Im on my way!!

[Kris]

I leave next week (SJ to Santiago) ... wish me luck!

One quick question:
Is there many grocery stores there, I was hoping to prepare my own food most of the time

Thanks!
Kris

[HuskyNerd]

Yes, indeed, Kris. You'll find many stores. Quite a few pilgrims cook their own food in albergue kitchens or share the cooking with other pilgrims friends. Buen camino!

[grayland]

The stores tend to be small shops in the smaller villages but well stocked with the needs of the local people. You will probably be near or pass a market every day. The larger cities on the way have large super markets like anywhere else. As an example, St Jean has a couple of very large chain grocery stores.
One word of caution....you probably don't want to be carrying a lot of food with you during the day. Just buy what you will eat each afternoon/evening when you arrive in a village for the day.

You are about to start an adventure of a lifetime. Relax and just let it happen.

[Covey]

Buen Camino Kris.

Just go with the flow!

[Larry]

Kris
I am sooooo envious. I went in 2009 and can't hardly wait to go again. Be warned that the first stage from St. Jean to Roncesvalles is steep, so go as light as you can. Being American and raised on a farm I am used to a hearty breakfast and getting used to coffee and a sweet roll was tough. I bought some granola and a box of UHT milk at the markets I passed so I'd have something to start the day with. You'll have to ask where the "merkado" or "mercadillo" is in the little villages and nothing is open in the early afternoon but the people who run the albergues are very helpful and all of the albergues that I stayed in were very clean. Buen Camino, you'll do great.
Larry

[Kris]

Thanks for the good words everybody! Hope to talk to all of you after I get back

Thanks!
Kris

[BHinSanDiego]

Congratulations, you're leaving on the experience of a lifetime, just go with the flow, as far as food and such it will all come together and once you are on the Camino you'll see it's not much different than buying anywhere else, just don't buy too much at one time to avoid carrying too much weight.
Buen Camino,
Barry

[Kris]

Thanks again everybody, your site has been a huge help in getting me ready to go. I'll be thinking of all of you while I am there....

Thank you.
Kris

[Covey]

Enjoy, cos we all wish we were there as well!!