Walking to the End of the World: A Thousand Miles on the Camino De Santiago

Despite well-planned preparations, it was tricky running into hurdles far from home. Beth and Eric took serious time off from work and their home in Seattle to travel to Europe and follow the nine centuries-old pilgrimage trail, the Camino de Santiago, from Le Puy in France to visit the tomb of St. James at Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. They were presented with challenges as they knew only a smattering of French, never had the experience of washing clothes in the bathroom sink each evening, encountered village shops closed for the day to celebrate unknown holidays, and crossed the Pyrenees with perpetually painful feet.

Beth’s work with a publishing house left little time for athletic training; Eric was in better shape and mostly walked ahead each day. They exchanged emails along the way with pilgrims from Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, and Canada; the language shortcomings were entertaining rather than inhibiting. When not too exhausted after walking twenty miles or more, the groups spent evenings in lively bars. Along the route, they always paid with cash, carrying neither credit cards nor cell phones.

As winter and spring gave way to summer, they walked westward, visiting lesser known holy sites, wondrous cathedrals, quiet villages, and vibrant towns; they followed the scallop shell and striped markers that indicated their route.

Beth generously shares her experiences, unabashed by her naiveté, her few complaints forgotten, and the pleasures remembered. The pages are filled with respect for an unfamiliar culture and complemented with delightfully wry humor.