The Beginning

The Camino is a journey not a vacation or holiday. It's a journey to discover self (yourself). The Camino brings you back to what really matters in life. We started in St Jean Pied de Port (France) and finished in Santiago de Compostella in Spain. The Camino is approximately 800 kilometers long and there are several recognised ways to do the real Camino. You can do it on foot (this is the most popular way, most people carry their own backpacks but pack animals are accepted as well. You can also do it on a bike, or astride a horse. There are many recognised Caminos but we decided to do the St James or the real Camino. There are several reasons why people choose to do the Camino. The Camino is a religious wallk or pilgrimage so some people choose to do it for religious reasons. Other pilgrims (as we are all called) do it for spiritual reasons. They may have lost a loved one, lost a job or just need time to find themselves again. Others walk it purely for the cultural aspects along the way. There is a lot of history and archtecture in Spain which is worth visiting. People also walk the Camino just for the challenge of it. 800 kilometers is not just your average kind of walk and this was my reason for it. Tassie wanted me to experience this particular walk as he had done it previously in 2001 and enjoyed himself immensely. Whatever your reason you will be assured of a memorable walk into self-discovery and develop close friendships with the other pilgrims and discover a country rich in legends and myths. Here is our story.