Lessons in Laughter, Letting Go & a Little Bit of Vomit: Our April 2025 El Camino De Santiago

Well, that’s a wrap on my second (and biggest) Camino to date. Nine of us—my daughter included—set out for the April 2025 adventure, and let’s just say, the Camino did what it always does: delivered a wild ride of beauty, bonding, belly laughs… and, yes, a bit of barf.

I keep these groups small on purpose. Not only does it make it easier to create a real sense of connection, but I’d also rather gouge my eyes out than be one of those guides waving a little flag in front of 30 sunburnt (or rain drenched) pilgrims. Plus, finding great accommodation on the Camino isn’t always a walk in the park—small groups are essential.

Switching It Up: A New Route, a Tasty Start

This year, I changed the route. We started with a night in Porto, complete with a Foodie Market Visit and a highly unofficial (but entirely necessary) Portuguese tart tasting—accompanied by a shot of that cheeky Ginga cherry liqueur (so good). Instead of walking the coastal path from Baiona like last year (which, while scenic, comes with some nasty weather risks and a rather uninspiring Vigo), we began in Tui and walked the inland route from there. Best decision ever. Even though the weather behaved itself this year. Tui is charming, the Parador is a gem, and the inland route is a much easier first-day introduction, but no less beautiful.

The Camino Initiation: Vomit & Mindfulness

Ah yes, day one of the walking. It came in hot—well, more like violently. A couple of us went down like dominoes with a mystery bug, and I found myself doubled over in a gutter, hugging a car tyre. Glamorous, right? I joked earlier that afternoon with one of the girls who got sick, “Don’t worry, could be me tomorrow!” And voilà. It was. But it didn't wait until 'tomorrow'.

After the gutter...there I was, again crouched..this time over a bowl in a café that one of the beautiful ladies managed to conjure up for me, wondering how the hell I was going to lead this thing. But that’s where mindfulness attributes kicked in. One foot in front of the other. No jumping ahead to “what ifs,” just staying present, sipping water, and trusting I’d move through it. And I did.

Glorious Galicia (and My Secret Plan to Move There)

Have I mentioned how much I adore Galicia? Green, lush, dotted with rivers, waterfalls, stone bridges (my daughter was obsessed), veggie gardens, vines, chapels, and quaint towns where life still feels slow and soulful. Watching my daughter find her rhythm on the walk—chatting with guests, lighting candles in quiet churches, delighting in all the animals...dogs, cats, horses, and the odd donkey, and the myriad of blooming flowers including an abundance of fragrant jasmine—was one of the highlights for me.

And yes, I am seriously considering moving here. Updates to come as I navigate the Spanish visa rollercoaster.

A Michelin Moment… and a Missing Girl

In Pontevedra, we took a well-earned rest day, complete with a long, Michelin-starred lunch at O'Eirado. One guest—well-travelled and quite discerning—called it the best meal she’s ever had. Unfortunately, my daughter had caught the bug by this point and had to miss it, but trust me, it’s staying on the itinerary.

Clusterf*ck at Caldas (aka Mindfulness in Action)

Then came the Great Power Outage of 2025. We knew something was going on—queues for lunch were longer, card machines were down, and service was... let’s say "leisurely." A little moment of leaning into 'Patience' & 'Acceptance' for us all. By the time we arrived in Caldas de Reis, Spain had well and truly gone quiet. No power, no internet, no working door codes to enter the apartments after a long day, no communication. The troops were perched on benches, increasingly restless. I went into full MacGyver mode—found a note taped inside the building directing us to a hotel for new codes and accompanied by one of our beautiful pilgrims who happened to speak fluent Spanish, walked another kilometre without GPS, and finally got everyone inside and settled.. with cold showers. Refreshing!

Then came the supermarket sweep—COVID flashbacks included—to gather supplies for a makeshift feast: cheeses, salmon, jamon, salad, olives, wine, candles. We handed the bags over to the team (who did a wonderful job creating catering-worthy platters - does help that we had another chef in our midst too), and I jumped in a much-needed cold shower. We ate by candlelight, laughing at the chaos, and just as dessert (aka local brandy) rolled around, the power came back on. Cheers echoed from the streets below. Crisis gracefully survived.

A Gentle End, A Powerful Closing

From there, it was onto Padron and our rustic, refined accommodation for yoga, journaling, rest, and reflection for another day off, where we ended with a letting-go ceremony and shared a few beautiful tears.  

Then the final walk into Santiago. At the pilgrim office, the woman processing our Compostellas actually said “I love you” when she saw how organized I was amid all the other pilgrims. I swear it was the same woman as last year and my heart smiled a big smile. I adore these little interactions and moments.

After victory photos in front of the cathedral and long warm showers, we met for the Pilgrims Mass - a must in my opinion to 'seal the deal'. It unifies us and reminds us of what is truly important in life.

And then onto the 'final' dinner - a very Spanish feast.. with Cava of course!

I forgot to mention, that morning my daughter had taken a nasty tumble and was unable to walk the last stretch, so I had to leave her behind in Padron that day—in pain. Safe and settled, and a taxi organised to take her to our hotel, but still, it was tough. Definitely a difficult moment for me as a mum. But sometimes you just have to take a deep breath and keep going.

This Camino, like all of them, was rich. It reminded me again that there are always lessons. You never really get a free pass on the Camino—something will always ask more of you. And that’s what makes it magic.

The laughs, the triumphs (no matter how small), the bonds, friendships and so many soul-lifting interactions and experiences.

Would I change a few small things for next time? Probably. But do I want it all to go smoothly, with no surprises? Hell no. That’s not the Camino way.

If you're keen to join us, check out our October El Camino dates here with an Early Bird Rate if you get in quick!