Walking the Camino de Santiago: Week Two
Walking the Camino de Santiago: A Personal Journey Across Coastal Galicia in Spain
“I did not rush into Santiago—I simply walked until the cathedral rose before me, exactly when it was meant to.”
Camino de Santiago — the Way of St. James: Between Destiny and Desperation
Walking the Camino de Santiago changed in subtle ways after the first week. The miles still stretched ahead, yet the journey began to feel quieter and more reflective. As I moved closer to Santiago, each step carried a sense of purpose, shaped by the people I met and the moments I could not have planned. This final stretch—from sunlit paths to the first sight of the cathedral, and onward to the coast of A Coruña—became less about reaching the destination and more about understanding what the journey had quietly been building all along.
Jump to Week 1: Walking the Camino Week One
Eugene L. Brill fine art photography covering Walking the Camino framed prints, canvas prints, and metal prints are available from Darkroom
Sunshine, Siesta, and Playing while walking the Camino
Day 8 – Walking 18.68 km / 11.61 miles
Vilanova de Arousa via Caldas de Reis to Padrón
I walked the walking the Camino de Santiago in glorious sunshine all day. There was a chill in the air, which made it perfect walking weather. As a result, the miles felt lighter and more enjoyable.
Today I returned to the Portuguese route and met pilgrims from many different places. For several miles, I walked with a woman from Ukraine who now lived in Bentonville, Arkansas. We spoke about many topics along the way. Eventually, we reached a simple but meaningful conclusion. If the world had fewer men with giant egos, there would likely be far fewer wars.
Having solved that particular problem, we wished each other well and continued on our separate journeys.
Arrival in Padrón
That evening, I arrived in Padrón, an ancient town with deep historical roots. It was known as the place where the body of Saint James was first brought before being taken to Santiago de Compostela. As I walked through the town, it felt as though not much had changed over time.
The Romans had come and gone. The Moors had come and gone. However, Padrón had simply carried on.
A Slower Way of Living
It was Sunday, which meant that almost everything was closed. In particular, shops and cafés shut down between 3 and 8 p.m. for siesta. Therefore, the pace of life felt slower and more deliberate.
I began to understand how people here embraced simple routines. They gathered, talked, rested, and enjoyed their time. In other words, life did not feel rushed.
One of my favorite moments came in the town square. I watched two boys playing with spinning tops. It was such a simple scene, yet it felt rare.
There was no Wi-Fi. And no VPN. No Xbox required.
There were just two boys—and a spinning top.
View Day 8 Slideshow of walking the Camino
Reflection and the Final Stretch
Day 9 – Walking 12.89 km / 8.01 miles
Padrón to Parada de Francos
This was my second-to-last day on the Camino. Tomorrow, I would arrive in Santiago de Compostela. As a result, the walk carried a quiet sense of anticipation.
For a couple of miles that morning, I walked in beautiful sunshine with Florin—such a lovely name—a young woman from France. She had been living and working in Lisbon. However, just a week earlier, she had quit her job and decided to walk from Lisbon to France.
Yes . . . you read that correctly.
She had shipped most of her belongings ahead and set off carrying only the essentials. Her hope was that somewhere along the road she would find direction. In other words, she was searching for clarity about what to do next in her life.
I shared a similar story from my past. Many years earlier, I had left South Africa with everything I owned in a rucksack. I spent two years backpacking across Europe, also searching for a sense of direction. Eventually, I found it, although not without a few bumps along the way.
For a brief moment, I felt like an elderly statesman offering life advice. However, if I was honest, only the ‘elderly’ part was entirely accurate.
She thanked me warmly and continued on her way. I sincerely hoped she would find what she was looking for.
Walking the Camino de Santiago and Talking About Wine
Later on the trail, I met an older couple from San Francisco. They had a very different topic in mind—South African wine. In fact, it was the only subject they wanted to discuss.
It made a refreshing change from the usual pilgrim questions. For instance:
Where are you from?
Where did you start?
Where are you staying tonight?
Instead, we spoke about vineyards and wine regions. I encouraged them to look out for a bottle of Pinotage. A bold, earthy, and unapologetically South African red wine—with a touch of wild charm. They seemed genuinely excited about the idea.
In the end, it felt like a fitting way to spend the second-to-last day on the walking the Camino de Santiago.
View Day 9 Slideshow Below
Arrival in Santiago: Walking the Camino Full-Circle Moment
Day 10 – Walking 18.50 km / 11.47 miles
Parada de Francos to Santiago de Compostela
I walked into Santiago de Compostela this day. I did not rush, and I did not feel triumphant. Instead, I felt present.
Somewhere on the outskirts of the city, before the cathedral spires came into view, something stopped me in my tracks. I saw a King Protea flower in full bloom.
To understand that moment, you have to understand what it meant to me. The Protea is the national flower of South Africa. It marked the beginning of an important chapter in my life. In 2004, while living in Valley Center, California, I started growing Protea and selling the flower bouquets online, back when ‘online marketing’ was still a bit of a novelty.
That small beginning led, step by step, to a career I could never have planned. It took me to Rio Grande in Albuquerque, to jewelry.com and The Richline Group in New York, all part of Berkshire Hathaway. Eventually, it led me to Jewelry Innovations and The Swan Princess.
All of it began with a single flower.
Therefore, finding that same flower along a pilgrim’s path in Galicia felt remarkable. It felt like a reminder. It felt like a full-circle moment. Perhaps it was even a quiet nod from the universe. I was not entirely sure what it meant.
However, I knew it meant something.
The Cathedral and the Compostela
Then I arrived in Santiago.
The cathedral was everything I had been told it would be. It felt imposing, reverent, and alive with history and footsteps. As a result, I took my time taking it all in.
