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Hi, Luka. I am not surprised to read your post. You were not in the best of health, from what you posted. Now you are home and probably need time to get your oomph back!After walking in rainy and chilly Galicia for about a week I ended up in a warm hotel room, feverish and with a cold. And I asked myself: why am I doing this? It felt like truancy, but I decided to spend my last couple of days in a studio in sunny Salamanca. And I loved it. I loved being dry and warm, having supermarkets around me, being able to cook, museums to visit, exotic restaurants to eat, having my own bathroom and a big double bed all to myself. I loved it a bit too much, the contrast was striking.
I am now back home for two days and wondering if I should take a break from the Camino. My first one was in 2011 and I have called myself a Camino addict since. But it feels like the spark has left me. The road walking, the same bars everywhere, the boring afternoons in dusty villages, albergue life, the conversations about distances, where did you start, which Caminos did you walk.
It feels like I have lost the Camino magic. And that is quite a sad feeling. Is it Camino fatigue? Has the Camino become too ordinary? Is this feeling recognizable to anyone? Will it go away?
The road walking, the same bars everywhere, the boring afternoons in dusty villages, albergue life, the conversations about distances, where did you start, which Caminos did you walk.
It feels like I have lost the Camino magic. And that is quite a sad feeling. Is it Camino fatigue? Has the Camino become too ordinary? Is this feeling recognizable to anyone? Will it go away?
Sounds perfectly reasonable to me esp. as your experience was not what you wanted. There are a million things to do and see in the world and a millions way to see them each bring their own enjoyment and rewards. Caminos are to a large extent ‘samey’. Same countries, same type of people, same ethos. Of course you meet different folks, stay in different towns, eat tortilla and drink wine in different bars, and may even be in different frames of mind, and walk for different reasons.After walking in rainy and chilly Galicia for about a week I ended up in a warm hotel room, feverish and with a cold. And I asked myself: why am I doing this? It felt like truancy, but I decided to spend my last couple of days in a studio in sunny Salamanca. And I loved it. I loved being dry and warm, having supermarkets around me, being able to cook, museums to visit, exotic restaurants to eat, having my own bathroom and a big double bed all to myself. I loved it a bit too much, the contrast was striking.
I am now back home for two days and wondering if I should take a break from the Camino. My first one was in 2011 and I have called myself a Camino addict since. But it feels like the spark has left me. The road walking, the same bars everywhere, the boring afternoons in dusty villages, albergue life, the conversations about distances, where did you start, which Caminos did you walk.
It feels like I have lost the Camino magic. And that is quite a sad feeling. Is it Camino fatigue? Has the Camino become too ordinary? Is this feeling recognizable to anyone? Will it go away?
Yes, it's sad when you love something so much and then suddenly discover that you've lost the magic. It can happen for any number of reasons, and let's face it, your most recent experience was far from optimal. It doesn't necessarily mean that it's gone forever but clearly you definitely need a break.It feels like I have lost the Camino magic. And that is quite a sad feeling. Is it Camino fatigue? Has the Camino become too ordinary? Is this feeling recognizable to anyone? Will it go away?
I would almost imagine that most people who walk Camino only walk one. We are the hardcore here of course who do more. Addictions aren’t always a bad think to lose!!After walking in rainy and chilly Galicia for about a week I ended up in a warm hotel room, feverish and with a cold. And I asked myself: why am I doing this? It felt like truancy, but I decided to spend my last couple of days in a studio in sunny Salamanca. And I loved it. I loved being dry and warm, having supermarkets around me, being able to cook, museums to visit, exotic restaurants to eat, having my own bathroom and a big double bed all to myself. I loved it a bit too much, the contrast was striking.
I am now back home for two days and wondering if I should take a break from the Camino. My first one was in 2011 and I have called myself a Camino addict since. But it feels like the spark has left me. The road walking, the same bars everywhere, the boring afternoons in dusty villages, albergue life, the conversations about distances, where did you start, which Caminos did you walk.
It feels like I have lost the Camino magic. And that is quite a sad feeling. Is it Camino fatigue? Has the Camino become too ordinary? Is this feeling recognizable to anyone? Will it go away?
