The Camino de Santiago will be an unforgettable trip for anyone, but if you decide to do it with your kids, believe me, your experience will be simply extraordinary! The Camino is not like any other trip. The Camino de Santiago offered us life-long memories: We will be forever grateful for our time along “The Way.”Įxperiencing the Camino with Our Children Walking the Camino de Santiago ended up one of the greatest trips we have done with our children so far – right up there with Everest Base Camp. Honestly, it was a tremendous challenge – and there were days where someone or the other refused to walk – but we stuck it out! We actually had to throw away half of the things in our backpack, take a train to avoid heavy snowstorms, and almost bought a ticket home when we were halfway through our journey. We had some rough patches due to bad planning, bad packing, and mixed luck with the weather. We set our goal for 300 km (186 miles) in 14 days with our four- and two-year-old daughters in tow. Watching The Way, a movie about the Camino was the final straw: We decided right then and there that we would use our final two free weeks in Spain to complete at least a portion of the long-awaited pilgrimage. When we decided to move away from Spain to seek more adventures before our girls start school, the thought of leaving Spain without walking the Camino de Santiago was killing me. Walking the Camino de Santiago was in the back of my head the entire time, but scheduling was always an obstacle. I was studying in Finland at the time, and I wasn’t even sure when – or if – I would ever be back in Spain.įast forward seven years, and low and behold, my husband, our two daughters, and I found ourselves living in southern Spain for three years. C’mon! Walking for 35 days straight? After the concept finished swirling around in my head, I added this pilgrimage to my bucket list, although I couldn’t even imagine when I would ever have such an opportunity. This journey sounded so extraordinary, challenging, and a little bit crazy. The paths are walked by Christians from various points in Europe to the Santiago de Compostela where the remains of the patron saint of Spain are said to be interred. It was the first time I’d heard anything about this pilgrimage, known in English as the Way of St. Seven years ago in Barcelona, I met a young woman who had just spent 35 days walking the French route of the Camino de Santiago. We loved it – and the kids loved it every bit as much. You’ll say “hi” to every cow and sheep, collect flowers and pinecones, place a stone atop every kilometer marker, and talk and dance with strangers every day. On “the Camino,” you walk, laugh, talk, dance, savor Spanish cuisine, and soak in the natural beauty around you. Though few children make the journey and there were several bumps on the road, it was an unforgettable experience that challenged both body and mind. In April, my husband, two young girls and I walked from León to Santiago de Compostela. The Camino de Santiago has been traveled for centuries by Christian pilgrims following the Way of St. What’s better than taking a long walk with your little one in the countryside of Northern Spain? Taking 14 days of long walks together.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |