar sólo, y dormir en los albergues.

14.) If you are down (physically, or mentally) then walk with others.

       They will talk you to the next town. Andar en grupo para olvidar las ampollas.

15.) Unhappy pilgrims hardly exist. They suffer often, but they are still happy!

      No hay peregrinos infelices.

16.) Carry Health Insurance and cards! Do not rely on "free treatment" or gifts.

      Seguridad social y tarjetas de crédito, por favor.

17.) Obtain 2 stamps a day in the final 100 kms to SDC in order to get your Compostela.

       The Pilgrim Office is not interested in other stamps than those.

       Obtener 2 sellos por dia en Galicia.

18.) Carry a small whistle in your backpack. In case of an accident you may warn others.

       (Your phone does not always work, but the number to ring is: 112.

       Llevar un silbato, por si acaso.

19.) Learn some basic, conversational Spanish.  Hay que hablar castellano básico.

20.) Watch out for theft. Theft of phones is quite common, and occasionally backpacks.

        Robos de teléfonos!

21.)  Eat regional food if you can. Squid in Galicia, blackpudding in Burgos, fabada in Oviedo.

       Comer comida regional.

22.)  Avoid alcohol during the day. It will make your walk "wobbly".  No alcohol durante el dia.

23.) Do not insult your pilgrim mates, unless they insult you first. No insultar a los peregrinos.

       Assertiveness is good on the camino. The "Lovey Dovey" style died out ages ago.

24.) Note that there is not just one camino to Santiago: SJPP, Roncesvalles, Pamplona, Burgos etc.

       The number of roads is infinite. You may start in Wladiwostok  if you like!

        Hay muchos caminos a SDC.

25.)  "We only have one problem in Galicia: the weather." (Galician proverb)

        "Sólo tenemos un problema en Galicia: el tiempo."

26.)  "If you want to see green fields, you will have to accept a lot of rain." (same)

        "Antes de ver campos verdes, hay que aceptar mucha lluvia."

               To be continued !