Camino de Santiago, Spain

June 2017

After graduation, I traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to Spain where three friends and I biked the Camino Santiago, or the Way of St. James. St James or Santiago was one of the original apostles whose burial place is in Santiago de Compostella where millions have been pilgrimaging to for thousands of years. He is the patron saint of Spain and the scallop shell is his symbol;  these shells along with yellow arrows are signposts along the Camino telling pilgrims which way to go (before days of GPS). Our pilgrimage began in the Pyrenees mountains and ended in Santiago taking us through the major cities of Pamplona, Logroño, Burgos and León.  Walking the Camino can take months, but biking it took us only 14 days.  We rented bikes specifically designed for the Camino with two waterproof panniers (saddle bags) which we packed with everything we needed for 15 days.  Each day we rode a set number of miles which were carefully planned taking into account the nature of the terrain (elevations, etc);  but it is difficult to plan everything out ahead of time and also a little against the Camino spirit  (an important element of the Camino is letting go and living in the moment). We stayed at Pilgrim Hostels along the way and you need a Pilgrims Passport which you must apply for in advance to stay in these simple, dorm-like lodges.

Highlights along the Camino include:

• The Pyrenees mountains dotted with ancient monasteries

• Pamplona where the running of bulls takes place

• Irache in the wine country of Spain where there is a "Fuente del Vino” or wine fountain with free wine 

• Burgos which is the old capital of the Castillian kingdom and where the Spanish knight El Cid is buried

• Leon which is a Roman medieval city with a Gothic Cathedral and great tapas (small plates of food which are famous in Spain)

• Galicia which is the hilly, damp, green region in northwest Spain 

• The pilgrims' mass in the Cathedral de Santiago with its Botafumeiro

On our last day of the Camino we journeyed to Cape Finisterre which was believed to be the end of the known world in medieval times (Latin finis terrae, means "end of the earth”).  As we hiked out on the westernmost point of the Iberian Peninsula, I looked out at the Atlantic Ocean toward home and reflected on all the  great memories and friends I made on the Camino.  It was definitely the hardest and best thing I’ve ever done and it forever changed the way I “sea the world.”  

Included below is the video I made along the way that capture our Camino experience. 

-Buen Camino-