By Ian Z. Group 3 The Camino de Santiago was definitely not what I expected — it was so much better! I had an amazing time traveling across northern Spain with an amazing group. We all had a great time and had some unforgettable moments. From the French town of St. Jean Pied de Port… Read More I Would do it Again in an Instant!
By Kalee F. Group 3 So the trip is over, it’s time to go home. We reached our destination, despite some bumps in the road. I have received my Compostela; my pilgrimage has ended. Now every road I take is carrying me home, my time on the pilgrimage roads is over. Homeward bound is a… Read More We Reached our Destination
By Anastasia C. Group 4 This trip tested me to my emotional, mental, and physical limits. And I wouldn’t take any of it back. The experiences and people that I have met along this journey will stay with me forever. Throughout the trip, I counted down the days until I could return home to my… Read More Personal Benefits of a Pilgrimage
By Cogan R. Group 2 I honestly didn’t really know what to expect once I got there. Sure, there are expectations of a place before you go there, but I never felt like any of those expectations were even close to what I saw. What I saw from Spain was a beautiful country, rich in… Read More I Look Forward to Revisiting in the Future
By Alison B. Group 2 This trip has been an experience that I’m glad I’ve been able to have. I have learned a lot about the history of the Camino de Santiago, pilgrimage as it is now, and myself. Each day brought new experiences that allowed me to learn something. Throughout this trip I was… Read More Each Day Brought New Experiences
By Andre Santanna Group 3 As quickly as the journey began, it ended. Throughout the entire trip, it felt like many of us were counting down the days as they ticked by, hoping that there was a tomorrow filled with activities or a new city to see. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an… Read More Experiencing a Different Culture
By Nick Iorio Group 1 This trip to Spain was an amazing experience and I am so glad that I was able to attend. I learned so much and met so many wonderful people both inside and outside of the class I am so grateful to have met. Now that I am back at home,… Read More Reflections on the Camino
By Nicholas I. Group 1 This trip to Spain was an amazing experience and I am so glad that I was able to attend. I learned so much and met so many wonderful people both inside and outside of the class I am so grateful to have met. Now that I am back at home,… Read More Back To Reality
By Graham P. Group 4 We started off the day with a nice hotel breakfast and then began our journey to Finesterre. We stopped along the way at a really beautiful bridge followed by a nice stop at a waterfall. From there we went to the “end of the word,” also known as the end… Read More A Busy and Adventurous Day
By Anastasia C. Group 4 Today was the day that made this whole trip worth it for me. It was a free day in Santiago, for the most part, so I decided to go to mass with a few people from our group. The main reason that I wanted to go was to see the… Read More Two Highlights of My Journey
By Larry L. Group 4 Today we finished our walk, we arrived in Santiago de Compostela. I can proudly say I made it through the walk with no blisters or any other physical ailments. But any type of body ache was gone once we reached the city. This was the end of our pilgrimage,… Read More We Finished our Walk
By Chaselle M. Group 5 Thank you! Today is our last day of walking. Ending on a twelve miler, which sounds pretty far, but when that’s the only event on your agenda for the day — you have more than enough time. The weather was the most comfortable for me today there were even some… Read More Last Day of Walking
By Ian Z. Group 3 Today may have been the most miserable day along the Camino, only because it was raining — not too much, and by the afternoon it cleared up. However, walking in the rain with all our Camino gear was a bit of a drag. My partner and I made many stops… Read More Despite the Rain, We Discovered Wonderful Memories
By Nicholas I. Group 1 We started today’s walk early this morning after the requisite breakfast of toast and coffee. Today’s walk was nice and easy, only a 12k day, with beautiful scenery throughout. The forest we walked through was absolutely stunning and seemed to bring about times of deep reflection and silence. The temperature… Read More Rooftop Night In Sleepy Melide
By Lawrence L. Group 4 To the Camino trail that runs from Sarria to Portomarín, you kicked my butt. You twisted and turned, you went up and down, you seemed have no end. But exactly thirteen miles from my hotel in Sarria to the city gates of Portomarín, you ended and I was overcome… Read More From Sarria to the City Gates of Portomarín
By Graham P. Group 4 We started the day with a nice breakfast at the hotel, then Ian Z. and I left for the 14-mile hike around 8 a.m. We decided to walk slower which let us take in the landscape and talk with other pilgrims. We walked with some nice older ladies from… Read More Taking it Slow
By Anastasia C. Group 4 I had expectations for the first day of walking that didn’t end up becoming reality. And that’s a good and bad thing. It was a good thing because I was thinking that my feet would be sore and in bad condition afterwards but that didn’t end up happening for… Read More Hoping to Grow Immensely