Luka, what a thoughtful and honest post asking questions that I believe have entered many a pilgrim’s consciousness!After walking in rainy and chilly Galicia for about a week I ended up in a warm hotel room, feverish and with a cold. And I asked myself: why am I doing this? It felt like truancy, but I decided to spend my last couple of days in a studio in sunny Salamanca. And I loved it. I loved being dry and warm, having supermarkets around me, being able to cook, museums to visit, exotic restaurants to eat, having my own bathroom and a big double bed all to myself. I loved it a bit too much, the contrast was striking.
I am now back home for two days and wondering if I should take a break from the Camino. My first one was in 2011 and I have called myself a Camino addict since. But it feels like the spark has left me. The road walking, the same bars everywhere, the boring afternoons in dusty villages, albergue life, the conversations about distances, where did you start, which Caminos did you walk.
It feels like I have lost the Camino magic. And that is quite a sad feeling. Is it Camino fatigue? Has the Camino become too ordinary? Is this feeling recognizable to anyone? Will it go away?
Annie, hang on! Listen to Van Morrison! Give yourself time before leaving the forum. As for your words above, let me say: I am reading a book about Empire, because I do not know enough about anything. So far, I see that the same old mistakes are being repeated century after century.I'm with you, Luka.
No more Caminos for me.
This year has left me sick and exhausted . . . again.
I've taken down my YouTube Channel, have deleted my Facebook Group, and am moving on.
Maybe it's time to see my own country.
Two years ago, I had this feeling/
I said I was done... but after a rest, decided to try one. more. time.
This year was worse.
Maybe I'm just old and tired.
Whatever it is - for me it definitely HAS lost its magic and its meaning.
The Way seems to have become something to check off a bucket list.
This season we experienced more attitudes of entitlement, rudeness, and childish backbiting than ever before.
We had people in one group who couldn't get along with the others and made the group leader's job 24 days of Hell. People formed little cliques and were rude to other group members, refusing to even sleep in the same room in shared bookings. And these were small groups of seven people! I had one person in my group who absolutely could not be satisfied. When I gave an ensuite room to a member who was ill, instead of being kind, she was upset that she had to share a bathroom with TWO other people. Not a dorm room where you shared with 50 pilgrims, but beautiful private room. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING was good enough - and we stay in pretty upscale places. It felt like it was all about "Me! Me! ME!"
The blessed feelings of community, sharing, and kindness among pilgrims were waning.
Instead of being grateful for a clean bed and a warm bowl of soup, people were demanding and complained over meaningless things such as lack of windows, shared bathrooms, or locals who don't carry vegan menu options. The rooms weren't nice enough. The food wasn't good enough. The bags weren't transferred fast enough. The taxis charged too much. And on and on and on ... ad nauseum.
Instead of the sound of trekking poles,
the streets rang with the sound of rolling suitcases,
some as large as steamer trunks.
I'm not kidding!
And then, when we got to Santiago, Compostelas were handed out to people who admitted not walking the last 100k, honestly rendering them meaningless, imo.
I feel weary and disheartened.
I'm glad we experienced the Camino when it was still
a spiritual pilgrimage,
a sweet time of sharing space
and helping each other.
Those will remain good memories.
But I really am done.
I will be leaving this forum as well.
I wish you all the best!
Buen Camino!
... It feels like I have lost the Camino magic. And that is quite a sad feeling. Is it Camino fatigue? Has the Camino become too ordinary? Is this feeling recognizable to anyone? Will it go away?
That's too bad, because you offered a lot of useful advice and information.I've taken down my YouTube Channel,
I'm with you Luka - it's not the same Camino.After walking in rainy and chilly Galicia for about a week I ended up in a warm hotel room, feverish and with a cold. And I asked myself: why am I doing this? It felt like truancy, but I decided to spend my last couple of days in a studio in sunny Salamanca. And I loved it. I loved being dry and warm, having supermarkets around me, being able to cook, museums to visit, exotic restaurants to eat, having my own bathroom and a big double bed all to myself. I loved it a bit too much, the contrast was striking.
I am now back home for two days and wondering if I should take a break from the Camino. My first one was in 2011 and I have called myself a Camino addict since. But it feels like the spark has left me. The road walking, the same bars everywhere, the boring afternoons in dusty villages, albergue life, the conversations about distances, where did you start, which Caminos did you walk.
