From Santiago… to Santiago

From Santiago… to Santiago

by | Jun 11, 2025 | interview, places

The final destination of the Camino de Santiago is, of course, Santiago de Compostela, the historic city in Galicia, where the remains of the apostle Saint James were supposedly discovered in the 9th century.

But did you know that Santiago de Compostela is far from the only Santiago in the world?

There are over 140 Santiagos worldwide, and in the podcast we visited the biggest… and possibly the best known together with Santiago de Compostela. We took a trip to Santiago de Chile with a special guide: Marco Fierro, creator of LatinELE, where you can learn Spanish with a Latin American twist.

Not too long ago I joined Marco on his podcast to talk about the Camino de Santiago. On this occasion, he joined me on the Spanish for the Camino podcast to talk about his town.

Marco was born and raised in Santiago de Chile. He studied there, made friends there, and still has a soft spot for the city. He told me that Santiago is home to about 8.5 million people—nearly 45% of Chile’s entire population! That makes it not just the capital but also a bustling urban center full of culture, activity, and diversity.

Why is this city called Santiago?

Before he set out from Peru to Chile, Pedro de Valdivia prayed to the apostle Saint James for protection and a successful expedition. The journey was dangerous and there were many casualties. But Pedro de Valdivia made it, so when he founded a new city in 1541, he named it after Saint James.

What to see in Santiago de Chile

Marco recommends starting with the Plaza de Armas, the city’s historic heart. There you’ll find the oldest post office in Chile, the city hall, and loads of restaurants and shops nearby.

Another must-see is Cerro San Cristóbal, a hill that offers panoramic views of the city and even a funicular ride to the top. And of course, don’t miss La Moneda, the presidential palace and a symbol of Chilean history and politics.

If you’re curious about Santiago’s version of the Camino, Marco also mentioned La Vía de los Andes, a 25-kilometer urban walk that starts from the city’s cathedral and ends in the district of Las Condes. It’s inspired by the Camino de Santiago and gives you a taste of pilgrimage, South American style.

(Get this episode’s transcript for free here)

Chilean foods you should try

You can’t talk about a city without talking about food! Marco recommends:

  • Pastel de choclo: A savory corn pie (don’t be fooled by the word “pastel”!) made with corn and meat (beef or chicken). Choclo is the Chilean word for corn, maíz in Spain.

  • Empanada de pino: A baked empanada filled with a mix of meat, onions, hard-boiled egg and olives. Heads-up—watch out for the olive pit!

One of the best places to try local food is Mercado Central, a lively market near the Plaza de Armas full of restaurants and traditional flavors.

Chilean words you should know

Chilean Spanish has a reputation for being hard to understand, even for native Spanish speakers! Why? Lots of local slang and unique expressions.

Marco gave us a couple of words you’ll hear a lot in Chile and I added a couple more that caught my attention when I visited Chile many years ago:

  • “Po” – Short for “pues,” it’s added for emphasis.
    ¿Te gusta el pastel de choclo? – Sí, po.

  • “Cachar” – To get or understand something.
    El español de Chile es un poco difícil, ¿cachai? = Chilean Spanish is a bit difficult, isn’t it?

  • “Cabro/cabra” – A guy/girl, often young.
    Me voy con los cabros = I’m heading out with my friends.

  • “Harto” – A lot.
    Se usa harto en Chile. = It’s used a lot in Chile.

  • “Al tiro” – Right away or immediately.
    Voy al tiro = I’m going right away.

Final tips for visiting Santiago

If you’re planning a trip, Marco had a few more practical tips:

  • Be aware of your belongings, like in any big city.

  • Use the Santiago Metro, one of the most modern and extensive metro systems in Latin America.

  • If visiting in summer, bring water—it gets hot!

  • If you’re there in winter (June to August), bring warm clothes and maybe hit the slopes in nearby Farellones, a ski area in the Andes.

Muchas gracias a Marco for joining me and giving us this wonderful virtual tour of Santiago de Chile!

If you want to learn more about his work, check his website: https://latinele.com/

or download his free mini ebook Spanish Adventure’s Companion:  https://latinele.com/adventurescompanion/

And if you want to actually see Santiago de Chile, you should watch this video from Marco’s YouTube channel.

