I always loved the outdoors. I love being close to nature since it makes me happy. I whisper to the wind and the water my problems and after that I feel so at peace. I know it sounds crazy but I feel that if I talk to nature, it listens and takes away all the problems and pain that I have inside. I have heard my friends at IE Business School talk about their hike at Camino de Santiago over the summer. A few of them went together and they had so much fun. They talked about the beautiful scenery and the people that they met along the way. I was planning to do the hike before I finished the MBA but I didn't have the time to do it and it was getting cold. I listed hiking the El Camino as one of the things I want to do while I’m 30 so I decided to do this last minute trip. I was hoping that this hike would help me relax and find some of the answers I am looking for, and not just about work but my future in general. When your heart is in pain, it just needs time and space to heal and I was hoping this hike would do just that. I also want to completely accept my decision that I am going back home and leaving Europe. It’s not like home is a bad thing but I have really enjoyed my newly found independence and life here in Europe. Through hiking the El Camino, it would feel like I have achieved even a simple goal. My goal was to finish hiking 152 km in 7 days at Camino del Norte de Santiago. I was just doing a portion of it since I had to go back to London. The entire hike is 815 km and takes about 32 days to finish. For some people, the hike to Camino de Santiago (also known as Way of St. James) is a pilgrimage and a spiritual journey. But for me, this hike was a personal journey to find myself again. Although I have not read the book, this was my own version of the novel written by Paulo Coelho - The Pilgrimage, which was a novel that serves part an adventure story and part guide to self-discovery.
To be honest I was not sure if I was making the right decision. I would be hiking 152km in 7 days on my own. My friends assured me that it is safe and I will meet people along the way and it will be an amazing experience. But a part of me was still scared to go alone. It’s not like this was my first time travelling alone or hiking. I always travelled alone. I have also hiked the Inca Trail before, which even has a higher altitude. I guess I was just scared that I might not find what I was looking for and I have wasted my time. And I was also scared that my asthma and chest pains would come back but good thing that did not happen. But a big part of me knew that I needed to do this. I needed to prove to myself again that I can handle anything even though I have so much fear and uncertainty. I wasn't sure whether I was making the right decision but I wanted to be irrational even once. So putting my fear aside, I booked my flight from London to Madrid and a train to Irun. The moment I landed Madrid that Tuesday evening, I was smiling and felt so light-hearted. It feels like all the sadness and stress just went away. I knew from that moment that I made the right choice. It actually felt good to be back in Madrid. I really think I needed that trip in order to have a proper farewell with the country where I lived for more than a year. When I left Madrid in December, I left in a haste cause I had to fly to Oslo for an interview after graduation, and then came back to Madrid wherein I only had 12-hours to clean my apartment before I flew back to Toronto for Christmas.
Day 0 – Wednesday April 13, 2016: Madrid to Irun by train
Since I was starting the hike on Thursday morning, I had to take a 5-hr train ride from Madrid to Irun the day before. Irun is located at the north of Spain. When I got to Irun, I walked to the albergue and stayed there for the night. An albergue is like a hostel for peregrinos (pilgrims or hikers). I met a few peregrinos since everyone was starting there for Camino del Norte (coastal way). Most of the peregrinos were male. There were also a few old couples in their 60s doing the hike. I am not used to sleeping in hostels anymore. The last time I stayed at a hostel was when I did the Contiki tour around Europe as my university graduation trip (i.e. about more than 8 years ago). I normally stayed at airbnbs and hotels where I can have my own bed and washroom so I can have my privacy. At an albergue, you sleep in bunk beds and you share the room with a few other people. And you don’t need to book anything in advance. You just show up at the albergue hoping that they still have a bed available for you. To keep myself entertained for that day, I brought a book with me. But I made sure I finished the book that day so I didn’t have to carry it with me during the hike. My backpack was already heavy enough and I did not need an additional weight to it.
Since I was starting the hike on Thursday morning, I had to take a 5-hr train ride from Madrid to Irun the day before. Irun is located at the north of Spain. When I got to Irun, I walked to the albergue and stayed there for the night. An albergue is like a hostel for peregrinos (pilgrims or hikers). I met a few peregrinos since everyone was starting there for Camino del Norte (coastal way). Most of the peregrinos were male. There were also a few old couples in their 60s doing the hike. I am not used to sleeping in hostels anymore. The last time I stayed at a hostel was when I did the Contiki tour around Europe as my university graduation trip (i.e. about more than 8 years ago). I normally stayed at airbnbs and hotels where I can have my own bed and washroom so I can have my privacy. At an albergue, you sleep in bunk beds and you share the room with a few other people. And you don’t need to book anything in advance. You just show up at the albergue hoping that they still have a bed available for you. To keep myself entertained for that day, I brought a book with me. But I made sure I finished the book that day so I didn’t have to carry it with me during the hike. My backpack was already heavy enough and I did not need an additional weight to it.
Day 1 – Thursday April 14, 2016: Irun to San Sebastian (27.6 km)
I wasn’t able to sleep well since I can hear people snoring and I was having trouble sleeping in general. Whenever I travel, it normally takes a few days before I can get used to sleeping in a different bed. I woke up early since I was advised by my friends to start early and also people were already leaving. During breakfast, I met Andre and Pierre. Pierre is from France and he has been hiking from Toulouse to Irun for the past 3 weeks. Andre is from Germany and he was just starting the hike like me. He’s doing the entire 815km Camino del Norte hike. We started hiking before 8 am. I was initially following Pierre since I didn’t know where the starting point was. But you will not get lost as long as you follow the yellow arrows since they guide peregrinos on where to go. I saw a few peregrinos along the way. I met Miguel from France and Mario from Austria. I also met an old couple from Holland and France. I am actually impressed by the old couples cause they had more energy than me. I wish I would have the same stamina as them when I reach 60 years old and share the experience with someone in the future. But for now, I didn’t mind walking alone. It gave me some time to think and reflect on what I want to do with my life. The route was very scenic since I was walking in the mountains with the view of the coast. Along the way, I passed through Santuario de Guadalupe. I was getting hungry but I did not see any cafés on this route. It was a good thing I packed some nuts and a can of tuna so I ate those for lunch. When I got to Cale Zemoria, a local stopped me to adjust my bag since it was not sitting properly on my body. He was talking to me in Spanish. Although I didn’t know how to respond to him, I understood about 80% of what he said. He explained that I would need to adjust the straps when I go up and down the mountain. He also explained that the route to San Sebastian would be uphill and downhill and there was a picnic place where peregrinos stopped to rest and eat. He also said that I should stay at La Sirena when I get to San Sebastian. And finally he told me to take a small boat to cross to the other side. He was actually very nice and explained to me that the big ship that just passed by was a cargo ship that was going to Portugal. He also told me that he normally does the El Camino by bike. He said other things but I didn’t understand them. But I was so happy cause I understood what he said even though my Spanish wasn’t fluent. It actually inspired me to practice my Spanish even more. And he wasn't kidding when he said that the route was going up and down but the view was worth it. The view of the water always relaxes me. It was almost 4 pm but I still had 6km to go before I can get to San Sebastian. We also had to take a longer and harder route since we missed the yellow arrows. I really wanted to get to San Sebastian as early as I can cause I wanted to get to the pintxos places before it got too crowded. This was one of the reasons why I did this route so I was really motivated to finish the hike for the day. I wanted to stop by San Sebastian since this city is known for all their Michelin star restaurants and really good food. And for those who know me, they know that I would never miss a chance to eat delicious food. I have been to San Sebastian before. This was actually where Team Fun started. Before our MBA class started last November 2014, about 15 of us went to San Sebastian for 3 days. So when I got to San Sebastian, I messaged Team Fun with a picture of my gelato. And as expected Murphy made a comment that “when Marana said she’s going hiking the Camino, she actually meant she’s hiking around the restaurants in San Sebastian”. And like the typical Murphy, he didn’t let this go for the next 6 days. On our way to the albergue, it started raining but this didn’t stop me from going back to the Old Town to go pintxos hopping. I invited Andre to join me and I took him to the places where I went with Team Fun. My favorite is La Cuchara and we ordered five dishes like the duck ravioli, cochinillio, foie gras, ternera, and fried goat cheese. I may get too excited sometimes when it comes to food but it is what I am passionate about. If there is one thing I like spoiling myself with, it is delicious and amazing food. My friends would always tease me that I’m a fat person inside a small person’s body.
I wasn’t able to sleep well since I can hear people snoring and I was having trouble sleeping in general. Whenever I travel, it normally takes a few days before I can get used to sleeping in a different bed. I woke up early since I was advised by my friends to start early and also people were already leaving. During breakfast, I met Andre and Pierre. Pierre is from France and he has been hiking from Toulouse to Irun for the past 3 weeks. Andre is from Germany and he was just starting the hike like me. He’s doing the entire 815km Camino del Norte hike. We started hiking before 8 am. I was initially following Pierre since I didn’t know where the starting point was. But you will not get lost as long as you follow the yellow arrows since they guide peregrinos on where to go. I saw a few peregrinos along the way. I met Miguel from France and Mario from Austria. I also met an old couple from Holland and France. I am actually impressed by the old couples cause they had more energy than me. I wish I would have the same stamina as them when I reach 60 years old and share the experience with someone in the future. But for now, I didn’t mind walking alone. It gave me some time to think and reflect on what I want to do with my life. The route was very scenic since I was walking in the mountains with the view of the coast. Along the way, I passed through Santuario de Guadalupe. I was getting hungry but I did not see any cafés on this route. It was a good thing I packed some nuts and a can of tuna so I ate those for lunch. When I got to Cale Zemoria, a local stopped me to adjust my bag since it was not sitting properly on my body. He was talking to me in Spanish. Although I didn’t know how to respond to him, I understood about 80% of what he said. He explained that I would need to adjust the straps when I go up and down the mountain. He also explained that the route to San Sebastian would be uphill and downhill and there was a picnic place where peregrinos stopped to rest and eat. He also said that I should stay at La Sirena when I get to San Sebastian. And finally he told me to take a small boat to cross to the other side. He was actually very nice and explained to me that the big ship that just passed by was a cargo ship that was going to Portugal. He also told me that he normally does the El Camino by bike. He said other things but I didn’t understand them. But I was so happy cause I understood what he said even though my Spanish wasn’t fluent. It actually inspired me to practice my Spanish even more. And he wasn't kidding when he said that the route was going up and down but the view was worth it. The view of the water always relaxes me. It was almost 4 pm but I still had 6km to go before I can get to San Sebastian. We also had to take a longer and harder route since we missed the yellow arrows. I really wanted to get to San Sebastian as early as I can cause I wanted to get to the pintxos places before it got too crowded. This was one of the reasons why I did this route so I was really motivated to finish the hike for the day. I wanted to stop by San Sebastian since this city is known for all their Michelin star restaurants and really good food. And for those who know me, they know that I would never miss a chance to eat delicious food. I have been to San Sebastian before. This was actually where Team Fun started. Before our MBA class started last November 2014, about 15 of us went to San Sebastian for 3 days. So when I got to San Sebastian, I messaged Team Fun with a picture of my gelato. And as expected Murphy made a comment that “when Marana said she’s going hiking the Camino, she actually meant she’s hiking around the restaurants in San Sebastian”. And like the typical Murphy, he didn’t let this go for the next 6 days. On our way to the albergue, it started raining but this didn’t stop me from going back to the Old Town to go pintxos hopping. I invited Andre to join me and I took him to the places where I went with Team Fun. My favorite is La Cuchara and we ordered five dishes like the duck ravioli, cochinillio, foie gras, ternera, and fried goat cheese. I may get too excited sometimes when it comes to food but it is what I am passionate about. If there is one thing I like spoiling myself with, it is delicious and amazing food. My friends would always tease me that I’m a fat person inside a small person’s body.