It feels like I have lost the Camino magic. And that is quite a sad feeling. Is it Camino fatigue? Has the Camino become too ordinary? Is this feeling recognizable to anyone? Will it go away?
Hey Luka, this is not strange to me and I believe is quite normal. With what frequency have you been on the Camino? How often do you read or talk about Caminos?After walking in rainy and chilly Galicia for about a week I ended up in a warm hotel room, feverish and with a cold. And I asked myself: why am I doing this? It felt like truancy, but I decided to spend my last couple of days in a studio in sunny Salamanca. And I loved it. I loved being dry and warm, having supermarkets around me, being able to cook, museums to visit, exotic restaurants to eat, having my own bathroom and a big double bed all to myself. I loved it a bit too much, the contrast was striking.
I am now back home for two days and wondering if I should take a break from the Camino. My first one was in 2011 and I have called myself a Camino addict since. But it feels like the spark has left me. The road walking, the same bars everywhere, the boring afternoons in dusty villages, albergue life, the conversations about distances, where did you start, which Caminos did you walk.
It feels like I have lost the Camino magic. And that is quite a sad feeling. Is it Camino fatigue? Has the Camino become too ordinary? Is this feeling recognizable to anyone? Will it go away?
I'm with you Luka - it's not the same Camino.
One somewhat related comment, I don't know how many different routes you have walked. By the time we finish next Spring's camino, we will have walked nearly 3,500 km of camino routes, and repeated less than 80 km. So if any of a person's fatigue related to the camino comes from re-walking the same route, that is easily rectified.
Luka, do you walk alone? As in, you do not bring a walking friend from where you are from?After walking in rainy and chilly Galicia for about a week I ended up in a warm hotel room, feverish and with a cold. And I asked myself: why am I doing this? It felt like truancy, but I decided to spend my last couple of days in a studio in sunny Salamanca. And I loved it. I loved being dry and warm, having supermarkets around me, being able to cook, museums to visit, exotic restaurants to eat, having my own bathroom and a big double bed all to myself. I loved it a bit too much, the contrast was striking.
I am now back home for two days and wondering if I should take a break from the Camino. My first one was in 2011 and I have called myself a Camino addict since. But it feels like the spark has left me. The road walking, the same bars everywhere, the boring afternoons in dusty villages, albergue life, the conversations about distances, where did you start, which Caminos did you walk.
It feels like I have lost the Camino magic. And that is quite a sad feeling. Is it Camino fatigue? Has the Camino become too ordinary? Is this feeling recognizable to anyone? Will it go away?
Wow, thank you for your honesty and your beautiful post!Ah, I do like honest posts ... we never seem to mention it but, isn't doing more than one Camino an odd thing to do?
That first one, for whatever reason we did it, just cannot be replicated .. it lives in our memories .. we have it .. so why go on another? Why do we do that?
I go because I have a mission, doing first aid, so I never travel far, usually keeping to the sections between Pamplona and Logrono where there are seemingly endless casualties (if I take a car with me I also go right up to Roncesvalles and work along from there).
But this year I walked from Fromista - now, I shouldn't have gone as I have a damaged knee that was causing problems but, I am male so fairly stupid at times so of course I went "heavy brace on and it will be ok" ...
I only walked for five days until it collapsed on me and I had to go home but .. on the Meseta there were very few injuries to help with (only five!) so I found myself just walking along as a 'pilgrim' mainly and I too had that feeling - why was I doing this? What was the point?
It surprised me as since my Camino from Moissac in 2005 I had only gone back to do first aid and there I was, essentially being a pilgrim and it all seemed rather pointless - I found I had lost the desire to walk towards St James, (that inner path that runs alongside), so really it was just endless walking, rubbish pilgrim meals, uncomfortable refugios .. yes, the endless 'same' conversations (apart from a couple of great chats) ...
I now know that Camino as pilgrimage is completely over for me and also now know that had I not taken up the fist aid mission but just returned for a second Camino I would have gone home within a week or so.
It surprised me, this revelation I had - strangely, I felt guilty - (and still do) - so haven't mentioned it to anyone.
My knee won't go back to full use now - is from a motorcycle accident 56 years ago and I am now 76 and it is getting pretty bad - so no more walking Camino sections for me .. from now on I will return, carry on the first aid, but with my little car ... just there to find casualties ..
