What motivated me to do my first Camino? I was home looking through movies of what to see and the Trailer of “The Way” came up. After viewing the trailer, I knew I had to do El Camino de Santiago. I texted my traveling partner and her only reply, “When do we go?”. I had no idea what was ahead for me, I just knew I had to go, I had to walk El Camino.
My first Camino was the French Route which in my research, I somehow missed all the uphill walking. Being new to the Camino we didn’t find our stride until the third day and walking got a little easier. I got my walking stick from the first seller I saw; it came in handy in both up and down hill. We found awesome little shops, cafes, made shift “donation” fruit stands and incredible Peregrino’s.
My second Camino was the Portuguese Coastal. The views were awesome, the smell of saltwater, every little restaurant had fresh Seafood and a plus at the start of the walk it was flat, boardwalk, Ocean to our left. As we got closure to Pointe Verde hills started to appear, uphill and downhill. As we got closer to Santiago de Compostela I felt sadness, excited, slower steps, more breaks. I didn’t want the walk to end.
Peregrino’s walk for many different reasons, as for me, my reason was simple, I missed the feeling of getting up every morning and just walk. El Camino de Santiago de Compostela has transformed my life. I’m already excited about 2025, planning to do another Camino. Buen Camino.
The walk.
“Life is about the journey.” – The Way
