Walking the Camino, that’s a thing I thought was for religious people only. Thanks to Hape Kerkeling, and his 2006 book ‘I’m off then’ I learned that you can actually walk where and why you want. So a seed was planted, and finally germinated in October 2026. You can see some photos of my Camino here!
There’s so much to consider, and so much to plan that it seems impossible to do, or at least overwhelming. If you are at that point at the moment, let me tell you it is possible. There’s tons of help out there, on Facebook, on blogs, even AI is a good help. I find the preparation is already a valuable part of the process. I won’t write a full guideline for the Camino on thepartyparallel because there’s so much already.
I will share a few thoughts I had on the way. This is my Camino. I walked the Camino Portugués Central.
Day one: Arrived in Porto, and spent the first night in a 12 bed dorm, though I booked a private room. Booking error. My thoughts: The Camino doesn’t wait. I arrived with blisters and neck pain already. And I slept in a dorm when I thought I wasn’t ready for it. That was like a jump start into the pilgrim’s life, when I tried to make it a soft start. Sleeping in the dorm with a heavy snoring guy taught me this: Social life doesn’t work without understanding and forgiveness. It sounds cheesy, but I guess it does because it is so true and thus often repeated. Let go of assumptions and let go of the past. I was friendly to the snorer, though I had a poor sleep.
My second thought came when I started walking. Free daytime is a gift. I saw all the locals rushing to work while I was roaming around. It is so valuable to have this time I thought. I felt like an invisible man, no one would call me and ask where the heck I was. No appointments, no responsibilities, just the plan to walk to the next village to find a bed.
Day two: When we all learn to take care of ourselves we get capacity to help others. The beginning of the Camino is the time to sort your backpack, to learn what you have too much and to less. I met people walking in their street shoes, in jeans, without blisters plasters, and quite some walking a huge distance on the first day. I noticed with a good preparation, you have the ability to observe others instead of panicking, and so you can even offer help. If we would all have the chance to take care of ourselves, we could help each other much better. So make sure to let your needs be your first priority, and then look around.
And I had a second thought I want to share: Slow down when it’s nice, and go on when it’s not. That’s what I did. I slowed down when the view was nice, the air smelled good, or the temperature was just right. And when it wasn’t, I walked a bit faster. Simple tactic, but it gives you more time to enjoy, and less to suffer. I guess that works with life as well. Enjoy the great moments, and move on when’s getting difficult.
Day three: One person can make a difference for many. It is a gift. I already met some nice people on the way, but sometimes you meet someone in the right place doing exactly what he or she is good at. Day three was such a day. And it turned a nice evening into a great one. It took a lot of energy and willpower of her to get a dinner for 25 or so going, but she managed it with smiles, great communication and planning. If you are such a person, please use that gift to make moments amazing. Not many of us have such a high level of energy!
Day four: Uncertainty is painful. I realized that I don’t enjoy the idea of walking to a place when I don’t know if they have a bed for me. That seems to be a Camino thing for some. Starting early to make sure you arrive early and get a bed in an Albergue you can’t book. On day four I decided that’s not for me. I waited infront of one Albergue, while I saw others walking to the next. I wasn’t sure if it would open at all, if it had a bed, if the other Albergue would be full if I had to go there, and my feet told me I wouldn’t want to walk much further that day. I took my chances and asked in a hotel that I already checked and was fully booked for the day. And yes, they had an affordable private room which they don’t promote online. My night was saved, and from there on I started booking two nights in advance.
Day five: It’s your focus that makes your mood. We can actually decide what we are looking at. We’re not always in the position to decide where we are, or where we go, but we can still make the best out of it. I could look at the trash in one corner, or I decide to look at a flower. It is the connection of body and mind that can influence you both ways. If you decide you do a clean up, great, look for trash and make the area a better experience for all! But if you decide to go for a walk and enjoy nature, then look at flowers and enjoy the view. Ignore the trash and take the good things in.
Your thoughts wander also while your body wanders, and all kinds of things will come up. On day five of my Camino I noticed how much my own brain dictates my mood. You can bring your focus on the good parts of life, and you will lift your mood. You can as well down spiral yourself to become sad and heavy. Of course circumstances will change, and sometimes the good or the bad are overwhelming, but isn’t often enough room for either or? Let it sink in that you have the brain power to change the mood you’re feeling.
