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Writer's pictureAJ Brenneman

The Camino



Hi Everyone,


I thought I would take this week’s blog to talk about what the Camino Portugués is and how I feel about it as of now.


The Camino Portugués is one of the many routes of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela — a network of pilgrimage paths leading to the Cathedral of Saint James the Great in the city of Santiago de Compostela in the Spanish province of Galicia. The Camino de Santiago has been a popular pilgrimage destination for about ten centuries, and has attracted hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from around the world — from kings and queens to beggars and every kind of person in between.


The Camino Portugués specifically starts in Lisbon, Portugal, but you can also pick it up in the city of Porto and this is where I will begin my adventure. For some of the time, I will walk along the Portuguese coast through picturesque landscapes, historical towns and villages, and rural areas, eventually reaching Santiago de Compostela. The route that I am taking is about 200 miles, and won’t be easy.


Now, how do I feel about this upcoming challenge? To be perfectly honest, I’m scared shitless (but also quite excited). My mom has told me the Camino is one of the hardest things she has ever done and she has taken on some pretty crazy challenges, especially after my dad died. It is tough both physically and mentally, and it’s unlike anything I’ve done in my life so far. At some point, I may ask mom to tell the story of the orange sandals. It’s one of my favorite Camino tales that kind of sums up my mom.


Although the Camino won’t be easy by any stretch, I have promised you that I will do this and I don’t break promises. I will walk from Porto in Portugal to Santiago in Spain. Your support in following the blog, remembering my dad, and helping find a cure for sarcoma through your generous donations to the SFA has given me the motivation I need to never stop. (I will also have my mom, brother, and sister by my side in case I ever need a kick in the ass to keep pushing!) If there’s one thing I might ask you in addition to what you’ve already done to support this effort, it would be to spread the word about this blog and fundraiser. This would really help me reach more people.


As of right now, while I’m undoubtedly scared for what lies ahead, I am excited and willing to do everything in my power to complete this journey. 


Until next week!

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