Hiking Tour of the Camino de Santiago with Portugal Green Walks
Hiking Tour of the Camino de Santiago with Portugal Green Walks
Hiking Tour of the Camino de Santiago with Portugal Green Walks
Written by Patti Maghamfar with photos by Abi Maghamfar
Why Everyone Should Take a Long Walk with Portugal Green Walks Along the Camino de Santiago de Compostela
I have said on more than one occasion that the best way to get to know a country, its people and the culture, is to take a long walk across it. There is no other experience that will bring about the same up close and personal expression of the people and it’s country. A long walk teaches lessons in humanity. A long walk teaches patience. Here are a few thoughts on why we believe everyone should take a long walk; such as one of the hiking tours on the Camino de Santiago routes.
THE CAMINO FRANCIS
In 2015 we walked 350 miles on the Camino Francis. We started our walk in St. Jean Pied de Port, France and 35 days later we walked in to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. It was by far the most physically challenging experience I’ve taken on and there were days when I thought I’d never make it. It was also by far the most emotionally rewarding experience. Walking across Spain was incredible and the memories will stay with us for a lifetime. But, I remember thinking, “Okay, that was amazing, but it was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience!”
Patti on the Camino Francis
THE CAMINO PORTUGUESE
Fast forward four years and the opportunity arose for us to walk a portion of the Camino Portuguese. It was not an easy decision to take on another long walk but because the circumstances would be different this time, we decided to take the leap. Nearly four years to the day of our Camino Francis walk, we began our Camino Portuguese with a transport to the tiny village of Mosteiro, which is where we actually began to walk. Our plan was to walk 145 miles from Mosteiro to Santiago in 13 days.
Abi & Patti on the Camino Portuguese
TAKE THE BITTER WITH THE SWEET
When we walked the Camino Francis I was plagued with blisters on both feet and I needed to stop walking for a few days, to allow my feet to heal, so that we could continue. It was bittersweet. I hated the thought of not being able to walk the Meseta (approximately 100 miles), but at the same time had it not been for the blisters we would not have spent the time in Leon; a city we absolutely loved. Lesson learned. Take the bitter with the sweet.
I wasn’t able to walk the full Camino Francis, which made me all the more determined to walk every step of our 145-mile Camino Portuguese. Our days walking were peaceful and beautiful, even though we spent several days walking in torrential rain and fierce wind. We even endured a few moments of hail. Hail, in April, in Portugal. I would have never thought it possible.
Flooded trail on the Camino Portuguese
LESSONS FROM THE CAMINO
Because we had the experience of walking the Camino Francis, we felt prepared to take on the Camino Portuguese. After all, it would be half the number of miles and less than half the number of days. We learned a few things about ourselves and about long-distance walking while walking the Camino Francis. I like to believe we were successful in applying those lessons to our Camino Portuguese.
LESSON 1: DON’T WAIT
Life is short and we can only control the here and now with absolutely no control over what’s to come. We went back and forth about taking on the Camino Portuguese at the time we did. Our calendars were full and we had obligations to fulfill. We had a time frame of just shy of a month in which to make the trip across the pond to Portugal and take on the walk. We looked at each other and said, “We don’t have the time.” A couple of weeks later we looked at each other and said, “Let’s make the time.” While walking we received a message from home that a sweet friend of ours left this earth way too early. It was a powerful reminder. Don’t wait.
Church in the valley on the Camino Portuguese
LESSON 2: DON’T JUDGE
Again, life is short and who are we to judge anyone? It’s a valuable lesson we learned early on our Camino Francis. Everyone has a path, a journey to travel. If you ask 100 people why they are walking, you’ll get 100 different reasons. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that those people are out there doing it. Some of those people will have habits that will greatly annoy others. There will be pilgrims who feel the need to talk on their cell phone for miles at a time, or talk loudly and incessantly, or claim walking space as theirs alone, or toss their orange peels to the ground as they walk … you get the idea. What annoys the hell out of you (us) is another pilgrims’ Camino experience. Don’t judge. Find the beauty in the moment. Find a way to distance yourself and own your journey.
Roses, where you’d least expect to find them. Camino Portuguese
LESSON 3: CHOOSE WISELY
There are so many choices when taking on a long-distance walk. Everything from what shoes and socks to wear, to which backpack to take, to clothing choices and how much water to carry. Rain pants and jacket or poncho? Walking sticks? Yay or nay? Ask yourself if you’d be comfortable sleeping in a albergue dorm room with 50 strangers, or are you more suited to a private room and bath each night? Will you carry your backpack or will you have it taxied to each destination? Are you a do-it-yourself planner, or are you more inclined to have a tour operator such as Portugal Green Walks take care of the mapping and booking of accommodations? Do your homework, choose wisely. Seek out the wisdom of others that have gone before you, but in the end choose what will work best for you.
Abi resting on the Camino Francis
TAKE A LONG WALK
There is no other experience that will bring about the same up close and personal expression of the people and it’s country than to take a long walk. It’s a cliche, but as you walk your journey take the time to stop and smell the roses along the way. There is so much that we can learn by just slowing down and embracing the moment. So, go take a long walk. Don’t wait!
BIO
Abi and Patti have been walking through life together for 42 years. They have a home base in the United States and they spend several months of each year in Porto, Portugal. To date they have traveled to 4 continents, 19 countries and 46 of the 50 United States. You can read more about their travels, how they are redefining retirement, and both of their Camino walks at oneroadatatime.com
Like this article? Read travel tips for Washington, DC from Patti and Abi Maghamfar.
NOTE: One Road at a Time were media guests of Portugal Green Walks. This had no impact on their opinion and writing of this article.
