Will walking the Camino de Santiago change your life? Will it change you?

My guests this week, Mark and Krista, put together their Camino plan with that very hope in mind. After over a year dealing with some near-debilitating mental health challenges, Mark allowed himself to be inspired by Krista’s experiences on the Camino Primitivo, and they booked a pilgrimage on the Francés route.

The first decisions they had to make were how much time to take and where to start, two questions every first-time pilgrim must answer. The answers to these questions are important, as you need to know them before you can book your flights to Europe. And for Mark and Krista it wasn't as easy as "start at the beginning."

It's easy to become consumed with the logistics of planning a pilgrimage to Santiago, but the logistical questions were not the only ones Mark was wrestling with.

What if you've never stayed in a hostel or albergue before - will it work for you? What if you're an introvert who easily becomes overwhelmed in social situation? These are just a couple of the questions Mark was sorting out.

For many people, the hardest part isn't walking the Camino - it's taking that first step. And the idea of doing that alone can be daunting.

That's why I created the Camino Experience. We do this together, from the very first planning steps to our first steps out of Saint Jean Pied de Port and on to Pamplona.

Learn what it means to start your pilgrimage with the Camino Experience and to let me know you are interested here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/2027

Or you can email me here: nancy@thecaminoexperience.com

#youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

If you've been dreaming of walking the Camino, my conversation with pilgrim Danya will likely push you over the edge and inspire you to get your Camino on the calendar.

If you're a mom who wants to walk the Camino but can’t see how to juggle everything to make it possible, Danya’s family has a message for you.

And, if you have already walked the Camino, I think you will find yourself in Danya’s story somewhere.

You may remember Danya from episode 148. We talked shortly before she was leaving her home and family in Colorado to join my May Camino Experience group. Danya is going to share how her pilgrimage went, what she learned, and why starting this way was the perfect choice for her.

For some people, starting the Camino with a guide and a small group is the perfect way to walk through the overwhelm and uncertainty that is part of every first pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago.

Learn what it means to start your pilgrimage with the Camino Experience and to let me know you are interested here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/2027

Join me for a Q & A call on Tuesday, July 28, at 4 pm PDT (if you are in a different time zone, you can confirm your time here)

RSVP to my email and I will send you the Zoom link shortly before the call: nancy@thecaminoexperience.com

#youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

There are so many different ways to answer the question, what is the Camino? Do we define it? Do we explain it? Do we talk about what it is for me?

We know that the Camino is an ancient pilgrimage route. Or more specifically, it is a collection of routes that end at the Cathedral in the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela, and we know that millions of people have made this pilgrimage over the last thousand plus years.

But what is it?

In this episode of the YOU on the Camino de Santiago podcast we explore what the Camino is and what happens when you say YES to the call of the Camino.

I also share about how I support people in making their Camino dreams a reality.

I have just announced the dates for my 2027 Camino Experience groups. You can learn all about what it means to start your Camino with one of my groups and let me know you are interested here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/2027

Registration for the May 2027 groups opens on Monday, July 20th and on Monday, August 3rd for the September groups.

#youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast