Santiago de Compostela – The Next Adventure!

In 2001, Howard asked me if I would be interested in moving to Spain because he had a job opportunity. It had been almost 5 years since we had returned from our last adventure in Australia and I was ready to see what the Universe had in store for our next chapter. We jumped at the opportunity and Howard accepted the position with Bespak to work at the University of Santiago de Compostela. And so began an amazing year of living in Spain! We had a lot of high highs and low lows while we were there but we met so many amazing people that helped us through all of them that I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I wasn’t able to get a work visa while we were there so I spent a lot of time taking Spanish classes, learning the culture and learning how to live in a foreign country (which is so much harder than just backpacking!)

Although there are many stories I could tell from our year abroad, this blog is going to be about my return to Santiago de Compostela via the “Camino de Santiago”…a 500 mile pilgrimage from St Jean Pied de Port, France to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. Legend states that St James, one of the apostles is buried in the cathedral and people from all over the world make the pilgrimage to his tomb. I spent many afternoons sitting in the square of the cathedral, watching the “pilgrims” (hikers) complete their walk and celebrate with others who had made the same journey. It was always something that intrigued me but I never got around to doing it. We ended up leaving Spain before I had a chance to research and do this hike but as years have passed and I have learned more about it, I knew it was something that I needed to do. As I just turned 50, I figured there is no time like the present.

I will be leaving on April 27th to go to Barcelona and then attending Bruce Springsteen’s concert on April 30th. I will then head to St Jean Peid de Port to start the hike. Howard and Cat will be waiting for me at the finish and I know I will be so excited to see them!

The purpose of this blog is to give my friends and family a little bit of peace by updating them on my adventure so they know I’m still alive and also to give me the ability to keep my memories in one place . Thank you for following along on this amazing journey of mine!