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Travel and language learning with Lindsay

Travel and language learning with Lindsay

by | Feb 19, 2025 | Camino Spanish, interview

What if your travels could inspire you to learn a new language? That’s exactly how Lindsay approaches language learning.

In the latest episode of the Spanish for the Camino podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with Lindsay Dow, creator of Lindsay Does Languages, about her experience with learning multiple languages and the role travel has played in it.

 

So, how many languages can Lindsay speak?

She doesn’t have an exact answer. It depends, she says! She doesn’t speak all of them at the same level. Some, like Spanish and French, she knows well; others require a bit of refreshing before she can comfortably use them, and some others she only knows the very basics. .But if she must say a figure, she’ll settle for around 15 languages.

Her takeaway: you don’t have to be perfect in a language to enjoy using it!

 

Many language learners feel pressure to reach a high level of fluency, but Lindsay reminded us that this isn’t necessary. She realized this early on, when she  started learning Spanish and French at the same time in school, that she didn’t need to reach perfection in every language—just knowing enough to communicate and connect with people was valuable.

 

We often hear that immersion is the best way to learn a language, but Lindsay challenges that idea. While being surrounded by a language can be helpful, she always tries to learn at least a little of the local language before she travels. For her, it’s easier to learn a bit of a language before arriving in a country rather than trying to pick it up while traveling. So, for example, before a trip to Turkey, Lindsay took some online classes in Turkish, which helped her navigate her visit.

But everyone learns differently, and there’s no single best method, so it could work for you.

Her recent trip to India made her realize how difficult it can be to keep up when a country has multiple languages spoken in different regions and it confirmed her preference for learning at least the basics before travel.

 

Languages aren’t just about words—they reflect culture too. We can’t separate language and culture. Lindsay shared an example from Korean, where even a simple greeting involves different levels of formality depending on who you’re speaking to. This cultural aspect of language learning makes the process even more fascinating and rewarding.

 

One of the funniest stories Lindsay shared was from a trip to Morocco. She and a friend found themselves switching between multiple languages—French, Arabic, Italian, Polish, and even Chinese—in one day as they navigated different situations. It was a great example of how being flexible with languages can help you connect with people wherever you go.

 

Lindsay’s top language learning tip

 

To wrap up our conversation, Lindsay shared her three key principles for language learning, which she calls the “Three Fs”:

 

  • Flexible – Find ways to integrate language learning into your daily routine without making it a huge disruption.
  • Functional – Focus on learning the language in a way that helps you use it in real-life situations.
  • Fun – Enjoy the process! Whether it’s music, movies, or something else that excites you, find a way to make learning enjoyable.

She also encouraged learners to “find their Shakira”—something they love that keeps them motivated to keep learning. For her, it was Shakira’s music that first connected her with Spanish.

 

If you want to hear the full conversation, check out the episode in the Spanish for the Camino podcast. 

(Get this episode’s transcript for free here)

Lindsay’s journey shows that learning a language isn’t about reaching perfection—it’s about making connections, having fun, and embracing the process. Whether you’re preparing for a trip on the Camino de Santiago or just curious about a new language, her advice is a great reminder to enjoy the adventure of language learning.

Where to find Lindsay

Lindsay’s website: https://lindsaydoeslanguages.com/
Language Life, Lindsay’s program to learn languages your way: https://lindsaydoeslanguages.com/ll

 

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Buen Camino

Cycling the Camino with Yolanda

Cycling the Camino with Yolanda

by | Feb 7, 2025 | Camino de Santiago, interview, places

Today, I’m sharing highlights from my recent chat on the podcast with Yolanda, a Spanish teacher from Valencia. Yolanda told me about her experience cycling the Camino de Santiago way back in 1993. 

Yolandas’s Camino

Yolanda completed the Camino Francés in 1993!

Back then, the Camino was far less crowded than it is today, though it still felt lively since it was a Holy Year (Año Jacobeo). She cycled the Camino Francés from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France to Santiago de Compostela with a group of coworkers in just 17 days.

