While walking the Camino de Santiago it’s common to exchange the greeting, buen camino, or good walk, with other pilgrims. It’s used so often that after finishing the Camino I find myself greeting people with it for the next few weeks.
Like us, most pilgrims finish their final leg of the Camino de Santiago at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. But a select few continue on to the sea, another four days of trekking.
These pilgrims walk to Finisterre (the “end of the earth”), a spot which for years was thought to be the western-most point in Europe. After arriving, pilgrims often burned their clothes to symbolize both the end of their pilgrimage and the putting on of a new life (I’m not sure what they wore home).
We finished in Santiago and later took a bus tour to Finisterre (we didn’t burn any clothes, although one dude was burning some pants). The cross in the photo above symbolizes much I love about the Camino. At the end of the walking and struggles and pains and challenges, Jesus waits. He’s with us the whole time, but he’s especially present at the end.
Which makes the walking worthwhile.
Buen Camino.
Camino de Santiago 2021
Glad you all had a buen camino this year! Enjoyed the memories yours and Dawn’s pictures brought back.
We plan on being there in June. Thanks for the inspiration and guidance!
You all will have a great time, one like no other!