Who We Are
Both Nancy and Jose have always held both walking and learning close to their hearts.
Their paths crossed while Nancy was conducting her doctoral dissertation research on the
Camino de Santiago in the hamlet of Roncesvalles (Navarre) and Jose was just beginning a
450 mile walk across Spain. Their paths rejoined a month later in Santiago de Compostela
and since then have not diverged. Together they co-authored the chapters on Galicia,
Cordillera Cantabrica (Picos de Europa) and the Camino de Santiago for Lonely
Planet’s Walking in
Spain (1999) and co-authored Lonely Planet's 1st edition of Walking
in Scotland (2001). They have one child, Jacob, and live in Galicia.
 Nancy L. Frey, PhD
Nancy’s love of hiking grew from annual summer trips to Yosemite led
by a Dad who always knew the name of every tree and who reveled in leading his children to
inspirational points. Thus it wasn’t too surprising that when she selected her
subject material for her doctoral dissertation in cultural anthropology (UC Berkeley) one
very attractive element of it was the prospect of traversing the north of Spain on foot.
Since her first walk in 1993, Nancy has walked the Camino de Santiago numerous times and
cycled it as well. In her book on the modern day journey, Pilgrim
Stories: On and Off the Road to Santiago (UC Press, 1998), Nancy brings to life
the contemporary way by discussing pilgrims' motivations, mishaps and discoveries while
walking as well as providing insights into why the route is so popular today. Nancy also
lectures for ElderHostel and Smithsonian Institution on their educational tours in Spain,
Portugal and France. She also teaches a course on the Camino de Santiago at the University
of Santiago and is currently researching the relationship between landscape and
experience. In her free time she enjoys reading, swimming, SCUBA diving, kayaking, tending
her flower garden and cooking savory pies and tarts.
 Jose
Daniel Placer
A native of Santiago de Compostela, Jose received his law degree from the University of
Santiago and then made a 180 degree turn away from lawyering and back to his real passion:
children and the outdoors. He now teaches outdoor education and coaches soccer, basketball
and volleyball. With Europe as his backyard, Jose has hiked extensively both within and
beyond Spain since he was a teenager. Despite having enjoyed the Italian Dolomites, and
hiking in the Alps while studying law at the University of Passau in Germany, his favorite
stomping ground continues to be Spain’s Picos de Europa. He’s currently
developing a plan with the Galician regional government to restore and signpost walking
trails for public use. Jose especially enjoys writing short stories, carpentry, restoring
furniture, working his garden, kayaking and mountain biking.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Each time we set out on a trail we go with the idea that to walk is to learn. Slowing
down to the rhythm of your feet inevitably brings more to your immediate attention and
consequently allows for greater speculation and wonder. On our journeys into northern
Spain’s exceptionally beautiful back roads we want to give you the opportunity to
challenge yourself physically (without overdoing) and at the same time pique your
curiosity by pointing out the not so obvious as well as providing insights into the
wonders of the everyday. Art, architecture, anthropology, folklore, history, Spanish
fiestas, cuisine - we interlace them all into each day of your tour. Our carefully
designed walks, combining charming accommodations in rural inns, monasteries, and hotels
with the finest in local cuisine, will immerse you in the riches of northern Spain’s
culture life and landscapes.
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