Camino Gratitude Portugal

One of the greatest joys of walking the Camino de Santiago is sharing meals and words with fellow pilgrims from around the world. After a difficult 22-mile journey from Negreira to Olveiroa, our weary legs carried us through farmland, countryside and rolling hills. For dinner, seven pilgrims from different countries gathered at a Galician restaurant for salad, meats, bread, and Ribeiro wine.

Each pilgrim shared why they had chosen to walk the Camino, one lesson they had learned along the way, and one change they intended to implement upon returning home. The table fell silent as each person gathered their thoughts, having learned from our journey –

• Accept what the Camino gives, do not to impose my will on the path, but rather to follow where the Camino leads. Each blister, each breathtaking vista, each unexpected detour—they’re all gifts if we receive them with openness.
• Worrying is wasted energy. The Camino has taught me to always live in the moment—never dwelling in the past with regret or reaching anxiously toward the future. Each step is its own.

• Live in the light more and darkness less, and God is our ultimate light source. When we walk toward that light, our path becomes clear, experiencing joy and love more often.

• The Camino has shown me to reduce life’s clutter. Walking with only what I can carry has been liberating. I’ll return home to simplify my surroundings and focus on experiences rather than possessions.

• Live more excited! This journey has reawakened my sense of wonder. Life is truly magical when we approach each day as a new adventure, just as we’ve greeted each sunrise on the Camino.

• I’ve learned that each person is love at their core, beneath all the layers we accumulate. When we recognize this love, we can express joy more consistently.

We shared stories of unexpected kindnesses from strangers along the Way, moments of beauty leading to tears, and the physical challenges that had nearly broken our resolve but ultimately strengthened our spirits.

When we finally parted ways to rest before our journey to Finisterre, we carried the collective wisdom that had been shared. The Camino was not merely a physical path across Portugal and Spain but a journey into the heart of what matters most in life.

In our humble Galician meal, seven strangers became family, bound by blistered feet, open hearts, and an ancient path that transforms.