Someone asked me recently to explain in more substantive terms than the usual cocktail party sound byte, what motivated me to walk the 500 mile Camino de Santiago in 2016. As we talked about the various reasons people make this journey—which run the gamut from gap year jollies to religious pilgrimages and all points between—what became increasingly clear was this: Whatever reasons you THINK you’re walking the Camino bear little resemblance to the experience that unfolds after the 30+ long, blistering days it takes to make your way across Spain into Santiago.
Walking the Camino is equal parts grueling and disheartening; joyous and empowering, but ultimately more magnificent than you can ever imagine.
If you’ve been thinking about walking the Camino, but fear and reservations (i.e. Will I ever be able to do it?) are keeping you from moving forward, I would encourage you to gently push your hesitancy aside. There is no one way, no right way to do the Camino, the only way is the one that works for you. In the next installments I will talk a little more about what the Camino is, including the various routes pilgrims take into Santiago, as well as the various ways you can customize your journey.
Until then, I’ll leave you with this photo taken in Cirueña, Rioja Spain. A long solo day of walking. With this much open space, this much quiet reflection, how can the Camino not be transformative?
Walking the Camino is equal parts grueling and disheartening; joyous and empowering, but ultimately more magnificent than you can ever imagine.
If you’ve been thinking about walking the Camino, but fear and reservations (i.e. Will I ever be able to do it?) are keeping you from moving forward, I would encourage you to gently push your hesitancy aside. There is no one way, no right way to do the Camino, the only way is the one that works for you. In the next installments I will talk a little more about what the Camino is, including the various routes pilgrims take into Santiago, as well as the various ways you can customize your journey.
Until then, I’ll leave you with this photo taken in Cirueña, Rioja Spain. A long solo day of walking. With this much open space, this much quiet reflection, how can the Camino not be transformative?
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