Day 15
“Buen Camino!”
This is a magical phrase on the trail. Literally it means “good Camino!,” as in “Have a good Camino.” In reality, the pilgrims use it for everything and we say it 500 times a day. Here is your quick guide to using the local lingo!
Non Literal Uses
We use it to say good morning, get out of my way (when you’re coming up behind someone), good to see you again, nice to meet you. A great way to use it is to get someone’s attention, as we don’t all speak a common language so if you see someone take a wrong turn, you yell it real loud. Some of us, after a few days on the trail, also use it as a verbal shrug. I will give the example of my Swis friend Mary-Louise asking another pilgrim how the bathroom was in the cafe we were in, and the other pilgrim said it was ok except for no lock on the door. Mary-Louise replies, “I don’t even care anymore. Buen Camino!” (Don’t worry, we guarded it for her!)
Use as an identifier
Pilgrims can also use it to covertly determine who is another pilgrim. If you’re in a big city and all the pilgrims are getting in at different times through possibly as many as 2 alternative routes, you sometimes don’t know who is who after everybody’s slugged off their pack and showered and is out for a stroll. Just walk near them and mutter the magic phrase under your breath and if they whip around and can’t wait to talk to you about their blisters and the life-changing sunrise they saw this morning, they’re one of yours. If they don’t immediately respond to your signal then you just keep walking!
How locals use it
This is really sweet. Normal people will see you with your pack and wish you Buen Camino. I feel like I’ve had a Spaniard from every walk of life wish me a good Camino. The garbage man today in tiny medieval Castrojeriz. The gal with the red heels and tiny purse dog in Logroño. The 60-strong pack of middle schoolers on the path outside Estella. The big-city business suit ones carrying briefcases sometimes eye my pack like they want to trade. The farmers kind of good naturedly roll their eyes at you and smile when they say it. And sometimes they’re just your grandma in disguise, wanting to take care of you: someone told me yesterday a little old lady came out of the grocery store, saw a pilgrim, and MADE him take one of her peaches.