Once a Pilgrim, Forever a Pilgrim

It has been six weeks since I left Santiago de Compostela to return home and to the real world. The transition from the Camino life to “normality” has been a journey in itself. I have the constant urge to walk, both mentally and physically. My legs have been seizing up if I sit for too long. The 30 min drive to work has me exiting the car like an 80 year old; I recently drove up north to visit family and after an hour, my legs were in pain!

I’m still decompressing from the whole trip. It is such an intense journey, you can’t process the experiences while you’re walking it. You just have to live in the moment and accept everything as it comes. Now that I am home, I am getting the time to mull over the pilgrimage and let it sink in. It is said the Camino doesn’t end at Santiago but continues throughout your life; I feel this is true. The lessons I’ve learnt along the way will stick with me forever and the memories I’ve made, make me smile.

As I go about my day, I find that something will spark a memory of a particular moment during my Camino; this gives me time to pause and reminisce about my magical journey. The friends I made will always be in my thoughts and as is the way of the Camino, I’m sure our paths will cross again in the future. In fact, we have had a few zoom meetings since returning to catch up! The Whatsapp group I had set up back at the beginning of the trip, is buzzing practically on a daily basis.

Before going into this adventure, I was a little concerned that at the end I would get the ‘Camino Blues’, but so far I haven’t experienced them. I don’t feel sad that it is over, as like I said, the Camino doesn’t end in Santiago. Don’t get me wrong, I miss my Camino Family, the pilgrim community, the structure of the daily life, the solace of the walk and the ‘Tortilla y Patata’! Every time I think back on my Camino, it is fondly and there are no “blues”.

This now begs the question “What’s next?”

My sights have settled on the ‘Camino Portugues’; another pilgrimage to Santiago but starting in Porto, Portugal. This is a shorter route compared to the Camino Frances, that can be done in 10 days; according to the guide book by Harms, Dintaman and Landis.

There are two routes from Porto you can take; the Coastal or the traditional Central route. I’ve chosen the Central route as there is a mountain to climb, Alto de Portela Grande; I like a good hill to summit!

The Camino Portugues is the second most popular route next to the Camino Frances, and likely as people become more confident venturing abroad, I expect it to be quite busy next year; but this doesn’t deter me, just means there are more pilgrims to meet! It is the people you meet along the way that make the journey so special.

I’ve booked leave in August thus I will be sure to pack the sunscreen! I aim to blog this trip like the Camino Frances, so stay tuned! Till the next time, Buen Camino!