Walking the Camino de Santiago
         “You don’t have to climb a mountain to find out whether or not it’s high…
         …The ship is safest when it’s in port, but that’s not what ships were built for”
                     Paulo Coelho, The Pilgrimage
         This report was prepared for the LRMF Trustees as partial fulfilment of
         conditions of a LRMF award.
         Rachel O’Reilly, November 2011
         MSc Economics and International Financial Economics, Warwick University 2010/11
         Email: rachel.oreilly1@virgin.net
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          Summary..................................................................................................3
          Acknowledgments...................................................................................4
          Camino de Santiago – Background.........................................................5
          My experience and reflections ................................................................7
          Other Pilgrims’ experience and reflections.............................................9
           Pilgrim A - Inspiration for a career change.........................................9
           Pilgrim B - University summer vacation, 100 days walking.............10
           Pilgrim C - Falling at Fromista..........................................................11
           Pilgrim D - Seventeen years in the making.......................................13
          Impact – Pilgrims’ reflections...............................................................14
          Appendix A- Daily Itinerary................................................................15
          Appendix B - Financial Expenditure.....................................................16
          Appendix C – What I brought with me.................................................17
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                   Summary
                   After completing my masters at Warwick University in mid September 2011, I spent
                   28 days walking approximately 500 miles along the Camino de Santiago.
                   While walking ‘The Way’ I was privileged to meet many wonderful and inspirational
                   people, who were happy to talk to me about their experiences and thoughts. We
                   discussed how walking the Camino de Santiago will impact on their lives. Their
                   stories and reflections are captured within the pages of this report.
                   There are many published resources containing information and advice about the
                   Camino and for long distance walking. This report is not intended to rival or replace
                   those. This report captures the story of a Warwick University student’s journey. A
                   student perspective of the Camino de Santiago.
                   This report also contains all the logistical information needed to undertake the
                   Camino de Santiago. Walking 500 miles from the border of one country to the coast
                   of another isn’t for everyone but as along as one is fortunate to be in good health then
                   it’s beyond no one. If ever you find yourself arriving at St. Jean Pied de Port, facing
                   all the excitement and nerves before beginning the Camino de Santiago, then be
                                                                                         1
                   assured you will be deeply enriched by the experience... ‘Buen Camino ’.
                   1
                     A phrase commonly used on the Camino when acknowledging pilgrims. Literally translated as ‘Good
                   Camino’.
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         Acknowledgments
         My thanks go to the Lord Rootes Memorial Committee for supporting this project.
         Without support from the Lord Rootes Memorial Trust I would not have walked the
         Camino de Santiago in September 2011 and would have not been enriched by my
         experiences.
         As always, I cannot thank my parents enough for all their constant support and
         encouragement to me, especially during my time spent studying at Warwick
         University. While undertaking this Camino my parents patiently waited for my text
         when I reached my daily destination. My dad introduced me to the Camino de
         Santiago and, although unable to walk this time, plotted my daily progress and
         followed my route on a large wall map.
         Thanks to my fellow pilgrim walkers who supported and encouraged me throughout
         the journey and who were so generous with their time when talking to me. Be assured,
         not one second of your time was taken for granted; your struggles have been my
         inspiration.
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