By Chaselle M. Group 5 We check out of out hotel rooms at noon today but our group doesn’t need to leave for the train station until 13:30. I head out in the morning to see a bit more of León before we leave this beautiful, but expensive place. I run into Lukens-Bull on my… Read More Shopping in León
By Anastasia C. Group 4 The monastery in Burgos was beautiful and carried a lot of historical significance. What I found most interesting about this monastery in particular was the amount of Islamic influence in the architecture. I wish we were able to take pictures inside so that I could have something to look back… Read More The Monastery of Las Huelgas
By Lawrence L. Group 4 We’ve visited several monasteries on this trip, but none quite like the one today. The Monastery of Las Huelgas is an active nunnery founded in 1187 by Alphonso VIII of Castille and is governed by a group of Cistercian nuns. Its original purpose was to feed and care for the… Read More An Active Nunnery Founded in 1187
By Graham P. Group 4 We started the day with breakfast at the hotel and then headed to the University of Burgos where we had our second day of classes. We learned about mapping an area from Dr. Ron and then had some free time to map an area but my group was not assigned… Read More Our Second Day of Classes
By Ian Z. Group 3 Today we left Burgos to travel to the city of León. Although we were sad to leave, we were also excited to move on to our next destination. We had a long train ride (which I slept through most of), yet the countryside was gorgeous and it was so interesting… Read More Leaving Burgos and Arriving in León
By Kalee F. Group 3 Today was full of learning experiences about the Spanish culture. We left Burgos, taking a train to Leon. In Leon we went to McDonalds, which you wouldn’t think would reflect the Spanish culture, but it does. The differences between American McDonalds and Spanish McDonalds can tell you a lot about… Read More A Completely Different Scene Than I Am Used To
By Samantha A. Group 1 Our early afternoon trip to a Carthusian monastery in Burgos — Cartuja de Miraflores. Although the walk was about three miles there and back, it was through many scenic gardens and parks on one of the many tributaries of the Rio Arlanzón which eased the thought of walking so far for only… Read More Monastic Solitude and the Last Supper
By Amarilys S. Group 5 Day one of Burgos and the city immediately gripped my heart and attention. The rich history and easy to navigate streets instantly made me love this city. I danced Bachata with Burgos locals and they loved it, and I began to feel a part of this city. But the highlight… Read More Experiencing Spain and Her People
By Ian T., William G., Jillian R. and Ali S. Group 6 We all knew we were leaving this quaint town for the bustling city of Burgos. While in route to our dorms in Burgos we made multiple stops. Our first stop in Muruzábal was not on the original itinerary but was a suggested stop… Read More Leaving Roncesvalles was Bittersweet
By Andre S. Group 3 Today we hiked up to the chapel and monument to Roland. A small group of us had done this hike last night, and as a small group it seemed easier. In the morning, sore from hiking the night before, it felt much longer and steeper. When we reached the top,… Read More A Steep Climb
By Ian Z. Group 3 Today was a mystical and exciting day in the town of Roncesvalles, in the mountains of the Basque country just a few kilometers from the French/Spanish border. We all woke up early to hike to a nearby church to recite the Song of Roland. It was so foggy out that… Read More The Enchanting Beauty of Roncesvalles
By Madalin L. Group 2 I am ready to go. I’m all packed up and my boots are broken in. In a few short hours, I’ll be on my way. Yet, oddly it almost doesn’t feel like it. I previously completed a study abroad to Italy last summer and I still remember the mess of… Read More The Time Has Come
By Andrew J., Samantha A., Nicholas I. Group 1 Our stay in Barcelona, although short, provided us just enough time to wander through the new and old. We got lost both physically and mentally in a new place. While we were able to see multiple cathedrals and different parts of the city, the sights are only part… Read More Lost in Barcelona
By Jillian R. Group 6 When I was younger I had a few ideas about what 25 would look like. I suppose I thought I’d have a degree or two, maybe a house with a yard. Instead I find myself about to embark on an ancient pilgrimage stretching across Europe. And so here I am.… Read More Embarking on an Ancient Pilgrimage
By Amarilys S. Group 5 Going on a medieval pilgrimage is a tremendous experience filled with tradition and modern innovations, questions of authenticity, and a sense of the ethereal, as the past and the present meet and create a cultural phenomenon. Considering the past and reflecting on the present, I am able to compare certain… Read More Modern Pilgrim Traditions
By Andre S. Group 3 Throughout my life I have traveled only within North America. While those adventures were incredibly unique in their own way, I’ve always wanted to go to Europe and experience something completely different. This desire to travel to Europe grew dramatically in high school when I saw several close friends of mine visit… Read More A Sense of Longing
By Ian T. Group 6 I have just finished packing and believe I have brought enough (I’ll find out in Spain). The most important item I have pack is probably my shoes. They will provide great comfort as we walk El Camino. I have packed my Cousineau book to read on the plane, so I should… Read More I am Ready to Go!
