Day 1 on the Via de la Plata

[@PJ_Hawke]

Very well done both the walk and the video! Once again great music and I love the subtitles

[@NadineWalks]

That walk was up there in my 'hardest days on the Camino', but what a feeling of accomplishment to have done it!

[@peelloper57]

Great walking and a great place to stay and sleep.Owner is a really great man.In 2022 I stayed there and it was just great!

[@HoosierOldLady59]

Wow, brutal stage. Not only the heat with no shade, but all the traffic noise and the hip pain. So glad you had such a wonderful end to the day.

[@NadineWalks]

I'm glad I did too! It's a long, difficult, uninspiring stretch even when you're NOT limping through the kilometers. The hip pain suddenly appearing made it all the more difficult, but luckily I got through!

[@lazesobie]

Wonderful experience. Thanks for sharing. I hope to go there next year...

[@isetta151]

Hi Nadine, I have the exact same problem with my hips, they kill me on the first day and they even hurt at night but then it's all good, it must be the trauma of too much walking in one go! Thank you for the videos, I love watching your caminos!

[@NadineWalks]

Yes, I think that was part of my problem- this year I didn't train with my pack and I think it was a bit heavy when I started, and my body just wasn't used to it! I was so thankful that the pain went away quickly, after that first stage.

[@davewong4834]

It was a tough day, rewarded by some wholesome food. well deserved it!

[@NadineWalks]

Yes, that meal at the end of the day was really perfect, and just what I needed!

[@comewithusnexttime5082]

Love following your adventures. I hope the hip works out. Your video and editing get better and better with each Camino. Buen Camino

[@NadineWalks]

Oh thanks for this comment, I always feel like I need to learn more about editing (and get some nice gear), but I also really enjoy just continuing to do what I'm doing, so it makes me so happy to hear that you're enjoying the videos!

[@mortenfoss1303]

@@NadineWalks Your videos are more than good enough, and have loads of charm and warmth. Keep it up, this is what we love.

[@EvanYeahMe]

Hello from Canada.Oh gosh, can’t wait to hear about the difficulties on the next 15 km. I hope the hip pain was resolved quickly. When I walked Hadrian’s Walk 15 years ago, managing aches, pains and injuries was a part of the journey. You had mentioned (I think) in a video that you had done a walk in England and other places. It would be great to hear you talk about those trips in some off-season/winter videos. Thanks again for these useful and entertaining videos. Buen Camino, bonne route, happy trails.

[@NadineWalks]

Thank you for this suggestion, you're right, I've never talked about my hikes in England/Scotland on this channel! I wish I'd been taking videos during those walks, but maybe that means I'll have to return to re-walk (and walk some other routes there, the Coast to Coast has been on my list for quite awhile!)

[@storiestellr]

Via de la Plata is a commitment! (that haven’t dared committing 😅😇) buen Camino, Nadine!

[@NadineWalks]

And I only walked the last part... the entire thing IS a huge undertaking!

[@George-Aguilar]

Hey Nadine. Decided to try again next year. In Madrid and headed south! Cheers

[@avantipolipo]

I have only done one Camino. It was the Via de la Plata from Seville - really enjoyed it. Wouldn't do it in the summer.

[@NadineWalks]

Haha, that's why I didn't see other pilgrims! Most of the Camino Sanabres (which is mainly what I'd set out to do, but I had a few extra days so started a bit south) wasn't as hot as it would have been further south. And I do agree, I'd love to do this entire path but I only have time off in the summer and I'd never begin in Seville, just too hot!

[@toniballus7265]

Last summer is very hot in Spain. Take care in the Meseta there aren´t threes .......that means no shadows for anyone. Buen Camino Nadine.

[@NadineWalks]

I'm not sure what I was expecting, but there were really NO places to sit and/or pause in the shade during those last 15km!! (well, slight exaggeration, there were just a couple small spots of shade, like where I paused to take that video towards the end)

[@toniballus7265]

@@NadineWalks Indeed the almost part of La Meseta and Paramo Leones don´t have threes......flat and hot in summer and dry and cold in winter. Take care of your legs. Buen Camino.

[@AidaJof]

Good mroning Nadine, I am out of town so only now catching up to your posting. What an awesome start albeit the hip issue, but that is a very ambitious schedule ... I love it. Buen Camino pilgrim🙋‍♀️

[@DaysWeSpend]

We're just catching up on these. That table really does look like a still life painting!

[@NadineWalks]

You should have seen all the photos and videos I took of it!! (I suppose it also helped to pass the time, considering I was all alone... but it really WAS so beautiful!)

