Day 1: The Journey Begins

Landing in Vigo and Settling into Tui

Friday, June 27, 2025

Today marks the beginning of what I know will be a transformative week walking the Camino de Santiago with my wonderful husband, Benjamin. After months of planning and anticipation, we finally touched down at Vigo Airport at 12:50 PM, our hearts full of excitement and our backpacks ready for the adventure ahead.

Arrival and First Impressions

The moment we stepped off the plane, the warm Galician air welcomed us to northwestern Spain. Our transfer service from The Camino was waiting exactly as promised, and within minutes we were settling into our ride for the short 18-minute journey to our starting point in Tui.

As we drove through the Spanish countryside, rolling green hills and ancient stone buildings began to paint a picture of the historic path we were about to walk. The landscape here feels both timeless and sacred – you can sense the millions of pilgrims who have passed this way over the centuries.

Our First Hotel: Parador de Tui Hotel

Checking into the Parador de Tui Hotel felt like stepping into a piece of Spanish history. This beautiful 4-star property combines traditional architecture with modern comfort, and I can already tell it's the perfect place to begin our pilgrimage journey. The anticipation builds as we realize that tomorrow morning, we'll be starting our first official walk on the Camino.

The hotel's pool beckoned after our travels, and we spent the late afternoon relaxing and mentally preparing for what lies ahead. There's something special about this moment – the calm before we begin walking in the footsteps of countless pilgrims who have sought their paths to Santiago de Compostela.

The first 6 miles were beautiful.  We walked through small towns and beautiful forests.  We saw amazing architecture and historic churches. The last 5 miles were awful! It was very hot on all open roads. A long-sleeved sun shirt or linen shirt is a must for the long, open road to keep the sun off your arms. Finally, we made it to O Porrino!  Here, we had pinchos, cold wine, and beer at Cafetería Alirón Estanco y Loterías.  This was a lively, fun cafeteria with great food and very nice servers. 

Reflection on the Day

As we enjoyed dinner tonight, Benjamin and I talked about our expectations and hopes for this journey. The Camino isn't just about the physical challenge of walking over 100 kilometers in six days – it's about the internal journey, the conversations along the way, and the connection to something larger than ourselves.

Tomorrow we begin our first real day of walking: 17.17 kilometers from Tui to O Porrino, where we'll stay at Casa Da Urcela. Our luggage will be transported ahead of us (thank goodness!), leaving us free to focus on the path, the scenery, and each step forward.

What's Next

I'm both nervous and excited about tomorrow. The weather looks favorable, our spirits are high, and we're ready to see what the Camino has in store for us. They say the Camino provides exactly what you need, when you need it – I'm curious to discover what that means for Benjamin and me.

Until tomorrow's walk, Buen Camino!

Follow our complete Camino journey over the next six days as we walk from Tui to Santiago de Compostela, covering over 100 kilometers of this ancient pilgrimage route.