• For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here.
    (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation)

Search 69,459 Camino Questions

A Camino love story for those cold winter days

Al the optimist

Veteran Member
Someone on the Forum who I met last year in Ventosa asked me for more details about my meeting someone with whom I have started a relationship, so I thought I might share it with you all. Maybe others will add their stories? So here goes.
OK, so you want the Allie McGraw/Ryan O'Neal thing? Somewhat more mundane I am afraid. We met at San Marmed, 4 days out of SDC. We were in the same dorm and also at the communal dinner, but sitting about as far away as possible. That afternoon and evening we probably only exchanged 4 sentences. Anyway, the next morning as I was leaving, she was too. I asked her if she was sure she had everything and she asked me why I wasn't having breakfast (I normally eat later). She speaks quite good English, and when I commented on that she said that she was just about to play her English course on her Ipod while she walked. She said it was a well known course in Spain by a company called Vaughan Systems. Imagine her surprise when I told her that a few years earlier I had worked as a teacher for them! Needless to say this was a more compelling reason for her to walk with me than my obviously great beauty. We passed a pleasant day, and like is common on the Camino learnt a lot about each other. At the end of the day at Gonzar we shared a bottle of wine in the early evening and afterwards had dinner together in the restaurant there, sharing a table with 2 Brazilian ladies. The next morning as I left just after daybreak (the dorm had been very noisy) I almost immediately had one of those early morning "detours". As I retraced my steps I encountered her at the place I had gone wrong. I gave in to fate and we walked together again. To be quite honest I love teaching and was enjoying helping her practise for her upcoming exam. Well in Melide we went to a pulperia that she had visited before and the food was excellent! We were enjoying ourselves when the two Brazilians asked to join us. Much later Maria has said that when they joined us she resented it a bit. She thought at the time it was because she was having to translate for me (my Spanish could improve a lot), while the daughter translated from Spanish to Brazilian for her Mother. But she now thinks that there may have been something a bit more subconscious! Well from then on we walked together for the last 2 days and enjoyed our time in SDC. When she caught the airport bus I felt that I didn't want her to go. Well I walked to Muxia and while there she emailed me asking if I wanted to meet the following weekend. Well we did, in Ponferrada. (I caught the bus and she drove there). And that was it!
I fly to Madrid every few weeks to visit. She lives in Navacerrada, which is on the Camino Madrid, and there is a lot of good walking around. We are both going to walk the Frances again this year, at the same time but not together. She has walked it in stages over the last 3 years, but not in one go, so we think it will be good for her to experience it alone. I just hope she doesn't meet another English teacher!
330

They say the Camino provides and that it is never what you expect - How True!!!
 
Last edited:
New Original Camino Gear Designed Especially with The Modern Peregrino In Mind!
OK, so you want the Allie McGraw/Ryan O'Neal thing? Somewhat more mundane I am afraid. We met at San Marmed, 4 days out of SDC. We were in the same dorm and also at the communal dinner, but sitting about as far away as possible. That afternoon and evening we probably only exchanged 4 sentences. Anyway, the next morning as I was leaving, she was too. I asked her if she was sure she had everything and she asked me why I wasn't having breakfast (I normally eat later). She speaks quite good English, and when I commented on that she said that she was just about to play her English course on her Ipod while she walked. She said it was a well known course in Spain by a company called Vaughan Systems. Imagine her surprise when I told her that a few years earlier I had worked as a teacher for them! Needless to say this was a more compelling reason for her to walk with me than my obviously great beauty. We passed a pleasant day, and like is common on the Camino learnt a lot about each other. At the end of the day at Gonzar we shared a bottle of wine in the early evening and afterwards had dinner together in the restaurant there, sharing a table with 2 Brazilian ladies. The next morning as I left just after daybreak (the dorm had been very noisy) I almost immediately had one of those early morning "detours". As I retraced my steps I encountered her at the place I had gone wrong. I gave in to fate and we walked together again. To be quite honest I love teaching and was enjoying helping her practise for her upcoming exam. Well in Melide we went to a pulperia that she had visited before and the food was excellent! We were enjoying ourselves when the two Brazilians asked to join us. Much later Maria has said that when they joined us she resented it a bit. She thought at the time it was because she was having to translate for me (my Spanish could improve a lot), while the daughter translated from Spanish to Brazilian for her Mother. But she now thinks that there may have been something a bit more subconscious! Well from then on we walked together for the last 2 days and enjoyed our time in SDC. When she caught the airport bus I felt that I didn't want her to go. Well I walked to Muxia and while there she emailed me asking if I wanted to meet the following weekend. Well we did, in Ponferrada. (I caught the bus and she drove there). And that was it! I fly to Madrid every few weeks to visit. She lives in Navacerrada, which is on the Camino Madrid, and there is a lot of good walking around. We are both going to walk the Frances again this year, at the same time but not together. She has walked it in stages over the last 3 years, but not in one go, so we think it will be good for her to experience it alone. I just hope she doesn't meet another English teacher!
330

They say the Camino provides and that it is never what you expect - How True!!!
It always amazes me as were one finds love. Most of the time in the most unexpected places. As you have pointed out the Camino provides. It appears to has provided to you.
 
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
Someone on the Forum who I met last year in Ventosa asked me for more details about my meeting someone with whom I have started a relationship, so I thought I might share it with you all. Maybe others will add their stories? So here goes.
OK, so you want the Allie McGraw/Ryan O'Neal thing? Somewhat more mundane I am afraid. We met at San Marmed, 4 days out of SDC. We were in the same dorm and also at the communal dinner, but sitting about as far away as possible. That afternoon and evening we probably only exchanged 4 sentences. Anyway, the next morning as I was leaving, she was too. I asked her if she was sure she had everything and she asked me why I wasn't having breakfast (I normally eat later). She speaks quite good English, and when I commented on that she said that she was just about to play her English course on her Ipod while she walked. She said it was a well known course in Spain by a company called Vaughan Systems. Imagine her surprise when I told her that a few years earlier I had worked as a teacher for them! Needless to say this was a more compelling reason for her to walk with me than my obviously great beauty. We passed a pleasant day, and like is common on the Camino learnt a lot about each other. At the end of the day at Gonzar we shared a bottle of wine in the early evening and afterwards had dinner together in the restaurant there, sharing a table with 2 Brazilian ladies. The next morning as I left just after daybreak (the dorm had been very noisy) I almost immediately had one of those early morning "detours". As I retraced my steps I encountered her at the place I had gone wrong. I gave in to fate and we walked together again. To be quite honest I love teaching and was enjoying helping her practise for her upcoming exam. Well in Melide we went to a pulperia that she had visited before and the food was excellent! We were enjoying ourselves when the two Brazilians asked to join us. Much later Maria has said that when they joined us she resented it a bit. She thought at the time it was because she was having to translate for me (my Spanish could improve a lot), while the daughter translated from Spanish to Brazilian for her Mother. But she now thinks that there may have been something a bit more subconscious! Well from then on we walked together for the last 2 days and enjoyed our time in SDC. When she caught the airport bus I felt that I didn't want her to go. Well I walked to Muxia and while there she emailed me asking if I wanted to meet the following weekend. Well we did, in Ponferrada. (I caught the bus and she drove there). And that was it!
I fly to Madrid every few weeks to visit. She lives in Navacerrada, which is on the Camino Madrid, and there is a lot of good walking around. We are both going to walk the Frances again this year, at the same time but not together. She has walked it in stages over the last 3 years, but not in one go, so we think it will be good for her to experience it alone. I just hope she doesn't meet another English teacher!
330

They say the Camino provides and that it is never what you expect - How True!!!