[@DaysWeSpend]

@@NadineWalks I would have done the same thing. -Lainey

[@optimisticgal]

Best Wishes on this one. Hope you've rested up ok

[@NadineWalks]

Thank you so much, that was definitely a difficult walk!

[@Sku11Leader]

Giving me the itch to do it all again, Nadine.

[@NadineWalks]

Haha, that's what happens when I edit these videos, makes me want to go back all over again!

[@UltreiaLibri]

Szłam z Salamanki do Santiago a potem do Fatimy w 2019 ,niedlugo ruszam z Lizbony, pozdrawiam z Polski! BUEN CAMINO❤!

[@berniefurlong2840]

I keep thinking about the Via de la Plata! Im worried there will be too few other pilgrims to make for company at the end of a stage and that the number of KMs between towns is long! I do want to experience it one day however. Im also contemplating the Norte (or a section of it. I can only take 2 week blocks of leave until im retired :(😢).. so that may be next! I really enjoy your videos!

[@NadineWalks]

I do think that the spring (and possibly fall) are much more popular times to walk the Via de la Plata... even though I started up in Salamanca, I think that there just weren't many people at all walking in the summer. But I've heard that albergues can be nearly full in the springtime! But yes, from my experience, there are long stretches with no services! The Norte is one of my favorites, so that would be a great option as well. I hope you'll be able to get to a Camino soon! :)

[@peterfontaine4627]

The VDLP has a much different feel! All the best of healing for the hip. Loved the horse. Did you learn his/her name?

[@NadineWalks]

I did mention the horse to the owner, but since the conversation was in Spanish (and I don't really speak Spanish), I didn't even think to ask about the name! But that horse really cheered me up :)

[@billkrueger9305]

36k! no wonder your hip is sore...hope it is better! great end to a challenging day! this is cool!

[@NadineWalks]

In this case, I don't think it was the distance (though that certainly didn't help)... I blame walking with a food-loaded pack on the early stages of the Baztan for the hip pain, and not training enough beforehand with a heavier pack. Or, well, who knows! In any case, it really WAS a great end to a challenging day, and I'm glad I made it through okay :)

[@carlstickelmeyer5461]

HEY NADINE. IS THIS ROUTE MARKED WELL

[@dathang]

Yeah, that stretch looked kinda brutal. Though I suppose as long as there is a decent supply of coffee along the way and a goodly amount of wine at the end... anything is possible, eh? Cheers and adventure on!

[@NadineWalks]

Well, in upcoming days, coffee was hard to come by. But I could usually find wine at the end!!

[@dathang]

@@NadineWalks a friend used to like saying... "It doesn't matter how you start... as long as you end well." ;)

[@pattiwhite9575]

Ok I will have to research where you are and what your doing. I am in awe of people that go on pilgrimages from Europe to southern Spain.

[@NadineWalks]

There are lots of different Camino paths to Santiago, this is just one of them! It's an incredible experience.

[@pattiwhite9575]

I just wasn't sure where in the world you were. There are some in Mexico and S.America.@@NadineWalks

[@jandavis1362]

When you kind of over due yourself, it helps to have some relief. If its uncomfortable I use Arthritis strength Tylenol. And a hot shower. Works wonders for me. If you are out on the path, take a short break eat a snack and take a pill. The pain will ease off in about a half hour.

[@NadineWalks]

Great advice (though even with a few Advil, the hip just kept hurting! That's part of what concerned me that day... but luckily by the next morning it was much, much better)

[@TTraveller3]

Quote for the day…. “When adversity strikes, that's when you have to be the most calm. Take a step back, stay strong, stay grounded and press on.” LL COIL J

[@NadineWalks]

Oh, what a great quote!

[@tomahorse]

you may agree that July / August are not the ideal months for VDLP. However it is a beautiful camino. Everyone has their favourite and this is mine.

[@NadineWalks]

I can see why some people really love this Camino! One day I'd love to start in Seville, to really experience the whole path.

[@jabbielyii8736]

Ultreia. Buen camino.

[@NadineWalks]

Thank you!

[@scotbotvideos]

Always fancied doing the VDLP, especially in the summer when it's hot and sunny; would give me an excuse to be dressed all in light colours. However, the seeming lack of support from I've seen in other vloggers' videos has somewhat dissuaded me. Your dinner looked tasty, if a tad spartan. I'd probably be blootered on all that wine and unable to sleep, though.

[@NadineWalks]

I can't speak to the stages before Salamanca, but I've heard those those have long stretches between services as well. You'll see more in my upcoming videos- some stretches are tough! But on the other hand, once you get into it, you sort of get used to it... stocking up, celebrating when a bar is actually open, the feeling of accomplishment when you've walked a long and spartan stretch... The dinner was actually perfect! The first course looked deceivingly small, but there was a huge bowl of that pasta salad with tuna and I helped myself to more than what was initially shown on my plate. And along with bread, all that wine, fruit to finish, it was great! (plus, the tomatoes were picked fresh from the garden and I couldn't stop eating them! The wine was local and it was an all-around great meal. Haha, I'll stop reminiscing now...) :)

[@anxomillaraveiga9404]

what other paths did you walk, frances others.....

[@jornspirit]

gosh - what a tough day... doesn't make it very appealing for me to walk from Salamanca with all those roads and hardly any shade... blessings on your hip... I would probably rather skip a day (resting your hip) and take a bus/train, than not arriving in Santiago... may the next day(s) be better, Nadine 💖

[@NadineWalks]

I'd read that this 36km stage out of Salamanca is one of the worst of the Via de la Plata, and some take a bus between Salamanca and Zamora (believe me, as I was limping along and saw a bus flash by on the highway, I was kicking myself for not doing the same!). It would have been a tough stage without the hip pain, but doable. And, well, days like this add character!!

[@jornspirit]

@@NadineWalks ...absolutely - you can be proud! I had days like this on my 2 caminos, and trudged on... 😎

[@elenamamaeva5187]

I don’t understand... This Camino starts in Seville...

[@NadineWalks]

Oh yes, but this was my Day 1 of the route- the previous video had explained what I was doing (and I think the beginning of the video might explain it too, I can't remember!) But you're correct, the "official" beginning is not in Salamanca.

[@douglasoster7102]

Your supper at the long table was like that something that would have delighted Putin. The Via de la Plata is on the whole, from what I've learned, a long and lonesome road. Good luck with the concerning hip. Perhaps some physiotherapy would do the trick.

[@NadineWalks]

Yes, a long and lonesome road indeed! I do think you'd find a decent-enough amount of pilgrims at other times of the year, however (well, particularly spring). I was just walking very off-season for this route!

[@passionatelifeproject]

Wow, hope your hip holds up...

[@NadineWalks]

Thank you!

[@pyronitro]

Take Care of your hip. hope its recoverable with rest. maybe something needs an adjustment somewhere... pack, shoes, a good chiropractic crack...

[@NadineWalks]

Thank you, I'm not sure what was happening, but it truly was concerning me on that walk!!

[@pattiwhite9575]

It is amazing to have a great shoe and or a orthotic insert with great arch support.

[@Rkolb2798]

Chin up 😊 better than being at work

[@NadineWalks]

Yes! Well, in this case, if the pain I was experiencing had continued I would have needed to stop, it was really, really difficult walking (I undersold it in the video clip, I was truly limping for hours!) So while I am always so, so happy and grateful to be on the Camino, even on the challenging days, the risk of an injury-ending Camino is never fun, and I was quite worried. (Still though, even if I had stopped walking, getting to be in Spain is better than being at work! So that's true :)

[@piosscola224]

How did you like my hometown, Salamanca!?

[@NadineWalks]

It was amazing!! Truly, I couldn’t believe how much I instantly felt so good and happy there, it is just so beautiful. I need to go back and spend a lot more time there!

[@ThePhantomMajor]

Wow, bit more hard core this one! 🥵

[@NadineWalks]

Sure was, the Via de la Plata really threw me into the deep end...

[@ThePhantomMajor]

@@NadineWalks hope every cloud has a silver lining 🙈😂

[@anxomillaraveiga9404]

an unknown path

[@kha58]

This is the first time I see you struggle. I hope nothing serious.

[@NadineWalks]

I've been lucky to not have too many difficult moments on my Caminos, though my hip was hurting one day while I was on the Baztan as well (not nearly as badly though), and my inclination is just not to record those moments. Plus, well, when you're struggling, it's difficult to think about stopping to take a video! But yes, this was a really tough day, and in the end I'm glad I captured at least part of it, because it was definitely part of the experience!

[@stephenthomas3348]

wear a hat

[@NadineWalks]

Oh I was wearing a hat! In the video of me towards the end, you see the strap of my hat around my neck. I took it off in the shade to wipe away sweat, etc. So, even in videos where the hat's not on my head, it doesn't mean I wasn't wearing it!

[@thomasthomsen6763]

Warum sprichst du nicht deutsch? Dein Akzent ist schrecklich. Warum startest Du auf der Hälfte der Strecke erst ?

[@NadineWalks]

I don't know how to speak German, and I'm not sure what you mean by my accent... but I am sorry if it's difficult to understand me when I speak. I started halfway through the route because I was walking in July/August, and beginning in Seville would have been too hot for me! (and for most people, the temperatures could make it quite dangerous)