I didn’t have a wonderful time on Camino de Santiago~ am I even allowed to say this?
First, i already have a feeling that this will be a controversial post. I have no intention of discouraging future pilgrims or to scare anyone. I don’t think the Camino experience is bad!!! I’m not trying to assert any kind of truths or ideas. My purpose is to just share my own experience and perspective. This is also my first Camino.
Context: I began my Camino in Logroño and have been walking for 15 days.
I’ve been noticing a strange “culture” among pilgrims on the Francés route. By this, I mean a set of values and truths that many people seem to abide by, including very strange toxic positivity, competitiveness & athletic ability shaming , and judgmental unsolicited advice on why I’m doing my Camino wrong, for lack of a better term. I think a lot of these people mean well, by the things they say however but maybe don’t realize the impact of their words. (I’ve (24F) mainly had these experiences with younger pilgrims (40’s and younger) and/or male pilgrims of all ages.)
I can walk 16-18km per day. That’s just my own personal ability. I’ve felt shamed & belittled due to the fact that I “can’t walk very far” or that all my days are “short days” or the minimizing of my discomfort when I attempt a “normal” 20+km day. As in I don’t deserve to be as exhausted or in pain as my fellow pilgrims who walked farther than I did that day.
I listen to music when I walk, I’ve been told by a handful of people I’m doing it wrong, I shouldn’t do that, I need to just sit with my own quiet thoughts instead cuz “that’s what the Camino is about”. Etc etc etc lots of opinions on how to do my Camino right lol
Took a rest day my 4th day walking. I really hurt everywhere and I was catching an albergue cold going around. Each person who I told responded with something along the lines of “oh why?” “On only your fourth day?” “But I thought you said you started in logroño?”. I felt as if I needed to explain myself to everyone and why I had a valid reason for taking a rest day
The reason I felt so nervous to even make such a post is that every time I’ve mentioned having anything less than a magical time on the Camino so far I felt rather repudiated with sentiments along the line of maybe I just “didn’t get it”, “well what did you expect it was going to be a walk in the park “ , like there’s something wrong with me for not having the time of my life. As if “the Camino is great and if you think anything different you’re just wrong”
