Day# 18 Camino Chic.

Dressing on the Camino is a challenge on so many different levels. When you first come down the catwalk in st. Jean Pied de Pants in France , the pressure is mounting because France sets the tone for the 2013 pilgrimage to Santiago. When following the bright yellow arrows for 500 miles, other pilgrims are judging you. "Does my backpack make my ass look big?". "No, your ass makes your ass look big."  Maybe you shouldn't eat so many Oreos and M&Ms?  

This pressure to perform leads pilgrims to buy super expensive 'superlite' fabrics, gortex waterproof, head lamp like a cool miner, outerware, "Tilly" hats. North face and REI shirts and rip off pants, Solomon trekking gloves & Leki or black diamond trekking poles that will transport you across the miles like "Beam Me Up, Scotty !" Special boots that costs $200 each foot because 'you are worth it'. Do you want a priest to pass you on the Camino ?  Hell no!  Eat my dust,Father.  "I'll see you in confession Mary Elizabeth Regina"!  

And then you need the latest & greatest backpack that will hold all your stuff that you just bought at REI and still require that it only weighs 10% of your weight. So you buy a bigger pack than the REI salesman recommended because "you can handle it..after all, God will help you."  You also buy every gadget to enhance your Camino experience:  secret money belt, gorilla tripod,super light camera, journals, guidebooks, smart wool everything, electronic water purifier and EXofficio  underwear. 

In the hostels, everyone runs around in their underpants. Guys & girls, old and young. Now I'm a normal American modesty level. If wish I had known this shower room etiquette on coed showers, I would not have been so shocked.  But now I'm used to it and who cares? 

Here Sam is wearing his chic blue rain gear.  Looking smart and a bit like St James  with that new beard. "Godspeed , Sam!"

Some Camino couples match their clothes, backpacks, shoes and hats. This is not Camino Chic!  We are not marching into France to seize the castle. 

Here we stand in a picture of the modern day pilgrim. Highly prepared, safe and secure in our ability to not just follow the pack, but lead the pack to the cathedral in Santiago.  

Here I am heading into town for a

Sangria. I am wearing my 'going out clothes'.  When I return to my bunk, the same clothes miraculously turn into pajamas, and then reincarnated back  into Camino hiking clothes in the morning.  When you only have 2 sets of clothes, your imagination is your best friend.