Let’s Do the Camino! – She Said

/ Camino De Santiago / By
Two pilgrims walking along a peaceful dirt path on the Camino, surrounded by vibrant green and yellow grasslands under a bright, expansive sky towards Camino de Santiago.

Let’s Do the Camino! – She Said

While planning for a loooong break from a mundane life – we laid out plans and all the things we could do with our time, looking for something that resonates with both of us. And then she said, “Remember that show we watched? The one about those guys who walked across Spain and opened a restaurant concept based on their journey? What’s that walk called again?”  The guys won that episode and their restaurant named ‘Pilgrim’ is in London – maybe one day we will visit it.

That’s how the Camino de Santiago landed on our radar. We first heard about this “walk” from a cooking and restaurant show! Such a foodie—yup, that’s Michelle. Food is her passion, and honestly, I’m not complaining. From the incredible culinary adventures we’ve had to her endless cooking experiments and fun in the kitchen, I’ve reaped all the delicious rewards. (Which is exactly why I, Sophia, make it a point to hit the gym and do women’s boxing regularly to balance it all out!)

And just like that, we knew what we wanted to do. The Camino de Santiago became our adventure—part pilgrimage, part exploration, and definitely fueled by a love of food and discovery.

Wait, What is the Camino de Santiago?

A bowl of Pulpo a la Gallega with octopus, melted cheese, and paprika, served with a slice of bread on a wooden table.
Honestly, before that cooking show, we had zero clue what this walk even was. Camino de what? All we knew was that it was a long walk—somewhere in Spain—and that somehow, food was involved. That was enough to spark our curiosity. A trek that also doubled as a culinary adventure? Sounded like something right up our alley.
 
We didn’t know its history, the different routes, or why so many people from all over the world took it on. We had no idea that it was an actual pilgrimage or that people had been walking it for centuries.

 

 Nope, we just heard “walk across Spain” and “food,” and suddenly, we were paying attention. It was only later, as we started digging deeper, that we realized the Camino de Santiago wasn’t just some regular hike—it was an experience that meant different things to different people. A test of endurance, a journey of self-discovery, a chance to slow down and soak in the world in a way modern life rarely allows.

In short, the Camino de Santiago is an epic walk—a pilgrimage that dates back to the 9th century that leads to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the final resting place of Saint James.

There's More Than One Route?

Originally, the route started from Oviedo, Spain, as part of the Camino Primitivo, the oldest known path taken by pilgrims. However, over the centuries, the Camino has evolved into a vast, sprawling network of trails that crisscross not just Spain, but much of Europe. Pilgrims now begin their journeys from various starting points—France, Portugal, Italy, and even as far as England—each route offering its own unique landscapes, challenges, and cultural experiences. But no matter where they begin, every path ultimately converges at the magnificent Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the final resting place of Saint James the Apostle, and the spiritual heart of this ancient pilgrimage.
We took on The French Way (Camino Francés)—the most famous and well-traveled route of them all. Why? Well, when you’re diving headfirst into something you barely knew existed a few months ago, you might as well go with the classic, right?
This route starts in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, a charming French town at the foot of the Pyrenees. Picture cobblestone streets, cute cafés, and the kind of mountain views that make you second-guess why you ever spent so much time in an office.

A scenic view of a stone bridge and Basque-style houses along a calm river in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France, with green hills and a cloudy sky in the background.

From there, the trail took us across mountains, rolling countryside, sleepy villages, and buzzing historic cities—each step bringing us closer to Santiago. But this wasn’t just a casual stroll through Spain. Nope, this was nearly 800 kilometers of walking, day in and day out. We averaged around 25 kilometers a day, sometimes more, sometimes less (depending on how much vino or tapas we indulged in the night before). 35 days, two pairs of very sore feet, and one unforgettable adventure later—we made it.