Camino de Santiago: From Childhood Obligation to Adult Clarity
A Walk I Chose for Myself
Wednesday, November 26, 2025|
A personal journey from childhood obligation to adult clarity on the Camino Francés from Sarria. Growing up in the Caribbean, my mother had this yearly tradition she never negotiated. A pilgrimage. Childhood Pilgrimages That Shaped Me. Long walks, early prayers, and a faith I didn’t yet understand. At the time, it felt like punishment dressed up as piety. We’d wake before dawn, rubbing sleep from our eyes, and join long lines of people walking towards some distant churches, stopping in front of statues of saints to recite our prayers with our rosary in hand. My legs always ached before we were even halfway there. The prayers washed over me like a language I wasn’t fluent in, and I mostly followed along because, well, there was no alternative. You went. End of story.
Funny how life circles back when you least expect it.
Choosing My Own Path on the Camino Francés.
Decades later, I found myself unzipping a small backpack and starting the Camino Francés from Sarria. People call this stretch the most popular section of the Camino de Santiago. And it is, but not in a loud, crowded way. Sarria gives you the heart of the journey without overwhelming you. From there to Santiago, you get the rhythm of the walk, the warmth of fellow pilgrims, and the space to settle into your own thoughts.
Easing Into the Rhythm
I remember leaving Sarria that first morning, a mix of nerves and excitement. The town sits roughly 100 kilometres from Santiago, the minimum distance for the Compostela certificate. I wasn’t chasing certificates. I was focused on the simple joy of moving my body again and seeing where the path would take me.
The trail eased me gently. Forests smelled of damp earth, quiet farmlands echoed only with a cow shifting its weight, and stone walls lined the path like reliable old companions. Now and then, I fell into step with another solo traveller. Our brief conversations kept the days feeling light. And the food, honestly, Galicia knows how to comfort you. A bowl of caldo gallego or fresh bread still warm from the oven felt like a steadying hand on my shoulder.
Step after step, my breathing settled into a rhythm that grounded me. I wasn’t chasing anything. I was just moving.
Image: Sarria my starting point
Image: A wet start to my journey
Expectation vs Reality on the Camino
I went in expecting a tough trek as I used to: steep climbs, frequent stops, and a constant push forward. Instead, the Camino set a different pace, slow, steady, almost contemplative even. It wasn’t about powering through the landscape. It was about moving with it, one intentional step at a time.
I worried about isolation. Being a mature Black woman walking solo made me anxious. But the trail gave me a connection, time to think, to reflect, food for the soul. I met people from all over the world, shared meals and laughter, and discovered that sometimes strangers can feel like a home away from home.
I imagined glorious weather and picture-perfect views. Yes, there were breathtaking vistas, but there was also grey sky, aching legs, and muddy paths. And somehow, those hard moments made the beautiful ones hit even harder.
I thought I’d have one big spiritual awakening. There was no lightning-bolt moment. Instead, there were small shifts: in how I breathe, think, and treat myself. A grounded, ongoing transformation that I’m still carrying with me.
I arrived wanting structure, a bit of control, a tidy itinerary. The Camino quickly corrected me. Some days stretched on, others ended sooner than I planned. Towns I meant to pass through pulled me in with unexpected conversations and quiet moments I didn’t know I needed. Letting go of the plan taught me to trust the path and myself.
The People Who Walked Beside Me
Strangers became companions. We shared aches, snacks, and laughs at the knees, making strange noises by day three. There’s a quiet magic in walking beside people who ask for nothing but shared moments.
Santiago: A Finish Line That Felt Like a Beginning
Bit by bit, Santiago appeared under the rain, its spires breaking through the skyline in that unmistakable way. Reaching the cathedral hit me harder than I expected. Relief, awe, the weight of centuries of pilgrims walking the same path. Collecting the Compostela felt like a quiet nod to myself: I showed up, fully, for me.
Walking into Santiago wasn’t a finish line. It was a reminder. Faith, yes! but the kind I choose now. Resilience. And that determined little Caribbean girl, who once walked because she had to, and the woman who now walks because she wants to.
Image: Camino de Compostela last 28K
Image: One step at the time
For Anyone Considering the Camino
If you’ve been thinking about walking, Sarria is a gentle, welcoming start. From there, let the trail lead you. And when you reach Santiago, take the time to soak in its beauty. Let it remind you of your own journey.
Have you walked the Camino? How did it shape you? Comment below or share this with someone who might need a nudge to go.
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