Camino de Santiago

Tuesday 20th July 2021

Just over 7 years ago I walked the Camino de Santiago with mum. We chose a guided walk that allowed mum to get on a bus if needed during the day (she didnt actually do it much!) and we stayed in some very nice B&Bs overnight. We started at Sarria and walked the last 100km getting out Pilgrim Passport stamped every day so that we received the certificate and shell at the end. It took just over a week and was a fantastic time - interesting people who were on the same walk and also the people we met along the way. The picture is me proudly standing at the edge of Santiago near the end! And the photo of all of us in the group which hangs proudly on my office wall.

I have always wanted to go back and do it differently - have more of the actual pilgrim experience. So Robin and I have decided to do the whole Camino Frances next year. Starting at St. Jean Pied de Port and ending at Santiago de Compostela - nearly 500 miles and 5-6 weeks later. We will leave as soon as university term finishes and hopefully be complete by end of June (when the weather and number of other pilgrims make it unbearable!)

Why do it? Its a challenge that we don't normally face in our day to day lives - where will I sleep that night, who will I meet, what about food (and blisters!), can I really do it? It allows you to let go and just focus on the day, the hour, the minute. The countryside is beautiful, people are amazing and the food is great as well! Also we are not getting younger so better do it now while we still can!!

I discover the Confraternity of St James Camino Pilgrim | Confraternity of St James UK (csj.org.uk) and we listened to one of their talks this evening. Very interesting - focused on Covid not suprisingly and the impact that has had - they seemed quite conflicted - on the one hand lots of businesses need the pilgrims to make money so they want to get back to normal - on the other hand people on the call remember the Camino from years ago when not many people knew about it and it was very quiet and they liked it like that.