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Mad’s Camino De Santiago
  • Madeleine Stoll
  • Madeleine Stoll

Mad’s Camino De Santiago

A 30-day adventure by Madeleine Read more
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  • Madeleine StollMad’s Camino De SantiagoTraveler
    1

    19.5mi O Cebreiro to Samos

    August 28, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

    The terrain keeps getting prettier and prettier! 💕⛰️ The lush green mountains, ferns, and moss reminded me so much of Washington ❤️. The trail was up and down and my legs were very tired by the end. The sunset was splendid and there were beautiful animals all over the countryside.

    I said goodbye to Carolina and Pita in the afternoon and finished “The Deepest Well” in the last half of the trek. Pita and I had talked a lot about the concept of ACEs and health yesterday, so it was very fitting.

    I met up with Dyna and Lisa in Samos and I was so excited to see them again! We laid out by the creek and some new friends and I skipped rocks with our feet in the icy water. It was divine! We toured the monastery and mass was beautiful in the monastery church. I loved the wood altar piece. Going to bed happy after dinner with friends 😊💛    Read more

  • Madeleine StollMad’s Camino De SantiagoTraveler

    19.4mi Samos to Ferreiros

    August 29, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Made it to the last 100kms!! 🎉 I can’t believe this journey is coming to an end! It has been more challenging and more beautiful than I ever could have dreamed! Lisa 🇩🇪, Alessio 🇮🇹, Niki 🇨🇳, and I walked the whole day together. We met Arthur 🇧🇷along the way. We talked about some lessons we have learned from our experiences thus far. Firstly, I have learned to be more comfortable being uncomfortable 💛. Secondly, after turning off my phone service for all but 2 days of the Camino, I have learned to stay focused on the present moment. Third, life can be simple. Out here on the Camino you really only have a few decisions each day. What time should I wake up? How far should I walk? Where/when shall I eat? And where should I sleep for the night? The rest just falls into place. A lot of the time I don’t even know the answer to these questions. But, I am learning that God provides and I am well cared for. I am learning to love myself more, trust my decision making skills, follow my heart and intuition, and surrender to where the Holy Spirit is leading me. Those aren’t exactly the lessons I came looking for, but they have been the ones I needed. There is so much beauty in this world, and so many good hearts. It brings me so much comfort to know that I am not alone in suffering, but also that I am not alone in the joy of loving life. 🧡 Buen Camino 😘Read more

  • Madeleine StollMad’s Camino De SantiagoTraveler

    23mi Ferreiros to Palas De Rei

    August 30, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Day 24 on the Camino! This was a tough physical day. My body is getting tired 😅. We made it fun by singing and taking breaks along the way. Lisa, Dyna, Alessio, and Davide were great company!

    We are in the last 100km stage were people come hop in for a week. It’s a bit of a party and can be frustrating after so many days roughing it on the trail. It’s harder to find a place to stay and people are more rowdy and unaware of the Camino culture. It took some patience today to recenter myself and embrace this new stage as part of the adventure.

    I was so happy to be with friends! I realized that even if I walk alone the next few days, I will be content. I have found more inner peace, confidence, and self love 🥰. What a journey! Buen Camino!    Read more

  • Madeleine StollMad’s Camino De SantiagoTraveler

    17.5mi Palas de Rei to Ribadiso

    August 31, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    25th day on the Camino! The gang and I stuck together and picked up Arthur 🇺🇦🇮🇹 on the way! It was a tough day physically and mentally. We weren’t sure if this was caused by the mugginess or the fact that the end is coming near 😔. There was a moment this morning at coffee where a girl told us to move because she had put her bag at the table to reserve it. She proceeded to sit down at the table alone, on her phone. It was one of those
    moments the last 100km where we saw the difference between pilgrims and tourists. The pilgrim mentality is very much welcoming of company and conversation in the present moment. It made me sad to see, but also aware of how easily we can forget that beautiful mentality out in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. Something I will have to keep at the back of my mind moving forward.

    There were also so many good moments today!! We started the day with hugs all around and a little bit of tree hugging 😂❤️🌲. We had a few dogs follow us and finally saw horses on the trail. Davide graced us with his singing, we saw a little bit of Dyna’s Slitherin side 🤭, and I finally found Tarta de Santiago cake that was moist 🥮.

