An increasingly global pilgrimage is the Camino de Santiago. Over half of pilgrims who travel the route to Santiago de Compostela are from nations other than Spain, primarily the United States of America. In 2017, 17,552 pilgrims from the United States completed the Camino de Santiago, making them the fourth largest nationality group. And since some 11,000 US tourists have already picked up their Compostela from the Pilgrim’s Reception Office, this number is only anticipated to rise this year. When you consider that there were only about 2,000 pilgrims in the United States ten years ago, this is a really impressive amount!
The Way, starring Martin Sheen, is frequently cited as one of the primary reasons why the Camino has gained more attention in the United States. However, it is also true that more pilgrims are crossing the Atlantic because they have heard about the amazing experiences of those who have already made the journey or because they have been inspired by the American Pilgrims on the Camino, a particularly active Friends of the Camino organization.
In order to give you a firsthand account of their experiences, we will be sharing the stories of five American pilgrims who have finished the Camino this year on our blog today. We have stories from Grace Helmer (Atlanta, Georgia), Thor Mikesell (Oregon), Denis and Marisa Darch (New York), and Cathy Seitchik Díaz (Santa Cruz, California). Five individuals from different regions of the nation, ranging in age, have five distinct tales to relate about their experiences walking, living, and sharing their own Camino de Santiago.
From the United States to the Camino de Santiago
It normally takes months of planning and research, a great deal of interest in the route, and many hours of travel before someone decides to walk the Camino de Santiago and journey all the way from a place as far away as the United States.
A 65-year-old California teacher named Cathy Seitchik, who has already made four Camino treks—from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Santiago and to Finisterre to reach the “World’s End”—was intrigued by a documentary called Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago. For Cathy, walking and meeting new people are two of her greatest hobbies, and the Camino is a wonderful chance to combine them. She has accomplished her goal in full and plans to go back next year to finish her fifth Camino and make more acquaintances from over 40 nations. The Camino “opens up a world that is much bigger than I could have ever imagined,” according to Cathy.
Thor Mikesell came here from Oregon after hearing about the experience of a friend who had done the Camino two years previously. “To clear my mind, to look deep into my soul”: these were the motives that brought Thor to the Camino Primitivo (the Primitive Route), encouraged by his wife. Something similar crossed Grace Helmer’s mind when she decided to travel all the way from Atlanta to take the Camino Portugués (Portuguese Route) along the coastal path. The Camino was one of the things she had marked on her “to do list”. So much so, that she decided to take the Camino alone, although on completing it she emphasized the “sense of community on the Camino”. For Denis and Marisa Darch, the Camino was also on their “bucket list”, and a family celebration was the perfect excuse to travel to Spain and embark on their Camino from Sarria. In Santiago, they told us that “the Camino brings out the best in everyone”.