Camino Primitivo

Well, I could say that it's recognized really as Europe's oldest major pilgrimage route dating back to the 8th century.

It's considered to be older than the Via Santiago di Compostela, which is the early Camino Primitivo from the 9th century.

And it's also about on a par with the Kumano Kodo, which is in Japan, about the same age as Compostela.

The Via Francigena is a little bit older than that.

Mari Carmen Fernandez Lopez owns a hostel along the same route.

It's a less common trail known as the Camino Primitivo, or the Primitive Way.

Her family has been working in hospitality in the village of O Pedrouzo for decades, so she's had a front row seat to the massive increase in pilgrims.

Twenty years ago, pilgrims passing through her village each year numbered in the hundreds.

I'm now better prepared for my next career goals.

Climbing many mountains and hills on the Camino Primitivo has given me a focused, single-minded approach.

I return with more calmness and the new mental habit of minimizing my response to stress triggers, though not successful every time.

I gained a detached way of approaching challenges in life.

Not following the crowd on the wrong path on the Camino, et cetera.

Adventure solo or with others.

Many men and women chose to walk the Camino Primitivo solo.

A lot of them were going through transitions in life.