Lesson for the day: Life can be full of contradicting directions on where we should go. Sometimes it would even lead us to different paths that we might get lost along the way. It’s so confusing sometimes. But it is the path that we choose that will make a difference. Sometimes we are even tempted to take the short cut just because it is easier. But we are only cheating ourselves even though other people may not see it. We shouldn’t let this distract us from reaching our goal. We need to stay focused cause there is nothing more rewarding than achieving something that you honestly work hard for. And when you find your way back to where you were meant to be, you can be proud that you didn’t allow the distractions dismay you from finishing what you have started. Don’t stop even though you are tired and confused. Just continue your journey cause you’ll get there somehow.
Day 2 – Friday April 15, 2016: San Sebastian to Zarautz (20.3 km)
On my way to get breakfast at Café Ugrian, it started raining. I waited for the rain to die down for a bit so I did not start hiking until 9am. I met Mario and the couple from Holland at the starting point. The muscles on my calves were in pain when I woke-up that morning so I had to walk slower than normal. I guess my feet were not used to walking long distances since I have only been sitting down for the past few months. Since I was slow, I was walking alone again in the mountainside. But I found a very beautiful spot for lunch where I ate the jamon and cheese that I bought in San Sebastian. It was a picnic table under a tree and overlooking the ocean. It was definitely worth stopping for and enjoying the view. I was in pain while walking so I had to take several breaks. It got even harder to walk when I was walking down the steps and walking up the roads along Munioetazar to Orio. Even Miguel, who left San Sebastian at 11:30 am, was able to catch up with me. At least when I got to Orio, I was just walking along a flat surface. But what I liked the most about this route was that I got to see a lot of coastal views. I passed by the playa on my way to the albergue. It was really interesting cause they placed some benches near the road but facing the water so that people can talk and relax. When I got to Zarautz, I saw Miguel again so we walked to the albergue together. It was already 7pm when we got there and they told us that they were full. My feet were already in so much pain and my back was a little tired. So they suggested that we stay at a pension place at the center of the city. When we got there, I booked my own room so I can get some sleep. And we arrived right on time cause by the time I was able to settle into my room, it started raining. My room was on the 5th floor but the elevators only went up until the 4th floor so I had to take the stairs up. Although it was hard for me to walk up another step, the top floor was really quiet. I did not want to walk outside again cause my feet were hurting but I decided to have quick walk to get dinner since I was really hungry. Even an aching feet will not stop me from finding food.
Lesson for the day: We could never escape who we really are cause it will always be part of us. And no matter how hard we escape our feelings for others, it will still keep haunting us. You can never run away from your problems or reality. You cannot pretend or forget that it does not exist either. You cannot hide from reality forever. So the best way is to just face it and remain strong that you can get pass through this.
