Author: esteban

The Certificates of the Way of Saint James (2022)

Post author By esteban
Post date 2023-02-16

In this video, we show the certificates or accreditations of the Camino de Santiago, what they look like, what the requirements are and where they are obtained, including the Compostela, the Welcome Certificate, the Distance Certificate, the Visit Certificate, La Perregrina, (“the compostela for dogs”), the Cotolaya, the Finisterrana, in Finisterre, the Muxiana, the Pedronia, the Salvadorana and the Ignaciana.

Other certificates/accreditations not included:

La Carta Peregrina, en Sahagún (Tony P )

It indicates the halfway point of the French Way. It is requested at the tourist office from 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Weekends closed. Price: 3 €

La Uclediana: (Alfredo Guerra)

Walking the Camino de Santiago in the opposite direction; from the Church of Santiago in Madrid to the Monastery of the Order of Santiago in Uclés.

It also has a specific credential, issued by the Association of Friends of the Uclés Way.

La Lebaniega: Upon completion of the Camino Lebaniego (also has a specific credential)

Prices for the year 2022.

Designs for certificates and accreditation may have changed and the dates indicated refer to the year of delivery, not the year when the design was changed.

Tags Way of Saint James

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The Drakospitos of Euboea

Post author By esteban
Post date 2023-02-11

In this video we explore 4 dragon houses (“drakospiti” or “drakospito” in Greek), which are very ancient buildings built with huge stone blocks.

There exist throughout Greece, including Athens, but they are mainly found in the south of Evia (Euboea).

It is not known with certainty who built them, but it is believed that it was a nomadic people who settled in Evia (Euboia) in 1200 BC.

Their use is not clear and Pausanias does not name them in his accounts.

Tags Ancient Greece, Greece, Unknown Ruins

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Rizocastro Castle, in Euboea

Post author By esteban
Post date 2023-02-07

It is located on a dry hill near the Greek Public Power Company (DEH) power plant in the Milaki village of Euboea and near a cement factory.

From above there is almost a 360-degree view.

It was probably built in the early decades of the Frankish occupation of Euboea in the 13th century.

It is said that a 1.5 km tunnel connects the castle with Milaki.

The castle remained in use at least until the years of the Greek Revolution when it was a prison for the Turks.

The shape of the castle is a trapezoid measuring 46x30m with an area of 1200 square meters. In the center of the enclosure rises the central tower, almost square. Its dimensions: 7.10 x 7.60 meters. It is preserved to an approximate height of 11 meters.

Of the castle walls, the north and west sides are better preserved. The east wall is destroyed. On the south side, only a part in the west is in relatively good condition. The western wall extends approximately to a length of 42 m.

Outside the castle, to the south and to the west, there was a small fortified settlement consisting of small houses with dimensions of 4x4m or 4x5m, with adobe walls without mortar and with wooden roofs.

Tags Castles and Fortresses, Greece, Unknown Ruins

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Mycenaean cemetery of Aidonia, in Greece

Post author By esteban
Post date 2023-02-04

We explored the Mycenaean cemetery of Aidonia, located in the northeastern Peloponnese of Greece, near Mycenae and Nemea, as well as Lake Stymphalia.

In the video, we show the 25 tombs in the cemetery, plus 7 other tombs we found nearby.

The cemetery is very well maintained and is open to the public free of charge.

A visit takes between one and one and a half hours.

The cemetery contains almost exclusively chambered tombs, which are entirely hewn from the natural rock and consist of an elongated corridor leading from the ground surface to the underground entrance, through which one enters the burial chamber.

Chambered tombs were used throughout the Mycenaean era (c. 1600/1550-1100 BC) and are often arranged in separate groups.

Unlike other tombs of the same style and period, these are more elaborate, with vertical walls, gabled roofs, and ornate entrances.

The cemetery became famous after it was brutally looted by organized groups of antiquities dealers in the 1970s.

An excavation by the Archaeological Service followed, unearthing finds that were linked to the products of the illegal excavation when these became available for sale abroad in 1993.

The Greek state’s swift action led to the repatriation of the antiquities (1996), which were presented along with the excavation finds to the National Archaeological Museum and are now housed in the Nemean Archaeological Museum.

Numerous relics were found, primarily clay vessels and figurines.

The tomb in the lower group had been used repeatedly, not only during the Mycenaean period, but also during the Geometric and Archaic periods and later.

Tags Ancient Greece, Greece, Mycenaenean Greece, Unknown Ruins

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The Roman Aqueduct of Corinth

Post author By esteban
Post date 2023-02-01

Today we are going to travel to the Peloponnese to visit part of one of the most unknown aqueducts in Greece, the aqueduct of Corinth.

It had 85 kilometers in length and was probably the longest aqueduct in all of Greece.

It was built by order of Emperor Hadrian, connecting one of the 3 springs that feed the Lake Estinfalia with Acrocorinth.

The very curious thing is that we couldn’t find a single photo or video.

Only the work of research by the archaeologists.

Originally it had 23 bridges, of which only 4 are preserved intact and one is only large.

This bridge is 41 meters long and preserves its 2 rows of arches.

