About this guide to walking the Camino

Meriam & Oden’s Guide to Walking the Camino is an illustrated story about walking the 780-km-long Camino Francés (part of Spain’s Camino de Santiago, a long-distance pilgrimage path) – but from the novel, fun perspective of the underwear of two hikers.

Popular and historically celebrated, the Camino Francés is walked by almost a quarter of a million people each year – nearly half of all pilgrims hiking the dozen Camino routes. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this path starts in southernmost France then winds through northern Spain’s breathtaking landscapes and historic cities, taking in Pamplona (famous for its bull run), mountain villages and rolling vineyards.

Much has been written about the Camino de Santiago, yet Meriam & Oden’s Guide to Walking the Camino nevertheless stands apart. Penned by three-time pilgrim J.P. Hansen, at its heart this is an advice-packed guidebook to the famous route for hikers and pilgrims. But the approach of this Journey Book (an imprint of Bradt Guides) is very different. Venturing into the dark, murky reality of long-distance walking – its nether regions, if you will – the cartoon characters of Meriam (a pair of knickers) and Oden (underpants) share tips and tricks on all manner of personal hygiene questions. There is, after all, a very special bond between a pilgrim and her or his undergarments.

The result of this underwear exposé is simultaneously endearing and enlightening, amusing and educational. Learn:

• How many pairs of undergarments you should take on a long-distance walk;
• What fabric to choose for this essential attire;
• How to deal with the inevitable chafing;
• The best ways to keep underwear looking (and smelling) its Sunday best;
• Why you can never have too many zip-lock bags; and
• Many other essential titbits to make your hike a success.

Light-hearted yet authoritative, Meriam & Oden’s Guide to Walking the Camino will enchant and inform many a reader: from first-time or experienced pilgrims to afficionados of long-distance footpaths more generically; from those who love northern Spain to anyone who travels with a sense of humour and adventure. Hand on gusset, you will never look at your underwear the same way again.

Before ordering ebooks from us, please check out our ebook information.

Contents

1 Walking a Camino
2 Who are Meriam and Oden?
3 Packing for your Camino
4 Keeping clean
5 When the sun is not shining
6 A pilgrim’s guide to personal hygiene
7 Albergue life
8 Reaching Santiago de Compostela
9 Life after the Camino

About the author

Hailing from Australia, author J.P. Hansen has walked the Camino de Santiago three times, making him an unabashed hiking pilgrim. He takes pride in seeing things differently and in sharing insights gained from long-distance travel on foot. Although Hansen admits, tongue in cheek, that his attention to detail can sometimes be lacking, his enthusiasm for adventure is nothing short of infectious. The unfettered joy that is Meriam & Oden’s Guide to Walking the Camino is the result.