Spirit of the Camino

In this episode, Nick and Wendy recount their summer hiking adventure on three different trails around three famous Italian (and occasionally Swiss) lakes: Maggiore, Lugano and Como. Buon cammino! Show Notes Il Cammino del Lago Maggiore: https://www.camminolagomaggiore.it/ Il Balcone dei Tre Laghi (guidebook): https://www.ediciclo.it/it/libri/dettaglio/il-balcone-dei-tre-laghi/ Il Sentiero del Viandante: https://www.ilsentierodelviandante.eu/en/ Main places mentioned: Sancarlone (the giant statue), Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso, Arcumeggia, the Abbey of San Pietro in Vallate.

In this episode, Nick and Wendy recount the second of their Italian Easter walks on the popular Via degli Dei (the 'Path of the Gods') between Bologna and Florence. Buon cammino! Show Notes Official Website: https://www.viadeglidei.it Towns mentioned: Madonna dei Fornelli, Sant'Agata, San Piero a Sieve, Fiesole.

In this episode, Nick and Wendy discuss their challenging but rewarding pilgrimage on the Via degli Abati (Path of the Abbots) in north-central Italy. Tune in to find out what made this walk such an adventure, and buon cammino! Show Notes: Regions: Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany Main Towns: Pavia, Bobbio, Bardi, Pontremoli Official Website: https://viadegliabati.com  Our Live Forum Thread: Via degli Abati 

Our final episode for this season is an epic one as Wendy recounts her solo pilgrimage on the little-known Camiño de Taverneiro in Galicia. Spoiler alert: the spirit of the camino shines brightly on this route. Bo camiño! Show Notes: Links: Wendy's summary of this camino: https://shorturl.at/Xdgo5  Guidebook for the Taverneiro: https://shorturl.at/LZbX6  Holy Year 2021 video featuring Carlos Núñez: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5vtgonpuII Places Mentioned: Monção (Portugal) Salvaterra de Miño Arufe Pedre Codaseda Couso

Wendy discusses spending several weeks in Santiago this summer. In particular, she talks about the advanced Galego language course she took, the feast of the apostle and the 'massification' of the pilgrimage. Buen camino! Show Notes: Wendy's course: 'Galego Sen Fronteiras' -  https://cursoslinguagalega.academia.gal

In this episode, Nick and Wendy recount their pilgrimage on the Camino de Invierno ('Winter Way') from Ponferrada to Santiago. ¡Buen camino! Show Notes: Places Mentioned: Las Médulas - Roman Mine Site Sil River Valley Ribeira Sacra  Monte Faro Animal Artwork - After A Rua Daniel and the Wax Stamp - Lalín

In our third episode about Italian pilgrimages, Nick and Wendy recount their walk on the Via Ellenica, part of the Cammino Materano network in southern Italy. Buon cammino! Show Notes:  Via Ellenica Website and Guidebook: https://camminomaterano.it/via/9/via-ellenica  The World Heritage Endpoints: Alberobello and Matera The Gorge Towns: Masafra, Castellaneta, Laterza, Ginosa Rock-Hewn Church: San Nicola

As we continue our exploration of pilgrimage routes in Italy, Nick recounts his solo walk on the Magna Via Francigena in Sicily. Buon cammino! Show Notes: Main Attractions: Palermo, Monreale, Agrigento Most Beautiful Villages/Towns: Sutera, Racalmuto  Nick's Best Sunset Spot at Agrigento: The east side of the Temple of Juno (Giunone) Goat Art: Realised by Domenico Cocchiara; article (in Italian) with photos: https://ripost.it/2023/08/15/le-capre-girgentane-di-domenico-cocchiara-sulle-vecchie-porte-di-30-comuni/

In the first episode of our fifth season, entitled 'Italian and Winter Ways', Nick recounts his pilgrimage on the Via di Francesco (Way of St. Francis) in central Italy. Buon cammino! Show Notes: Major Towns: Assisi, Gubbio, Spoleto, Rieti Other Places of Interest: La Verna Sanctuary, Cascata delle Marmore (the 'Roman' waterfall) Entry into Rome: From Monte Sacro, consider taking the Via Nomentana (including a visit to the church of Saint Agnes Outside the Walls) to Porta Pia and from there into Rome, perhaps including San Giovanni in Laterano (St. John of Lateran) with the statue of St. Francis directly opposite the church. Official Website: https://www.viadifrancesco.it/en/

In this episode, Nick and Wendy describe their adventurous nine-day hike around the Portuguese island of the Madeira on a historic trail, the Caminho Real 23. Show Notes: Caminho Real Association: Web | Facebook | Tracks

Nick and Wendy discuss their latest camino: the Camino Inglés (the English Way), including highlights, practicalities, and where the Inglés fits in the camino landscape. ¡Buen camino! Show Notes:  3:30: Gronze Stages 24:00: Pilgrimage Traveler  Places mentioned on the Camino Inglés: Betanzos, Pontedeume, Miño, Bruma (the bed race), Sigüeiro.

Nick and Wendy discuss their experience in Fátima and their impressions of the famous Portuguese pilgrimage destination at the end of the Caminho do Mar. Spoiler alert: they were pleasantly surprised!

Nick and Wendy provide a summary of their 10-day Caminho do Mar from Lisbon to Fátima, including highlights, lowlights and practicalities. Bom caminho! Show Notes: Alcobaça Monastery Sintra Óbidos Osvaldo's blog (in Portuguese) Odrinhas Archeological Museum Caminho de Nazaré

The fourth season of our podcast is called 'Fátima and Beyond' and we begin by introducing our pilgrimage to the Portuguese holy place of Fátima on the Caminho do Mar.  Show Notes: 8:30: Portuguese with Leo  15:20: Caminhos de Fátima Places mentioned on the Caminho do Mar: Cascais, Estoril, Belém, Sintra, Óbidos, Alcobaça, Mafra.

In this episode, Wendy takes the reins as host to interview Nick about the Portuguese Coastal route that he just finished walking. Among other insights, Nick answers the big questions as to whether the coastal path feels like a camino and whether he recommends the coastal or central route from Porto.

For the final leg of their camino, Nick and Darin walk the last 100km of the Camino Portugués from Tui to Santiago, with Wendy joining them at Pontevedra for the Variante Espiritual. In this episode, they discuss the highlights of this popular route!

Nick and his friend Darin walk the Camino del Salvador and live to tell the tale! In this episode, they discuss the highlights of this beautiful, mountainous camino between León and Oviedo.

As their pilgrimage nears its end, Nick and Wendy are delayed by a positive Covid test in Ourense but after isolating, they resume the Camino Sanabrés and joyfully walk into Santiago for the fifth time.

As they continue towards Santiago, Nick and Wendy join an alternative route of the Camino Sanabrés. As part of this alternative, they have one of the most fascinating experiences they’ve ever had on the Camino de Santiago. Listen to the episode to find out what it is!

Nick and Wendy talk about their experiences and highlights on the second half of the Caminho Português Interior, including the city of Chaves and some interesting ‘wildlife’ they encountered along the way. Finally, they wrap up the CPI and compare it with other Portuguese caminos.