The Journeys of a Modern Day Pilgrim
A LIFE ON THE CAMINO, AND BEYOND
Not all those who wander are lost. Some are running away from people or situations they don’t want to confront. Some are chasing after things that cannot be caught. Others know the way but aren’t quite ready to arrive at their destination, while more just like the sense of adventure that comes with not knowing what’s around the next corner. If you are one of those people, then you’ve come to the right website. Even if you don’t fall into one of those categories, you’re welcome here too. You’d never know what you might encounter.
My name is John McSweeney, and this website is devoted to my experiences walking some of the many different paths of the Camino de Santiago, a medieval pilgrimage through the Iberian peninsula to the city of Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain. Thousands of people walk these paths every year. Some walk for religious reasons, some for personal ones, but few are on it just for a long walk.
Different reasons have motivated me to walk the Camino, but the many paths on which I have walked have taken me to the actual end of the Earth, and into the depths of my psyche. Along the way I have met a host of international characters, enjoyed a diverse range of experiences, and learned many life lessons.
At www.alifeontheway.com I share my personal stories, practical advice, travel tips and nuggets of philosophical wisdom for those who are trying to pursue the life of a modern day pilgrim. People of all faiths and none are welcome to join me on the journey. Where the path will take you is unknown. What you do along the way is what matters.
Being a pilgrim is not a religious title, nor is it confined to the experience of engaging in a pilgrimage. It is a way of being. Adopting the mindset of a pilgrim should affect everything in our lives, from the way we structure our daily routines, to the way we work, to the way we consume and spend money, to the way we engage with others. Being a pilgrim does not require you to go off into the wilderness and become a hermit (although short periods doing this can teach you a lot). One can be a pilgrim in any context, as a pilgrim is any person who is on a journey. And, let’s face it, we’re all on a journey. A pilgrim is someone who lives simply but lives well, who tries to see the good in their fellow travellers, who recognises that life brings lows as well as highs and appreciates the lessons of both, and who tries to remember that the most important part of each journey is the step that you are taking right now.
24/11/24 – The Twentieth Anniversary Camino Cameo – A brief encounter with the Camino Frances, twenty years after the first.
28/3/24 – A Life in the Day of Macau – My story of a surreal trip to the land know as East Las Vegas
1/3/24 – Made in Taiwan – My story of an exciting adventure to a peaceful land known best as a potential warzone.
31/10/22 – A Pilgrim’s Rules for Simple Living – How living like a pilgrim can help us cope in a world of rising food and energy prices.
6/9/22 – Seven Keywords of Pilgrimage: Slowness – See how different the world is when we slow down and pay more attention.
7/7/21 – Caminho Portuguese – Part 2 – More penance and payback on a pilgrimage through Portugal.
11/6/21 – Caminho Portuguese – Part 1 – Penance and payback on a pilgrimage through Portugal.
My stories, insights and adventures from along the Camino de Santiago, and the journey of life.
Learn about the different walking routes to Santiago de Compostela
Want to walk the Camino but don’t know where to start? Here are some practical tips about how to prepare, what to bring and what to expect.
Your journey doesn’t have to end in Santiago. The lessons from your Camino can translate into your everyday life. Here are some tips on how to save money, eat simply yet healthily, and maintain the disciplined lifestyle of the pilgrim.