Walk by My Side

A Solo Journey to Santiago on the Portuguese Camino

De: John Comando

Narrado por: Rhys David

When I decided to walk the Camino de Santiago alone at age 71, it was on a whim. A year and a half earlier, I had had a hip replacement, but felt that I had become complacent in a comfortable retirement and needed to shake up my life. And that’s what I did.

I knew walking a Camino wouldn’t be easy or pain-free. Despite months of training and preparation, there was no way I could plan for the unexpected. On my third day of walking, an injury on the trail threatened my ability to finish my adventure. It would be more difficult and demanding than I ever imagined, forcing me to reach beyond physical pain and endurance, battle self-doubts, and draw from a spirit within me to finish the walk all the way to Santiago de Compostela. Along the way, I discover unexpected feelings and surprising emotions.

Walk by My Side takes the listener from the months of preparation in central Mexico to Portugal where I started a 100-mile journey on the Camino Portugues to Santiago de Compestela in Spain. I’ll take you with me as I walk to the rhythm of the endless ocean surf, navigate sprawling suburbs that have engulfed the ancient way, traverse the Camino’s paths and the back roads of Galicia, and savor the tastes of Galician food and wine.

Along the way, I meet a variety of characters, pilgrims from around the world, who are walking for their own personal reasons, and observe a Camino that is changing to accommodate expansive growth and ever-increasing numbers of pilgrims.

When I first started writing this book, I had a friend read an early chapter where I started walking the Camino. Her comment to me was “I felt like I was walking with you, walking by your side.” That comment inspired the book’s title and a promise to the listener to maintain that feeling throughout the journey.

Listen to this travel memoir, and you’ll be there with me...walking by my side.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2020 John Comando (P)2021 John Comando

I may be biased

The author is my friend and his description of his experience was sufficiently detailed. He regrets not remembering names of people he met, but I was impressed with as many as he did recall. Never having the desire to walk the Camino, I feel like I now know the pros and cons needed for one to prepare for such an adventure. Still not interested in this walk, the book was intriguing.

Interior Life

The story was really just a travel diary. I was disappointed that the author spent so much time alone and didn’t discuss much at all about his thoughts or the “still, small voice.” His interior life, I thought would be the purpose of the book.

Real events that happened on the journey

I liked it all! It gave encouragement that no matter age, many remarkable life adventures are possible

Useful information

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the book. I am doing my Camino soon and I appreciate the info.

Super boring for all that this magic holds

I was so excited to see there was a book about the Camino Portuguese as there aren’t many. This book was both boring and uninspiring. The author is awesome for doing the Camino but he left out all the magic and the logistical writing of the experience wasn’t very interesting.