Cover of Der Innere Camino by Petra Baumann. Provided by the author and used with her permission for this article.
Before her first Camino, Petra Baumann felt both excitement and doubt. She wanted to walk, be close to the sea and find time to listen to herself. She started alone. Her memories include conversations in hostels, people who walked beside her for a few hours, and quiet moments that later inspired her book, Der Innere Camino.
In this written interview for Iacoboom, Petra shares what starting the Camino de Santiago alone meant to her, how she met other pilgrims and why she turned her notes into a workbook to accompany people on their journeys.
The answers have been translated and shortened from the text Petra provided in German and English. The experiences she describes are personal.
A book inspired her to start walking
Iacoboom: What led you to walk your first Camino?
Petra: I believe my Camino began long before I knew I would walk it. I read The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho and immersed myself in his story. His experiences, doubts and encounters touched something inside me. When I closed the book, I thought: I want to experience this too.
I increasingly longed for the sea, for quiet and for the simplicity of being on the road. I also needed space for a question I had carried for a long time: who am I, really?
I had doubts about whether I could do it. Eventually, though, my longing became greater than my doubts, and I chose the Camino Portugués for my first Camino. At that point, I did not yet know how much it would mean to me.
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Starting alone and finding company on the Camino
Iacoboom: Did you start alone? How did you meet other pilgrims?
Petra: I started my first Camino alone, and yes, I was a little nervous. But I also felt that I had to take that step.
I met other pilgrims naturally: on the path, in hostels, during breaks and over meals. Sometimes we walked together for a few kilometres; sometimes we met over coffee. A conversation might last an hour and stay with me much longer.
There was something special about those encounters. We were people with backpacks walking in the same direction. The conversations felt more open, perhaps because everyone had left a little of everyday life behind.
During my first Camino, I also started writing on Facebook. At first, it was for my family and friends. Later, I shared some experiences in a Camino Portugués group. Then something unexpected happened: pilgrims who had read my posts approached me along the way.
I only wanted to preserve my memories. I had never imagined that my words might accompany other people on their Camino.
Encounters that stay with you after Santiago
Iacoboom: Is there an encounter you particularly remember?
Petra: I could not choose just one. One of those people was Marion. I walked with her for only half a day, but I have never forgotten her.
She knew how to listen. As we walked, I shared personal things, and she was there, paying attention without trying to solve everything or offering advice I had not asked for.
We said goodbye, and I thought that encounter was over. But we met again in Santiago. With other pilgrim friends, we went onto the cathedral rooftops and later shared some ice cream.
When we were about to say goodbye, Marion took out some bookmarks. She had chosen one for each of us. Mine carried words about building something beautiful even from the stones that appear in your path. I was deeply moved. We had walked together for only a few hours, yet I felt she had understood something important about me.
I also remember two Spanish pilgrims, a father and his son, whom I met on the Camino Primitivo. It was a difficult day, with mud, climbs and descents, and I was tired. We hardly shared a language, but they kept turning around to check that I was okay. They respected my pace without pushing me to walk faster.
Our paths separated in Lugo, and I never saw them again. I still remember them. Marion taught me the value of listening; those two pilgrims showed me that you can accompany someone without needing many words.
Sharing the walk and keeping time for yourself
Iacoboom: How did you balance company and time alone?
Petra: Honestly, I did not plan it. On some days, I enjoyed walking with other pilgrims: we talked, laughed and sometimes simply shared the silence.
There were also moments when I wanted to walk at my own pace, without talking, looking at the landscape and following the yellow arrows. Over time, I learned to value that quiet.
I particularly enjoyed the evenings and nights. After walking, we might share a meal, laugh and talk about the day. Later came the silence, the moment to stretch out my legs and feel that, for that day, I had arrived.
For me, company and time alone complement one another. Encounters give me something, and solitude gives me space to listen to it and understand it. Part of the learning was recognising when I wanted company and when I needed to follow my own pace.
What she would say to someone afraid to start alone
Iacoboom: What advice would you give someone who feels nervous before starting?
Petra: First, I would tell them not to be afraid of feeling afraid. I knew that feeling too. Before starting, I did not know what it would be like to walk so many kilometres, what the next day would bring or how I would feel with so much time to myself.
I was often on my own, but rarely felt truly alone. Some people walked with me for a few kilometres; others sat beside me at dinner and became part of my journey.
I also discovered that being alone does not necessarily mean feeling lonely. I could stop when I wanted, walk at my own pace and listen to my thoughts. At first, silence felt unfamiliar; later, I learned to enjoy it.
I would not promise that fear disappears. In my case, moving forward step by step helped me discover a confidence in myself that I had not known before.
Iacoboom: How did your book begin, and what does it offer pilgrims?
Petra: After my Caminos, I had my notes in my hands: thoughts, memories, encounters and questions that had come to me along the way. There were little moments I did not want to forget. I felt that all of this should not simply stay in a drawer.
What stayed with me were the people, the emotions, the laughter, the smell of the sea and the quiet moments. That is how Der Innere Camino - Dein Workbook für den Weg nach Santiago und zu Dir selbst was born.
It is the book I would have liked to take on my first Camino: a companion with stories, reflections, pilgrim letters, questions and writing prompts. My intention is to offer space to pause, think, write and remember. Everyone walks their own Camino and takes something different from it.
I would love someone to use it during their journey and, years later, open it again and remember a sunrise, another pilgrim's laughter or a difficult day they eventually got through.
Where to find Petra and her book
Der Innere Camino - Dein Workbook für den Weg nach Santiago und zu Dir selbst, by Petra Baumann.
The book is written in German and is available from bookshops and online under ISBN 9783695696482.
An explanatory translation of the title is “The Inner Camino: your workbook for the journey to Santiago and to yourself.” This does not indicate a separate translated edition.
You can learn more about Petra's project on her social channels:
Iacoboom: What caught your attention about the platform?
Petra: I liked the idea of connecting pilgrims before they start and finding people who might walk the same route around the same time. For someone starting alone, it can offer a feeling of company even before the journey begins.
I also like bringing together people from different countries. And I was happy that you listened to my suggestion about adding German and introduced it so quickly.
Now I will take time to try Iacoboom properly. Afterwards, I can give you more specific feedback about what works well and what could be more helpful to pilgrims. I would love a digital connection to become a real encounter on the Camino.
These comments describe her first impression. At the time of this interview, Petra had not yet tested the platform in depth.
If you are organising your Camino and would like to meet other pilgrims, you can look for companions on Iacoboom. Petra's story reminds us how valuable it can be to meet people who respect your pace while also keeping time for yourself.
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