Day 3 – Saturday April 16, 2016: Zarautz to Deba (22 km)
The pain on my calves got even worse and there was also some pain starting on my ankle. I started walking at around 8:30 am after I had breakfast. Miguel suggested that I take the coastal route since it was easier for my feet since the road was flatter. So I walked around the coast of Playa Zarautz on my way to Getaria. The coastline was so beautiful and I saw some people snorkeling. While I was walking, I saw Mario and we walked together until we reached Getaria. He stayed there a bit since he had to eat breakfast and had to mail some of his things to lessen the load of his backpack. While I was walking I was able to see a herd of sheep walking down. They smelled a bit but it was my first time to get so close to more than 50 sheep at the same time. Mario was able to catch up with me when I got to Askizu since I decided to take a break near the church. We started walking together again but I was walking really slowly so I told him to go ahead without me. The walk was very scenic since there were farmlands on my left and the coast on the right. You can see the horses, sheep, pigs, and the cows. However, when I was about to reach Zumaia, it started raining. The rain got even stronger as I got closer to the town. I wanted to stop a bit to rest and have lunch since I was getting hungry but all the restaurants were full so I just continued walking. But when I checked my watch it was already 2pm and I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast. I can’t find any café to stop and eat at. Good thing I found an apartment building with an open door so I sat at the front steps and ate my banana and cheese. After resting for 20 minutes, I continued walking in the rain. When I got to the farmlands, I saw Mario’s yellow rain cover from afar. But I knew he was a few kilometers away from me and I was walking really slowly so I knew I would not be able to catch up to him. The rain got even worse and the roads got even more slippery and muddy. While I was walking in the muddy farmlands, I didn’t see any peregrinos. I just kept on walking in the rain and hardly took any breaks. The scariest part was that I could hear the thunder when I was approaching the open fields. I really prayed that there would not be any lightning cause I had no place to hide. My back was already aching from my backpack and my feet were also in pain, and water and mud were coming inside my shoes. At that moment, I felt so alone. I don't know why I subjected myself with this kind of torture. I really wanted to go home at that moment. But I knew I can’t stop and give up. I knew that I had no one to depend on but myself. I had to be strong no matter how scary the situation was or how strong the rain and wind was coming to me. I just continued walking for three more hours without a break. There was also a point where I passed by the highway to get to the next town. I felt like I was a homeless person not knowing where to go. It was like I was about to reach the lowest point of my life. But the drivers were very encouraging cause they said "hi" to me while I was walking. If I did this in North America, they would just ignore me. They would have even thought that I am a dangerous crazy homeless person. The rain slowly stopped when I got to Itziar at around 5:30 pm but the roads were getting even muddier. I took a 5-minute break so I can rest my back and feet and then I continued walking. It was starting to get dark while I was walking through the back roads of the muddy farmlands. I was a little scared walking there alone since I might fall and no one was there to help me. When I was about to reach Deba, it started raining really hard again. I saw Miguel on the way to the albergue but we stopped at a building to get some cover from the heavy rain. We waited for the rain to stop before we walked to the albergue. The albergue was really interesting because it was next to the train tracks and on top of the train station. When I got there at around 7:30 pm, I was so happy cause I was able to get there before the albergue closed. But I was even happier because I was able to survive a hard day and I didn't give up. I also got a happy greeting from Mario, Inglob, and Andre. When I spoke to Andre, they were actually worried when the rain started again and I wasn’t still there. They were worried that I was still walking in the middle of nowhere. But when they saw me at the albergue, they were impressed by my strength and courage to finish the hike that day.
Day 4 – Sunday April 17, 2016: Deba to Markina-Xemein (24.3 km)
When I woke up that morning, the muscle pain on my calves were gone. I guess the muscle stretching I did the night before and the muscle pain gel helped. However I noticed one blister on my left feet. My friends warned me to keep my feet dry during the hike or else I’ll get some blisters. But water was coming inside my shoes because of the rain. Since I did not want to arrive at the albergue late again and I wasn’t sure where everyone was stopping that night, I decided to wake up earlier so I can leave earlier. The guys told me the night before that they might be ending at Zenarruza, an additional 7km more from Markina-Xemein. I left the albergue that morning with Andre and Inglob, and Mario caught up with us a few minutes later. They initially did not want to follow me to the entrance since they think that you should not trust girls with directions cause they still get lost even with a map. But I insisted that I know where it was and that they should follow me and good thing that they did. It wasn’t raining anymore that day but the roads were still muddy from last night. In fact there were so many puddles that it made it difficult for me to walk with my running shoes since it was too slippery. Good thing Andre was there to keep me company cause I almost lost my balance when I was walking down one of the steps. We met with Mario and Inglob for a short break before we started walking again. Since my feet felt much better, we were only 15-30 minutes behind them. It was nice to have Andre around for company cause I had someone to talk to. I don’t mind being alone since I am used to it but it felt good to be around people again. Andre was also walking a little slower because of his knee. This route was a little harder since we had to walk as high as 550 mt above sea level. It was really foggy and cold when we got there. After that we had to walk down again to get to Markina Xemein. We arrived Markina past 5pm. Andre wanted to go to Zenarruza so that we can walk a shorter distance the following day. So we decided to have dinner first at Pitis before continuing our hike. While at the restaurant, we decided to call the monastery to make sure that we had a place to stay for the night. They had some beds available but we needed to get there before 7pm. But since it was getting late and we knew we won’t be able to walk another 7km in just an hour, we decided to stay. And good thing that we did cause we found Mario, Inglob, and Pierre. They decided to stay in town for the night since they were also tired. We stayed at the Pitis hostel and I had to share a room with bunk beds with Mario, Andre, Inglob, and Tomas. Good thing I brought earplugs with me cause I did not know how I would be able to sleep in a room with a bunch of guys snoring. Since we got there a little later, I had to sleep on the top bunk. Although I used to have bunk beds with my siblings when we were younger, I always took the bottom bunk since I moved a lot when I sleep and I fell off my bed several times. I still move a lot until now but I can now wake-up when I feel like I’m falling.