In 1993 there were not as many accommodation options as today, and it was a busy year on the Camino. The existing albergues were not enough, so Yolanda recalls camping along the way in special tents set up just for cyclists. These campsites were well-equipped with comfortable mattresses, proper showers, and even laundry facilities. 

Yolanda described her journey as “privileged.” They had fantastic weather for most of the trip, with no rain until they reached Galicia.

Even more surprising? They didn’t get a single flat tyre over 800 kilometres! That said, the journey wasn’t without its challenges. On one particularly tough day, they had to ride 90 kilometres to find a place to sleep, leaving Yolanda completely exhausted by the time they arrived.

Still, the experience of cycling through different landscapes, meeting pilgrims from around the world, and feeling connected to nature made it unforgettable. As Yolanda puts it, “It was magical – the skies, the air, the feeling of moving at your own pace.”

(Get this episode’s transcript for free here)

Valencia

Yolanda and I also talked about her hometown: Valencia, starting point of the Camino de Levante and a city she highly recommends visiting. She suggests renting a bike to explore the Jardín del Turia, a 12-kilometre park from which you can go into different parts of the city, like the old town or the stunning Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias.

And, of course, you can’t leave Valencia without trying its famous rice dishes. Yolanda explained that while paella is the most well-known, there are countless other varieties, including arroz al horno (baked rice), arroz a banda (seafood rice), and arroz del senyoret (rice with peeled seafood – perfect for the “rich gentleman” who doesn’t want to get his fingers dirty).

Final Thoughts

Yolanda’s story is a reminder of how unique every Camino experience can be—whether you’re walking, cycling, or simply dreaming of your journey. Her 1993 pilgrimage might seem worlds apart from today’s Camino, but the magic of connecting with others, enjoying the journey, and embracing life at a slower pace is timeless.

 

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Buen Camino

The Camino starts when you think about it

The Camino starts when you think about it

by | Nov 1, 2024 | Camino de Santiago, interview

This week on the Spanish for the Camino podcast, I had the pleasure of welcoming Cris Pacino, a Brazilian teacher who has lived in Spain for 20 years. She’s a seasoned pilgrim and Spanish language teacher, especially for Portuguese speakers, helping them to fulfill their dreams of communicating confidently in Spanish—whether for personal, professional, or academic goals.

You can listen to our conversation, in Spanish, on the podcast, or can continue reading a summary of our chat in English.

Cris’ connection to the Camino de Santiago traces back to her father, originally from a small village in Galicia. Growing up, she often heard him talk about it, but her true spark came at age 14 when she read The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho. It ignited a lifelong goal: one day, she would walk the Camino herself.

 

She finally did it in 2008, walking part of the Camino Francés, from Burgos to Santiago, after a layoff offered the perfect chance. Cris knew months in advance that she was going to lose her job, so she used that time to prepare, hiking daily with her backpack to build stamina. Her first Camino experience was unforgettable. For her, it wasn’t just a hike—it was a powerful journey of self-discovery.

While her first journey was a solo pilgrimage, she had the support of her then-boyfriend, now husband, who had also walked the Camino and encouraged her to experience it independently. This solitude became an essential part of her pilgrimage, allowing her to connect deeply with herself. Walking alone gave her the freedom to process her thoughts. an experience she treasures, despite the now-changed nature of the Camino, which is often bustling with groups celebrating together.

 

Cris’ Camino Adventures

Since then, Cris has walked sections of the Camino de Madrid. In 2020, she completed the Camino Portugués from Tui to Santiago with a friend. In 2022, she went back to the Camino Francés and walked from Ponferrada to Santiago with her sister, who traveled from Brazil for this. Each of these journeys has held special significance for her, giving her fresh perspectives and cherished memories.

 

She hasn’t walked the Camino with her husband yet; maybe in the future, although work commitments make it hard.. However, Cris dreams of walking the stretch from Saint-Jean to Burgos in 2025 once her studies are complete.

