Why are we walking this section?

Technically?
It’s the minimum distance required to receive the Compostela certificate. As if we’re doing this whole pilgrimage for a human-made stamp. Ha. Hard pass.

Spiritually?
The Camino de Santiago is said to be one of the greatest energetic crossroads on Earth — a place where something invisible and undeniable hums beneath the soil.

Astronomically?
There’s a long-standing theory that the Camino Francés mirrors the arc of the Milky Way — that medieval minds aligned the route with the galaxy itself.

Bottom line is that this path has magnetized humanity for centuries.

Seekers. Skeptics. Poets. Heartbreakers. Saints.
And yes, my mother-in-law’s beloved Shirley MacLaine.
They all followed the yellow arrows west.

And now… us.
(Yes, I did you use ChatGPT to write that part.)

We will start walking on June 23nd, fresh off the Summer Solstice.
Honoring the 6 longest days of the year with quiet contemplation altered with giggles with fellow pilgrims. 

Come take refuge in the natural world and rediscover the quiet wisdom of your inner one.

 Call me a queenager, but this is not a backpacking–wash-your-underwear-in-sink situation.

Our rolling suitcases will be transported ahead to each night’s accommodation.

That said, we’ll be staying in a wide range of places — from a modest pilgrim guesthouse to Gwyneth Paltrow’s beloved Galician farmhouse (photo below), renowned for some of the most exquisite local food and wine.

Expect a true feast for our final dinner in Santiago — held in the very place where my parents celebrated their 40 years of marriage.

I have a quiet hunch this pilgrimage may become one of those unforgettable, life-marking experiences. Or not. Let’s find out.

Come find your way.

TYPICALLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I HATE HIKING, THIS IS NOT FOR ME, RIGHT?
I hate hiking too! But this is different, I promise. The landscape keeps changing. There are tiny food joints along the way serving excellent tapas. And the people you meet somehow make the kilometers melt away.

CAN I UBER PART OF IT?
Absolutely. Pilgrim purists may clutch their scallop shells, but yes, you can absolutely taxi a section if needed.

WHAT KIND OF SHOES DO YOU RECOMMEND WEARING?
You do not need hiking boots for this. In fact, unless you already own a well-broken-in pair that you love, I recommend leaving them at home (learned that the hard way my first time).

Personally, I like alternating between sneakers and Tevas.
Your feet will appreciate the variety.

HOW DO I AVOID GETTING BLISTERS?
I highly recommend double-layered socks (I love the brand Wright).

WILL I EARN THE CERTIFICATE?
Yes. You’ll also earn a suspicious attachment to lentil soup.

WHAT WILL THE WEATHER BE LIKE?
Yes.

WILL I HAVE A LIFE-CHANGING SPIRITUAL AWAKENING?
Possibly.

I DON’T DRINK? IS THIS THE RIGHT CREW FOR ME?
Yes, you’ll be in very good company. My husband doesn’t drink (yes, I know… how does he represent Finland?), and I barely do myself — perhaps the occasional glass of wine with dinner and the G&T to honor my grandmother’s drink of preference.

The references to “day drinking” are meant to be playful and a gentle way of filtering out the overly serious or rigid pilgrims. So, whether you toast with wine or water… you absolutely belong.

WHERE AND WHEN SHOULD I LAND? TAKE OFF FROM?
Plan to land in A Coruña or Santiago de Compostela on June 22nd.
We’ll start walking on June 23rd and arrive in Santiago on June 27th.
Plan to fly out on June 28th from either airport.

If you’re connecting through Barcelona or Madrid, I strongly recommend scheduling a longer layover—unless you’re comfortable arriving without your suitcase (a lesson I learned the hard way on my first trip).

And that’s my two cents on it all.

Hope you’ll come experience the magical wonders of being pilgrims together under the same milky way…