- Time of past OR future Camino
- Recent:Norte/Muxia- Spring '23
MadridWay- Fall '23
Hi all,
I would like to hear of your unique surprises you encountered bumping into pilgrim acquaintences when you arrived in Santiago de Compostella.
I personally have two.
1) Upon arriving in Santiago in late May 2016, I ran in to "Leavin", a fellow pilgrim from Belgium. We had walked a few times with him starting in Santillana on the Norte, and reconnected a few more times on the Primitivo. I had to take a bus from Lugo to Santiago due to time restrictions, whereas Leavin walked the whole way never taking a bus. Imagine my surprise that we arrived in Santiago the exact same day! I never could remember his name, so by words of association every time I saw him I sang the 70's folk song "I'm a "leavin" on a jet plane...", hence I never forgot his name!
2) I'd met a couple from Switzerland on my first Camino in 2015 and shared a communal meal with them on my birthday early on. By the time I arrived in Finesterre and bumped into them unexpectedly we shared a coffee together. Well, fast forward to 2016 on my next Camino. I recognized them in Santiago and we shared a little hug and pat on the back. What was unique is that we had never kept in touch. They had just walked the Frances route again and I had just walked the Norte/Primitivo, yet we all had arrived in Santiago coincidently on the exact same day! I found this all quite amazing.
I would like to hear of your unique surprises you encountered bumping into pilgrim acquaintences when you arrived in Santiago de Compostella.
I personally have two.
1) Upon arriving in Santiago in late May 2016, I ran in to "Leavin", a fellow pilgrim from Belgium. We had walked a few times with him starting in Santillana on the Norte, and reconnected a few more times on the Primitivo. I had to take a bus from Lugo to Santiago due to time restrictions, whereas Leavin walked the whole way never taking a bus. Imagine my surprise that we arrived in Santiago the exact same day! I never could remember his name, so by words of association every time I saw him I sang the 70's folk song "I'm a "leavin" on a jet plane...", hence I never forgot his name!
2) I'd met a couple from Switzerland on my first Camino in 2015 and shared a communal meal with them on my birthday early on. By the time I arrived in Finesterre and bumped into them unexpectedly we shared a coffee together. Well, fast forward to 2016 on my next Camino. I recognized them in Santiago and we shared a little hug and pat on the back. What was unique is that we had never kept in touch. They had just walked the Frances route again and I had just walked the Norte/Primitivo, yet we all had arrived in Santiago coincidently on the exact same day! I found this all quite amazing.