Author Archives: Jaime Carrollo

September 5, 2026 I have been looking forward to this Camino with eager anticipation for some time. But now that it is almost upon me, I hesitate. I must rein in my excitement for the sooner it begins, the sooner it will end. Best to relish these last few days to enhance the experience itselfContinue reading “The Countdown Begins…”

1 September 2026 Despierta, Caminante! Sacude el sopor de tu cuerpo que yace sin sueños. ¡Que se alce el espíritu! Mira alrededor: los tenues rayos de un nuevo día van empolvando el cielo oscuro. Respira hondo, como tu primer aliento, tomado con temor y con triunfo, hace una eternidad. Salpica agua fría sobre tu rostroContinue reading “(Unpublished) Countdown Begins…”

Today, all goals were achieved. Paula got her taste of the Camino, I completed the three stages I missed first time around, and I picked up my new Camino guitar. The first part of our walk out of Fromista was nice. We took an alternative route and walked along a river shaded by trees, feelingContinue reading “Mission(s) Accomplished”

Castrojeriz has a lot more to offer than Hornillos and we got to see a lot of it just looking for a place to eat lunch. Our hotelier told us we had arrived too late to reserve a table so we went in search of food. We asked a couple locals and they recommended theContinue reading “Welcome to the Meseta”

The Camino has drawn me back…again! However, there is a reason for this madness. In fact, there are three reasons. First of all, I wanted to introduce Paula to the Way. Between us, she is the more dedicated walker. But she does not want to walk 15 miles a day for 30 days while livingContinue reading “The Mini-Camino”

The train has pulled out of the Santiago de Compostela train station and in the distance I can see the blue waves of Galicia’s mountains rising up through the mists. My God, how they tug at me! It brings tears to my eyes! It is like leaving a beloved child. I will return one day,Continue reading “Epílogo”

And so the adventure pauses. Last night, after my fine meal, while I watched Man City beat Inter Milan for the Champion’s League trophy, I toyed with the idea of taking advantage of the hotel’s offer to drive me to the airport from where I could catch a bus into Santiago de Compostela. However, whenContinue reading “Day 31. The final thrust”

Many years ago, when men and women were depicting their world in elaborate drawings on cave walls, there was a cloud formation which collected moisture from the great waters which we now call the Bay of Biscay. These clouds, when full, would return the waters to the Cantabrian mountainsides, creating a green paradise of forests,Continue reading “Day 30. Back to Santiago”

I took a bus from Lugo this morning. A full rainbow arched across the western sky. The bus followed close to the Camino Francés and as we stopped in Melide, the confluence of several different Caminos, I noticed an increase in the number of peregrinos, amplified also because many pilgrims decide to do only theContinue reading “Day 29. The rainbow”

Lugo has been a good place to take a break. The hostel is nice and clean and perfectly located, and Pedro at the front desk goes the extra step to help me locate the bus and train stations, as well as Alquimia, home of the best gin and tonic in town. Lugo happens to beContinue reading “Day 28. Taking it easy”