Peregrinos from the States

[Precious1]

I was just wondering if there are other pilgrims here from the States besides John Hussy and myself.
If you are here; what has been your main challenge in doing the Camino as an American, besides being an American? lol
The airplane prices spiraling out of control is certainly an issue. But there are deals out there, like one now for around $550.00 round to Dublin or Madrid, and then getting a flight to Biarritz with Euroes. This certainly beats the $1.600/1,800 going rate to Biarritz from the Boston environs.... and going up as we speak. Whew.
But like John, a more seasoned browser of online airplane ticket shopping, has pointed out, these deals only last about three months with other variables included to get the best deal.This one I saw yesterday expires end of September. However, new ones might come up in January for May, etc.
Regardless, for us Americans, nothing will stop us from doing the Camino, come hell or high water. What the mind can imagine and believe, it can achieve. We'll be back! :]
Hmmmm....moving to Europe, as one having dual citizenship, might be another thing!! :]

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Precious ~
Yep, I'm from the US of A and the main problem I have is that I can only seem to get to Spain about once a year to do the camino. Hoping for more time in the future.

BTW do you use sites like Cheap flights | Free flight comparison from Skyscanner.net for your airfares? I've really found it to be a great help.

All the best ~
Sandy

[Precious1]

Hi Sandy,

Know what you mean.
Those links are great!!!!

Regards,
Kate

[Gazza]

You guys are kidding me. $550 round to Madrid/Dublin, your breaking my heart. Come down to Australia & try to get flights for that price, your dreaming.

I too am jealous of the UK mob, who have their packs always packed at the back door, just in case they get the urge for two weeks. lol

From down here it takes definite planning & organisation which is half the fun & the build up.... But plane prices OUCH

[Lipka149]

I was just wondering if there are other pilgrims here from the States besides John Hussy and myself. If you are here; what has been your main challenge in doing the Camino as an American, besides being an American? lol

Hi Kate -

Oh yeah ! I live in Wilmington, NC and Aaron hails from Charleston, SC.

For me, the challenge was getting the time off from work to walk the Camino Frances from St. Jean all the way to Santiago. Aaron and I set it up a good year in advance ... then I met this girl. Asked her to marry me 2 weeks before leaving. She knew of our plans, but still, it was tough to carry them through under the circumstances.

I did get six weeks off though, and Donna is a hiker herself, so she helped me pick out all my gear.

Another challenge, as an American, was the language barrier. Despite several months of Rosetta Stone, conversational Spanish was completely beyond me. I get very withdrawn when I cannot find words ... and I found it was extremely uncomfortable to simply ... NOT UNDERSTAND. We have a large immigrant population here in NC, and it really helped me identify with them as strangers in a strange land. So many times I have seen my Hispanic brothers and sisters mute and withdrawn here at home. This feeling of helplessness had a big impact on how I relate to them now.

[mic]

I'm also from the greater Boston Area and after looking at various combination's of flights/trains etc; settled on a flight to Paris-Lyon-Biarritz. I don't have to change airports, as I discovered for some of the local, European carriers out of the larger airports. This is my first time traveling solo, and I opted to simplify my logistics. I also wanted to arrive in Biarritz and fly out of Barcelona; since I plan to continue traveling in Spain after my Camino. Flight wasn't the cheapest; around $1050; but at the time a flight into London was around 650; and from London I would still have to find transportation in/out of London for my trip. I'm leaving in a week, looking forward to it!