Camino de Santiago Part 3: Meeting My Camino Friends During My First Camino Day
- cwang2384
- Dec 13, 2025
- 5 min read
Cami de Santiago Part 3: Meeting My Camino Friend
s During My Fir
I woke up very early today, finished my breakfast as quickly and fully as I could around 7:00 am, put on my waterproof outfit because rain was in the forecast, and was ready to go.
It was still dark around 8 am, frost in the air, breezy and rainy, as if someone had set a thematic mood for a special day — solemn, uplifting, and awakening — a perfect day to start my Camino event.
A group of 18 people, including me, marched into the darkness. Everyone was so quiet—as we should be, at least for the first hour—watching our own steps and the Camino signage, a yellow arrow pointing in the right direction along the way.
I pondered as I walked, reflecting on the decision to come to walk the Camino. I am, in fact, not as confident as I may seem when making impulsive decisions — like this one, going across the Atlantic to a remote, unknown place to do something I have no experience with.
“Camino de Santiago” was the first Spanish word I learned (it means 'the Way of Saint James' in English) after receiving Father Kevin’s invitation. And above all, I’m utterly ignorant of Western theology. The most likely scenario is that I will be physically exhausted from hiking each day and mentally disengaged from the cultural barriers I face. As a complete outsider, how can I be sure of anything during a six-day walk on a mysterious, sacred trail, except for getting lost in translation and around every bend?
“Do you know anything about walking the Camino?” My skeptical, realistic part of me (people would say it’s the mind) began to challenge this emotional, impulsive decision.
Then, another voice from a deeper part of me (it’s the heart) echoed back: “I’m always eager to experience the unknown.”
“Since WHEN?” My logical mind was not ready to concede.
“Since the day of crossing the Pacific to come to America 40 years ago, with only $200 in my pocket and starting from nothing.”
That was true! Over the last four decades of my cross-cultural journey, I have believed the saying, "Follow your heart and bring your mind with you," which has led me to step out of my comfort zone and delve into the unknown numerous times, including walking the Camino.
Meeting my first Camino friend
While my mind was almost everywhere except the trail, enjoying its total freedom like never before, my thought was suddenly interrupted by someone passing me — so quiet, smooth, and fast. I then noticed it was a lady. She looked relatively short, no younger than me, and definitely not stronger either, but she walked as if she was gliding, barely touching the ground. If people could walk on water, it would be her, as I imagined.
Watching her walk, I couldn’t help but comment: “You walk so well!” She turned her head, “Thank you!”
Then, our conversation started as if a floodgate had opened. Her name is Amenda, and she is from Sweden. She had taken many routes while walking the Camino and had already been to Santiago four times. It was the third day on this route. After she learned it was my first day on my first Camino, she said, "There are many skills in walking."
“Walk is just a walk,” I thought. “I have walked every day since I could stand on my own.” But—thank God—I didn’t say it aloud. It turns out she started walking the Camino in 2018 and had already logged 1,000 miles! At one time, she spent two months on the trail, walking 45 km a day (almost 28 miles!) as her record. And she is 71 years old!
Today, we walked 14 miles, which she felt was nothing, but it was tough for me. She was a professional hiker, while I was just a beginner.
It was 2018 when Amanda was seriously ill (she never told me what her illness was) and was in a coma for a week. When she woke up, everything was different. Her friends were no longer in contact; her career was ruined (she used to be an art teacher, a cinematographer, and a Swedish writer), and her money was all used up. She did not know what to do next. Then, walking the Camino came to mind, she told her doctor. “That’s the best thing for you!” the doctor said and officially filed a recommendation for her. With that, the Swedish government would pay her for walking the Camino! That’s where part of her finances came from for the last few years.
She then shared three tips for Camino walking:
1/ Most people focus on their knees, especially when walking downhill, which is the most challenging part. She pays attention to her upper leg muscles—the hamstrings and quadriceps—since they are the strongest supporting muscles for walking.
2/ Walk on each side of the trail interchangeably. Usually, the side of the trail is higher than the middle. If you only walk on one side, one side of your body may feel pain more than the other. Walking on both sides helps maintain good balance.
3/ Center yourself and breathe deeply while walking; this way, you can walk and meditate at the same time. Over time, you'll feel energy flowing into the center of your body.
What perfect timing and great points for me! Over the next five days on the Camino, I would have something to work on. Amenda and I had lunch together when she shared many personal stories (she's such a great storyteller!), but they weren't meant to be shared. We hugged goodbye at our first-day destination, Portomarin, hoping to cross paths again tomorrow.
Before coming, I had a question in my mind: “What brings people to the Camino?” Amanda from Sweden answered part of that question because her near-death experience and Camino helped her in more ways than she could have imagined.
What brings people to the Camino?
Over the next few days, I met many more people from different countries and began to understand the main reasons why many people wanted to come to the Camino.
Another lady, Elizabeth (the top of the above photo) from the U.K., who spent more than three hours with me until we reached the hotel, shared her story. She worked at a Japanese-owned bank in London for two decades (a male-dominated culture) and reached middle management (the highest she could get, she said). She felt so burned out that she took a year off work, wanting to do something completely different. Apparently, walking the Camino was at the high end of that list, which was the reason she came on her own, leaving her family behind.
From what I see and how I feel, walking the Camino (apart from exploring its history, religion, culture, sights, and scenes) is like coming to a safe harbor, a place of refuge, and even a point of entry to a more peaceful and harmonious place within ourselves. Everyone needs to visit this kind of harbor at least occasionally to refresh and recharge, much like annual car maintenance.
When people say the goal of the Camino is to meet fellow pilgrims from around the world and make friends, I wonder how many people are as lucky as I was today, on my very first day!
“Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself, and then they leave. You thank God for it.” From the book “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert.
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