👣 My Camino to Santiago

If you want to know something specific about the network of pilgrim walking routes known as the Camino de Santiago, just ask ChatGPT. They know enough. I decided to do it by myself. Most of my knowledge came from the film The Way (2010). And that’s about it.

I didn’t have any similar experience before. It’s a walking journey of about 800 kilometers, known as the Camino Francés. It starts in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France and ends in Santiago de Compostela, a city that, according to legend, holds the original grave of Jesus’ apostle – St. James.

In real life, you just wake up and move forward. That’s it. Nobody cares how many kilometers you cover each day. It all depends on your wishes and budget. There are plenty of services like taxis or luggage transport, so you can walk with just a bottle of water while your backpack waits for you at the next stop.There are too many routes and countries involved to describe them all, and, to be honest, most of them are more for tourists than pilgrims. But it’s a nice and healthy way to spend time.

Every day, you see something new.

You meet people in different circumstances.

Exhausted from walking, you often have just two wishes – a good dinner and a decent night’s sleep.

Your life becomes completely organized. Sure, you can spend a few days in bigger cities like Pamplona, Logroño, or León, or in one of the hundreds of small villages and tiny towns.

But no matter what, you still have a final goal – Santiago.

I reached it in 28 days. Tired, happy, and more than a little reborn.

Next challenge? Leave this place. Popular destinations – though many of them are becoming overcrowded and expensive.

I’m not sure if I want to repeat it. Writing this text from a comfortable couch definitely feels nice.