Anyway, long ramble, but yes, I feel the same, entirely the same.
But - Buddha is quoted as saying "Seek happiness for oneself, result misery. Seek happiness for others, result happiness." So if you find Camino starts to pull you again maybe do go back but in a different way?
Hospitelaro? First aider? Masseur? Etc? Just a thought. Thank you for your great post Luka.
Yes, if I go as a pilgrim, I prefer to walk alone. I have one friend I walk with every now and then, but I call that hiking holidays. Enjoyable, but a different experience.Luka, do you walk alone? As in, you do not bring a walking friend from where you are from?
Thanks @Kirkie! Giving it a bit of time and space is definitely a good idea.Hi, Luka. I am not surprised to read your post. You were not in the best of health, from what you posted. Now you are home and probably need time to get your oomph back!
Give it time.
Take a little time to just stop, and breathe.
Your last three questions will offer you answers from your own reflections, although you will receive comments also.
Let me try to say something in response to the questions.
I never thought about 'The Camino' as extraordinary. it was an invitation, and a challenge, and a wonderful achievement. Subsequent caminos have been gifts, of time and opportunity. I live close enough to be able to decide to do another one... but honestly, camino is pilgrimage, for me.
I do not need to walk a recognised camino to Santiago to make a pilgrimage.
I think that is enough for now. be kind to yourself.
I seeYes, if I go as a pilgrim, I prefer to walk alone. I have one friend I walk with every now and then, but I call that hiking holidays. Enjoyable, but a different experience.
The sensation of satiation itself is neither good nor bad, it is simply a useful signal that there is *currently* no advantage in continuing that activity, and that the resources that were previously allocated to that activity are now available for use in identifying and pursuing other personal growth activities.
sometimes it is just time to not walk any more. No judgement - what is, is, I invite simply being in the present moment, breathing in and out and repeat...... it is not a failure, it is life..
Life goes on. People change and grow. The camino is forever changing, and so do are the people who walk it, and maintain it. You've given it loads of attention over the years. Maybe it's time to find a new fascination... I daresay most people who do the camino do. There's no shame in that. Get on with your life!
Ah yes, I do believe boredom can be very useful and even necessary. Northern France, back in the old days. A sleepy village and no wifi. Learned a lot from those never ending afternoons.I seeFreud said that boredom was a sign of anxiety which I have always found insightful and challenging to dwell on!
Thanks @C clearly, spot on. And I agree about those comments. I think I do have to accept that the old formula doesn't work that well anymore. And I do agree that it also opens up loads of new opportunities. It will just take a bit of time to adjust the mind.Sometimes it is simply time to accept that a loved activity is no longer quite as important to you. That might be temporary or it might be permanent. In either case, view it as a nudge or opportunity to consider something else. I especially liked these comments:
I don't think it is so helpful to focus on blaming "the Camino" and its changes. I have not walked on a crowded Camino for a few years, so these changes have not been a factor, but I am still feeling some of this disinterest after my last experience. It is a feeling within me, not something that the Camino can provide! There were several contributing factors, that I understand and accept.
For me it is very important to continue walking at home, for my health and pleasure, whether or not I ever go to Spain again. You are living there, so it might be harder to separate the Camino from your non-Camino life. However, maybe you have "put all your eggs in one basket," and it is time to diversify and develop some other interests. The Camino can still come and go in your life.
I can indeed imagine it feels like your body is telling you it has been enough. I didn't have such a severe experience as you did in Porto, but it could be that my body is trying to teach me a similar lesson. Last summer I had to quit my Camino because of a recurring Achilles tendons injury and cardiac arrhythmia and this time I got feverish and catched a cold.Luka, Your post has struck a chord with so many of us. I have been experiencing a different feeling about why I should no longer walk a camino. I have wondered if the Camino has been telling me I am done. What do I mean? In 2019, I walked half the Le Puy with every intention of returning to complete it. After Covid, in 2021, I did return -with my husband for the first time- and 3 days into our walk, he fell and strained a quad muscle - essentially ending this attempt. In 2022, we went to Porto to walk the Camino Portuguese. The night before we would start walking, I ended up in the emergency and then the cardiac ICU of the Porto hospitals for 8 hours of surgery. In summer 2023, I felt recuperated enough to once again head for France, but when I told my cardiologist, he said that was a bad idea, and again I did not go. So is the spirit of the Camino telling me no more, your pilgrimage way is no longer on a camino. You must make your own way now?
