Nutmeg considered an alternate title for this post:
“Camino – What colour is your poncho?”
The email arrived in February from Sassafras. She was wondering if anyone might join her to walk a section of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela for a week in May. This lady was not planning to celebrate her milestone birthday at a luxurious desert spa. Nope, she wanted some girlfriends to join her on a long walk. In the end, nine brave (or foolish) gals agreed to subject themselves to her adventure.
Why would anyone subject themselves to a seemingly endless march through unfamiliar territory and with no creature comforts?
Penance? Belief? Reflection?
Challenge? Escapism? Adventure?
What do you think?
You have watched “The Way” the 2011 movie staring Martin Sheen, written and directed by his son Emilio Estevez.
OR
You have a friend who has walked the Camino and now you are thinking of walking to Santiago de Compenstela.
Where to start? What to carry? What footwear? Which route? It is confusing.
The following is not a checklist but rather a few things every potential pilgrim should know about the long route to the renowned cathedral. Given the nature of this trek there are a few extra letters (C,P and S) in this ABC list. 
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El Camino de Santiago was once an ancient Roman trade route, and a Christian pilgrimage journey. The Camino is also known as “The Way of St James” a series of footpaths and roads bejeweled with scallop shells. The shells are representative of those who covered the distance so many years ago with so little in the way of creature comforts. The pilgrims often used the shells as drinking vessels.
