My Camino de Santiago: A journey of pain, resilience, and self-discovery!

After four hours, I finally reached Ferreiros, completely exhausted. Because I had left Sarria after midday, I arrived quite late. There was not much left to do. A shower, the pilgrim menu, and straight to bed.

I stayed at the public albergue, paid 8 euros, and was given a disposable sheet. That was it. No blankets. So if you are planning to walk the Camino, bring a sleeping bag. Or, like me, a duvet cover, which worked just fine and was much lighter, haha.

The pilgrim's menu is an affordable meal served in restaurants along the Camino de Santiago, typically including a starter, main course, dessert, and drink.

That day, more than ever, the Camino showed me that things unfold as they have to. I had planned to walk it alone, keeping contact with other pilgrims to a minimum. But if it had not been for the people I met that day, I might not have made it.

Throughout the journey I listened to daily reflections, and that day the theme was Fear. "Do not be afraid, for God is with you." Fear came more than once, but I kept reminding myself not to give in to it and not to sabotage myself.

I arrived exhausted, but proud for not giving up. The pain was still there, strong and constant, reminding me that pushing through one day did not mean it was over. Still, I went to bed knowing that I could get through what was ahead. The Camino, and myself.

I had planned to walk it alone, keeping contact with other pilgrims to a minimum. But if it had not been for the people I met that day, I might not have made it.

I walked this section with two Brazilian women, one of them from Vitoria, the city where I was born. Such a small world. We stopped in Ribadiso for a snack and to soak our feet in the river. Freezing cold, but absolutely beautiful. And in the end, the cold water really helped.

The Camino was full of Brazilians. I met another pilgrim from the south of Brazil who helped me with my foot, gave me some medicine, and even some sheep wool to put inside my sock for protection.

When I arrived in Arzua, I went to the medical centre because two blisters had become infected. The doctor simply said, "Keep walking, and take care of it when you get home." Haha.

The day began with morning prayer, and the reflection was about dreams and goals.

This is a very sensitive topic for me. Since deciding to walk the Camino de Santiago, I came to a sad realisation. This felt like the fulfilment of my last dream. I tried to think of others, but the truth was that I had none left. There were things I wanted to do, of course, but not real dreams. Dreams come from within and are what push us forward.

I had already achieved many dreams. Others had been lost or abandoned along the way. But what now. I did not want to go through life feeling indifferent, as if I were just living on borrowed time, accepting whatever came my way. That became one of the biggest reflections of my journey. I hoped that by the time I reached Santiago, I would not only find new dreams for myself, but also understand His dreams for my life.

I started the day in tears, lost in thought, but also with strong determination. I pushed through the pain and walked at a fast pace. I would have gone even faster if I had not soaked my boots halfway through and been forced to switch to my flip flops, which then broke just 1 km before reaching my planned stop.

But everything happens for a reason. I was so motivated that I probably would have ignored any medical advice and kept going for a few more kilometres. In the end, it was better this way.

And just like that, the seventh day began. I woke up feeling much more excited—perhaps the pain was finally making room for the thrill of reaching the end.

That excitement didn’t fade, even when faced with a massive uphill climb. At one point, I was convinced the plot twist of the Camino was that we’d end up so high that we could just hop onto a passing plane—the hill was right next to the airport! Haha.

Today's reflection was "The Camino as a metaphor for life."

I walked this stretch with a Brazilian pilgrim, and we had some deep conversations. We had faced similar struggles in life but also recognised strengths in each other. In the end, after just under three hours, we had reached our stop for the day—though we had made plenty of stops for photos, coffee, and stamps along the way. Haha.

We almost didn’t get a spot at the hostel, managing to grab the last two available beds. If there had been none left, we would have had to walk a few more kilometres. After dinner, I got everything ready to leave early the next morning. The final stretch would be a journey I needed to take alone—just thinking about the arrival was enough to bring tears to my eyes.

My birthday. And there could not have been a better gift. Emotion took over and, despite the pain, I kept going. I walked faster than ever, even as every ache in my body seemed to resurface, as if they too wanted to say goodbye to the Camino.

Limping, but moving in sync with the rhythm of my heartbeat, I kept walking. With each step, as the cathedral and the finish drew closer, my heart beat harder and my pace quickened.

I could not believe it. I did it. I completed the Camino and, more importantly, I overcame myself. The moment I reached the square, I broke down. I felt strong, grounded, aware of a strength I often forget I have.

By the end, I was swollen, sore all over, my face puffy and marked. I had every reason to feel awful. Instead, I felt proud. Proud of myself, of the woman I have become, and of the woman I continue to become. Nothing could take that away from me.

I hope this feeling stays with me. Life is not easy, but now I have one more proof that, no matter what, I can do it.

After arriving, I went straight to the Xunta office to collect my certificate and the Compostelana. Holding them in my hands felt special.

From there, I went to the cathedral. I arrived two hours before mass and managed to get a seat in the front row, just behind the places reserved for the women assisting with the offerings and readings. The service was beautiful, and I was lucky enough to see the Botafumeiro in motion. Thank you, wealthy American tourists, for making that happen.

Reaching that place meant more than finishing a route. It meant facing myself and getting through it. A day of gratitude, learning, and pride.