By William G. Group 6 Now that we have started to get into the class and talk about the trip, it is hitting me that we are actually about to leave. Since this is my first time traveling outside of the country, I’m both excited and nervous; excited about experiencing something different, and nervous about… Read More I’ve Never Had to Pack This Thoroughly Before
Kalee F. Group 3 Before this year, I had never heard of the Camino de Santiago, so I’m not quite sure that my longing was for this trip and this land, but the longing was there. More of a longing to explore the world, and experience things that are entirely new to me. There is… Read More I-95 is a Pilgrimage Road
By Anastasia C. Group 4 Upon signing up for this study abroad, I knew absolutely nothing about El Camino de Santiago. I had never heard of it. The only thing I did know was that I wanted to participate in a study abroad and going to Spain sounded amazing. After learning about the history of… Read More And That’s Exactly What I Did
By Ali S. Group 6 The Camino de Santiago is something that I had little knowledge of. After learning more about the spiritual aspect of the Camino, and the concept of connecting to your authentic self, that is what really appealed to me. My call to the Camino is about shaping the leader inside of… Read More Shaping the Leader Inside of Me
By Samantha A. Group 1 My cousin was a world traveler, as he traveled he blogged about it, and sadly when he traveled to Cambodia he caught some form of bug and passed away at the age of 30. He described the Camino de Santiago as “life changing, magical, truly amazing, and a necessary thing… Read More Life Changing, Magical, and Truly Amazing
By Graham P. Group 4 El Camino de Santiago is something that i have wanted to do ever since my cousin decided to walk it in a couple years ago, so you could say I have had the longing to do this for quite some time now. My call happened earlier this spring when I… Read More My Mind is in Spain
By Cogan R. Group 2 This is a trip I will hopefully carry with me for the rest of my life. I’ve been wanting to travel outside of the United States of America for so long I was willing to jump on any opportunity I saw. This was not only an opportunity, but an opportunity… Read More You’ll Never Really Know Until You Get There
By Lawrence L. Group 4 It is 10:05 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4th, and unlike most other Americans I am not keeping my neighbors awake by blasting fireworks. I’m preparing for one last full day of class before we leave for Spain. Whose idea was it to have class literally all day? I’m feeling extremely… Read More What Do You Mean I Can’t Bring My Dog?
By Nicholas I. Group 1 I think the two most important things I am bringing on this trip are probably the moleskin for blister protection and my comfortable boots that will hopefully not give me the blisters I’m hoping to prevent. Even with the strong chance of getting horrible blisters, I am still extremely determined… Read More My Calling Was Simple
By Alison B. Group 2 This trip is giving me a chance to finally travel abroad. I chose this study abroad because it was faculty-led and for my major. I figured it would be a good first experience and give me structure before traveling alone, which is definitely helping my nerves. The preparation has been… Read More I Keep Packing and Unpacking
By Dillon D. Group 5 My gear is packed and I am prepared to leave for Spain. I am traveling with a small suitcase and a backpack I have about a week’s worth of clothes packed. In my backpack, I will be carrying a camera, my journal, and various small items worth keeping handy, as… Read More Pre-departure Preparations
By Ian Z. Group 3 As we get ready to depart on our journey to the Camino de Santiago, the teachings of Cousineau stay with us. Each of us on this journey has our own longing, call, and way of departure. For me, my “Longing” is to experience a new foreign country that is rich… Read More Longing, Calls and Departures