Unfortunately the area is not cared for; it is full of garbage and with the vegetation very overgrown.

Tags Ancient Greece, Corinth, Greece, Roman Greece, Unknown Ruins

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Greece: 23000 years of ruins…

Post author By esteban
Post date 2023-01-29

In this video, we tell you why Greece is paradise for ruin and ancient lovers.

In summary, ancient Greece has left more ruins than anyone can imagine, as well as ruins of all eras, and the majority of the ruins can be visited for free, many of them with free access.

In this video, we show you only a few of the many ruins that Greece has.

Tags Ancient Greece, Greece, Unknown Ruins

Videos in English

The perfect backpack for the Camino de Santiago (for Women)

Post author By esteban
Post date 2023-01-15

In this video, we’ll show you how to properly pack your backpack for the Camino de Santiago.
This backpack is suitable for women, for hikes longer than 7 days, and for spring, summer, and autumn.
First, we’ll give you general advice, then we’ll explain the reasoning behind some of our choices, and finally, we’ll show you how to pack the backpack.

Packing List

40L/50L backpack

Pair of sneakers/boots

Sleeping bag

2 dry-fit hiking shirts

1 cotton t-shirt for lounging

1 long-sleeved t-shirt

1 pair of shorts for the end of the stage

2 pairs of seasonal dry-fit pants (in this case, one pair of long pants and one pair of shorts)

1 belt with a plastic buckle

1 pair of pajamas

1 coat

1 pair of sandals

Towel, toothpaste, and toothbrush

Toiletry bag

Fanny pack

1 cloth bag

2 sports bras

3 pairs of underwear

3 pairs of socks

Compeed, needles, and thread

Laundry soap with clothespins and rope

Small backpack

Power bank

Water bottle

1 raincoat

Guest ID

1 headlamp

Sunglasses

1/2 roll of toilet paper and small bags

1 hat

Sunscreen Sunscreen

Magnesium

First-Aid Kit

1 Fly and Mosquito Repellent

Disinfectant

Walking Stick (1 or 2)

1 Seashell (optional)

Toiletry Bag includes:

Safety pins

Lip liner

Clean bags

And cotton swabs

Anti-chafing cream and/or petroleum jelly

Small scissors

Moisturizing cream, one for the body and one for the face

Shower gel and shampoo (not available in many hostels)

Deodorant

Hand sanitizer

Comb

First-Aid Kit includes:

Anti-inflammatories,

Blister disinfectant,

Compeed or similar,

Needle, thread, and

Magnesium tablets and/or rehydration solution…

Waist Bag includes:

Earplugs and eye mask

Padlock

Pilgrim’s credential + Ziploc bag ID card

Mobile phone

Charger and cable

Power bank

Headphones

Universal adapter with 2 USB ports

Clean plastic and cloth bags

Wallet includes:
ID card or passport
Some cash (estimate €20 per day minimum in cash, as of 2022)
Credit/debit cards

Not shown in the video, but necessary:
Plastic fork/spork (many hostels don’t provide them)

Backpack for men: https://youtu.be/rhQqEIhoQzI

Tags Way of Saint James

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Santiago de Compostela – French Way | Puente La Reina-Burgos

Post author By esteban
Post date 2023-01-10

In this video, we show a summary of our day-to-day on the French Way, including towns, parish hostels, hermits, churches and other special moments.

Day 1: Puente La Reina-Estella
Day 2: Estella-Los Arcos-Sansol
Day 3: Sansol-Logroño
Day 4: Logroño-Navarrete-Nájera
Day 5: Nájera-Santo Domingo de la Calzada-Grañon
Day 6: Grañon-Belorado-Tosantos
Day 7: Tosantos-San Juan de Ortega-Agés
Day 8: Agés-Burgos

In the video, the distances, the difficulty and the beauty of the route are included.

Tags Spain, Way of Saint James

Videos in English

Santiago Way – Ripoll Way | From Sant Quirze de Besora to Sabadell

Post author By esteban
Post date 2023-01-04

In this first video of the year, we explore the Ripollès Way, one of the many Ways of St. James that crosses Catalonia and that even some Catalans are unaware of.

We walk from Sant Quirze de Besora to Sabadell, passing through Manlleu, Vic, Tona, Centelles, Figaró, Granollers and other villages.

Unfortunately we were not able to film the Ripoll-Sant Quirze section.

As part of the video, we show 2 paths to get to Ripoll, the Coll d’Ares, which some consider the beginning of the Ripollès path and the Camí del Segre, which starts in Puigcerdà.

The official path ends in Palou, where it joins other paths in the Pyrenees and Cap de Creus in the direction of Sabadell, Terrassa, Montserrat, which we have already covered in another video.

We are not aware of there being hostels on this road, so you have to use hostels and hotels or do it in one stage.

We didn’t see any other walkers on all the days of the journey.

And one last tip for adventurers and weekend pilgrims: the section shown in this video is possible to get the recurring Rodalies season ticket since the last station in zone 6 is Sant Quirze and the path runs parallel to the R3 line. (We know that the subscription was not intended for non-work purposes, but we wanted to communicate the possibility).