Meet Your Neighbor: Tammy Gentry's journey on the Camino de Santiago

The Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of Saint James, is a historic network of pilgrimage trails that have been walked for over a thousand years. These routes lead to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great, situated in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. The pilgrimage offers various starting points, including Portugal, France, and Ireland.

Tammy Gentry, one of Niwot's beloved community members, recently completed the 160-mile Camino Portugués pilgrimage route of the Camino de Santiago in ten days, which follows the Portuguese and Spanish coast. Reflecting on her experience, she said, "While the Camino has historically been a religious pilgrimage, today, people undertake it for many different reasons. For me, it was an opportunity for solitude and quiet contemplation, making it more of a spiritual journey."

Many pilgrims on this trail are Catholics or individuals seeking spiritual and personal reflection, often during challenging periods. Gentry was surprised by the relatively small number of Americans and the diverse and like-minded international presence, all drawn to the Camino for various reasons.

Gentry reflected, "It wasn't a vacation but an experience, so there was a sense of connection and camaraderie among people of all ages-from the very young to the elderly. Generational families traveled together, with grandparents and grandchildren, alongside many people my age and college students."

She would wake up and start her journey at 8:00 a.m. each day when the sun rose, and it would take her five to seven hours to reach her day's destination. Gentry said, "As you travel along the trails, you will see ruts carved into the stone trails from hundreds of years ago." She continued, "It is more of a walk because you stop at cafes and historical sites and chat with locals and other pilgrims."

Gentry did not have a favorite location along the route, noting that the journey was as important as the destination. Highlights included forests, country roads, and villages. She said she especially enjoyed walking along the ocean, listening to its murmurs while traversing boardwalks next to sandy beaches and dirt trails along the rivers.

In the spring of 2023, Gentry made a similar pilgrimage in Japan with a small group of women, the Kumano Kodo. This experience taught her that quiet time in nature while walking was therapeutic and transformative. She said, "Doing the Kumano Kodo with a group of supportive women gave me the confidence to make a solo pilgrimage."

Gentry added, "I was a little apprehensive traveling solo, so I did hire Portugal Green Walks to book my bed-and-breakfasts [along the Camino Portugués]." Gentry noted that many people begin the walk without pre-booked accommodations, hiking until they can't continue and then searching for hostels known as albergues.

On her second day during the Camino pilgrimage, she had a memorable experience trying to find her way out of a city following the yellow arrows, known as waymarks, painted on rocks, trees, light posts, stones, and walks. Gentry discovered that waymarks were challenging to find in the city. Just when she was feeling hopelessly lost, out of nowhere a local woman walked up to her, smiled, and handed her a small scallop shell charm, the traditional symbol of the Camino de Santiago. The woman said, "Buen Camino," and walked on. Gentry commented, "I knew then that I was not lost and would be fine," and continued to find her way to the boardwalk along the ocean.

After her journey, Gentry said, "I know now that we need very little; we don't need as much gear and clothing; we just need the bare minimum."

Mostly, Gentry was touched by the kindness and support she received from everyone she encountered. She said, "It came from those who helped me when I felt lost, to the offer of a snack or water from a local, to the encouraging words of other pilgrims to keep going when I was in pain from blisters. I felt an important sense of the goodness in the world, and it made me reflect on what I can do to foster connection and support in my day-to-day life."

Gentry encourages people to take this unique pilgrimage. She said, "It is not a vacation so much as an inward experience to find that peaceful and calming place. We can all use the time to step away from the worries of the day-to-day. You think about one foot in front of the other, and while doing this, it clears the space for depth of thought."