Group 3 — Sarah, Nadia, and Chad

Today was Day Four of the Camino, a majority of the group walked to Arzúa. The walk has become routine at this point, however, waking up early is something we will never get used to. The longer we walk the less we focus on the physical aspect of walking. Blisters are becoming callouses and shoes don’t pinch quite as much. It’s been fascinating the difference in meaning for each pilgrim along the Camino. For some people, it’s done for a sense of accomplishment, for others a spiritual experience, and for a few, simply an interesting way to connect to history. 

We’ve met lots of interesting people, one man has been walking the Camino every single summer for twelve years. We met another group from Ireland. And although we didn’t speak too for long, each time we caught up with them at a cafe they would wave at us (once we even got a bow). It’s interesting how everyone has their own story but ends up walking the same path.

On the other hand, for some of us, the Camino has  taken a totally different form. One of our classmates compared it to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, as every other day it seems people are dropping off the path and onto what has been deemed the “Cripple Bus.” For those of us who were injured after the first two intense hikes, or anytime after that, we have been busing to the next town.

This is a totally different way to meet pilgrims as you pile on a bus filled with other people with hiking bags, and taped/bandaged limbs looking a little disgruntled about the situation. Nevertheless, we remain in high spirits, because although the bus is a different journey, it’s still something new and is taking us further from the start and closer to our destination in Santiago. We can’t wait to finally reach the city and a journey’s end.