Hi Al - thank you for sharing the story about how you met Maria. It's a really beautiful story and it confirms that on the Camino unexpected and wonderful things happen when you just let 'life' happen and have no expectations yourself.
I wouldn't worry about Maria meeting another English teacher - it really looks like her 'Camino eyes' are just for you! :):)
Cheers - Jenny
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Well I walked to Muxia and while there she emailed me asking if I wanted to meet the following weekend. Well we did, in Ponferrada. (I caught the bus and she drove there). And that was it!
I fly to Madrid every few weeks to visit. She lives in Navacerrada, which is on the Camino Madrid, and there is a lot of good walking around.
They say the Camino provides and that it is never what you expect - How True!!!
I am just back from the sea with Northern Lights tourists in the Arctic: What a beautiful and enjoyable story, Al, and take good care of Maria so it will continue, for your own benefit as well as Maria's: It is obvious that you have crushed her (and I suspect she has crushed you too): Good on you!

On a sidenote: Al, I most heartfelt wish you both all the best, and preferably together. Your story made my evening: Lovely!!

Edit: Yes, the Camino indeed provides; Not what you want, but what you need...
 
Last edited:
Thanks all. Jennie, I remember you turning around in the Cathedral at SDC and asking me if I was "Al the Optimist". I was with someone that day but I cannot remember if it was Maria. It was an evening service if I recall and if so it could well have been her.
 
Thanks all. Jennie, I remember you turning around in the Cathedral at SDC and asking me if I was "Al the Optimist". I was with someone that day but I cannot remember if it was Maria. It was an evening service if I recall and if so it could well have been her.
Hi Al - It wasn't me in the Cathedral, sadly ... though I would have known you anywhere by your fantastic smile! There are a few of us with Jenny in our user names on the Forum. I've only been privileged to be at one service in the Cathedral so far, and that was Pilgrims Mass, back in May, 2012. I hope that it was Maria who was at the evening service with you- what a wonderful experience to share.
Very best wishes to you both -
Cheers - Jenny
 
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
Sorry Jen, I'm getting old and confused. Yes Maria was with me for a service, but I was also at one with someone I walked with before Leon as well as a few without company.
 
Sorry Jen, I'm getting old and confused. Yes Maria was with me for a service, but I was also at one with someone I walked with before Leon as well as a few without company.
No worries, Al! It was wonderful you were able to go to several of the services in the Cathedral - all would have been so beautiful and special in their own way.
Cheers - Jenny
 
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
Thanks. If there is one thing I love more than Maria and my family (apart from the Camino and this forum of course), it is Skype. It makes life apart more bearable.
 

Most read last week in this forum

Could I ask what may be naive question. This will be my 1st Camino and I will be mostly staying in alberques. Could you please explain the bathroom/shower etiquette to me? I have no idea what...
Do i need both these apps? I want to spend as little time my device as possible so if one app will do fine that’s my preference.
I was planning to document my journey through my blog (or Vlog, as I would probably take lots of videos). I was thinking of using my iPhone, and I ordered a foldable keyboard to facilitate typing...
I did the Norte in 2017. This set off a wild ride of changes in life - shifting many things. I am now at a new plateau and it feels like the right time to do Camino #2, this time the...
Hi to all, I'm looking for a really, really good place (an artist) to get a Tattoo in Santiago, it could be before Santiago but I presume in Santiago I will be ready to have my first one. The...
My daughter and I will be on the Portuguese on June and July starting in Lisbon. We will arrive in Porto about the 27th of June. We want to stay for three nights. Can we stay in an albergue for...

❓How to ask a question

How to post a new question on the Camino Forum.

Similar threads

Forum Rules

Forum Rules

Camino Updates on YouTube

Camino Conversations

Most downloaded Resources

This site is run by Ivar at

in Santiago de Compostela.
This site participates in the Amazon Affiliate program, designed to provide a means for Ivar to earn fees by linking to Amazon
Official Camino Passport (Credential) | 2024 Camino Guides
Back
Top