Lesson for the day: We may start our journey alone, but we will never finish it alone. Along the way, we will meet people that will support and guide us. Some of them would even stay by our side to make sure that we will never be alone again in this journey. We need to appreciate those people who never left our side even during the times of hardships. Through this we will really know who are the people that genuinely care for us. Some friends would come during happy times but it’s only the true friends who would stay even during the times of sadness and troubles.
Day 5 – Monday April 18, 2016: Markina-Xemein to Gernika-Lumo (25 km)
I am happy that I finally made new set of friends during this hike. We had an early morning start again. We went for breakfast first before we started walking. The pain on my legs were healing. However the pain at the bottom of my feet and ankles were starting to get worse, but this did not stop me from continuing the hike. It was a good thing I found a stick the day before cause it helped me walk. Every time I took a step, the back of my left foot was hurting so I had to limp at one point. Mario and Inglob were walking a little faster than Andre and I. We got to Zenarruza about an hour and 30 minutes later. It was a good thing we decided to stay at Markina Xemein the night before cause we would have not been able to make it to the monastery in time. As expected, the monastery was really quiet and peaceful. They even had a beautiful garden at the back. I grew up close to nuns and priests because of my parents and I even lived in a dormitory run by nuns for 3 years. I know my parents were hoping that I’ll enter the convent but I know that will never happen. But I still like going to these places cause I am able to connect with myself at a higher spiritual level. The monastery also had a store and they sold my sister’s favorite dulce de leche among other things so I decided to buy her one. I knew it would be an additional weight to my backpack but I knew that will make her happy. After 30 minutes of resting at the monastery, we continued walking again until we reached Muntibar for lunch. It was still hard to walk along the routes since it was too muddy and slippery. I even got stuck in the mud several times since my shoes didn't have the proper grip. That added to the pain on my feet cause I had to force my feet out of the mud. Normally Andre walked a few meters ahead of me and waited at the start of the next town. When we got to Marmiz, we saw Miguel and Johanna from Norway. She is a few years younger than me and I was glad that I finally found another peregrina hiking the Camino alone. We were a little concerned that we might not get to the albergue on time since the app said they closed at 7pm. But when we got to Ajangiz, Andre and I took a break since my feet were in pain again. When we checked the clock, we had a lot of time so we decided to have a quick snack while watching the horses. The walk to Gernika did not take that long since we were just walking along a flat road. And we arrived at the albergue right on time. However, we didn't see Mario and Inglob there. Since we arrived a little later than everyone else, I got the top bunk again.
Lesson for the day: We need to experience failure and pain in order to build character. If we always win in life, we will never know how to humble ourselves against others. Life is never perfect and we should never aim for it to be perfect. It is through those imperfections that we would learn to appreciate the beauty of life.
