Well, we have come to the end of the road for destination previews on our Camino and with a month or so to go preparations will be uppermost in our minds.
Poncho – Weight and packability – No zips or pockets means they’re ultra lightweight and packable. Wet weather protection and coverage – Pretty watertight and lots of cover. Very breathable, air flow keeps you cooler. Fit & Style – Loose and flappy, not the most stylish and a little impractical in the wind. Versatility and storage – Can double as a picnic blanket or tarp, usually no storage. Durability – No zips to break but overall less durable, plus flapping and snagging may degrade it faster.
Rain jacket– Weight and packability – Lightweight and packable, but zips and pockets make them bulkier than ponchos. Wet weather protection and coverage – Not as much coverage plus zips can let moisture in, but drawcords and fastenings tamp down the hood, hem and sleeves nicely. Warmth and breathability – Less breathable, snugger fit blocks wind better and keeps you warmer. Fit and style – Can be stylish enough for urban adventures, no annoying flapping. Versatility and storage – Only one function, lots of pockets. Durability – Durable with good treatment, less opportunity to snag on branches.
I shall have enough space to pack both.
FOOD ON THE GO
Some suggested foods to carry on the camino for lunches and snacks:
- Trail mix with nuts, seeds, and dried fruit
- Fresh fruit (apples carry well, bananas are good for muscle cramps with their potassium), grapes.
- Fresh vegetables (cucumbers and tomatoes travel well)
- Bread: fresh baguettes are delicious and inexpensive.
- Ham: so many delicious varieties
- Tins of sardines – worth packing a fork!
- Bags of crisps
- Cheese: also many varieties are available. Ask for a small quantity from a deli (50-100 grams) to avoid waste.
- Hydration en route – plenty of cafes etc normally, but I always dilute 2 x OCR tablets each morning in my own water bottles .
Camino Lingo – in Portugal,even a few years back, I never needed much Portuguese vocab. Just a few, basic terms suffice.
Greetings & Politeness
Olá / Bom dia / Boa tarde / Boa noite: Hello / Good morning / Good afternoon / Good evening.
Por favor: Please.
Obrigado (m) / Obrigada (f): Thank you.
De nada: You’re welcome.
Com licença: Excuse me (to get past/attention).
Desculpe: Sorry/Excuse me (to apologize).
Navigation & Finding Things
Onde fica a casa de banho? Where is the bathroom?.
Onde fica a estação? Where is the station?.
Pode ajudar-me? Can you help me?.
Direita / Esquerda / Direto: Right / Left / Straight.
Essentials & Emergencies
Sim / Não: Yes / No.
Fala Inglês? Do you speak English?.
Não falo português: I don’t speak Portuguese.
Ajuda: Help.
Emergência: Emergency.
Dining & Shopping
Queria… / Eu queria…: I would like….
A conta, por favor: The bill, please.
Um café: A coffee.
Quanto custa? How much does it cost?.
Key Differences
Goodbye: Tchau (casual) or Adeus (formal).
Water: Água.
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner: Pequeno-almoço / Almoço / Jantar.
In the next Blog,I shall be focusing on Spanish vocabulary- picture style – Here are a few,non pictorial phrases for starters..
USEFUL SPANISH PHRASES
Demasiado – it’s too much eg at mealtimes or the cost of something.
Puedo reservoir…..? Can I book….
Tengo ganas de …..I’ m looking forward to…
Cuesta Mucha …..It’s hard work
Es el major….. It’s one of the best
Hay un / una / unos / …..por aqui ? Is or are there……near here?
Puedo tener …….Can I have ?
Quercia …..I want…dos billetes para Melide , da Ida today
Tengo …I have ….Tengo que ? Do I have to ?
Come se puedo if a …how can one get to ?
Tambien….also
A question hora …at what time
Sale Es proximal autobus …when is the next bus
Sale..leaves. Llega …arrives
Quisiera una habitacione para estanoche – I want a room for the night
Podemos..can we. …..Puedo…can I?
Quisiera reserva una habitacione para dos pelegrinos. Can I book a room for two pilgrims?
Pagan con tarjeta? Pay by card?
Dejar la Mochila aqui? …leave the rucksack here?
Tengo una habitacione reservarda a nombre de …para esta noche. I have rooms booked for a number of..for tonight
Una habitacione double con dos camas – a double room with two single beds
Tienen habitacione libres ? Any rooms free?
Comoros s’escribe? How do you spell it?
Cerca Del…near to …lejos..far
Puedo repetir? Can you repeat that?
Cuanta costa?….How much para un taxi el estacion d’autobus, Santiago?
Barsto..cheap….Caro….dear
Lo siento..I’m sorry
Aqui tiene…here you are …..agora ….now
Tiene sellos – have you stamps?
Me da…can you give me?…Tome…take….siga…follow
Perdone,donde esta el Camino?….Por donde se va a ?…How do you get to?
Estomos perditos…we are lost
Donde Puedo tomar un taxi?…where can I get a taxi?
Hacia el…towards…pasado el,…past the….antes de…before the..busque el…watch for..
Esta aqui…it’s here…esta alli…it’s there….
Estoy..I am…como Es?…what’s it like? Siga..Carry on..
Vale..OK…hasta Luego…see you later….unos…some
Si queremos unas Tapas para compartir…we’d like to share some Tapas
Que Rico….this is delicious….esta buenissimo…it’s very good
Que esta pasando? What’s going in?
Quiero informacion sober …I’d like info. About ..
Hay otro…is there another?
Yo hablo…I speak…. Tambien necessitamos..we also need…
Si tengo..no tengo…yes I have, no I have…si me gusta…yes I like….
Cuanto curl?….how long?
La comida….lunch…la cena….dinner…..voy a tomar – I’m going to have..
Estoy sediento…I’m thirsty….tengo hambre..I’m hungry…
Claro…of course …entonces….then….nosotros…we…Eres….Are you?
Nosotros Somos de Inglaterra
Hay cinque nietos…I have five grandchildren
Soy jubilado,, fin director de una escuela primaria – I am a retired ht..
Me llamo John – my name is…
quel tiempo hace!..what’s the weather like?
Lo siento no se…sorry I don’ know
Un poco Casado…a little tired
Hay una barre aqui?…Mira..look…
Perdone, donde es el hotel….? Excuse me,where is the hotel?
A que distancia esta…How far is…? En pie…on foot…
Buen provecho…Good appetite ..comer …to eat
No entiendo…I don’t understand…trabajo..I work
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