02/01/2026
I first came to the UK having studied several languages except English.
I recall visiting a bookstore named Waterstones. Surrounded by all of those stories, experiences, and the smell of its pages, I felt the frustration of not being able to read or understand anything but a few words.
I used to wander around Waterstones often, hoping that, as if by magic, one day I could open a book and be able to understand everything.
It was after a couple of years that I took a free sample with the first episode of a book. As I turned the pages, I was amazed to read and understand it. I went back to the shop and bought the book. “The Know-It-All” by A. J. Jacobs was my first-ever read in English, and I will never forget it.
All those stories at Waterstones and beyond were now available to me. I could do something that earlier had felt almost impossible.
Learning English opened a world of knowledge to me and helped me communicate with others. It reminded me of the importance of continuing to strive to learn at any stage of our careers and lives. It also served as a reminder that we all need to start somewhere.
Learning something may take a few weeks, months, or a lifetime. But just because it seems almost too big or impossible, it doesn’t mean that it cannot be achieved, or at least attempted as part of our journey.
Today, after years of reading others’ stories, I’m releasing my first book in English, Spanish and Italian. Many asked about my experiences and thoughts on the Camino de Santiago, and here’s finally the result. Writing, editing, and publishing this book has been yet another pilgrimage, and I thank my loved ones for their patience, faith, and support throughout.
Extract from the book:
“You release ideas into the world with every step. You don’t know what’s going to happen with them, but what you know is that everything created is a precious part of your existence. There are so many inspiring pilgrims walking with us, defying physical pain and hardships. Sometimes we may run, limp, stroll, or crawl. Regardless, we just need to be confident enough to release our thoughts, our projects, our ideas, and ourselves to make things happen.”
thecaminoisyou.com