Day 6 – Tuesday April 19, 2016: Gernika to Lezama (21.8 km)
For the first time since I started my hike, the sun was shining brightly that day. As usual, Andre would just walk ahead of me and would wait somewhere. At the beginning, I was still able to walk fast but after a few minutes, the pain on my feet came back again. I was limping for bit again. There were a lot of uphill walks on this route. We passed several small villages with a few big houses with farms at the back. I really like how simple life can be at these places but you can still be happy. You don’t need a lot of things to achieve contentment. We took some short breaks for snacks, but there were not a lot of places to stop. We were not able to eat lunch until we got to Goikoelexalde at around 3pm. When we got to Lezama at around 5 pm, the albergue was close so we had to stay at a bed and breakfast place instead. Initially, Andre wanted to take the bus to Bilbao and stay at the albergues there but I didn’t want to. I really wanted to finish the hike to Bilbao through walking the entire route. Casa Rural Madarian was a little pricey compared to all the albergues we stayed at (60 euros vs the normal 5-15 euros) so we shared a room with two separate twin beds. When we saw Miguel and Johanna, we told them to stay there too since that was the only nearby place that was open. We didn’t see the other peregrinos. We assumed that they just went straight to Bilbao.
Lesson for the day: If we know who we really are, we know our own limitations and capabilities. We will not be easily tempted to do things that we will regret some day. Others may judge us for our choices especially if they do not know us personally. But we know ourselves better than anyone else and we should not let other people’s opinion affect us. We should not be defined by the expectations of others. We should choose how we want to define ourselves. We just need to trust our decisions and know that we made the right ones. If you know how to trust yourself, you will also be able to learn to trust others and see the goodness in their hearts. You will not be scared to share with them who you really are. If you share yourself with others, you may also be able to create a positive impact to their lives.
Day 7 – Wednesday April 20, 2016: Lezama to Bilbao (11.2 km)
When Andre and I left Casa Rural Mandarian at 8:30am, it was raining. And the route was not scenic at all. We had to pass the highway where you can see the cars passing by. And the walk uphill was more of the back roads of the main street than a farmland or forest. But when we reached a point where we could see the entire city of Bilbao, it felt good to know that I was close to my finish line. When we got close to Begona, the rain stopped but the wind was strong. Good thing I had my backpack with me to add some weight. We arrived Bilbao half past 12. I was so happy when we reached Bilbao Cathedral cause I was able to accomplish my goal. I was able to finish the hike no matter how hard the route was or how much pain I had to endure. I was able to prove to myself that if I put my mind and heart into anything I do, I’ll achieve it. It’s just sad that I didn’t see Mario and Inglob again. I wasn’t able to say good-bye to them. But I really enjoyed Andre’s company. It was good to have a new friend during this hike. After the hike, I rewarded myself with fried chicken wings, nachos, and 3 sandwiches at 100 Montaditos.
Lesson for the day: Never lose faith in God and in yourself. Problems may come along the way, but it is just to test us how strong we are. God will never give us a problem that we cannot handle. There may be storms and heavy rains but always remember that sunshine will come afterwards. So never lose hope that something good will come out of it. We just need to trust God and His plan for us. It may take awhile to get there, but we’ll definitely reach our destination at the right time. We do not need to rush things cause we will not be able to enjoy the process.
It’s been a week since I finished my hike. Looking back, I am glad that I made that decision to do the hike. I finally feel at peace with my decision of leaving Europe and coming back to Toronto. I’m actually looking forward to going home now. My heart is also at a better and happier place. I am ready to move on and face the next chapter of my life. The hike really helped open my mind and heart, and it made me have a clearer picture of my life. I know it sounds weird, but being outside allowed me to think and analyze my situation. It is when you learn to let go that you’ll find the answers you are looking for. I guess I just needed that break to figure things out. And I am happy that I found that girl again and she is stronger than ever. I am more optimistic that things will work out in the end.
