Camino de Santiago: The Way Marked by the Stars
During our time worldschooling in Spain, we lived in a quiet, beautiful town called O Barco de Valdeorras, nestled in the northwestern region of Galicia. What we didn’t expect — but were utterly fascinated by — was that the Camino de Santiago passed right by our apartment.
We didn’t walk the Camino ourselves, but we lived along it, watching it unfold day after day, as pilgrims from all over the world walked past our building — some limping, some laughing, some silent in deep thought.
It was like witnessing a human river flowing through history.
What Is the Camino de Santiago?
The Camino de Santiago, or Way of St. James, is a vast network of pilgrimage routes across Europe, all leading to the tomb of the Apostle James in Santiago de Compostela.
There are more than a dozen different paths — some start in Portugal, some in France — and they criss-cross Spain like ancient threads of devotion, culture, and self-discovery. And one of those threads runs right through O Barco.
Even if you’re not a religious person, there’s something magnetic about it. The scallop shell markers, the yellow arrows, the sense of something much bigger than yourself — it’s all quite moving.
A Pilgrimage Town
O Barco is steeped in charm and history. If you haven’t read our full reflections yet, we’ve written two posts about this town that completely captured our hearts:
In those posts, we shared how the doors told silent stories, how the River Sil brought life and music to the town, and how local markets, wineries, and festivals gave us an authentic taste of Galician life.
But the Camino was different. It didn’t belong to the town — it belonged to the world. Yet it passed right through our little neighbourhood, bringing with it a slow, constant rhythm of humanity.
Watching the Camino
We watched pilgrims pass by our apartment. Some walked in groups, some alone. Some carried massive backpacks and boots caked in mud. Others looked almost unprepared, with simple trainers and a small bottle of water.
We often wondered: Where did they start? How far had they walked? What was their story?
One day we were given a Camino badge by Laurie Ferris, an inspiring pilgrim who runs a site called The Camino Provides — a heartfelt resource for anyone interested in walking the Way.
Her writing gave us a deeper understanding of what these travellers were experiencing.
It made us realise that even though we hadn’t walked the Camino, we were part of it, in our own small way.
You Don’t Have to Walk It to Feel It
That’s something we’d like to share with other families, travellers, or curious minds:
💡 You don’t have to walk the Camino to experience its power.
You can stay in a Camino town like O Barco — where you can sit by the river, chat with passing pilgrims, visit local churches, and trace the yellow arrows through the streets.
You can feel the heartbeat of the Camino, just by being near it.
And who knows? One day, you might walk it yourself.
Want to Read More?
If this post has sparked your curiosity, you might also enjoy:
In Closing
The Camino de Santiago is more than just a walk. It’s a living, breathing journey — and for a time, we had the gift of watching it go by.
We’re grateful for that window into something ancient and sacred, and we hope this post inspires you to pause and look closely when you travel — because sometimes, the most profound paths pass quietly through your own backyard.
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