I was delighted to be joined today by Maurice Frank who walked his first Camino de Santiago at age 67. Inspired years earlier by Paulo Coelho’s The Pilgrimage and drawn to the Camino’s sense of community, Maurice finally set out after the COVID lockdowns. In 2023, he completed the 500-mile Camino Francés from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, an experience so powerful that by day five he already knew he wanted to do another. He describes three kinds of relationships on the Camino—families, friends, and familiar faces—and how each enriched his journey. Even setback became gifts that brought him solitude and new connections
Maurice later walked the Camino Portugués from Porto, including the Spiritual Variant with its historic boat ride and forest path known as the Route of Stone and Water. Afterward, he extended to Finisterre and volunteered at Santiago’s Pilgrim House, helping fellow pilgrims transition after their journeys.
Now preparing to repeat the Francés, Maurice explains that every Camino is different: he wants to revisit places more deeply, approach the trail with greater experience, and embrace how both he and the Camino have changed. His closing advice is simple—if you’re considering it, just go. The Camino offers an irreplaceable experience you won’t regret.
(Note: The book that Maurice mentions that started his interest in the Camino is Paulo Coelho’s The Pilgrimage.)
More Camino Conversations
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Rebecca Weston
Camino Planning & Preparation Guide (for People 45+)
Rebecca@TheCaminoCalls.com
Your Camino adventure should feel exciting, not stressful — here are some ways I can help you get ready:
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About me: I walked my first Camino in 2012 . Since then, I have walked over a dozen Caminos—alone or with others; in spring, summer and fall; in Spain, Portugal, and France. I’ve also spent many days volunteering along the trail, and if I’m not walking one now, I’m planning the next—and would love nothing more than to help you plan yours, too. My husband and I live in a town of 6500 people on the Camino del Norte.