Day six: People who suffer are grateful for every bit of help, an apple, a sign, water or a smile. Another cheesy sounding thought that came when I started the morning in heavy rain with even thunders and hail. I couldn’t use my phone to navigate in the rain, so I had to rely on the yellow arrows that guide the way. I was cold and had thoughts of taking a bus or car, so every other pilgrim walking was a welcome motivation to continue. A café was a very welcome opportunity to get a few minutes of warmth, coffee and food. And I thought of people walking in much worse conditions, fleeing from violence, hunger and poverty. And I thought how grateful you become for every little bit you urgently need. A free apple, water, a sign that guides you, even a simple greeting or smile. So let’s share that with those who need it!
Day seven: It’s the common route, the connection, the common goal that makes the Camino different from a simple hike. After a wonderful communal dinner I realized why it makes such a difference if you walk anywhere, or on a know Camino route. It’s the community. The common idea of going somewhere. People on a normal Sunday stroll have so many different things to do, places to go, reasons to walk. On a pilgrimage you create a common ground, everybody knows what you are going through, and that creates community. That makes communication easy. That hardship erases ego, scepticism, and distance. That’s the magic.
Day eight: Looking back at the rainy day I thought: When was the last time you walked in the mud and didn’t mind it? Like a kid? For me it wasn’t too long ago, but the feeling that I had when I was a boy just came back on that day during the Camino. Maybe we should do such things more often. The only difference to our childhood: You have to clean your own mess.
Day eight was actually a hard passage uphill. I thought: A proper planning and some luck give confidence. I was lucky that I planned the rest day just after the rainy day, so my shoes could dry, and the ground also. And I planned a short walk, knowing that the way would be challenging for the joints. What also worked out fine was that I had a bed already, so I had time to walk, without rushing to get a bed. The way was extremely beautiful, what made it even more favorable to walk slowly. All together made a perfect day because of proper planning and luck. And that’s a good feeling.
Day nine: Focus on your next step. Literally. You’ll stumble over a root, rock oder your own feet. What a plain metaphor for live. The next step is the most important for your future success.
And another one: Don’t listen to fatalists. Sometimes meeting people is so picturesque. I guess we have stereotypes because of such people. I’m talking about a fatalist I met. Very nice to talk to, maybe a bit insecure, and always a noche negative. Why would I take it to my heart that the next climb is a nightmare, the availability of beds is going to be difficult, the feet are getting worse? How would it help me to be worried? I took it as a hint to prepare better, and left the negativity out of it.
Day ten: Crossing the boarder from Portugal to Spain was nothing more than a walk over a bridge, and a picture when a sign said where exactly the boarder was. So simple. We must be grateful for every boarder that is established and safe. How many people died for this very boarder between Portugal and Spain?!
Day eleven: We don’t deserve animals. Simply that, and one of the worst topics in my head during the Camino. Dogs in cages, horses on flocks, and for some reason videos of animal cruelty from vegans in my feed, maybe because I was with more vegans than usual?! Since I’m writing picmybug.com I’m more and more aware how smart, how evolved animals are. They do suffer, maybe even more than we do. Be nice.
Day twelve: Distraction can help you to get through. And it can stop you from getting through. Talking to someone while walking kilometers can help you killing time easily. That kind of distraction was always very welcome. How come sometimes distractions keep us from working? I guess that’s often because we choose a distraction that helps us getting away from the to do. Of course most of us do not enjoy chores, and we open social media instead. It’s a strong destruction stopping us from doing dishes. If there was a way to get the same sensation I had on the Camino, but with everyday tasks? Maybe it’s music, maybe company?
Day thirteen: I walked more than 25km and might have had thoughts on the way, but nothing that stick to my mind. I was exhausted, and in between worried weather I will make it in good shape.
Day fourteen: A simple life with hard work can be fulfilling when you enjoy what makes you tired. How is it possible that so many pilgrims enjoy the endless walking, and finish with a peaceful mind? We don’t have much mental challenge during the Camino, we walk and look for yellow signs, we find a bed, eat, sleep, treat wounds, and continue. We have tired legs, feet and backs, and often barely read the news. Is this all we need to live a fulfilling life? Could the walking be replaced by work, and we’d still be happy? Is a tiring, but satisfying work we like all we need?
Day fifteen: If the route is the goal, does the goal matter at all? To me arriving in Santiago de Compostela felt like a very aprupt end of a great time. The city was beautiful, but filled with busy people. Not only pilgrims, but other visitors, and locals of course. The magic went *poof* and I tried to enjoy a normal few days of vacation in Spain.
These were my thoughts, nothing is written in stone, nothing is necessarily true, but I highly recommend to try it yourself.