Seamus the Wholehearted Hiker

I was in Paris when some friends of mine, who live in England, told me they'd be in London for a weekend holiday. It's only a couple hours away by high-speed train, so I decided to join them on a whim, as I'd never seen the city before. I arrived at King's Cross station (of Harry Potter fame) and changed my Euros to Pounds for a four day exploration of the major tourist sites in one of the most influential cities in the world.

As a history nerd, and a former student of Latin at my Catholic middle school, I had long dreamed of seeing ancient Roman ruins and the cobblestone streets of "the eternal city". So, when I was leaving Spain to go to Egypt and points east, there was no way I could fly over Italy without taking at least a few days to see the major sites in Rome.

As the world's most popular long-distance walking route, the Camino is legendary in the hiking community. It was absolutely a bucket-list item for me to take in the Spanish culture, immerse myself in the spiritual tradition, and enjoy tramping through the beautiful vistas of the Camino de Santiago.