Camino Gratitude Primitivo

After finishing the Camino yesterday, I’m waiting for my flight from Santiago to Rome. Having arrived at the airport early for check-in, I was immediately confronted by a wave of impatience and rudeness. It serves as a stark reminder: perhaps the true reason to walk the Camino de Santiago is to experience kindness, joy, love, patience, and goodwill for an extended, uninterrupted period.

One of the most famous Camino authors, Jean-Christophe Rufin wrote “The Camino provides a way of life that the world has largely forgotten: the slow, deliberate practice of being good to one another.”

I’ve been asked about the specific routes and distances I’ve enjoyed over the years:

Camino                           Distance

Frances                           800 km

Portuguese Central     250 km

Fisterra + Muxia            120 km

Primitivo                          320 km

Total                               1,490 km

For 2027, I am researching the 900 km Camino del Norte. The route winds along the rugged northern coast of Spain, passing through the Basque Country and tracing the Cantabrian Sea through San Sebastián, Bilbao, Santander, and Gijón. I estimate the journey will take about 26 days to complete, a small price to pay for such exceptional peace and joy.

Until next April, Buen Camino!