Cris on the Camino Francés in 2022

On the Camino Francés in 2022

Cris on the Camino Francés in 2022

Since Cris is a Portuguese speaker and I live on the Camino Portugués, I took the opportunity to ask Cris for some Portuguese phrases to help pilgrims when they start their journey in Portugal. Cris happily shared a few essentials:

  • Bom dia – Good morning
  • Boa tarde – Good afternoon
  • Boa noite – Good night
  • Obrigado/Obrigada – Thank you (gendered: men say “obrigado,” and women “obrigada”)
  • Por favor – Please

 

A Message to Future Pilgrims

As a parting message, Cris left a heartfelt reminder for anyone considering the Camino. She believes that the Camino truly begins the moment you imagine it. So, if the Camino has ever crossed your mind, you’ve already taken the first step. And don’t worry if you have uncertainties; the Camino will reveal itself to you in unexpected ways, often exceeding your expectations.

 You can find out more about Cris at https://crispacino.com.br/

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Asturias and the Camino with Diego

Asturias and the Camino with Diego

by | Mar 22, 2024 | interview, other routes

Spanish teacher Diego Villanueva, from Fluent Spanish Express walked the Camino and he joined me in the podcast to talk about his experience and Asturias, the region he’s from.

Diego embarked on the Camino Primitivo, the oldest route to Santiago, starting from his hometown of Oviedo, in 2018. This decision came at a crucial point in his life, just after he had resigned from a banking job and before embarking on a new career in teaching Spanish. 

You can listen to our conversation, in Spanish, in the podcast. Or you can continue reading about it in English.

Diego’s Camino

Diego, like many of us who grew up in towns along one of the Caminos, wasn’t really aware of the Camino for a long time. When he first started seeing shells on the streets, showing the way, he had no idea what those shells meant until he eventually started seeing pilgrims in his hometown. 

Then he knew. But he still had no plans to walk the Camino. A few years later, Diego needed a career change. His banking job didn’t make him happy and he decided to resign. He wanted to become a Spanish teacher, but he didn’t want to start his new career straightaway. He needed time. He needed space to reflect and heal. 

Diego had been toying with the idea of walking the Camino for a few days when he met some friends for a drink. Right there and then he made a decision and announced it to his friends:

I’m going to start walking the Camino tomorrow.

And that’s what he did. He started walking the next day.

He didn’t plan or train, although he was (and is) an avid walker.

Diego is from Oviedo, and he was living in Oviedo at the time, so he chose the Camino Primitivo. Apart from being able to start from home, this route also gave him solitude and time for introspection he was looking for. In fact, Diego didn’t enjoy the final stages, after the Primitivo joins the Francés, because it was more crowded and he needed something else.

Diego’s decision to walk the Camino alone was deliberate. However, the journey was far from lonely. He met fellow pilgrims from around the globe, each carrying their own stories and reasons for undertaking the pilgrimage. These shared moments and listening to their stories was one of the highlights of Diego’s Camino.

He walked through parts of Asturias he already knew, but being on the Camino gave him a new perspective. One thing that stands out in Diego’s mind is the warmth of the local villagers in Asturias towards pilgrims. They who would ask if you need something, offer water, a place to rest… 

 

Future Caminos?

After his first experience in 2018, Diego was planning his second Camino for 2020. But, like so many others, he had to change his plans. He hasn’t been back yet, but he’d love to. Diego now lives in a town on the Camino del Norte, still in Asturias, and would love to walk that route next. He would like to do the next one differently too: with company, rather than by himself.

But there’s one change in his life that makes planning his next Camino a little harder: he’s now the owner of a little dog. He would have to carry his dog most of the way, as she’s not a keen walker. And then there are all the other added difficulties, like finding accommodation.  But he would definitely love to walk the Camino again, and not just the Norte route, but all the rest too!

Diego’s recommendations

Whether you’re starting in Oviedo or switching from the Camino del Norte, you should take some time to explore Asturias’ capital. It’s well worth a visit. Diego also suggests going to the nearby Alto del Naranco, a mountain with amazing views.

The 2nd and 3rd biggest cities in Asturias are Gijón and Avilés, both on the Camino del Norte.  If you can, spend some time exploring them too. There is loads to see.

And if you like good food, Asturias won’t disappoint: fabada asturiana, a hearty bean stew; cachopo, 2 breaded veal steaks stuffed with ham and cheese; and frisuelos, a sweet treat are some of Asturias typical dishes.   

Do like Diego and treat yourself to a good meal after your walk every day. 

