Don’t Let Social Media Ruin the Magic of Hiking the Camino de Santiago 🪄

I transported my bag on the Camino and I literally never had even one person comment to me about it. But online people act like it is cheating and how dare you. The internet is definitely not real life.

i was blessed with the best experience of a life time...i walked the Camino age 82.. summer of 23...so so many nice supper plegrenos .. blessings blessings .. i did not have a bad experience.. and blessed every night with a bed. blessings . you make it what you want... enjoy the moment.. I sure did because i walked slow. Buen Camino..

Love this!

Thanks for this video. Great advice. No-one knows what people's health condition is unless it's visible. It's the individual's Camino & they can do it their way. There is no right or wrong way.

Thank you for posting this Kate! I sometimes wonder if i should leave all or most of the Camino FB groups as they are starting to me feel a bit inadequate for not having the Osprey pack, the Hokas, the all merino wool clothing that everyonevseems to have and says you need.. 😢 But thank you for putting it into perspective again for me. i know from experience after two caminos that the actual experience is so different and people wear and carry all sorts of diverse clothing and kit. Also sorry to hear about your wife's injury. Hope she recovers quickly.

I have found that throughout my life, I have met many people that express bad opinions about everything. To them I show a blank expression and just turn away. I am not bound to answer a question or comment under any circumstances. For the most part I have met alot of people that are very nice, and have and will always give a responce to a nice question....... unless it is a highly personal question, and I just met them. Through out my life I have met and been friendly with alot of people from many cultures and we have gotten along just fine. I don't have any prejudices that I am aware of. Well thats not right, I am prejudice against prejudice people. I try to get along with all that I meet. Yes I am from the USA, I am white, and I am older. I have always made my own choices and lived by the result of that, and i am easy going.

Thank you for tackling these "echoes." Walking the Frances after spending a year on two facebook Camino groups I fully expected to take flack for such transgressions as transporting my bag, booking ahead, and not staying in albergues, but never was I treated or looked at differently. But my point is that first-time pilgrims, who might even decide the Camio is not a culturally safe place, need to hear that for the most part those judgements don't live long on the Way.

I'm sorry you have had this recent wave of negativeness. You are wonderful. Thank you for your thoughts and for all the information you gift to us . I subscribe to you because you are a positive person who helps others and always wears a smile. You lift people up. You are a good person..truly. There will always be the negative people in the world. That is their loss. We can't make everyone happy and that's okay. Stay strong, keep on being the wonderful you <3 You are one of the people that inspired me to follow through and now I leave the US in 6 weeks to do the French Camino! I love the coin you sent me! Will cherish it always. Bravo to you Kate. Thank you.

Kate, I ‘m with you all the way. If people would try kindness first, they would avoid most of the problems dealing with other people. I hope your wife has a quick and complete recovery. Buen camino!

It’s the reason I rarely answer a question or comment which is rather sad. I just don’t need that negativity… But thanks for addressing the issue. A lot of people probably need to hear that.

This is awesome! Thank you so much for speaking your truth and putting this out there. I get so depressed on the lack of kindness, empathy, and compassion in this world. I can't wait to do my own Camino! Best of health for your wife, and how is Cashew?

I so appreciate you and your heart-felt approach in all your videos. No matter the topic, who you are speaks so loudly I can't always hear what you're saying. You're the dream steward of the spirit of the Camino. Thanks for that.

You are absolutely right. Lots of negative post especially for solo woman travelers. Thank God I never took those comments as helpful.

That covered a lot of ground. Ignorance is everywhere but when you travel you have the opportunity to overcome some of that. I was working for a US company and was spending three weeks at head office and one of my coworkers said “Gee, I didn’t know Englanders spoke English “. Being English I resorted to sarcasm, “The clue’s in the name”. No harm, no foul. You are right about the prejudice against Americans. It seems to be about how LOUD they are. I have been in restaurants where all you can hear is the four Americans in the corner and just a murmur from the other forty dinners. Not all Americans are like that of course, mid westerners and New Englanders tend to be more quietly spoken for example, but it’s a common preconception. But the loudest restaurant I have been in in Spain was an end of season dinner for a soccer team. I took my drink up to my room but I could still hear them. 😂😂😂

Great video and message. Wishing your wife a speedy recovery.

You are a wonderful person. Keep up the good work.

Thanks for this Katie. You picked up on some subjects that I’ve seen first hand and have been captivated by such things. Baggage postage, it’s incredible how much organisation goes into this. And there’s not just one company doing it…..I’ll admit to taking a stove and pot to cook with, it gives me the freedom of trail coffee, as well as allowing myself the luxury of feeding myself my way…usually simple vegetarian…..and that thing where people carry the bare minimum, where did that come from? 8-10LBS? My first aid kit weighs nearly 3 alone. I’ll admit packing and planning aren’t strong points. I usually just throw things together and go, hoping for the best. I guess when you start your guide column you can advise pilgrims to do as the locals, “unsure about the water? Drink the wine.”….

Nice job! A very important topic for sure.

love this, thank you

I completely agree with you. It takes as much effort to be kind as it takes to be unkind. And unkindness, I think, affects the speaker in terms of health, lingering negativity and generally how they see the world. Loved your video and the voice you offer to those who hope to walk it someday.