On 22 October, we had the pleasure of joining Ingrid van der Ent on a remarkable journey along the Camino de Santiago as she shared her experience of walking 284 km from Porto to Santiago de Compostela.
Ingrid’s journey began during the Covid pandemic, when the gyms were closed and she started walking to stay active. Inspired by a walking companion who had completed the Camino all the way from France to Santiago, the idea gradually took hold. Once lockdown was over, Ingrid decided to take the plunge, packed her backpack, and set off on her own adventure.
During her presentation, Ingrid showed us the equipment she had taken along and shared stories about the physical challenge of walking between 20 and 25 kilometres almost every day. She also told us about the interesting people she met along the way and the many memorable experiences that made her journey so special.
What began as a physical challenge turned out to be much more than a walk. Along the way, Ingrid found time to reflect on her life, face emotional burdens she had carried for years, and perhaps let go of things that had been weighing on her. The Camino became a journey of self-discovery, personal growth, and inner strength.
And Ingrid brought a little taste of her adventure to share with us too! She treated the group to a delicious Tarta de Santiago, one of the most famous cakes from Galicia in northern Spain. For anyone interested in trying it at home, simply get in touch with the club by email to request the recipe.
It was a truly inspiring gathering, reminding us that the Camino is about much more than reaching a destination. It is also about the people we meet, the challenges we overcome and, perhaps most importantly, what we discover about ourselves along the way.
Ingrid has been part of IWC Breda for 14 years. Having lived in China herself, she knows how special it is to connect with women from different backgrounds and share experiences of living abroad. It was a pleasure to listen to her share her personal Camino story with us.
Would you like to know more about the IWC Armchair Adventures? Check out our activities page on the website.
