The Camino de Santiago

Anyone who knows me will be sick and tired of listening to me talk about the experience I had on the Camino de Santiago. If you have never heard of it, the Camino is a pilgrimage across Spain to the city of Santiago de Compostela. It is said that St James the Great is buried there, and historically, pilgrims would go there to pay homage to him.

I decided I would hit the road in the summer of 2019, and that I would walk 800km on the Camino from the village of St. Jean Pied de Port, in the French Pyrenees, to Santiago de Compostela. It would be a big challenge, as not only did I aim to walk every step, but I would be doing it alone.

For anyone who is considering going travelling, or maybe even walking the Camino, I’ve got a bit of advice for you – do it. I understand things are very uncertain at the moment, but as soon as you get the chance to travel again, go. You won’t regret it.

It’s difficult to describe why I thought it would be a good idea to spend those five weeks walking across Spain, but maybe I just needed something. A break from the normality and regularity of life. I was still a student at Queen’s University at the time, and maybe I wasn’t in a good place or felt a bit down. Whatever it was, it was settled I’d be going, and go I did.

For anyone who is considering going travelling, or maybe even walking the Camino, I’ve got a bit of advice for you – do it. I understand things are very uncertain at the moment, but as soon as you get the chance to travel again, go. You won’t regret it.

I met people from every corner for the world, and every background. It is true that the Camino began as a Christian pilgrimage, but that is not what it is today. It can be a holy journey if you want, but in all honesty, it is a truly personal experience. You meet all sorts of people, and you are given the chance to reflect on things in your life.

As well as that, of course, you get the chance to see Spain, and get a taste of the Spanish culture. Something like this is what I needed when I went, and I got great tranquillity and solace from my time on the Camino. I am still in touch with, and great friends with, the group of people I met on the Way, the “Camino family”.

I am going back to the Camino in January with a great friend of mine, Naoise Mór Mac Cathmhaoil, and we’ll have a week walking together. I can’t describe how excited I am to get back, and it’ll be even nicer this time as I’ll experience it with my friend. As they say on the road – Buen Camino!