- Time of past OR future Camino
- 1989, 2016, 2018, 2023, 2024...
A lot of people are doing different "virtual Caminos". The ones I've seen generally fall into two types:
- People are walking locally each day and mapping the distance of their local walks against a Camino route
- People are sharing photos and reminiscences of previous Caminos, one stage each day, to relive their past Camino through these reminiscences.
I'm doing a third kind.
A while ago, when the current crisis was just starting, I noticed that a lot of cultural attractions were making "virtual tours" available for free. When I followed up, a number of them required using virtual reality goggles to really experience. I found that a number of companies were offering very inexpensive VR goggles designed to be compatible with the Google Cardboard app (so called because these goggles are made out of cardboard, with a couple of lenses and a place to slot in your smart phone). I ordered one.
I noticed that Google Streetview works well with Google Cardboard. Put yourself somewhere in Streetview, activate Cardboard and look through the goggles and you are there, in full 360 surround view. Look down a street and a small superimposed arrow will appear. push a button and it will take you a bit down the street in the direction of the arrow.
I'm re-walking my Camino in Streetview and Google Earth. Once the goggles are on, I'm in that street or path in Spain. Wherever I look, I see what I would see in that spot (at the moment in time when Google drove by to take the photo). I just have to decide where to walk next. It really recreates that experience of looking for the yellow arrows and various other markers to reassure me that I am on the Camino and give me guidance as to where to go next. Of seeing people with backpacks in front of me and being relieved that I am on the right path. Occasionally, I will get to a bit where there is no Streetview (usually on paths between villages and towns, although I was surprised at how many of these have Streetview coverage. On these sections, I follow the Camino on Google Earth, looking at the photos and checking to see when Streetview picks up again.
Right now I've just arrived at the Casa de la Abuela in Los Arcos.
- People are walking locally each day and mapping the distance of their local walks against a Camino route
- People are sharing photos and reminiscences of previous Caminos, one stage each day, to relive their past Camino through these reminiscences.
I'm doing a third kind.
A while ago, when the current crisis was just starting, I noticed that a lot of cultural attractions were making "virtual tours" available for free. When I followed up, a number of them required using virtual reality goggles to really experience. I found that a number of companies were offering very inexpensive VR goggles designed to be compatible with the Google Cardboard app (so called because these goggles are made out of cardboard, with a couple of lenses and a place to slot in your smart phone). I ordered one.
I noticed that Google Streetview works well with Google Cardboard. Put yourself somewhere in Streetview, activate Cardboard and look through the goggles and you are there, in full 360 surround view. Look down a street and a small superimposed arrow will appear. push a button and it will take you a bit down the street in the direction of the arrow.
I'm re-walking my Camino in Streetview and Google Earth. Once the goggles are on, I'm in that street or path in Spain. Wherever I look, I see what I would see in that spot (at the moment in time when Google drove by to take the photo). I just have to decide where to walk next. It really recreates that experience of looking for the yellow arrows and various other markers to reassure me that I am on the Camino and give me guidance as to where to go next. Of seeing people with backpacks in front of me and being relieved that I am on the right path. Occasionally, I will get to a bit where there is no Streetview (usually on paths between villages and towns, although I was surprised at how many of these have Streetview coverage. On these sections, I follow the Camino on Google Earth, looking at the photos and checking to see when Streetview picks up again.
Right now I've just arrived at the Casa de la Abuela in Los Arcos.