Author: lotuseaters.travel
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Madeira vs The Azores: Which Portuguese islands should you visit?
MADEIRA VS THE AZORES: WHICH PORTUGUESE ISLANDS SHOULD YOU VISIT AND WHY? Portugal’s Atlantic islands have long played on my mind. I am, and suspect I will always be, an island girl at heart. Rugged volcanic coastlines, dramatic hiking trails, tropical plants galore, and that irresistible blend of European ease…
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The Small but Important Things Nobody Tells You About Walking the Camino
THE SMALL BUT IMPORTANT THINGS NOBODY TELLS YOU ABOUT WALKING THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO. There are guidebooks filled with elevation charts and packing lists. You’ll find pilgrim forums dedicated to sock recommendations. And yet, the real lessons of the Camino often hide in the small stuff – the moments you…
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How to Walk a Luxury Camino (Without Booking a Tour or Losing the Magic)
The Camino de Santiago can be experienced luxuriously without tours. Indulge in fine dining, special accommodations, and wellness activities. Consider lighter packing with luggage transfer services, proper laundry, and personal comforts. Embrace cultural exploration, leisurely coffee moments, and rest days, enhancing your pilgrimage with romance and mindfulness to cherish the…
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Choosing Between Malta and Sicily: A Detailed Comparison
MALTA VERSUS SICILY: A THOUGHTFUL COMPARISON. When you start weighing up Malta and Sicily as your next Mediterranean escape, it’s easy to fall back on broad strokes: Malta, the tiny archipelago with a long history and British flair; Sicily, the sprawling Italian island packed with baroque towns, volcanoes and foodie…
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Why We Keep Coming Back to the Camino: A Pilgrim’s Reflection After 5,000km
WHY WE KEEP COMING BACK TO THE CAMINO: A PILGRIM’S REFLECTION AFTER 5,000km. I’m standing on a train platform in Mérida, southern Spain. The high-speed train to Madrid pulls in, shunting out the bustle of platform one. People shift quickly: some are clearly on business, rolling sleek suitcases behind them;…
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Explore Mérida: A Hidden Gem of Roman Ruins in Spain
A CITY GUIDE TO MERIDA, SPAIN. MORE ROMAN RUINS THAN YOU MIGHT EXPECT. Somewhat hidden away in Spain’s Extremadura region, Mérida isn’t usually the first place people think of when planning a trip to Spain. But after spending a few days there at the end of the Camino Mozarabe, I…
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How to Spend the Perfect Day in Cordoba on the Camino Mozarabe
HOW TO SPEND THE PERFECT DAY IN CORDOBA ON THE CAMINO MOZARABE. The Camino Mozarabe allows you to walk through through some of southern Spain’s most beautiful and lesser-known landscapes, quaint villages, mountains and olive groves. But few moments on the Camino Mozarabe, are quite as spectacular as the arrival…
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Camino Mozarabe: Cordoba to Merida Daily Stages
CAMINO MOZARABE: CORDOBA TO MERIDA DAILY STAGES. Earlier this year we walked the Camino Mozarabe from Almeria to Merida. A wonderful adventure that gave us an insight into just how magical the quieter Camino routes can be. In this blog post, we set out our daily stages for the final…
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Camino Mozarabe: Granada to Cordoba Daily Stages
CAMINO MOZARABE: GRANADA TO CORDOBA DAILY STAGES. I’m not sure that there’s anything that could excite me more than walking between two fantastic Spanish cities, like Granada and Cordoba. When we found out that the Camino Mozarabe allowed us to do just that, we had booked flights within minutes. Indeed,…
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Madrid Becomes a Gateway to the Camino de Santiago: First Pilgrim Hostel Opens in the Capital
MADRID BECOMES A GATEWAY TO THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO. Madrid has just taken a big step onto the Camino map. In April 2025, the city officially opened its first dedicated pilgrim hostel (albergue), welcoming international pilgrims into the heart of the capital and reaffirming its historic – and now practical…