View Day 10 Slideshow Below
My Camino Compostela
I received my Compostela later that day. For those who may not know, my Latin name is Eugenium. I found that I rather liked it.
The Compostela or Compostelana is a certificate of accomplishment given to pilgrims on completing the Way of St James, an ancient pilgrimage with its roots in the 9th century.
To qualify for a Compostela, a pilgrim must show proof of fulfilling the following criteria:
- When walking the Camino, the pilgrimage must be undertaken for religious or spiritual reasons or in ‘an attitude of search.’
- A pilgrim must collect ‘sellos’ or stamps on a ‘Credencial del Peregrino’ which is issued by the Cathedral de Santiago or a body authorized by the Cathedral.
View My Compostelas Below
Beyond Walking the Camino de Santiago: Reflection and Meaning
A Coruña, Galicia
After reaching Santiago, I spent time in A Coruña along the Atlantic coast. Standing beside the Tower of Hercules, a Roman lighthouse still in operation, created a strong sense of connection to history.
This journey was part pilgrimage, part research, and part personal exploration. It also supported the stories I was writing, where place and experience shaped the narrative. In conclusion, walking the Camino was not just about distance. It was about presence, reflection, and understanding where the road led next.
For me, that road led home.
Therefore, I welcomed a relaxing weekend in A Coruña, Galicia, along Spain’s Atlantic coast. After days of walking, the slower pace felt well earned.
The Tower of Hercules and the Atlantic
At the start of the journey, I remembered something I had once read in a business book: “Do something hard and lonely.” By this point, I felt I had done exactly that. In other words, that box had been firmly checked, and it was time to catch my breath.
A Coruña proved to be a beautiful coastal town. It was home to the Tower of Hercules, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the only Roman lighthouse still in operation. As I stood there looking out over the Atlantic, I felt connected to centuries of sailors who had relied on that same light to find their way home.
View Slideshow Below
A Visit to Aquarium Finisterrae
Later, I visited the Aquarium Finisterrae. It featured an impressive collection of tanks, exhibits, and outdoor tidal pools that showcased a wide range of marine life. As a result, I spent time moving slowly through each display, taking it all in.
Afterward, I enjoyed a seafood meal. I will admit that I felt a brief pang of guilt given what I had just seen. However, it passed quickly.
Finally, I allowed myself to simply enjoy the moment.
View Slideshow of Walking the Camino de Santiago Below
This Was The End Of The Road.
I started my Camino on the Portuguese Coastal Route. After that, I moved onto the Variante Espiritual. Finally, I joined the Central Portuguese Route into Santiago de Compostela. The official distance was 167 kilometers, or about 104 miles. However, with wrong turns, coffee detours, and general wandering, I logged more than 400,000 steps over 12 days.
Along the way, I met wonderful people from around the world. Some walked to forget. Others searched for redemption. Most simply chased a bit of adventure. In other words, everyone carried their own reason for being there.
None of this would have been possible without my wife, June. She encouraged me to take on the journey, and her support remained steady throughout. Therefore, I never truly felt alone on the road.
Perspective about walking the Camino de Santiago, and a Bit of Humor
I included a few selfies along the way. They were not my preferred style of photography. However, they served as proof that I was actually there and not quietly relaxing on a beach in St. Tropez. The thought did cross my mind more than once.
Yes, I took the photos myself. And, believe it or not, all on my Samsung smart phone. As a seasoned photographer, it was a hard pill to swallow not bringing my fancy cameras and lenses. However, the thought of carrying the extra weight of persuaded me to leave them behind. Furthermore, there was no Photoshop involved. As far as I understood, that was so 2024 . . .
Lessons from the Camino de Santiago
One important lesson from walking the Camino stayed with me. I needed to take care of my feet, and the Camino would take care of the rest. Ultimately, I expected to lose only two toenails, which felt like a reasonable outcome.
I was reminded of that lesson one day when an older English couple walked past me. Even though I felt tired, and my feet protested with every step. I had stopped to apply yet another bandage to a toe. Meanwhile, they moved along the path with ease, singing as they went.
Above all, listening to them as they moved along, I knew June would have loved them.
View Slideshow Below
My Camino, Explained
I walked for twelve days across Galicia in Spain. I followed stone roads, faced the Atlantic wind, and listened to church bells at dusk. Along the way, several people asked why I chose this route.
The Journey Home
I planned to share more after I had time to reflect on the journey as a whole. However, one thought stayed with me that evening.
I missed home.
I missed June. And I missed our puppy Roxy. They were not just waiting for me. In other words, they were home.
Finally, as meaningful as the journey had been—with every step, every conversation, and every unexpected sign—I understood where the road led next.
Back to them.
View Slideshow Below
Walking the Camino as Research
This walk was part pilgrimage, part research, and very much part of the story I was writing.
Here is the truth.
In addition, I needed to walk it myself. I needed to experience it and feel the ground beneath my feet. In other words, even though I write fiction, I could not rely on my vivid imagination alone.
Sometimes, research looked like miles and felt like blisters. As a result, every step added something real to the story.
I had been quietly working on a series of coming-of-age historical novels, including Diamonds and Destiny and Diamonds and Desperation. Portions of these stories unfolded in places like these—old harbors, weathered streets, and roads shaped by history and memory.
The books are still in progress. However, the journey had already found its place within them.
Finally, just know, there is more to come.
View Book Covers Below
Jump to Week 1: Walking the Camino Week One
Eugene L. Brill fine art photography covering Walking the Camino framed prints, canvas prints, and metal prints are available from Darkroom
Finally, I used Follow the Camino to book my trip and organize the logistics. Furthermore, are the leading walking tour operator along the routes heading for the city of Santiago de Compostela. I highly recommend them.
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