Seven Tips to Make the Most of the Camino de Santiago [Paperback]

Cheri Powell (Author), Dave Davis (Cover Design)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 7, 2010

Seven Tips to Make the Most of the Camino de Santiago is unlike any other book about the Camino. It is not a travelogue or a guide, but rather a preparation manual that gives practical advice on the different aspects of undertaking the spiritual journey of a lifetime. The Seven Tips cover everything from what to take to the history of the Camino to calculating the cost. Thought provoking questions are posed to help set realistic expectations in the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and logistical areas. In short, it is the organizational tool you need while planning your trip.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Cheri Powell, along with her husband Rick, walked the 500 miles of the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain. Her experiences and observations while on this trip inspired her to write this book. Cheri has traveled to 19 different countries and lived in five of them. She has been a computer analyst/programmer, has taught English as a Second Language, and, most recently, has turned her attention to writing. She currently lives with her husband and cat, Sadie, in Louisville, Kentucky.

Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: R. C. Linnell Publishing (August 7, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615381464
• ISBN-13: 978-0615381466
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 0.4 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,198 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #14 in Books > Travel > Specialty Travel > Literary & Religious
  • #53 in Books > Travel > Europe > Spain > General

More About the Author

Cheri Powell is a writer who comes to the endeavor with an MBA in International Management, a background as a computer analyst/programmer, and experience in teaching English as a Second Language. Cheri has done a tour for the Peace Corps in Lesotho, Southern Africa, has traveled to 19 different countries, and has lived in five of them.

In 2005, she and her husband walked the 500 miles of the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain. She wrote an ebook about preparing for such a spiritual journey. Recently she has updated the book to hard copy and print-on-demand on Amazon.com - Seven Tips to Make the Most of the Camino de Santiago (ISBN 9780615381466).

In March 2010, she won third place in the Almost Famous Author's Short Story contest with her entry Necessary Data. She has three entries in the Caliope 2010: The 17th Anthology (ISBN 9781456379209): Proximity, The Maraschino Cherry Story and A Case of Need. She has two entries in Cooking Comfort: Stories with Recipes (ISBN 9781456353247): Tomato Envy and Slice of Life. She has also written technical articles about ESL for Essential Teacher and an article about living and working in Mexico entitled "Teaching English in Mexico" for the online magazine EscapeArtist.com.

Cheri currently lives with her husband Rick, and cat Sadie, in Louisville, KY.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 60 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great way to prepare for the trek of a lifetime May 17, 2011

By Kindle reader

Format:Paperback

Seven Tips to Make the Most of the Camino de Santiago, by Cheri Powell, is hard to categorize--is it a travelogue, a how-to manual, a hiking guide, a spiritual book? The answer is "all of the above."

In 2005, Powell and her husband made the 500-mile trek across northern Spain, following a path trod by many thousands of pilgrims over more than a thousand years. Their destination was Santiago de Compostela where, according to legend, Saint James is buried.

For some on the path, it's a physical challenge; for others, it's truly a spiritual pilgrimage. For most, it's probably a combination of both.

In her book, Powell discusses the historical, the practical (what to take and what to leave), mental preparation (setting goals and managing expectations), physical preparation, trail etiquette and more.

The author notes in the introduction, "You will leave this book at home after reading it. It will probably be dog-eared and have notes written in the margins. That is its intended use...this is your workbook for getting to the Camino."

Powell's book was written to help people prepare to walk the Camino, but much of the content would be helpful to those aspiring to walk the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Rim Trail, or any other challenging trek.

The writing is clear, direct and well-organized. Each chapter concludes with a list of "takeaway" items. The author includes worksheets to help calculate costs, a shopping checklist, and an extensive list of books and Internet resources for further research.

Many people have been inspired to walk the Camino after reading Shirley MacLaine's book, The Camino: a Journey of the Spirit, or Paulo Coelho's book, The Pilgrimage.... Millions more will be inspired by the new Martin Sheen movie, The Way, now playing in Europe. If you aspire to walk the Camino, this book should surely be part of your preparation. Read more ›

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Nothing new August 12, 2012

By Buena Onda

Format:Paperback

I find the many 5-star reviews on this book highly suspicious. I get the feeling that every member of the author's women's writing group has chimed in with a glowing review.

I collect books about the Camino de Santiago. I have nothing against self-published books, but this one really offers nothing new. You could easily know just as much about the Camino by glancing at a few websites and Wikipedia articles. I found the author's tone annoying and many of her tips were extremely basic and obvious. With the wide selection of Camino resources out there, I wouldn't spend money on this book.

If you're looking for a comprehensive planning guide, I recommend Sylvia Nilsen's "Your Camino."

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Seven Tips to Make the Most of the Camino de Santiago August 31, 2010

By Teresa McAdams

Format:Paperback

Seven Tips to Make the Most of the Camino de Santiago is a very complete and useful guide for everything you would need to know to plan a safe and enjoyable walk of the Camino. The author covers every minute of your day and the needs you may encounter during the 500 mile walk - from communicating with local residents to the types of soaps that are easiest to carry in a backpack! She explains the transportation system, where you will sleep, shop and how to communicate with home. She includes a comprehensive guide to internet links that could be helpful and worksheets to help you determine the cost of your trip.
Her accounts of her own journey place you right there with her. Her experiences give you an appreciation of the pilgrimage that is interesting and inspiring even if you are not planning a trip at this time.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Seven Tips to Make the Most of the Camino de Santiago March 12, 2011

By T. Wohlfeld

Format:Paperback

This is a book that is well written and very comprehensive. I have never made this journey but after reading this book I certainly have added this trip to to my "must do" list! I would use this guide to prepare myself for any spiritual journey or hiking trip I would take, since so much of the information can be applied to other situations as well. The section on preparing yourself physically, worksheets on working out the cost of the trip, what to take and what to leave behind (not that I ever overpack) helped me to take a more methodical approcach to preparation for a journey. She even goes into culture shock and what to expect. Easy to read and she leaves no stone left unturned!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't Waste Your Money February 4, 2013

By Peter McCulloch

Format:Paperback

My family and I walked the Camino last year, and in preparing for it we bought dozens of books. This book was a complete waste of money. With a title like 'Seven Tips' we were expecting a practical guidebook. But it is very general in content, providing very little beyond the most basic information about the pilgrimage, and I was really quite taken aback by the naďveté of the author. For someone who purports to be well travelled, we were gobsmacked by her complete ignorance of train travel. It sounded like she had only ever travelled by limousine. Walking the Camino is a wonderful but very gritty experience. The starry-eyed innocence of the author of this book is not really a good place to base your plans for the walk. Given our experience, we are surprised that this book has received so many positive reviews. Perhaps the author's family and friends have been very kind.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Indespensible how-to on the el Camino September 16, 2010

By L. Dekay

Format:Paperback

I read this book thinking that someday I might make the trip. WOW It made me 1. want to make the trip, and 2. feel like I would be well prepared if i did. This book is a practical and down to earth guide that tells you what TO DO and WHAT NOT TO DO to have a successful trip. It will help--right down to what kind of socks to wear! I think anyone contemplating making this pilgrimage would be well advised to pack your toothbrush, your hairbrush and that other indispensible item...your "Seven Tips to Make the Most of the Camino de Santiago." Benefit from the author's cool head, studied and detailed approach to making your trip more comfortable, safer, and more successful.