Walking the Camino de Santiago

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/08/2022 (1367 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s been a decade since watching a movie called The Way (2011), starring Martin Sheen. It was through this film that I first learned about the fascinating network of pilgrimage trails that stretch across Europe, all converging at a sacred site in northwestern Spain.

The Camino de Santiago – aka the Way of St. James – leads to the city of Santiago de Compostela and the reputed burial place of Saint James the Great, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ. Since the early Middle Ages people have been traversing these ancient routes to deepen their faith and devotion, to seek spiritual enlightenment, and to worship and pray.

There are many theories about how the routes came to be. The most accepted is that they began by word of mouth, with pilgrims passing on tips about which villages to pass through, where to find places to rest, and where to cross mountains. Over the centuries, as more and more pilgrims came, the routes became clearer and established. In the 1980s, yellow arrows and scallop shell symbols were used to mark the routes – the signage now in place to guide modern-day walkers.

Today, the Camino de Santiago attracts travelers from around the world, each with their own reasons for wanting to follow in historic footsteps. I’ve decided to go on a Camino journey myself, and this October I’m planning to walk 260 kilometers from Porto, Portugal, to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

It’s a journey I’ve been wanting to do for a long time, and one that I’ve chosen to do all by myself – which is both exciting and scary! While I’ve taken many trips over the years, I’ve never travelled solo before. Nor have I gone on hiking excursions longer than one day, or lived out of a backpack. I’ll also admit that heading overseas alone is outside of my comfort zone.

So why do it then? Why leave my comfortable life to go on a pilgrimage in the first place? I’ve thought long and hard about my reasons, and the simplest way to put it is this: I’m doing it for me.

I want to turn off the constantly beckoning digital devices, break away from the busy-ness of day-to-day, and return to simpler ways. I want to embrace my surroundings, and live in the moment. I want to explore other places, meet new people, and learn old traditions. I want to push myself to go further than I think I can, and be challenged physically, mentally, and emotionally. I want to experience the wind, the sun, and the rain, and honour every single feeling that comes up. I want to laugh, cry, and pray.

On a deeper level, I want to nurture my soul, and enrich my sense of spirituality. I want to be humbled, empowered, and inspired. I want to reflect on my life, and contemplate my future. I want to be purposeful, and to ponder my purpose.

After researching the many options of the Camino de Santiago, I’ve settled on the Portuguese Way of St. James. There are a few different routes in Portugal, crossing the country from south to north, either coastal or inland. Along the way there are chapels, paintings and sculptures dedicated to Saint James, and an entire infrastructure of accommodations, shops, and restaurants long established to serve those who walk the Camino.

I’m looking forward to my own Camino de Santiago adventure, and afterwards, sharing with you a few stories about it. I’m sure there will be many interesting insights and new revelations. By learning more about the world around me, I’ll also be learning more about myself.

One step at a time.