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Find the podcast transcript, vocabulary guide, exercises and extra audio here.

 

¡Buen Camino!

Camino in Gran Canaria

Camino in Gran Canaria

by | Feb 9, 2024 | Camino de Santiago, interview, other routes

Spanish teacher Marina Rodríguez, from La Lengua de Babel, is from the Canary Islands and specialises in the Spanish spoken there.

She joined me in the podcast to tell us all about the Camino in Gran Canaria.

This blog post is an English version of the conversation we had in Spanish.

If you prefer to listen, you can do so here:

Why is there a Camino in Gran Canaria?

According to Marina, there are 2 reasons, both going back to the 15th century, when the Kingdom of Castile conquered the Canary Islands first and the Americas later.

The first reason:

After the conquest, the Canary Islands became a part of many Spanish shipping routes. According to legend, a boat with Galician sailors was sailing along the southern coast of Gran Canaria when they were hit by a storm. The sailors were carrying a statue of St. James, so they prayed to him and made a promise: if they survived, they would build a small church on the highest land they saw right after the storm.

They survived and the first place they saw was Tirajana, one of the highest points on the Gran Canaria island. So they carried the statue of St. James from Arguineguín, on the southern coast, to the top of the mountain, where they built a small church as promised. This church became a pilgrimage site, but in 1850 the statue of St. James was moved to another town called Tunte.

The second reason takes us to Gáldar, in the north of the island. 

Right from the beginning, the Castilian conquerors started celebrating mass in the islands, and the first church they built was devoted to St. James. This happened around the same time as the story of the Galician sailors.

Centuries later, in 1965, a papal bull awarded Gáldar the priviledge of celebrating St. James Holy Year under the same conditions enjoyed at Santiago de Compostela. It was meant to be an exceptional occurence, but it became permanent in 1993.

Stages of the Camino de Gran Canaria

The Camino in Gran Canaria joins the stories of the Galician sailors and the Santiago church in Gáldar. It goes from the south, close to where the Galician sailors landed, to the templo jacobeo de Santiago de los Caballeros de Gáldar, the church of Santiago in Gáldar in the north.

Officially this Camino has 3 stages and covers a distance of 66 km. The difficulty of this route is medium-high.

It’s not a good idea to walk it in the summer, because it’s too hot. It can also be dangerous when it’s raining, because of all the cliffs and steep slopes.

Stage 1: Maspalomas – Tunte

28 km from the Maspalomas (close to Arguineguín) to Tunte. This stage follows, more or less, the route that the Galician sailors took after the storm. You start by the sea, at the Maspalomas lighthouse, and you climb up to 1000 m, so you will see the landscape change as you climb. You’ll walk through a national park, and there are not many towns on this section, apart from the villages of Artenara and Fataga. In Artenara there is an indigenous cemetery with around 800 graves. In Fataga, on the other hand, you can see the typical architecture of the Canary Islands.

 

Stage 2: Tunte – Cruz de Tejeda

17 km of ascent from Tune to Cruz de Tejeda. Another beautiful but difficult stage with cliffs, ravines, caves… and something else: calderas. Calderas are volcanic craters that have collapsed, so there’s only part of the volcano. You will see several on this stage.

Stage 3: Cruz de Tejeda – Gáldar

21 km of descent into Gáldar, where the other church of Santiago is located. There are some indigenous remains on this stage too. And the “firefighter-sheep”. In recent years, shepherding has been reintroduced in the Canary Islands, mainly as a way to prevent fires. So, as you walk down into Gáldar, you’ll see the so-called ovejas-bombero (“firefighter-sheep”).

 

The Camino as a social project

In 2027, a judge in the Canary Islands had the idea to send young people who had committed a crime to walk the Camino instead of a detention centre. She thought that the Camino could teach them values like sportsmanship, respect, perseverance, etc.

It started as a pilot project, but the results were fantastic, so it’s been happening since then. There is now an association that organizes a Camino every year for young people with different problems, not just with justice. They also use the opportunity to raise funds for different causes. In most cases, it has been a very successful experience.

Want more?

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Looking for the podcast transcripts + extras? You’ll find them here.

Buen Camino