We Pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago

When on a sunny morning in the autumn of 2003 I stepped off a train in León to begin my first ever Camino I really had no idea what lay ahead.
It was several years later before I finally walked into Santiago. Behind me was a trail of experiences that changed me for ever. My journey had taken in every emotion, I had braved freezing cold and searing heat, eaten dodgy food and drunk dodgier whiskey.
Along the way I had found friendship, happiness and finally something like enlightenment.

I first heard of the Camino on a visit to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port with my girlfriend. By chance we came across some pilgrims setting off with their backpacks for the long hike across Spain and she told me they were walking to Santiago.
I was astonished! I could not understand why would anybody want to subject themselves to that kind of hardship.
For whatever reason this bizarre notion was like a seed sown in the deepest corner of my sub-conscience, and a few years later there I was talking my first steps on my first Camino.
Now, many years and many Caminos later, I still don't fully understand why people do this!
This set of books grew out of my fascination for the Caminos and the people who make them special and my desire to give something back for all that they have given me.
I wanted to provide pilgrims with up-to-date and impartial information for preparing for the Camino and for when they're walking.