Allison Cowie

Roncesvalles to Larrasoaña / 17.2 miles Day 2 began at 7:45am, leaving Roncesvalles after a pilgrim’s breakfast of ham, cheese, bread and cake. My pilgrim friend Ariana from Croatia joined me for a selfie at the start of the day (only 790km to Santiago!). I walked alone and rather quickly all day, slightly anxious about…

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles / 15.8 miles My first day on the trail was wet, cold, windy, wonderful. I left SJPDP at 7:10am, while the sky was still totally dark. I walked alone out of the town and started walking up – an incline that would only increase for the next 15 or so kilometers. As…

From what you’ll find online, everyone who has walked the Camino de Santiago has very specific opinions on what gear to bring and what to leave behind — and no two lists are exactly alike. I’ve tried to find a balance between carrying everything I need plus a few nice-to-haves, all while keeping my pack…

How does one walk over 500 miles from the Pyrenees to the Atlantic? They just follow the yellow scallop shells, of course. I’ll be hiking the Camino Francés, which is the most popular of many routes that make up the Camino de Santiago. My Camino Francés will begin on the French side of the France-Spain…

I’m walking the Camino de Santiago to strengthen my connection with the world around me. Five years ago, I became enchanted with the Camino’s storied history as a pilgrimage route, connecting Catholics from all across Europe and the world on a common path toward Santiago and St. James. For me, though, it was the welcoming…