5 Things To Love About Walking The Camino De Santiago

Westside actor Todd Emerson and his husband Kip Chapman enjoy a fabulously scenic stroll!

Walking 900km over five weeks in rural Spain may not be everyone’s idea of a holiday, but this ancient pilgrimage was one of the highlights of our nine-month trip overseas. There are many routes to take to Santiago, but we decided on the Camino del Norte, starting in San Sebastian, then making a detour on the mountainous Camino Primitivo. Along the way, we made lifelong friends, ate like kings and experienced some of the most beautiful scenery that Spain has to offer.

1 The food

The northern coast of Spain is well known for its gastronomic delights and we discovered new delicacies in every town. Fabada asturiana is a traditional pork and bean stew that kept us moving on some of the colder days. Cuajada was a delightful find, a sort of yoghurt made with the whey of cheese and served with honey for dessert. My favourite dish was Pulpo a la Gallega, a simple recipe of boiled octopus, thinly sliced, then drowned in olive oil, with a sprinkle of hot paprika on top.

2 The people