TIPS FOR THE EL CAMINO HIKE
1. Pack only about 10% of your weight
I tend to over pack when I travel and the El Camino hike was nothing different. I was carrying a heavy hiking backpack with me while I was hiking. It was bearable at the beginning. But when you are hiking for several hours for several days and your back and feet are aching, carrying a heavy backpack is not a good idea. It only slows you down. Some of the albergues have washing machines and dryers so you can wash your clothes. There is no need to pack a lot of things. Just bring the basic necessities like two pairs of changing clothes, a pair of sleeping clothes, jacket (it’s cold in the morning and when it is raining), slippers (to use for the showers), toiletries, sunblock, hat, swimming clothes (there are beaches along the way), flashlight (in case you arrive late), and first aid kit (bring bandages for your feet and some muscle pain reliever gel). Some people brought their own sleeping bags and tents. The tents are really helpful cause sometimes the albergue gets full easily and the hotels are pretty expensive. I didn’t bring one since it would just add more weight.
2. Bring at least 1L of water
I bought a Camelbak, which is a really good investment when you go hiking alot. Although it adds more weight to my backpack, at least I don’t have to stop every time I need to drink. There are several water pipes along the way to refill your water bottle but some of them are pretty rusty so I made sure that I had water enough for the day. Make sure you have sufficient amount of water since you will be hiking for hours and you don't want to get dehydrated.
3. Wear comfortable hiking shoes
I planned my hike at the last minute so I don’t have my hiking shoes with me. I was just wearing my Nike running shoes. When the roads are flat, it’s not too bad. It’s when the roads get too rocky and muddy because of the rain, that wearing running shoes is not a good idea. Maybe this is the reason why my feet were in pain after the first day. Also make sure that your feet doesn't get wet during the hike or else you’ll have some blisters, which would slow you down even more.
4. Bring a rain jacket
It was raining most of the time when we were hiking so make sure you have a jacket or raincoat with you. You can even buy those disposable ones if you don't want to carry too much weight with you.
5. Bring snacks and lunch for the hike
My friends told me to bring snacks for the hike so I did. But what I didn’t know was that we hardly passed by a town with restaurants or cafés during the first few days of the hike. We were walking inside the forest or at farmlands during lunchtime. And since we were walking a lot, we also got hungry easily. So it is really important to bring some food for the day like candy bars, jamon, and fruits. When you get to town, there are several restaurants to go to for dinner. They even have 3-course meals for peregrinos.
6. Download the maps and Camino app
I have a Spanish number so my phone was working most of the time while I was hiking. But the Camino apps would still work even though you are offline. I used the Norte app but there are also other Camino apps available. It is good to have a copy of the map so that you’ll know how far the next town is and how high the elevation is. But you won’t get lost as long as you just follow the yellow arrows. The arrows will show you the direction for the entire Camino route. The Camino app is also helpful cause it shows you where the albergues are located and if they are open. It also shows if there is an albergue, café, supermarket, pharmacy, or bank at that town.
7. Soak your feet with hot after the end of the hike
At the end of the hike, your feet will be tired and in pain. My friends suggested that I soak my feet with hot water. They said it will help relieve some of the pain.
8. Make sure your leave early so you arrive early
A few people during my hike did at least 40km a day so they started walking around 7am. I just followed the suggested daily distance. Since I was walking really slow, I was sometimes the last one to arrive the albergue. Some albergues get full easily especially during peak season. If you want to have a place to stay for the night, make sure you arrive early and at most before 8pm.
9. Make friends and have fun!
I was travelling on my own so I was walking on my own most of the time. But when I got to the albergue, I met my fellow peregrinos. They were really nice and friendly. Most of the people that did the hike were men and old couples. If there were any women, they travelled with their friends. I was one of the few girls hiking alone so most of my new friends were men. But I’m used to this since most of my close friends are guys.
10. Never give up.
The road may get tough and you will experience a lot of pain. I can’t promise you it will get better, but the view is amazing and the experience is worth remembering. You can take some breaks and stop at a city even for a day to recharge but never give up.
