The Camino de Santiago is an increasingly international pilgrimage. More than 50% of the pilgrims that take the road to Santiago de Compostela come from countries outside Spain, and in particular from United States of America. In 2017, pilgrims from the US were the fourth biggest nationality group, with a total of 17,552 pilgrims from that country taking the Camino de Santiago. And this figure is only expected to increase this year, given that some 11,000 US visitors have already picked up their Compostela from the Pilgrim’s Reception Office. Quite a striking figure when you think that just 10 years ago the number of US pilgrims was generally around the 2,000 mark! People often mention the film The Way, starring Martin Sheen, as one of the main factors that has raised the profile of the Camino in the USA, but it is also true that increasing numbers of pilgrims cross the Atlantic because they have heard stories about the great experiences of others that have already undertaken the pilgrimage, or because they have been encouraged by a particularly active Friends of the Camino association called the American Pilgrims on the Camino. Today, on our blog we’re going to share with you the stories of five pilgrims from the United States that have completed the Camino this year, so that you can hear about their experiences first-hand. Our stories come from Cathy Seitchik Díaz (Santa Cruz, California); Denis and Marisa Darch (New York), Thor Mikesell (Oregon) and Grace Helmer (Atlanta, Georgia). Five people of different ages and from various corners of the country with five different stories to tell about how they walked, lived and shared their very own Camino de Santiago.   From the United States to the Camino de Santiago

Deciding to undertake the Camino de Santiago and coming all the way here from a country as far away as the United States is usually preceded by some months of research and preparation, a strong interest in the route and a good many hours of travel. A documentary film, Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago piqued the curiosity of Cathy Seitchik, a 65-year-old teacher from California who has already completed the Camino four times, from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Santiago, as well as reaching Finisterre to take her journey to the “World’s End”. For Cathy, the Camino represents a great way of combining her two great passions: walking, and meeting people. She has fully achieved this aim, and promises to return next year to complete her fifth Camino and add to her extensive list of friends from more than 40 countries. Cathy says that “the Camino opens up a world that is much bigger than I could have ever imagined”.