We started our camino de Santiago by taking a train from Alicante to the town of Oviedo in Asturias. We stayed the night in Oviedo before starting our camino the next morning.
The cathedral of St. Saviour in Oviedo which is the starting point of the Camino Primitivo
Oviedo is the starting point for the Camino Primitivo and was the starting point of Alfonso II the Chaste King of Asturias who took this route in the 9th century to see the recently discovered tomb of St James the Apostle.
We began the camino in the pouring rain from Oviedo. Our spirits were high with excitement and determination.
We set out at 7:30 in the morning from the Cathedral. We walked for a short while and before long we were in the countryside.
Park on the edge of OviedoAt the outskirts of Oviedo,
There was lush greenery everywhere and the camino soon began to narrow into a trail.
We walked through the rain into some steep declines and inclines along the rail. Some of the trail was very rough and required that we walk slowly and carefully to avoid slipping or falling.
Part of the trail along camino Primitivo between Oviedo and Grado.
Although it was raining the entire day, along our journey we came across some beautiful small communities, sites and views.
Our first day was a challenge, we walked the entire day in the rain.
Rain water flowing down the road like a small river.
Although it was difficult at times, our enthusiasm and spirits remained high.
Shelley and Ray on the Camino Primitivo between Oviedo and Grado
We walked around 28 kilometers and finished our day in a town called Grado. We were tired but content for completing day one of our camino.
We settled into our room and although we had ponchos and rain jackets we were partly soaked. Our waterproof hiking boots had been exposed to rain, mud and water the entire time. It turned out that the hiking boots were not quite waterproof.
Feet wrinkled by walking in wet shoes
We cleaned up, changed into dry clothes and enjoyed a well deserved refreshment.
We enjoyed a well deserved refreshment and celebrated our achievement of day one.
Packing for the Camino de Santiago is a critical aspect of the enjoyment and experience of the Camino. The journey is long and you will want to carry as little extra weight as possible but still have all the items you need. We have packed with that in mind. We are not staying anywhere that requires a sleeping bag or sleeping liner.
Below is our packing list which we believe is the essentials for us. That is not to say that someone else would pack differently.
Ray´s pack is an Osprey Farpoint 55 litre. This pack is a little bigger than needed but he has had this pack for many years. It has been very reliable and functional over the years. The pack comes with a smaller day pack that can be removed from the main pack.
The packing was separated into three packing cubes, which makes it easy to unload and load your pack. You also know where an item is quickly without going through all your stuff.
The largest packing cube contains the following items
1 -pair hiking pants with zip off legs
2 -quick dry T-Shirts
1-Long sleeve quick dry shirt
Smaller packing cube contains
1 -quick dry towel
2 -pair underwear
2 -pair of hiking socks (Smartwool heavy duty socks)
small garbage bag (for dirty clothes)
The other packing cube contains 3 ziplock bags with the following:
1-ziplock bag – Toiletries, toothpaste toothbrush deoderant, some toilet paper and tissues, phone charger and 4 clothes pins.
2- ziplock bag – bug spray, suntan lotion and soap packet for cleaning laundry in the sink.
3-ziplockbag – pain pills, small first aid kit with bandaids and anti blister pack, nail clippers
Additional items include two pair of footwear. One pair of hiking shoes and a pair of sandals for the evening. This will give my feet a break from wearing the same shoes all the time.
Columbia hiking shoesComfortable sandals for the evenings
In addition, there are 2 walking sticks, a lightweight brimmed hat, sunglasses and personal Identification ,money, credit card etc.
The complete packing for the Camino de Santiago
The total weight of the pack is 14.2 lbs or 6.44 kilos.
We also have our Camino credentials (Camino passport) and the shell which almost everyone on the camino carries. It is a symbol and identifies you as a pilgrim on the camino.
It is a small paper book with your name and the route you plan on taking etc. In the camino passport you will collect your stamps from the different locations you go to over your camino. Once you reach Santiago de Compostela you can present your camino passport and get your Compostela.
Shelley´s pack is a Deuter 34 Ltr Futura Pro woman´s backpack.
Her packing list is fundamentally the same as Ray´s except for a few minor differences. She also used packing cubes to help keep items separated and easy to pack or find.
