Camino de Santiago Pre-Departure

What have I gotten myself into?

We’ve got a five-day break starting tomorrow, and while most people will be sunning themselves on the beaches of Lisbon or pleasantly strolling the streets of London, I will be hiking 110 kilometers. Carrying the backpack. And a sleeping bag. And wearing a poncho. And not wearing makeup. HOT.

It’s called the Camino de Santiago, or the Way of St. James. It’s a whole network of pilgrimage routes from all over Europe to Santiago de Compostela, a city in northwestern Spain. This is the site of the tomb of apostle St. James. People have been traveling the Camino on foot or by horse (and now by bike) for more than 1000 years. Pilgrims walk all day through mountains and villages, and stay in homes, historic churches or hostels along the way.

We registered our pilgrimage at the national office in Madrid to receive our Credencial de Peregrino, or Pilgrim's Passport. We'll get it stamped at each town to track our progress and receive our pilgrims certificate when we reach Santiago de Compostela on Sunday. Peregrinos wear the shell with the cross around the neck to identify one another as pilgrims.

In times of old, pilgrims walked to clear their consciences or as penance for their sins. Some were even sentenced to the Camino after committing a crime.

But Brooke, Theresa and I are not trying to punish ourselves by tackling such terrain (at least I hope not). Over the years the Camino has helped pilgrims a deep connection with God, the earth, and each other.

We’ll be three of almost 50,000 that walk one of the seven routes of the Camino de Santiago.

Our route, El Camino Inglés, is 110 kilometers (about 70 miles). That means we’ll be walking between 20 to 30 kilometers (12 to 18 miles) each day.

We’re catching a flight to Santiago de Compostela tomorrow morning, and then taking a bus northwest to Ferrol, where our pilgrimage begins. Then we’ll walk.

Gold clamshells on blue backgrounds painted on trees and buildings will guide us. The shell is the symbol of the Camino. It is said that while on his travels to preach in Spain, St. James saved a knight from drowning in the sea. The knight surfaced, alive, covered in shells.

Great story. I just hope these shells are clear enough to let me know where I’m going. (This is the girl who tried to train for her 110 km walk by running through Madrid, only to find herself lost every time).

Brooke and Theresa are better with directions. We’ll get to Santiago de Compostela by Sunday. As for right now, I’m going to sleep. We’ve got a long day of travel ahead of us. And I have to mentally prepare myself to cover my feet in Vaseline each morning and drain my blisters with a sewing needle each night.

But I am wonderfully excited to be one with the earth, and with God. And feel woman. And hear the stories of the hundreds of people walking the Camino right now.

Here's my Dora Backpack! In it you'll find a sleeping bag, a towel, two changes of clothes and some other essentials. You learn to pack light when you know you've got to carry it!