[Way of St. James] Camino Francés

Pilgrimage ABC

Albergue: Spanish: hostel; cheap accommodation for pilgrims. At 8 o'clock in the morning is check out time!
Blister: Annoying side effect, which torture nearly each pilgrim and force some in such a way to give up
Botafumeiro: Large thurible of the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
Buen camino: Spanish: »good way!«
Café con leche: Spanish coffee with milk; without it is hard
Calabash: Bottle gourd; for use as a water container in former times
Compostela: Certificate, which testifies that you walked at least the last 100 kilometers by foot
Credencial (del peregrino): Pilgrim document of identification
Flecha amarilla: Spanish: yellow arrow; is used as a marker
Fiesta: Spanish: party; their are many; do not mix up with »Siesta«
Finisterrana: Certificate, you got, if you continue the Way to "the end of the world"
Finisterre: City at the Atlantic Ocean; formerly known as "the end of the world"
Google Earth: Digital route description
Hiking boots: You should wear broken-in walking boots, or blisters will result
Holy Year: The name day of James (25th of July) is on a Sunday
Hospitalero, -a: Spanish: hostel warden; often an voluntary work for two weeks
Pilgrim meal: Many restaurants offer a three-course meal for about 8 to 10 euros (Vino tinto is included!)
Pilgrim's scallop: Sign and symbol (at rucksack, walking stick, or hat)
Plaster: Adhesive bandage for blisters; can be very useful
Porta sancta: Spanish: Holy Door; entrance of the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela; opens only during a Holy Year
Rucksack: A load carrying system, which should scale about 10 per cent of the own body weight; max. 20 pounds
Saint James: One of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus and Patron Saint of Spain (spanish: Santiago)
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port: French city near the Pyrenees; start of the Camino Francés
Santiago de Compostela: Capital of the autonomous region of Galicia; destination of the Way of St. James
Sello: Spanish: stamp (for the Credencial); you got it in each Albergue
Siesta: traditional daytime sleep of Spain
Tranquilo: Spanish: »calm!«; calmness is helpful in many situations
Ultreja: Former salutation of pilgrims; it means: »Ahead! Continue!«
Vino tinto: Spanish: red wine; nationl drink of Spain
Walking stick: For walking or for nudging a pilgrim who snores