Peregrino

The Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of St. James, is an ancient pilgrimage with routes stretching across Europe leading to the tomb of St. James (Santiago in Spanish) found in Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, in the northwest of Spain. The Camino de Santiago has an extensive network of pilgrim routes and one of them is the Camino del Norte, also known as “Camino de la Costa” or “Camino de Santiago del Norte”, which is one of the oldest routes. The Camino del Norte runs from Irún at the French border to Santiago de Compostela, which covers 815 km, the second longest route. Although this route brings pilgrims to a more off-the-beaten-track, it is also the most scenic route as it takes pilgrims along the coastal villages and towns, crossing the Basque Country, Cantabria, and Asturias. By foot, it takes ~32 days to complete. 

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Today, the Camino de Santiago, is more than just a pilgrimage and spiritual journey. It has become a unique experience and adventure. Although I did not complete the entire 815 km route of the Camino del Norte, I still had a life-changing experience. I hiked 152 km alone for 7 days with just the Camino app and the yellow arrows to follow starting from Irún passing through San Sebastian to Bilbao. This series of photos is my journey to self-discovery and inner peace. Through being surrounded by nature, hiking the Camino del Norte alone for 7 days have allowed me to go deep into my own thoughts and reconnect myself to my core. This was my own pilgrimage. No rain, thunder, muddy roads, blistered feet, swollen ankle, and aching back were able to stop me from completing this journey. The silence of my surroundings and the untouched beauty of nature were worth enduring the pain and overcoming my inner fears. 

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Read more about my experience, lessons, and tips on How to Survive the El Camino.