Peregrinar con los pies, con los ojos, con las manos.

Abstract

Walking the Camino de Santiago became popular after the movie "The Way" with Emilio Estévez and Martin Sheen, some good documentaries, and the book by Paulo Coelho, which I haven't read, but I must credit it with motivating a large number of pilgrims to put on their boots, grab a hat, staff, and backpack, and devour miles on the way to the final resting place of the Apostle Saint James. The Camino de Santiago isn't just one; there are many. There's the traditional French Way from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostela, more than 900 km. crossing northern Spain; or the Portuguese Way, in its two variants: the central and the coastal, more than 600 km. from Lisbon along the Roman Road and into Galicia. There's also the Vía de la Plata, the Northern Way, the Primitive Way, and so on. But I am convinced that even if you walk the same path as the thousands who came before you and feast your eyes on the same yellow arrows as previous pilgrims, there are as many Caminos as there are pilgrims. Each path is unique and personal, and this experience is fruitful according to the disposition we bring to it. In other words, each person only takes from the Camino a reflection of what they brought in their backpack.