Walking the Camino de Santiago after retirement

People go on pilgrimages for various reasons and goals, such as religious reasons, health reasons, or to find peace of mind after experiencing hardship.
The author's starting point was simple.
After a long career, I decided to shake off everything and walk the Camino de Santiago to my heart's content.
Strangely enough, the more I walked, the more I looked back on my past and met new people, gradually changing from 'traveler mode' to 'pilgrim mode'.
The author extends an invitation called the 'Camino de Santiago' to those who wish to meet him and those who are looking for new connections.
34 days.
Let's explore the treasures of life wisdom the author gained over 915 kilometers in this book.

After retirement, I was making various plans for the second act of my life.
But before starting something new, I wanted to take some time for myself and rest.
While I was thinking about where to go during my break, the first thing that came to mind was Santiago.
I first heard about the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage from Representative Lee In-young when I was working at the Yeongsan River Basin Environmental Office.
It seems like that was buried deep in my heart without me knowing.
Perhaps this is the true reason for this trip: a golden opportunity to give myself the gift of comfort and encouragement after 32 years of hardship.
Some people asked if I was going for religious reasons, but that wasn't the case.
Although I am a Catholic, I am not devout enough to go on a long pilgrimage.
After finishing a long public service, I wanted to have some time for myself, put everything aside, and just do whatever comes my way.
--- p.40, from “Day 1 - The first day of the Camino”

Here, too, like Ontanas a few days ago, it suddenly appeared in a concave part of a steep slope.
It appears to be a characteristic of the villages formed on the Meseta plain.
I couldn't be happier.
After a long and difficult walk, you enter the albergue, your destination, and it is like heaven.
The first thing I do after registering is take a shower.
The feeling of taking a warm shower is incomparable to normal times.
I fall into a trance as I pour water on myself.
Ah, this is paradise on earth! That's how I feel.
The 17km from Carrion is a course notoriously difficult.
If possible, I recommend staying in Carrion and starting this course early in the morning.
We started walking this course around 12 o'clock after walking about 20km from Promista to Carrion, which was very difficult and boring.
It was fortunate that the temperature wasn't high, if it had been a hot day it would have been really difficult.
It's a good idea to prepare plenty of snacks and water, but there are snack bars and chairs to rest on along the way, so you don't need to be too nervous.
--- p.132, from “Day 15 - The Meseta Plain, the Road Notorious for Being Difficult”

I was just leaving the albergue and entering the main road when I was startled.
I was so surprised that I thought my feet were frozen.
I just ran into some young friends.
It sent shivers down my spine.
What kind of fate is this? How could something like this happen? Since we usually leave around 6:30, I figured it could be similar to mine.
It was so absurd to see him as soon as I left the accommodation.
We didn't even talk to each other, but we were going to the same destination.
It's an incredible coincidence.
I guess this is our fate.
I think this is the magic of the Camino, that people who are meant to meet will definitely meet again.
And so our journey together began again.
--- p..190, from "Day 23 - A Dramatic Reunion"

At the 13.5km mark, near the village of Pereiros, there is a sign indicating 100km left.
Many people are crowded to take pictures.
A nearby albergue will also give you a stamp to commemorate your 100 km journey.
The marker stone is worn so much that it is difficult to tell how many people have touched it.
I walked 700km over 25 days.
I applaud my hard-working legs.
I also give a massage to my back to show my gratitude for holding on.
Everyone, you've all worked hard.
I feel strange.
I feel proud that I walked a lot, but I also feel regretful that it went by so quickly.
Some say their lives changed after walking this path. What changed for me? What will I gain? I wonder, and at the same time, worry.
I guess it's because of my inevitable greed that I feel regret even though I didn't necessarily expect to gain anything.
--- p.217, from “Day 26 - Passing the 100km Marker”

915km! Over 34 days, we started from Saengjang, passed through Santiago, and reached Fisterra and Muxia.
I walked a lot.
My two legs have suffered a lot.
It's also admirable that your back held up so well.
I was worried a lot from the start, but I felt a sense of heaviness, but I was able to hold on well.
I should have been very tired after walking this far, but I don't even feel tired.
The walking high state still persists.
My body feels light and my mind feels empty.
Maybe it was because I was so relaxed? I left my walking stick in the restaurant I entered just before boarding the bus from Muksia.
Sometimes it feels good to lose something.
I needed to lighten my load on the way back, but what a relief it was that I lost it right at the end of the pilgrimage. Losing it midway would have been incredibly difficult.
Because I use sticks more than anyone else.
If someone finds it useful, I'm satisfied with it.
This is a stick that brings a lot of luck, so I hope someone uses it well and say goodbye.

--- p.286, from "Day 34? After walking 915km"