What Goes Wrong on the Camino: An Inventory of Pratfalls

*Everyone gets up before dawn but no stores or cafés are open.

*Everyone steals the toilet paper from the pilgrim hostels and by 7 am none is left.

*Everyone uses the stolen toilet paper for what appears to be sudden squats taken directly on the side of the trail indicating either a total lack of discretion or explosive diarrhea. It seems that about 90% of pilgrims engage in this delightful activity.

*You will get blisters that are in reality open, running sores and you will also probably get tendonitis, transient palsies, or a persistent limp.

*Although we´re taught that Spanish is the national language at least half of the signs are in regional dialects that have little relation to Spanish.

*You´ll realize too late that you need a walking stick to prevent the injuries you already have.

*If you aren´t in bed by 8 pm you are considered a troublemaker but they´ll get back at you by stealing all of the toilet paper before you wake up.

*You will never get as much sleep as you want nor need; sleep deprivation is a state of mind, body, and soul.

*There will always be an alpha-snorer in your room.