Having just completed the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail, Josette Falzon feels alive and invigorated. She tells Simonne Pace that the friendships she has built on this amazing journey will walk with her forever.

Everyone sets goals and nurses dreams – but there is a special feeling when a long-wished-for adventure finally comes true. It fills us with a sense of contentment, knowing that we’ve been blessed with achievement.

This is how Josette Falzon felt on her return to Malta after having walked the challenging Camino de Santiago trail with a group of 55 friends.

“It has been on my bucket list for about three years,” says the mother of a teenage daughter and an avid fundraiser for cystic fibrosis.

“I got to know about the pilgrimage through my sister and a trekking group I had joined. From what I heard from friends who had experienced the Camino, as well as from the information I personally gathered, I knew that one day I would go on this trail, as walking and exploring were always favourite pastimes of mine.”

At first, Josette’s intention was to walk the Camino with her daughter Francesca, who suffers from cystic fibrosis, and raise money for CF, but the timing was inappropriate due to school and exams.

“Fran will hopefully join me on another Camino as I’ve now got the ‘Camino bug’,” she says with a smile. “This was my first Camino but it will definitely not be my last.”

From left: Annabel Borg, Joanna Borg, Sharon Ragonesi and Josette Falzon on the way to Caldas de Rei from Pontevedra.

In order to start off slowly, Josette first joined the Sunday walks held by Experience: Adventures and More, after which she was introduced to the Caminiamo committee, which organises all the necessary training before each group sets off to face the trail.

Two Caminiamo pilrims who walked the coastal Camino route from Porto.

“With all the logistics taken care of, it was just a matter of committing myself to the Camino. The whole experience, starting from training in January to the actual walk, was simply amazing. Meeting and making new friends from all walks of life – pun intended – as well as sharing experiences, laughter and sometimes tears, made it all feel like I had extended my family. The friendships I have built will remain etched in my heart forever,” says Josette, who walked parts of the route alone, others with close friends and the rest in a group.

“Walking makes me feel happy and free. On the Camino I walked with a sense of gratitude to God for all I have received and achieved in life so far. The route took us from walking trails beside the Atlantic Ocean, where nature is wild and desolate, to forests and quaint villages, which give you a sense of togetherness.”

Josette cannot forget an episode when she was told off in one of the dormitories. Along the route, they mostly slept in small albergues but that day, after walking about 46 kilometres, they lodged in a hostel.

“The adrenaline rush in me was still high. I entered the dormitory where my fellow pellegrinos were and had no idea that I had to keep quiet after 10pm. The next thing I knew I was being told off by another pilgrim outside our group. All I said was goodnight to my friends! I think about it and laugh – it did not dampen my memory of that beautiful day.”

There was never a moment when Josette thought of stopping or quitting, even though she sometimes felt knackered.

Arriving at the Cathedral square in Santiago de Compostela: Tanya Gravina, a committee member, raises Malta’s flag with gratitude.

“Never, except for a tinto [red wine] refill! We were trained both mentally and physically by members of the committee and other professionals to walk long distances and also to set our minds to it, so stopping was never an option. The unity and support, starting from our leaders and also from fellow pilgrims, always made me feel safe – which automatically triggers a sense of security and freedom that allows you to enhance inner growth,” she says.

Being part of a big group didn’t worry Josette in the least, as she is an extremely sociable person, although she admits she felt slightly apprehensive about sharing bedrooms and showers.

“It was my first experience in dormitories and I loved having everyone around. I cannot stand snoring and other particular noises but I coped really well. Throughout our training sessions, prior to the actual Camino, we built a strong bond between us. I loved sharing my Camino with people from different age groups and walks of life. Everyone was special.”

The pilgrimage can turn out to be easy for some, difficult for others, a turning point for certain people or even a holiday for some. People walking the trail ranged from 25- to 71-year-olds, to single people and couples celebrating a wedding anniversary.

“For me it was a pilgrimage of happiness and joy. I built up my endurance for walking long distances day after day and I was lucky enough not to suffer any injuries,” says Josette, who says a few people got blisters but gladly carried on.

“This makes you think that whatever life throws at you, your journey has to continue. The Camino gave me time to think how blessed I am to have friends who look out for you, to share special moments with oneself, with others and with nature, and to understand that although no one can ‘walk your way’, with the support and love we receive we can all find happiness.”

The scallop shell, symbol of the Camino, was used to drink water from. Pilgrims leave these along the route as a remembrance.