Packing list includes:
1- Yoga pants
1- long pants
2- pair of hiking shorts
2- Qucik dry T-Shirts
2- pair underwear
2- pair of hiking socks
1- long sleeve shirt
1- windbreaker jacket
1- Quick dry towel and quick dry face cloth
1- pair of sandals
1- Rain poncho
2- walking sticks
1- Small nylon day pack
light weight brimmed hat
Sunglasses,
Assorted toiletries items
ID, Money and camino credentials
Her pack total weight is 14 lbs or 6.35 kilos.
In regards to water, we do not use a water bladder or a metal water container. Water is safe in Spain and we simply buy a bottle of water at our starting point and use that throughout the camino refilling it as needed.
We are preparing for the Camino de Santiago Primitivo which is listed as World Heritage. This particular way of the camino is the route that Alfonso II King of Asturias followed to make his pilgrimage. He took this route to go to the tomb of the Apostle James in the 9th century.
The Primitivo is considered one of the most difficult routes in part because of the elevations and declines walking through some of the mountains. This is possibly one of the hardest routes of the existing Camino de Santiago. The route begins in Oviedo at the Cathedral of St Saviour.
The Cathedral of Oviedo Spain. Starting point of the Camino Primitivo.
We have been preparing for the start of our camino by walking nearly every day. We began approximately a month and half prior to our planned camino. At the beginning we walked around 7 kilometres each day and slowly increased our daily distance to approximately 20 kilometres. We then began to carry our pack which was loaded with all our weight for the trip, it was around 5.5 Kilos. This was a challenge at first but was soon easier than expected. We then began walking up a steep incline route with our packs to help condition us for the Primitivo. This has helped to prepare us for the upcoming adventure.
Map of the Camino de Santiago Primitivo route
Packing for the Camino
We have been trying to ensure we bring only the items we will need on the Camino. Our goal is to carry our pack throughout the trip.
If your interested in a detailed list of our gear and packsack check out this link Our packing list
So we have our camino credentials, planned our daily route and booked our rooms for each stage of the Camino.
The route has been broken down into fourteen days.
We will average around 23 kilometres each day, however the reality is some days we will walk almost 40 kms while others are only 15 kms. The terrain will be a challenge with steep inclines and declines over the mountains. We are excited and looking forward to start the adventure.
We took a day trip to Benissa Spain. This small town is located approximately an hour drive from the city of Alicante. It is one of the oldest towns located on the Costa Blanca. It was originally established in 987 by the Moores. The name Benissa comes from the Arabic tribal name Beni-Hisa or Beni-Eyce, which means (sons of Christ).
Marble monument commemorating the establishment of the town of Benissa
We explored the old medieval town centre and came across some beautiful narrow streets, with decorative tiles, flowers and cast iron railings.
One of the narrow streets in Benissa SpainStreet in the medieval town centre of Benissa
There was a bakery and other cafe shops and pubs in and around the main square of the town . We found a nice pub and enjoyed a refreshment while enjoying the beautiful views.
It was a great little town with a medieval city centre, that was well worth exploring.
We took a tour with a small group to a historic building called the Casa Mediterráneo. It is located in the downtown area of Alicante close to the bus station.
Shelley at the front of the Casa Mediterráneo in Alicante
The top tower of the building has a unique difference, can you spot it?
Top of Casa Mediterráneo in AlicanteInside the Casa Mediterráneo
Casa Mediterráneo is a public consortium made up of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and other organizations.
It was the former train station of Alicante before it was converted into the Casa Mediterráneo. Now the building is used to promote mutual interest between Spain and the rest of the countries of the Mediterranean basin.
Roof area of the Casa Mediterranean in AlicanteView from rear of the Casa Mediterráneo
Some of the general uses of Casa Mediterráneo are to encourage or promote knowledge of the Euro-Mediterranean region. There are free concerts and other public events held in the Casa Mediterráneo.
Shelley and Ray in reflection from mirror in the Casa Mediterráneo
The design of the roof and frame was apparently designed by a student of the famous engineer Gustave Eiffel, the designer of the Eiffel tower in Paris.
Ornate design of roof beams in Casa MediterráneoView of interior beamsOriginal metal located in the Casa MediterráneoOriginal train tracks located at the Casa Mediterráneo
The city of Alicante along with other agencies salvaged the building which was at one time left in disrepair. It has now become a repurposed building and a beautiful structure along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
Rear view of the Casa Mediterráneo
One of the many unique and beautiful buildings in Alicante.
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