Spiritual Athlete
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances
The Camino community is overflowing with forum posts, articles, guidebooks and blogs that detail why and how one should walk the Camino de Santiago. Millions of pilgrims have had a positive, even enlightened, experience. These are valid perspectives worthy of consideration.
But not everyone should walk the Way. There are real reasons why you might consider doing something else with your valuable time and money.
Having completed the Camino Frances from St Jean Pied de Port to Finisterre, this post is my personal opinion and perspective; it is not a judgement of other experiences. These thoughts are gross generalizations; nonetheless they provide an alternative viewpoint for discussion:
Happiness, contentment, gratitude, mindfulness, a sense of purpose and enlightenment can be found anywhere by anyone. Even on the Camino de Santiago, or not.
Life is a uniquely personal journey - to each their own path. If you are new to the Camino, please do your research and set your expectations accordingly.
What are your thoughts?
But not everyone should walk the Way. There are real reasons why you might consider doing something else with your valuable time and money.
Having completed the Camino Frances from St Jean Pied de Port to Finisterre, this post is my personal opinion and perspective; it is not a judgement of other experiences. These thoughts are gross generalizations; nonetheless they provide an alternative viewpoint for discussion:
- The Camino de Santiago is not so much a Spanish cultural experience, but rather a modern pilgrimage with other like-minded individuals. In its most basic form it is a packaged tour (albeit for walkers, not bus/coach riders) for over 250,000 people per year.
- The Camino is a well-worn path, often made of hard concrete, along noisy roadways and through busy towns.
- It is extremely crowded; you will share your personal journey with thousands along the Way.
- The Camino Frances is not trek, a hike, or a backpacking excursion in the scenic wilderness. It is a long walk with often uninspiring landscapes. Perhaps this is a burden one must endure as a peregrino?
- Relatively speaking, it is a safe way to have a comfortable, low risk, predefined adventure.
- The Camino is a business. It is an important tourist destination that drives part of the economy in Northern Spain - pilgrim bars, souvenir shops, guidebooks, cheap hostels, and uninteresting food prepared in bulk (microwaved meals, frozen pizza, reheated pasta, soggy fries/chips, etc). Unless they are serving you, local Spaniards typically eat, drink and socialize elsewhere, away from the masses of pilgrims.
- There is a rigorous daily schedule for peregrinos, that is out of sync with the traditional Spanish way of life. This creates more cultural segregation.
- There are many social norms that pilgrims are expected to follow along the Way. If you violate these behavioral standards, you may be judged or criticized.
- Iconic Camino landmarks (such as the Iron Cross) are teeming with tourists taking selfies, just like Notre Dame, the Acropolis or the Blue Mosque.
- Don't use "The Way" as a guide. It's a fictional feature film, not a documentary. Better yet, don't even watch it.
- Yes, there is a race for beds. Around 5-6am your fellow pilgrims will wakeup the entire albergue to pack their rucksacks and to rush to the next village to claim a bed. Find a way to compete, or sleep elsewhere.
- The primary language along the Way is English, not Spanish.
- Walking the traditional Camino is mostly a social experience, not an isolated, quiet or contemplative one. It is not a place to seek solitude, unless you leave the path, or you can be alone in a crowd.
- Some compostela holders will advocate aggressively for their hard-earned experiences. For many it is a life defining experience. Be careful about challenging this group, unless you are willing to defend your own point-of-view.
- There are many wonders along the Way. Seek and you shall find.
Happiness, contentment, gratitude, mindfulness, a sense of purpose and enlightenment can be found anywhere by anyone. Even on the Camino de Santiago, or not.
Life is a uniquely personal journey - to each their own path. If you are new to the Camino, please do your research and set your expectations accordingly.
What are your thoughts?