El Camino de Santiago de Compostela, then to, Porto, Portugal. Lagos and Sagres Portugal
November 9th - November 23rd
So… the Camino.
I didn’t do it because I had some big personal mission. My friend Jess wanted to do it, and I thought, “You know what? That sounds like a cool, different experience.” So I met her in Sarria, Spain, that’s where my part of the walk started. Jess had already been walking since France, the French Way, she completed by the end, being approximately 770 kilometers (480 miles), and I joined her for the final 115 kilometers to Santiago.
The days fell into this really simple rhythm:
Get up, start walking, get to the next place, get warm, eat, sleep, repeat. It was our “only job” each day.
It sounds basic, but it worked. Even when it was challenging, I never thought, “I can’t do this.” Not once. Sore feet, hills, whatever, I just kept going.
We had the rain hitting the trees was actually calming, this steady background noise that made the walking feel almost meditative. the silence is what really struck me.
And the scenery… it constantly changed but somehow always felt the same, in that magical, looping way, like One Hundred Years of Solitude. One minute you’re in these lush, otherworldly forests, then suddenly you’re walking past farms or tiny villages. Apple trees and orange trees growing practically side by side; cold weather fruit, warm weather fruit; all on the same stretch of land. It made no sense and perfect sense at the same time.
Jess and I have known each other for about ten years, and we’ve already had most of our big conversations over the years. So a lot of the walk was quiet. Not awkward, just comfortable silence, step after step.
Now that I’m home, I’m still trying to wrap my head around what I actually did. It wasn’t some big spiritual awakening. It wasn’t a “find myself” journey. It was… an experience. Real. Physical. Beautiful. Repetitive. Surprising. A little surreal. Something I lived, and something that’s still settling in.
Some things you just do — and they change you in ways you feel, even if you can’t quite explain them.
The Camino de Santiago is a network of historic pilgrimage routes across Europe that converge in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, at the tomb of Saint James the Greater. While originally a religious journey, it's now also undertaken for recreational purposes and spiritual reflection. Routes vary in length, with the most popular, the French Way, being approximately 770 kilometers (480 miles) and taking around 35 days to complete at a brisk pace.
Key details
What it is: A collection of trails through Spain, Portugal, and France that lead to Santiago de Compostela.
Purpose: Traditionally a Christian pilgrimage to the shrine of St. James, it now draws people for self-reflection, adventure, and cultural exploration.
Significance: The routes are marked with a scallop shell motif and offer various landscapes and cultural experiences.
Infrastructure: Many popular routes have established infrastructure, including albergues (pilgrim hostels), restaurants with a "Pilgrim's Menu," and route markers.
Popular routes
French Way: The most popular route, starting in St. Jean Pied de Port, France, and covering about 770 km.
Portuguese Way: Begins in Lisbon or Porto, Portugal, and is known for its flatter terrain and seaside views.
Northern Way: A more rugged route that traces the northern coast of Spain.
Primitive Way: Crosses the mountainous and green regions of northwestern Spain.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camino_de_Santiago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camino_de_Santiago#/media/File:Ways_of_St._James_in_Europe.png
https://caminoways.com/camino-de-santiago#h-what-is-the-camino-de-santiago