The Camino De Santiago

No. 2

The Camino de Santiago is a historic pilgrimage route across Spain traveled by people seeking reflection, healing, purpose, and personal growth. The Camino ranges about all the way from 100 km to well over 1,000 km at the furthest starting point. Specifically, the final 100 km of the Camino is the minimum distance required to earn the “Compostela” certificate. This section of the pilgrimage takes walkers through small towns, forests, and countryside in the Galicia region of Spain, ending at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. This is probably the most popular part of the Camino, the “finish line,” for lack of a better term. Pilgrims who began their journeys way before us, whether from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French Route, Lisbon on the Portuguese Route, or anywhere in between, all come together to complete their walk at this very spot. I do love a moment of camaraderie.

After reading my Christmas presents, thanks mom, I felt well versed on a lot of “fun facts” but not necessarily the “why” of this trip and that was what I needed. There is no way my mom, if you know her you know, is going to have such a vested feeling and commitment into something that was not truly worth it or had no purpose. So I did what anyone else in my position would do…*hard google searched*

“Why should I walk the Camino?”

It really didn’t take long researching to realize that there isn’t just one answer, that’s what comforted my decision. This journey is for everyone, if you’re ready to make the move. Whether it’s proving something to yourself and validating that you can do it, or transitioning from one phase of life to another, celebrating a well-deserved retirement (shout out to Mr. Spencer, and I guess Mary too), healing from a major life moment, but also celebrating one, finding yourself simply because maybe you haven’t yet, doing it for someone else or honoring someone you love, experiencing something spiritual in whatever way you define it, or maybe even just wanting something to be proud of.

There is no question that I have always suppressed feelings that I don’t intend to feel, doesn’t everyone? But, unfortunately for me, that’s when it clicked. My mom wasn’t simply planning a Spanish vacay. She needed a way to feel close to Daniel with us. If you haven’t dealt with grief, it’s unexplainable. It’s impossible to think about and even more impossible to talk about. That’s what I realized had been weighing from the beginning. Picturing a trip, the first trip ever actually, just us three. Daniel would have been the go to guy for this trip. He’d make all of our lives easier, depending on the state of the sibling rivalry at the time, more entertaining, and now I think bout it, probably also harder too, in the best way of course. He didn’t like what he didn’t like but he also truly loved what he loved. No in between, you felt it and you loved him for it. But coming to the realization didn’t deter me, I was more excited.

It was a random Sunday night dinner, in all her excitement, my mom wanted us to watch “The Way.” A movie, and I think one of the only movies that actually depicts the journey. In brief, the main character has set out for his journey on the camino. The Way follows his father who travels to Spain after the unexpected death of his son, Daniel. While there, he decides to complete the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage that his son had started. In doing this, the father meets all sorts of other travelers, each carrying their own personal struggles and reasons for walking. If I wasn’t fully sold on this trip by now, obviously you know this was the sign I needed. I smiled through tears the entire movie knowing that this was meant to be. I don’t know what to expect from this “spiritual journey” that we’re about to embark on, and I’ve come to be at peace with the fact that that’s okay. I don’t have to have all the answers, and no, I don’t need to have it all figured out beforehand. No expectations, no anxiety of the “what if.” Just my mom, my brother and me taking in every moment, together.

I can’t wait to share the experience with our nearest and dearest through these posts. Service and wifi willing. As we get closer, I wanted to share a little more of what our couple of weeks through Spain will look like. I’ve added our loose itinerary so anyone who would like, can follow us along throughout the journey. We leave on June 15th, begin our walk in Sarria on June 17th, and, by the time we reach the Cathedral in Santiago on June 21st, we will have completed 100 km celebrating not only the accomplishment itself, but the people met and moments lived on the way.

From my experience, following along is always a bit more fun when you feel invested yourself. That being said, we will be offering the opportunity to sponsor miles along our walk through the website. That could be anywhere from $1 a km to a $1 for 100 km. 100% of donations will go directly to the foundation and each sponsored mile will be a small way to join our journey from afar.

by Emily B. Cavallaro

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5 Days on the Camino

Day 1 | Sarria → Portomarín

July 17th

22 km | approx. 12.4 miles

Day 2 | Portomarín → Palas De Rei

July 18th

22.2 km / approx. 13.8 miles

Day 3 | Palas de Rei → Arzúa

July 19th

29 km / approx. 18 miles

Day 4 | Arúza → Pedrouzo

July 20th

19 km / approx. 11.8 miles

Day 5 | Pedruzo → Santiago

July 21st

20 km / approx. 12.4 miles

• Pick up our Certificate of Distance
• Pilgrim’s Mass at The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

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To Join Our Journey: