“A Caminho” com o Maksim

Entre silêncio, desafio e descoberta, Maksim encontrou no Caminho algo maior do que esperava.

Partiu movido pela vontade de explorar o desconhecido, de atravessar dois países de forma autêntica e de se descobrir a si próprio ao ritmo dos quilómetros. Entre etapas desafiantes, momentos de silêncio absoluto, encontros improváveis e paisagens que mudam como capítulos de um livro, Maksim viveu um Caminho inteiro: físico, emocional e profundamente humano.

Do calor intenso às subidas intermináveis, das longas horas junto ao oceano ao encanto das florestas galegas, encontrou força, leveza, surpresa e uma certeza simples: no Caminho, precisamos de muito pouco e ganhamos muito mais do que imaginamos.

Nesta entrevista, Maksim partilha o que o moveu, o que o marcou, o que aprendeu e aquilo que nunca esquecerá.

Se queres inspirar‑te, preparar‑te ou simplesmente sentir o espírito do Caminho através de quem o viveu intensamente, continua a leitura.
A história deste peregrino merece ser lida até ao fim.

Estimated reading time: 8 minutos

1. O que te motivou a fazer o Caminho?
My greatest motivation was the sense of adventure, the exploration of the unknown, the desire to discover two countries in a completely authentic way, as well as the wish to get to know myself even better.

2. Quanto tempo passou entre decidires e começares o Caminho?
It was around 8–9 months. And then came an even harder period — I bought a plane ticket to Lisbon 6 months before the journey itself. I could hardly wait for the day of my departure.

3. Que caminho escolheste e porquê?
I chose the Camino through Portugal, the entire route — from Lisbon to Santiago. I knew this route was the least crowded, and that was one of the reasons why I decided on it. I also wanted to see Portugal and get to know its landscapes, people, and culture.

4. Quantos dias demoraste?
We completed the entire Camino in 24 days.

5. Que etapas fizeste e quais foram as mais marcantes?
There were various stages. I would divide them into three parts: from Lisbon to Porto, from Porto to the Spanish border, and the section in Galicia.

The part from Lisbon to Porto was the hardest, both mentally and physically. It tested my physical strength as well as mental endurance because the stages were long, sometimes hilly, sometimes monotonous. On this section, we also had some of the longest stages — around 35 km in a day — which was very challenging.

The second part, from Porto to the Spanish border, felt almost like meditation. Long paths along the coast, the constant sound of waves, the ocean on one side, sand dunes on the other. The stages were mostly flat, so it wasn’t too physically demanding.

My favorite part, however, was the route through Galicia. I particularly enjoyed the mix of coastal paths and forest trails. The paths led along streams and rivers between wooded hills, but also through towns that whispered their history.

6. Como te preparaste física e mentalmente para o Caminho?
Two months before the Camino, I started walking 3–4 times a week, gradually increasing the distance until I reached 22 km. But what I can say is that I believe it’s impossible to be fully prepared, because the Camino brings many challenges and surprises.

7. Fizeste o Caminho sozinho ou acompanhado? Se acompanhado, com quem?
I completed the Camino with my best friend, whom I’ve known for over 30 years.

8. Qual foi o momento mais desafiante?
The most challenging moment for me was walking the route from Tomar to Alvaiázere, which is about 32 km. The day was scorching hot, the climb was constant all day, and halfway through I got bitten by an insect, causing my entire arm to swell — that day was truly the hardest.

9. Houve algo que te surpreendeu durante o caminho?
I was surprised by how common and normal it was to see eucalyptus trees, even entire forests of them.

10. Qual foi a melhor refeição que tiveste no caminho?
The best meal on the entire Camino was in a small Portuguese village at an authentic local restaurant. The place is called Marinhas, and the restaurant was Bem Estar 2. I ordered roasted pork loin and enjoyed every bite.

11. Onde encontraste a melhor estadia ao longo do percurso?
One of the best places was near the very end, in the town of Padrón. It was a private albergue called Murgadan, and the highlight was the service provided by the gentleman at the reception.

12. Conheceste alguém que te marcou?
I met a truly large number of wonderful people. I walked or spent time with a few of them in the afternoons after walking, and I’ve also stayed in touch with them after the Camino.

13. O que não pode faltar na mochila de um peregrino?
Comfortable slippers or some similar footwear to wear in the afternoons after walking, and of course, a ton of blister plasters 😀

14. Como te sentiste ao chegar a Santiago?
The very arrival at the square in front of the great cathedral and receiving the Compostela went by rather quickly, and I couldn’t really enjoy it because of the large crowds and the constant flow of new people. Only a few hours later did the feelings catch up with me — everything I had experienced, seen, the distance I had covered, and how far I had come.

15. Tens alguma música que marque o teu caminho para acrescentarmos à nossa playlist?
It was definitely *Here Comes the Sun* by The Beatles. Every time the day was breaking or the sun pierced through the rainy clouds, we would start singing it.

16. Se só pudesses dar uma dica às pessoas que estão a pensar fazer o caminho, qual seria?
Not to see the Camino as a race to be finished in order to beat someone, but to walk at a relaxed pace, take in the surroundings, pause for a moment wherever they feel good, talk to locals, have a meal in a small local restaurant — that is the essence of the Camino.

17. Houve alguma aprendizagem ou mudança pessoal que tenha resultado da experiência?
The Camino taught me many things, both about life and about myself. Among them, I would highlight the realization that in life you truly need very little — everything can fit into one backpack.

18. Após completares o Caminho, sentes que a experiência correspondeu às tuas expectativas iniciais? De que maneira?
The only thing that didn’t meet my expectations was the route itself and where it goes. I had expected more paths through nature, forest trails, greenery. In the first part, from Lisbon to Porto, it was mostly paved roads connecting villages or paths through vineyards and cornfields.

19. Participaste em alguma celebração ou evento cultural ao longo do Caminho? Como foi essa experiência?
I didn’t have the opportunity to participate in anything like that.

20. Se tivesses que descrever o Caminho em três palavras, quais seriam?
Adventure, exploration, connections.

21. Tens planos de fazer o Caminho novamente ou explorar outras rotas?
Not for now. Maybe I would create a similar route in my home country.