Thoughts from my Camino Frances Journey- Day 39 (Conclusion)
Date: June 19, 2025 Thursday
Where did I begin today?
Granada
Where will I stay this evening?
Airplane back to Florida
How far have I come?
N/A
Plaza Nueva
I woke up at 8am and finished packing everything. Then I went to one final tea house for breakfast. I checked out of my hotel and went to the taxi stand in Plaza Nueva at 10:30am. There was some kind of festival happening in the city that meant some streets were closed and more traffic, but my taxi driver avoided the worst of it and we arrived at Granada airport. He had lots of trouble with his card reader, possibly a poor internet connection and it wouldn’t take my payment. I was unsure what to do because I didn’t have anymore cash. Luckily it finally worked and I was able to enter the airport. My first flight was an hour to Madrid at 1:40pm on a small plane. Then I boarded my overnight flight to Miami at 3:35pm
The journey ends
My final thoughts:
I’ve had a lot of chances to reflect on this journey. The Camino was a unique chance to slow down, take a break from social media and the world’s problems, and think about the things that truly matter. Anyone who has had the opportunity to walk even a section of the Camino will understand what I mean, but it is a tricky feeling to put into words. On the Camino, you are only focused on walking to your destination each day, you only carry a backpack’s worth of possessions, and the only choices you need to make are what to eat and where to sleep. This is a far cry from the struggles of today’s modern world, where everyday choices and worries are so complex they can feel overwhelming. The outside world still exists, but the Camino provides some space to slow down and think about life in simple terms.
In addition to that, the Camino connects you to a larger picture in many ways. This pilgrimage route has existed for hundreds of years and tens of thousands of people have walked it, for different reasons, but all sharing in the same struggle and destination. A modern pilgrim can walk the same path as a French farmer in the 12th century, often stopping in the same villages and of course reaching the Cathedral in Santiago. The origins of the Camino might be rooted in Catholicism, and indeed there are still strong connections to the Catholic church today, but it has expanded beyond that now. There is an intangible pull that the Camino has on those who desire to walk it that has endured throughout the centuries.
Not only does the Camino connect the past and present, it also creates far more personal connections. By my second day on Camino, I had already met people from every continent (except Antarctica). Every pilgrim had their own story and reason for walking the Camino but we were all united in our journey. In an increasingly divided world, it made me realize how much more we have in common with other humans regardless of nationality, gender, religion, or creed. It restored a bit of my faith in humanity, and I have never met more kind, generous people than my fellow pilgrims. Whether I just met someone for a single meal, or spent multiple weeks walking and talking together, every single person I met touched me in some profound way, and I know I did the same for them. As an introverted solo-traveler, the deep human connections I made with total strangers on Camino were not only the most surprising, but the most meaningful part for me.
Finally, many pilgrims talk about the three aspects of the Camino: the physical, the mental, and the spiritual. To conclude, I will touch on my experience with all three.
Physical- This was by far the most physical challenge I have ever completed in my 30 years of life. While I enjoy the outdoors, I’ve never been “sporty” and am not someone who goes to the gym. I was unsure if the Camino was beyond my capabilities, and while I may have taken a few more taxis than I would have liked and skipped the Meseta section, I ultimately succeeded in my goal of completing the Frances to the best of my abilities. I am grateful that I never got sick or injured while walking other than some manageable blisters. This is by far the best shape I’ve ever been in my life which gives me new appreciation for my body and how much I can do.
Mental- I spoke about this a bit above with how freeing the Camino was from the burden of choices and anxieties. I also learned a great deal about the mind-body connection while walking. Mental strength is just as important and can help overcome physical challenges too. On Camino, you spend a lot of time alone with your thoughts without distraction, so you had better like your own company. That was the biggest difference between my April and June Camino. I had never struggled with this until after losing my job in early June. I had never wanted to escape or drown out my own thoughts before, but this experience forced me to push through all of that.
Spiritual- As a Christian, this journey was spiritually enriching for my faith. I may not be Catholic, but all the churches along the way provided quiet, beautiful places for prayer and contemplation. Catholic mass was beautiful in its own way and I’m blessed to be able to witness the expression of faith by so many people from around the world during Easter week especially. Prayer walking is a powerful practice that I hope I can bring into my daily life at home too even if the scenery is not as beautiful as the Basque countryside. I felt closer to God while walking than at any other point in my life and I feel like I reconnected with the spiritual side of myself that I had been “too busy” for during my regular life. The experience walking solo and with other believers as a group was different but each provided a different type of spiritual nourishment that I needed in my life at this moment. Non-religious people will still gain a lot from walking the Camino, but if you are a person of faith, going on pilgrimage is something I highly encourage. It was a profound experience for me.
If you’ve read this far, thank you. These are excerpts from my journal that I decided to share as a matter of record for myself. Writing things down helps me remember the experience and the feelings I had in the present moment. This is such a unique journey for me that I never want to forget it. It’s also hard to put into words when people ask me about the Camino so this was a better way for me to organize my thoughts (and pictures).
