Camino de Santiago- Our way

Finishing the Camino in Santiago de Compostela

We made a decision to take on a new journey. A journey that took 32 days. A journey where we found our way across Spain, and in the process found out more about ourselves. A journey filled with breathtaking scenery, delicious new foods, amazing individuals with kind spirits, while physically challenging our bodies and our minds everyday.  We walked 500 miles from France to the west corner of Spain to Santiago de Compostela and we would recommend the adventure to anyone!

We hope you enjoy a sample of our photos, although they do the scenery and our adventure little justice.

There are many ways to Santiago, where the remains of the apostle St. James are located within the Cathedral. The route is marked throughout Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, and much of Europe. In the medieval times, the pilgrimage was required for many of the Christian faith. Although rooted in Christianity, today the modern way means different things for many people from all over the world. It is often still a very spiritual journey and hundreds of thousands of pilgrims complete the walk each year. We chose the French route, departing from St. Jean Pied-de-Port and making our way up over the Pyrenees, across the North of Spain.

As a pilgrim, we soon learned there was a whole 'community' to support our journey. We stayed at albergues or hostels only for pilgrims. We carried a 'credential' or passport with us to prove we were walking the way but also to allow us to stay at these alberuges. Many restaurants also offered 'pilgrims' menus for around 10 euros which often included 3 courses and wine, water, and bread. We ate many dinners around large tables with other pilgrims from around the world. Each time learning something new about a stranger and sharing a little about ourselves.

We walked about 15 miles a day, almost every day for a month. Although it doesn't sound like a physically challenging feat, mentally it was draining. In shine or rain, we walked. Through small towns, large cities, vineyards, fields of fruit, over bridges, on sides of major roads, little yellow arrows led our way across Spain! It was a new scenery everyday, with new people, and yet a routine to keep our minds and bodies up to the task.

A marker along The Way in France

Stopping to smell the roses

Puente la Reina

Sunrise over Navarra

Tapas with friends Sergio and Stefano

A donkey to greet us along The Way

Climbing up the steep hill! We made it!

A shortcut through the fields

Dinner with Pilgrim friends Larry, Carolyn and Adrianna in Burgos.

Nelson keeping an eye on his favorite pilgrim. 

Enjoying the views

The castle in Ponferrada

The countryside

More friends! Hola Guapos!!

Allie with the amazing view at the top of O Cebriero

Walking in the clouds in Galicia

You know Allie is walking when you hear "click click click" of the walking sticks.

With Simon the kind Aussie.

Nelson along The Way

Alto del Perdon 

Lemonade for a donation along the way.

Sampling Riojas.

Jamon, jamon and more jamon.

Laundry Pilgrim style

Traffic Camino Style

Our morning traffic jam

The path ahead dotted with pilgrims

How we felt everyday!

Beautiful wildflowers as we entered Burgos. 

Market day in Leon 

Amazing street art in Leon, featuring the Leon Cathedral

On our climb to O Cebreiro into Galicia

Took our breaths away as the pictures don't do it justice.

Nelson and St. James. 

Galicia clouds in the morning.

A stop in a speck of a town. Everything for the pilgrims is for a donation. The Aussie running the stop was a good soul. 

The Aussie's stop with a great peaceful calm along The Way.

Our amazing Camino Friends! We spent many days with them from town to town. 

Amazing scenery

Dogs on the camino too. 

The botafumeiro, large swinging incense at the cathedral. 

Santiago Cathedral

The remains of St. James in the Cathedral

We made it! In the cathedral in Santiago, after attending the Pilgrim's mass.