Maybe yes...Chasing the Dragon.......
I didn’t go into the cathedral either, for the first time.Hi Luka, I appreciate your honesty and also find value and appreciate the comments from others who have responded to your very candid thread.
I have just counted and see I have been to Spain eight times, and also France and Italy; all to walk various Caminos. I have enjoyed them all, but the magic was definitely in the first one on the Frances in 2015 as an early retiree. Although that same magic is not the same after so many years, my enjoyment of them all in different ways has kept me returning time and again.
I admit on my recent Sanabres there were a few times looking down at the ground underfoot with rocks and mud to pick my way through that I did ask myself "Why am I compelled to still do this?"...and I don't really have a definite answer. Then when I arrived in Santiago, I enjoyed watching all the exuberant newbies who were so excited and pumped up to be in the square, having arrived with backpacks and poles, but I no longer experience any of that same enthusiasm. In fact, I preferred mostly to spend time in my awesome apartment, and for the first time I didn't go in the Cathedral.In my two days in Santiago, my highlight was meeting virtual friend, @JennyH94 for dinner.
I need time to sit back and evaluate more, but I think I may choose to return to France or Italy next time for a change and combine the walking I've loved with a bit more sightseeing. The word pilgrim no longer seems to really describe me if I am honest, and staying in albergues is now more a novelty as my preference has been private lodgings for the last several years.
These are just a few of my thoughts and ramblings at the moment as I contemplate what you have said.
Annie, there are probably more of us out there than we realize.I didn’t go into the cathedral either, for the first time.
I didn’t go into the cathedral either, for the first time.
Annie, there are probably more of us out there than we realize.
Spare a thought for those of us who never HAD it in the first place (but still take an active interest in Camino "things")It feels like I have lost the Camino magic.
Spare a thought for those of us who never HAD it in the first place (but still take an active interest in Camino "things")
Hey Luka, on the Frances now, the one route I always swore I wouldn’t do. I lost every bit of Magic on this one. Just couldn’t sync in, wasn’t enjoying it. All the newbies were so excited and proud they had booked every accommodation. Caught in two large Korean tour groups, one smaller Aussie one and a group of Utah college kids ( but got a great medieval architecture lesson from the prof in Castrojeriz!). No matter what I did, really long stages, half day, I couldn’t break out of the crowds. But around Burgos, I spent a day walking with a slightly irreverent, very open and funny Australian priest. We talked and talked and there was a glimpse of purpose again. Then there was an incredibly sweet moment with the Hontanas nun…gifted with the small medallion, a hug on the shoulder and stroking my hair, there was a beautiful sense of love and absolute peace. I’m not Catholic but started searching for masses, vespers, any religious experience. It worked. I repeatedly go for blessing after blessing. Most are warm, kind and thoughtful, even taking a few seconds longer to reach out to this Protestant pilgrim. There’s been a couple of grouchy older priests who begrudgingly made the sign of the cross very quickly over me but they were the exception, not the rule. Will I do the Frances again? I don’t know. But the friends I’ve walked with and the locals reaching out to a solo female traveler have been heartwarming. I hope you find your Magic again. Honestly, in this crazy world, Caminos are the only place I find peace.After walking in rainy and chilly Galicia for about a week I ended up in a warm hotel room, feverish and with a cold. And I asked myself: why am I doing this? It felt like truancy, but I decided to spend my last couple of days in a studio in sunny Salamanca. And I loved it. I loved being dry and warm, having supermarkets around me, being able to cook, museums to visit, exotic restaurants to eat, having my own bathroom and a big double bed all to myself. I loved it a bit too much, the contrast was striking.
I am now back home for two days and wondering if I should take a break from the Camino. My first one was in 2011 and I have called myself a Camino addict since. But it feels like the spark has left me. The road walking, the same bars everywhere, the boring afternoons in dusty villages, albergue life, the conversations about distances, where did you start, which Caminos did you walk.
It feels like I have lost the Camino magic. And that is quite a sad feeling. Is it Camino fatigue? Has the Camino become too ordinary? Is this feeling recognizable to anyone? Will it go away?
