The pilgrimage to the Spanish Santiago de Compostella, better known as the Camino, is becoming increasingly popular. Where the journey of origin had a religious character, nowadays more and more tourists and recreational walkers are moving to the north of Spain. Among them Mariëlla van Vugt (32) from Breda, who makes this special journey together with her 70-year-old father Ari. “Nice to do this together now that it is still possible.”
Mariëlla and her father do not run the journey from religious beliefs. “For us it is mainly about the experience: being active together, walking through nature, discovering Spanish villages and meeting people from all kinds of countries along the way.” Yet the spiritual value of the place and rich history does play a role in their motivation.
“It is nice to be active and sporty, and it is a different kind of trip than a standard sun holiday.” In addition, it is a way for them to strengthen their bond. “If you make such a trip together, you have other conversations and you come closer together.”
120 kilometers in 7 days
On April 27, Mariëlla and her father started walking in Valença, a town just across the border in the north of Portugal. They follow the Camino Portugués, but consciously opted for an alternative and quieter route: the Camino Espiritual. “This route brings us along the coast and is a lot quieter, but also a bit heavier.”
Every day they cover between 15 and 20 kilometers, with a total of around 120 kilometers on the clock. That requires good planning. “It’s May holidays, so it’s a bit busier. Fortunately we have mapped out a route in advance and booked hotels.” The preparation also came in handy when there was a power failure in parts of Spain and Portugal on the way.
Criticism
The fact that the Camino is becoming more and more touristy is not a positive development for everyone. Pope Francis expressed his concerns about this last year and emphasized the importance of retaining the Christian Spirit of the pilgrimage.
For example, think of tourists who are called ‘roller canopy’ because they have their luggage transported from hotel to hotel. Mariëlla and her father also use that service. They only wear a backpack and spend the night in small villages along the route.
Yet she experiences few negative reactions from other walkers. “We don’t notice other travelers or something who run with their full luggage, that they think of: well, there you have them again or something.” She describes the atmosphere along the way as friendly and connected. “Everyone just wishes each other ‘Caminho’ (a good journey).”
“Special that I can still do this with my father.”
The trip is not always easy. Mariëlla is struggling with blisters and pain on her knee and swallows pain relief every day to maintain the route. Yet the feeling of gratitude prevails. “That you can still do this together with your father at this age is very special,” she says. “And the people you meet on the way, each with their own story, make it a memory that you always stay with.”