What is the Camino de Santiago?

Do you remember when you first heard about the Camino de Santiago? Maybe it was from a friend who had walked it, or a newspaper article. Maybe you saw the movie, “The Way”, with Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez, and something stirred deep inside. Something awakened within you, and you felt the pull to know more.

In this episode of the “YOU on the Camino de Santiago” podcast we are going to wander around in some basic questions:

• What is the Camino?


• Why do people walk the Camino?


• What does it mean to “do” the Camino?


• And what is it like, what is the experience of walking the Camino?

And we will get personal – why would you walk the Camino? What experience are you seeking?

Seriously, what is the Camino de Santiago?

Would you keep listening to this podcast if I told you I wasn’t entirely sure what the Camino is? I know, what a crazy thing to say! I mean, I know what it is, but what is it? And why are people so drawn to it? And why do some people, like me, keep returning year after year?

On my spring 2022 walk I spent a fair amount of time mulling over the question of what is the Camino? And while we’re at it, where am I?

This is especially suspect, I admit, because I have spent so much time on the Camino over the years, and I love pouring over maps and tracking my course along the Way. You would think I would have some answers by now.

You may conclude, then, that the questions are more metaphoric than literal, as in, a search for the meaning of the Camino de Santiago and the journey along one of its paths, and an understanding of where I am in relation to everyone and everything else.

If you were to gather together ten people who have walked the Camino de Santiago and ask them “what is the Camino?”, you are likely to get ten different answers. I did this, in a Facebook group, and interestingly, the responses I got weren’t about the history or origin of the Camino.

No one said anything about the Apostle James, his ministry, how and where he died, how there came to be a shrine in his honor, or the plenary indulgence offered by the Catholic church for completing the journey to that shrine.

What did they say? Find out in this episode of the “YOU on the Camino de Santiago” podcast!

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