Yes, I served as hospitalera once in a donativo albergue for 2,5 weeks. It wore me out. To the extend that I locked myself up in the bathroom with a book. It wasn't the cleaning and the cooking, it was the social part. I am too much of an introvert to be hospitalera.Maybe it's time to not walk. Maybe it's time to step into a different role -- the one who enables others to make the walk. Have you served as a hospitalera?
You can also join others in activism, keeping the Camino (and other cultural treasures) free from over-development and exploitation, ensuring the laws on the books are enforced so our grandkids can have nice things, too.
I have lived and served on the camino for a long time, and God do I know what Camino burnout feels like! My home circumstances keep me from taking long walks now and renewing that "vibe," but I keep my spirits alive by remembering "it is in giving that we receive."
We have gained so much from the people along the Way. I encourage every veteran to take an opportunity to pass that delicious "camino spirit" to these great new waves of pilgrims. It's our turn.
Thanks for your honest response, @Camino Chrissy! I am also considering something similar. Maybe not a Camino, but a hiking trail somewhere in France. Or England, but that seems an expensive expediton. A change of scenery.I need time to sit back and evaluate more, but I think I may choose to return to France or Italy next time for a change and combine the walking I've loved with a bit more sightseeing. The word pilgrim no longer seems to really describe me if I am honest, and staying in albergues is now more a novelty as my preference has been private lodgings for the last several years.
These are just a few of my thoughts and ramblings at the moment as I contemplate what you have said.
Yes, a shift of focus would be good and refreshing. Fortunately I don't get all my happiness from walking Caminos. There is definitely more in life. And I have always loved hiking (long before I discovered the Camino), so I won't give up on that. There is much more than following shells.I mean this in the nicest way possible... I think it might be time for you to break up with the camino... maybe a trial separation. If you have tied all your happiness to walking caminos and are now feeling jaded then perhaps it's time for something new ? I don't mean walking thru different places either...
The camino changes, we change... everything changes and we all have to adapt. I hope you can move on and find some peace in something else
It is exciting for me to read the excitement and anticipation in others, such as yourself, and thankfully I usually still feel some of that, too.I haven't reached your stage yet, I am just about to get the train to Stansted Airport before flying to Biarritz tomorrow for my 3rd Camino - still excited about what lies ahead, slightly later than before so the scenery will be different. Yippee!
I'm with you Luka - it's not the same Camino.
Hi Luka, I have no idea if this option will be of any help at all, but 5 years after walking a camino every year, I decided to take a group (in 2017) from my local hiking club. (There are several threads in the archives, so I won’t go into the reasons why.)It feels like I have lost the Camino magic.
I can 100% relate to your ‘Camino Fatigue.’ I’ve walked several various Camino routes since 2013 and I felt exactly the same way as you at some point during each Camino. Whenever I felt this way I’d check into a decent hotel for a couple of days for some R&R, privacy and to simply explore some of these wonderful towns and cities. Today, I no longer have the ‘Camino Itch,’ instead I have now chosen to expand my horizons and explore other parts of the world which I find most rewarding. Perhaps I had somehow ‘overstayed my welcome’ on the Camino. In life, there is a time and place for everything. I’m immensely grateful for my time on the Camino(s) as well as the memories.After walking in rainy and chilly Galicia for about a week I ended up in a warm hotel room, feverish and with a cold. And I asked myself: why am I doing this? It felt like truancy, but I decided to spend my last couple of days in a studio in sunny Salamanca. And I loved it. I loved being dry and warm, having supermarkets around me, being able to cook, museums to visit, exotic restaurants to eat, having my own bathroom and a big double bed all to myself. I loved it a bit too much, the contrast was striking.
I am now back home for two days and wondering if I should take a break from the Camino. My first one was in 2011 and I have called myself a Camino addict since. But it feels like the spark has left me. The road walking, the same bars everywhere, the boring afternoons in dusty villages, albergue life, the conversations about distances, where did you start, which Caminos did you walk.
It feels like I have lost the Camino magic. And that is quite a sad feeling. Is it Camino fatigue? Has the Camino become too ordinary? Is this feeling recognizable to anyone? Will it go away?
