Afterward: Reflections from the Camino del Norte
During the ten-hour bus ride from Santiago back to Madrid, I reflected on my forty-day journey on the Camino del Norte… the highs, lows, adventures, challenges, friends, prayers, experiences, stories, moments, lessons learned, and insurmountable beauty all around me. It still feels like a lot to process. Here are a few of the most common questions I have been asked since returning:
In what ways did the Camino change you? I stopped worrying about what other people thought of me, and I learned how to stand up for myself.
Were you comfortable as a solo female traveler? Most of the time, yes. I would feel more comfortable walking around a Spanish town by myself in the middle of the night than I would most American cities in broad daylight.
Did you make any lasting connections? Yes! I am still in touch with several of my Camino friends over WhatsApp.
Were you ever scared? Sometimes, but not very often.
How far did you walk every day? Usually between 15 and 21 miles a day.
What did you do for food? Other than protein bars, I really didn’t need to pack much food. The Camino usually went through at least one bigger town with a grocery store or cafeteria each day, and some hostels offered a communal pilgrim dinner for €10 to €15.
How much did hostels cost per night? Usually between €10 and €20. Some albergues, called donativos, were donation-based and relied on pilgrims to give what they were able.
How many complete outfits did you take? About four, although most of the articles of clothing that I brought could be mixed and matched with anything else.
Did you meet very many other Americans? Not really. On the Camino del Norte, I only met five other Americans (until the town of Arzúa, where the Norte joins Camino Francés).
Are you fluent in Spanish now? Only Camino Spanish ;) In other words, the bare essentials. However, I can understand a lot more Spanish than I used to.
What surprised you about the Spanish culture? The safety of the town centers and how present and observant the people are.
Did you meet other Christians on the Camino? Other than Endre and Nelli, I didn’t meet many other Christians on my walk.
What was your favorite place or part of the trip? That’s tough to answer. There were so many beautiful places and moments and people, it would be impossible to choose just one. But arriving in Santiago with the other pilgrims was definitely a highlight. The joy and celebration reminded me of what it will be like when we all get to Heaven.
What was your favorite thing about the Camino? The chance to unplug from the distractions of life go on a long walk surrounded by the beauty of the Creator.
Did you take your fiddle? Lol no.
Have your long-term plans changed after the Camino? Yes and no. My long-term vision has gotten more specific, but my mission remains the same: to encourage, delight, and inspire others and bring glory to God in all that I do.
