Day 1: Arrival to Sarria

Day 1 — Arriving in Sarria

After traveling from all over, our group finally came together today in Sarria — the starting point for our 73-mile pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago.

Getting here was part of the adventure already.

Some people spent time in Madrid, others came through Santiago or Porto (Happy belated anniversary, Haddads!). We battled train delays and missed connections before congregating in Sarria.

Tonight was our chance to meet each other and settle in before the walking begins tomorrow. We gathered as a group for a trip orientation with our guide Javi (remember rules 1, 2, and 3!), who walked everyone through what we can expect over the next several days on the Camino — from daily routes and pacing to the overall experience of the journey ahead.

One of the best parts of the evening was getting to hear everyone’s Camino "Why?". For some, this trip has been on the bucket list for years. Others came looking for a challenge, a reset, time with family, or intentional time with God. No matter the reason, it’s clear this group brings together people from very different backgrounds who are all about to share the same road. One of the coolest parts was hearing how this trip was bringing together friends (or former PT colleuges!) who hadn't seen each other in years.

Tomorrow is our first official walking day as we head from Sarria to Portomarín, roughly 22 kilometers through small villages, forests, and the Galician countryside.

There’s definitely a mix of excitement and nerves across the group, but after all the flights, trains, delays, and travel logistics, it feels good to finally be here and ready to start walking together.

Buen Camino,

Mary & Chandler