The Pioneer - King Alfonso II

The first person to walk the Camino was King Alfonso II of Asturias during the medieval origins of the jacobean pilgrimage. Legend says, around the year 820, the monarch decided to embark on a pilgrimage to Santiago after being informed by bishop Teodomiro about the discovery of St. James’ tomb. In a time without “mojones” or yellow arrows signaling the way, Alfonso marked the first route of el Camino by following the old rural paths that separated Oviedo (home of the Asturian kingdom royal residence) and what’s today known as Santiago de Compostela.

Legend says that after confirming the veracity of the Apostel’s remains, Alfonso The Chaste ordered the construction of a small chapel to safeguard and worship them. This building would with time evolve into the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela that today stands in the Plaza Obradorio of the Galician capital.

A modified route of the original Camino is still covered by modern pilgrims under the name of the Primitive Way, although other options with better infrastructure and more forgiving terrains (like the French Way or the Portuguese Way) have surpassed it in popularity.

The Hollywood Star - Shirley MacLaine

The star of classics such as Billy Wilder's The Apartment and James L. Brooks' Terms of Endearment, Shirley MacLaine is one of Hollywood's most revered performers. In 1994, while going through a hard time both in her personal and professional life, MacLaine was persuaded by her psychotherapist to go on the Camino de Santiago as a spiritual cure of sorts. The actress followed the prescription and embarked on the French Way departing from the Navarran village of Roncesvalles. On July 3rd of that same year, after 30 days of physical effort and contact with nature, the actress entered Santiago de Compostela as a transformed woman, having "found herself and God" along the way.

Such was the impact that the pilgrimage had on the Hollywood actress that in 2001 she published The Camino: A Journey of the Spirit, a book where she chronicles her relationship with the jacobean pilgrimage and the profound existential insights and spiritual ideas it imprinted in her. It contains some pretty new age ideas (MacLaine is known for her strong belief in reincarnation, once even assuring she was an Incan princess in one of her past lives), but nevertheless, the book has become one of the most popular Camino travelogues and has introduced the Camino to many Americans in the past 30 years.

The Local Celebrity - Zapatones

One of the things that make the Camino de Santiago a unique and unforgettable experience is the distinctive characters you meet along the way. The legendary Zapatones — a name that loosely translates to “big shoes” — was probably the most iconic pilgrim you could find while walking the jacobean routes until his passing in 2015.

Born in the small village of Costa da Morte in 1954, Juan Carlos Lema Balsas was a sort of pilgrim by profession and could be found roaming Plaza de Obradoiro wearing the traditional attire of the medieval pilgrim: a long brown cape, a felt hat, several scallop shell ornaments, a leather saddlebag, and a big “bordón” (wooden shepherd's crook) with a small pumpkin hanging from it. For many years, a picture next to this white-bearded man became a staple of the pilgrim’s photo album next to other traditional snaps such as standing in front of the Santiago Cathedral or hugging St. James’ statue. Such was his popularity that he was photographed with celebrities such as King Juan Carlos I and the singer Julio Iglesias.

According to the legend, Zapatones used to have a very libertine and troubled life before being spiritually rehabilitated after walking his first Camino. Sadly, despite becoming a symbol of Santiago and one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, Juan lived most of his life destitute and earned a living thanks to the small change given to him by fellow pilgrims after taking a picture with him or hearing his stories.

Hundredths of thousands of people walk the Camino de Santiago each year. Many of them would say what makes the Camino such a unique and unforgettable adventure is the people you meet along the way: the picturesque local, the friendly fellow pilgrim, the good-samaritan stranger. Become one of the people of the Camino and enjoy a human and spiritual experience like no other. Ultreia et Suseia!