    Towards the end of our trek we met author Kelly Field from Seattle. She told us her story 💕. She was the director of innovation at Nordstrom’s in Seattle and she felt she had to quit the corporate world. Her husband encouraged her to walk the Camino and she was so inspired by her journey. She wrote a fiction novel based off the stories she heard on the way “The Grief of Goodbye” 📖. Now she lives on the Camino with a lavender field 💜. She is building cabins for pilgrims and I may go volunteer with her next year. She gave me the encouragement to finish strong when she told us she saw the light of joy and openness in our faces.💛

     I found an Irish fan at the Albergue who lives in Austin now, and we had a beautiful ice bath in the river! We met Patrick 🇦🇺 swimming and he joined us for dinner. Dinner was a blast. There was a wedding reception, a men’s futbol club ceremony, a birthday party, and a few pelligrinos all in the single small bar in town. It was noisy, but welcoming ☺️💛. I’m ready to see what the last two days bring on the trail! Buen Camino! ❤️    Read more

  • Madeleine StollMad’s Camino De SantiagoTraveler
    1

    17mi Ribadiso to O Pedrouzo

    September 1, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Day 26! Set out on the dark with Dyna, Lisa, Alessio, Davide, and Arthur. We had a lovely stroll through mossy woods and lots of little towns 🌲. I realized on this trip that both of my feet are severely hyperpronated 👣. I knew my feet turned in, but after the millionth person told me, I decided I should probably go get it checked out when I am home. I am including a picture of my warn down shoes as proof 😂. I am pretty proud of my body for compensating all these years without an injury 🙂.

    I met two couples from Idaho that were walking the last 100km now that their kids are grown. They were really fun to talk to and they suggested I watch the documentary about a guy pushing his sick friend through the Camino in a wheelchair. It’s called “I’ll push you” on Apple TV. I’m excited to watch it when I get back.

    We ran into a group called CamminaAutism who were walking with 16 lovely children with autism to raise awareness 💙. I talked to one of the moms and told her I have a handsome and brilliant nephew with autism and expressed my appreciation for their outreach. 🧩

    We had all decided to stay in O Pedrouzo, but missed the exit. Everyone decided to go ahead, but Davide and I wanted to go to Sunday mass so we doubled back 🙏🏻. We met a beautiful woman from Sligo Ireland named Maura who was walking the Camino after her disband died recently and suddenly of a heart attack 😢. Her children are in college and I wish I could have heard more of her story. I offered up my mass for Peter’s soul 🙏🏻.

    At mass we met a pair of Colombian sisters. Susana (who now lives in NYC) and Camille (who works in fashion in Milan). They ate dinner with us and it was fascinating to hear about their beautiful and faithful lives 🇨🇴. I told them I have plenty of gentleman to set them up with in Austin, so fellas expect a visit from them soon 😂💕.

    One last day tomorrow, so off to bed! Buen Camino! ❤️    Read more

  • Madeleine StollMad’s Camino De SantiagoTraveler
    1

    13mi OPedrouzo to Santiago de Compostela

    September 2, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Day 27, Santiago!! Wow, what an incredible adventure!! I walked 528 miles (845 km) from St Jean-Pied-a-Port, France to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. I could not have asked for a better pilgrimage! I learned so much, made so many incredible friends, and heard so many wonderful stories. I felt pain, sorrow, joy, excitement, love, peace, and wonder.

    My new favorite phrase is “Ti Voglio Bene! 💕” which is Italian for “I love you!” in friendly terms. I walked alone the last hour into Santiago and I was giddy the whole way! I listened to my theme song of the Camino one last time and was reminded of my theme to let go of control and let God lead me through this beautiful life 🎶. It worked the whole way on the Camino and the journey was more incredible than I could have dreamed! 🤗

    I met up with friends in the cathedral plaza and we all went to mass together. The incense swung high and I couldn’t stop the tears of joy from coming. The incense only swings on Fridays unless someone pays a hefty sum. It didn’t surprise me at all that I hopped in line with my friends just in time to make it to mass and see this incredible occurrence. God is good 🙏🏻❤️ I prayed in front of the tomb of Saint James and offered up my Camino for my two Godson’s, Connor and James 💙🙏🏻💙.

    I am so proud of myself and all my friends for completing this incredible journey. I will carry this pilgrimage with me in my heart for the rest of my life! 🥰    Read more

  • Madeleine StollMad’s Camino De SantiagoTraveler

    Fisterra and Fatima

    September 4, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Finished off my adventure in a fantastic way. First I traveled to Muxía and Finisterre with Lisa, Dyna, Alessio and Davide. We explored the coast and had a lovely hippie bonfire on the beach with many other pilgrims. The night ended with karaoke and I found another beautiful friend in Francesca 🇮🇹. Wish I could have met her earlier in the Camino 💕. The next day, I drove down to Fatima Portugal to end my pilgrimage. It was such a beautiful way to complete this epic journey. I cried most of the day as I walked around Lucia, Jacinta, and Fransisco’s homes, attended English and Portuguese mass, and joined in a candlelit rosary procession. My heart if so full and my love of God is only increasing. I am excited to bring this heart home. But first, off to Mariefred Sweden to celebrate Lovisa and Nathan’s marriage! 🇸🇪 farewell friends! Buen Camino! ❤️Read more

    Trip end
    September 4, 2024
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