Camino de Santiago Essentials

5 of 5 Stars: An unlikely pilgrim battles agoraphobia to reclaim life beyond the sofa. The 800-kilometer journey along the Camino Frances provides a scenic backdrop to ponder midlife crisis and chronic illness, an empty nest and marital woes, military service and posttraumatic stress, rage and grief, heartbreak and fear – and the way forward.

5 of 5 Stars:  At age 60 Joyce Rupp didn’t know what she was getting into when she began a 47-day pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Joined by a friend, Joyce learned lessons that can help all of us travel on life’s up-and-down journey with more grace and lightness. She shares them in this enjoyable recounting of her journey across mountains and valleys, cities and farms.

5 of 5 Stars:  Cameron Powell paused the collapse of his life and career to join his mother on a meaning-seeking romp across Spain.  Following the walk, Powell attends to his dying mother and share their “beautiful and excruciating last Camino”. Powell take this deeply felt memoir into one of the most challenging journeys true friends can ever take together while offering insight into what it means to be a man.

3 of 5 Stars: In college she was an American in Spain, spending a year studying abroad in Madrid. Thirty-five years later—after sending the last of her children off to college—55-year-old Meg S. Maloney decided it was time to fulfill a long-held dream: complete the legendary Camino de Santiago

2 of 5 Stars:  MacLaine has been on an extended spiritual journey for eighty years and the Camino was an important pit stop on that road. The book covers her time on the Camino but also places her pilgrimage in the context of her larger life’s journey.  I appreciate MacLaine’s greater work but found this a little hard to remain engaged.

“Renaissance Man” – Start here for my Camino blog from start to finish.

Walk with Sandra is a spiritual conversation and travel log alike.  I appreciate the simplicity of Sandra’s site, her easy writing style and travel logs.

“Women of the Way” is both a book by Jane Blanchard and a blog written by five women who write about their Camino experience.  I have yet to read the book but do enjoy reading the blog.

“amawalker” is a blog authored by a born-again walker who journals her walks over the years.

“O MBA peregrino” is a fun photo blog journey across the Camino Frances.

“Camino Gazetteer” – This blogger writes about eleven Camino trips taken between 2004 and 2015.  I found this a unique perspective on walking in the autumn and winter seasons.

“Camino Ways” – Is a commercial travel site.  I am listing it as their website is full of valuable information and a few blogs as well.

The Pilgrim’s Reception Office welcomes all pilgrims arriving in the city of Santiago de Compestela.  The office provides the final stamp of the Cathedral of Santiago on the official pilgrim credenciales as well as the traditional certificate, the Compostela, to those who qualify.

The Facebook group “American Pilgrims on the Camino” is a great resource for asking quick questions about the walk and to see all the great sights with commentary in near real time.

The Facebook group “Camino de Santiago” is another tremendous group of Camino advocates.

The Confraternity of St. James is a community for Camino Pilgrims in the UK.  However, they are very inclusive to all including us Yanks.  More specifically, they aspire to:

• advance the education of the public on the pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela
• promote the Camino and pilgrimage, including related history, art, architecture and music
• provide information, advice and guidance to all Camino pilgrims, no matter their reason for going, both before and after their pilgrimage
• maintain our pilgrim hostels
• promote research and educational programs about pilgrimage, St James, medieval Spain and related topics
• establish links between the Camino and the UK, including establishing local pilgrim routes

“The Way” – The classic movie that inspired millions to take the walk. A father heads overseas to recover the body of his estranged son who died while traveling the “El Camino de Santiago,” and decides to take the pilgrimage himself.

“I’ll Push You” is an up-close and personal look into the dynamics of a life-long friendship between of two best friends – Justin Skeesuck and Patrick Gray – as they travel across El Camino de Santiago. The story begins with the challenges that come with Patrick’s answering of the invitation to push Justin in a wheelchair across northern Spain given his rare neurological disease. The film is an intimate portrait of an epic journey and explores the true meaning of friendship, generosity, and vulnerability.

“The Three Caminos” – 3 Caminos tells the life story of five friends, each one of a different nationality, all of them conected by El Camino in three specific moments of their lives