Its probably just the contrast between a sunny beautiful Salamanca, what a grand, welcoming plaza. Marvellous places to see and eat in. It has a lovely Albergue. The sun can shine on the Camino.After walking in rainy and chilly Galicia for about a week I ended up in a warm hotel room, feverish and with a cold. And I asked myself: why am I doing this? It felt like truancy, but I decided to spend my last couple of days in a studio in sunny Salamanca. And I loved it. I loved being dry and warm, having supermarkets around me, being able to cook, museums to visit, exotic restaurants to eat, having my own bathroom and a big double bed all to myself. I loved it a bit too much, the contrast was striking.
I am now back home for two days and wondering if I should take a break from the Camino. My first one was in 2011 and I have called myself a Camino addict since. But it feels like the spark has left me. The road walking, the same bars everywhere, the boring afternoons in dusty villages, albergue life, the conversations about distances, where did you start, which Caminos did you walk.
It feels like I have lost the Camino magic. And that is quite a sad feeling. Is it Camino fatigue? Has the Camino become too ordinary? Is this feeling recognizable to anyone? Will it go away?
After walking in rainy and chilly Galicia for about a week I ended up in a warm hotel room, feverish and with a cold. And I asked myself: why am I doing this? It felt like truancy, but I decided to spend my last couple of days in a studio in sunny Salamanca. And I loved it. I loved being dry and warm, having supermarkets around me, being able to cook, museums to visit, exotic restaurants to eat, having my own bathroom and a big double bed all to myself. I loved it a bit too much, the contrast was striking.
I am now back home for two days and wondering if I should take a break from the Camino. My first one was in 2011 and I have called myself a Camino addict since. But it feels like the spark has left me. The road walking, the same bars everywhere, the boring afternoons in dusty villages, albergue life, the conversations about distances, where did you start, which Caminos did you walk.
It feels like I have lost the Camino magic. And that is quite a sad feeling. Is it Camino fatigue? Has the Camino become too ordinary? Is this feeling recognizable to anyone? Will it go away?
Hi Tom, I appreciate the time you have taken to share some of your personal, behind the scenes life, and I value your input; observations and opinions. Your love for the Camino and Spain certainly shines through.I sincerely hope my input has helped.
What do I know? I am not in your shoes. My only perspective and it could well be wrong: the Camino does not serve you. You serve the Camino. It is the Camino's terms, not yours. ChuckAfter walking in rainy and chilly Galicia for about a week I ended up in a warm hotel room, feverish and with a cold. And I asked myself: why am I doing this? It felt like truancy, but I decided to spend my last couple of days in a studio in sunny Salamanca. And I loved it. I loved being dry and warm, having supermarkets around me, being able to cook, museums to visit, exotic restaurants to eat, having my own bathroom and a big double bed all to myself. I loved it a bit too much, the contrast was striking.
I am now back home for two days and wondering if I should take a break from the Camino. My first one was in 2011 and I have called myself a Camino addict since. But it feels like the spark has left me. The road walking, the same bars everywhere, the boring afternoons in dusty villages, albergue life, the conversations about distances, where did you start, which Caminos did you walk.
It feels like I have lost the Camino magic. And that is quite a sad feeling. Is it Camino fatigue? Has the Camino become too ordinary? Is this feeling recognizable to anyone? Will it go away?
I am moved by your thoughts and carefully chosen words to express what is in your heart. We often hear « angels live among us » and right now you are an angel caring for your much loved wife. I sense that whatever you undertake, it has purpose for you. Purpose is what keeps us young at heart and connected to each other and our planet. Thank you Tom for your continued support of this community and for posting today.But, I wanted to ruminate over my feelings for this thread and to frame a cogent and useful contribution to the thread before replying. It has been four days now. I think I am ready to try to help.
I recently invited Mike to join us here. He’s an amazing guy.CAMINO FRANCÉS | OPEN YOUR HEART AND CAMINO MAGIC WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR EVER | Facebook
OPEN YOUR HEART AND CAMINO MAGIC WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR EVER I arrived in front of the world’s most glorious cathedral two days ago after a 800-kilometre pilgrimage almost across the entire...www.facebook.com
Just thought this thread could do with this. For some the Camino is as magic as ever
You can never get too much (or even enough) of amazing people.I recently invited Mike to join us here. He’s an amazing guy.
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