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The most surprising pilgrims of 2017
The Camino de Santiago closed 2017 with numbers that break records once again. What can we say? The Camino sums more and more adepts that, this year, exceeded 300,000 pilgrims arriving from all over the world. As expected, among all of them, there are those who walk to Compostela for religious, touristic and personal reasons; as well as those who comes by foot, by bike or even by wheelchair. Therefore, from Fairway we wanted to collect the most amazing stories that will fill you with emotion, inspiration and amazingness.
A chair, an opportunity
When we say that everyone can travel the Camino de Santiago, we really say it. Having to walk is no longer a requirement for pilgrimage: wheelchairs have evolved so that those who need to use them can live this magical experience. Well knows Niria, aged 13, and her family, who completed six stages of the French Way with a chair specially made to perform this adventure together. Patrick Gray, of Idaho (United States), pushed his friend Justin Skeesuck in a wheelchair along 800 kilometers to reach Santiago. Now, they plan to publish a book telling the experience.
A path to the altar
During its hundreds of years of history, El Camino has been the place where many people found love. That was the case of Francisco José Donaire and Carmen Virginia Navarro, who met on pilgrimage in 2013 and in 2015 covered 3 kilometers dressed as bride and groom. This year, the Obradoiro lived another scene from a romantic movie. Víctor Carazo knelt before the eyes of his friends and dozens of tourists to ask for his girlfriend, Miriam Girón.
There's no obstacles
If we talk about overcoming, the young people of the Madrid Down Syndrome Foundation are a great example of them. Accompanied by collaborators of the foundation, these children with Down syndrome traveled 113 kilometers of the French Way in nine stages, which they were portraying through a blog and their social media. What is your excuse for not encouraging yourself?
Swing rhythm
Does walking seem boring? And how about dancing? 'El Camino de Swingsantiago' is a fun alternative to traditional routes, which started in Pamplona with destination Santiago, during which interspersed swing movements between walks. In particular, the participants danced to the rhythm of Lindy-hop, a variant of the genre born in New York in the 1920s.
Walking like the big ones
Christopher Nugent is seven years old, he is Irish and a full-fledged pilgrim. This young man has completed the Portuguese Way from Porto, nothing less than 200 kilometers in 11 days accompanied by his family. Upon arriving in Santiago, they went to the Pilgrim's Office on Carretas Street, where the little walker received his long-awaited and well-deserved Compostela. There is no age to experience the emotion of the Camino!
If you also want to tell your own story at #CaminoSantiago, do not think twice and get on the march! Santiago de Compostela is waiting for you.