To Santiago,

Religious or not, I think a lot of pilgrims come searching for something within themselves. That empathy builds a sense of love and community among strangers I’ve never seen before. Being alone and feeling cared for seem opposite, but on the Camino they coexist. Even at times when I walked alone, something was in the air. Like a warm blanket, I felt protected—by others on the path, by locals along the way, and maybe even transcendent. At last when I set out to reach Santiago de Compostela by dawn, I saw a shooting star. Walking through the woods alone at night was a little scary, but I took the star as a sign that I was safe.

There’s a freedom that comes with traveling alone. By no means is it lonely, met amazing people along the way while also able to take me-time free of obligation. It’s a different feeling grabbing a beer with someone knowing there’s a good chance you’ll never see them again. In the right doses, it opens people up—leading to deep and meaningful moments with strangers. Moments like these force me to be present, to cherish these rare fleeting memories before they slip away.

I thought the end would be an emotional climax. After 11 days and almost 200 miles of walking, I arrived in Santiago on Sunday at sunrise. It was the day before the Assumption of Mary—a religious holiday—and the town was bustling in preparation for celebration. They lit the Botafumero that morning at Mass—a rare event where they swing a giant silver incense across the church. Everything lined up just perfectly yet all I felt was this calm sense of content. Looking back, it was the journey that I really cherished.

While it’s important to have a sense of direction, life is about where we are, not where we are going.

Love, Max