Camino Portuguese - Part 1

The logistics of walking as a full-time nomad

"Let your feet follow your heart until you find the place of your resurrection"

August 31, 2024 - Porto, Portugal. The night before I start walking. I'm awake most of the night reading a book about the Camino, when this quote caught my eye. And I started to reflect on my upcoming decision. Why am I walking 280 miles from Portugal to Spain? Where do I stay? What path do I choose?

What is the Camino Santiago - The Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of St. James, consists of a series of walking paths spanning across Europe. These various paths all converge in Santiago de Compostela, located in the Northwestern part of Galicia, Spain. Dating back to the Middle Ages, pilgrims have traversed these routes, typically culminating their trek at the Santiago Cathedral. This historic destination is believed to house the burial site of St. James. For centuries, religious pilgrims have followed the Way of St James in search of spiritual fulfillment. Walking the Camino: All You Need to Know. There are seven main walking routes that end in Santiago.

Why the Camino Portuguese - It's winter 2021 and I'm sitting on my makeshift bed in the loft of my parent's condo. Wondering how to handle all my emotions surrounding aging parents when a movie called the Way popped up on one of my streaming services. I was transfixed on this father's journey through the Pyrenees, visiting the towns of Pamplona and Leon, onto the Meseta, through the forest and ending in Santiago de Compostela. I purchased the Camino Frances guidebook and started reading the same day. The more I read, the more I learned about the other Camino routes. And the Portuguese route caught my eye. Its shorter and flatter than the Frances route. You walk along the oceans edge, through coastal towns and wind-swept boardwalks. Yes Please.

When you spend a long day walking, all you want in the evening is a comfy place to lay your head. And massage your aching feet. I stayed in a variety of different accommodations.

The more basic are hostels or Albergues, (hostels where only pilgrims can stay). They offer dormitory-style rooms, ranging from 4- 25 beds and shared facilities. It's a great way to share your experience in a community atmosphere. Some of my favorite memories are cooking pasta dinners and sharing bottles of wine with others.

Sometimes I wanted more comfort and privacy and booked guesthouses and small hotels. Some of them include kitchens where I cooked dinner.

While I stayed on a lower budget, there was one hotel that I had to book. It was set inside a benedictine monastery. Paradors offer the ultimate luxurious experience. Often housed in historic buildings like castles or monasteries, they offer a unique blend of comfort and local history.

Why I chose to walk. With the past behind, pre booked tours completed and a year into my full-time nomadic lifestyle. It was a perfect time to focus on letting go and looking ahead. Over the past three years I collected seashells from Florida (my last home), a rock from Ireland (importance of family) and a rock from Brooklyn (where my story began). As I venture through the roads, boardwalks, cities and town each tossed rock symbolizes a release. A new way forward. With some accommodations booked, suitcase shipped ahead, backpack filled, camino shell attached and pilgrim credentials in hand, it's time to start walking.