Epilogue

Well, some people moved on to Finisterre, but Santiago was the end of the road for us. (If I had been at Finisterre and followed the tradition of burning clothes, I would have picked the one pair of pants which I packed as an afterthought but ended up wearing everyday! Washed several times of course, they served me well in both the hot weather and the drizzle.)



The primary candidate for burning at Finisterre, these were the only pair of pants I ended up needing. I packed too much warm clothing.)

We flew from Santiago to Barcelona to spend a day there. Although the latter is a wonderful destination with great sights and welcoming people and it was nice in some ways to be back to civilization, we could not help but compare the realities of modern life to what we experienced on the Camino. And the comparison was mostly colored by fond memories of the Camino. We are now back in the States, and we feel like being in the post-Camino state now rather than post-Spain.

A satisfaction survey usually include questions, "Would you return?" and "Would you recommend to your friends and family?" My answers to these questions are resounding yes and yes. The fact that we only covered a part makes it natural to contemplate returning to complete the entire Camino Frances. In fact, we already started to discuss when and which portion to return to. There is definitely something addictive about the Camino, and we will see if there are any withdrawal symptoms!

Now some specifics.

The walk: overall it was about what I expected in terms of physical demand. What was a bit surprising was the unevenness of difficulty in different sections. This actually only applies if you have pre-booked all accommodations beforehand, which is of course what the traditional peregrino does not do or even may despise. But as first timers on the Camino seeking comfort and security, we did it the right way for us and appreciate the flawless job Macs Adventure and Tee Travel did. When we return (and it is not a matter of “if”), we will try to pick each stage according to our own ability and also book lodging ourselves. And utilizing the luggage transfer service will be key to keeping the return trip LITE. Motorized options for transportation will of course be considered when necessary. As people say, this is YOUR Camino.

A luggage transfer service can be a welcome relief to the weary peregrino.

Foot/leg health: it was surprising to see so many people with one ailment/ injury or another sustained on the Camino and yet they just kept going. There were also many who came despite existing physical conditions. My observations are that a tremendous motivation carries them through, but some of them could have been better prepared before coming to the Camino.

Food: it was an absolute delight that food was readily available, tasty, and cheap. Combined with inexpensive lodging costs, for those seeking a walking holiday, the Camino is a European destination with Third World prices. Although it may be a sad reflection of the local economy, the true peregrinos may be the ones keeping the cost down. Who knows how long it will last?

Love it or hate it - the ubiquitous three-course menu. We loved it, while trying to exercise moderation.

Scenery: for many stages, not only the varied landscape but also the numerous little towns were thoroughly enjoyable.  I had previously thought that a walking tour would be very inefficient in terms of covering sights but on the other hand had also been frustrated on numerous occasions, even on private tours, to watch fascinating scenery and people teasingly pass by through the car window.  The Camino provided the opportunity for directly experiencing what was in-between those typical tourist stops.

Weather: we were extremely lucky not to have any sustained downpour. Whether it is a cause or an effect of our luck, Chisoon found over 40 four-leaf and three five-leaf clovers.

Nine four-leaf clovers on this day alone

 People: the locals were genuinely hospitable and they felt to us like they were another component of the entire organic Camino. And last but not least, our fellow walkers/peregrinos, who to some are the most important element of the Camino experience. Some were aggressively friendly, and some aloof, but when approached, all opened up. It was as if people got there through a pre-selection process and they were bound by a common purpose.

 Here are pictures of the people we interacted with at some level, who definitely made up part of our experience and will be in our memory.