From Ukraine to the Portuguese Coast: Uliana’s Camino Journey
Uliana tells us about the Camino and how it helped her to find yourself and explore your soul and body in the totally different conditions.
Inspired by The Way and encouraged by fellow pilgrims she met at a Ukrainian workshop, Uliana planned her first Camino with friends in 2018. Choosing the Portuguese Coastal for its shorter distance and ocean views, she set out from Porto, walked to Fisterra, and found both spiritual renewal and unforgettable memories along the way.
A Dream Sparked by a Film
Uliana’s Camino story began in 2012, when she stumbled upon the movie The Way. At the time, the Camino de Santiago felt like a far-off dream – another country, another culture. Years later, a workshop in Ukraine reignited that dream, and she decided it was time to walk.
Walking with Friends, Meeting the Ocean
In 2018, Uliana set out with her best friend and ex-boyfriend to walk the Portuguese Coastal Camino. The decision was practical – it was shorter than the Francés – but also deeply personal: she had never seen the ocean before. Days were filled with the rhythm of the waves, moments of solitude, and evenings meeting her friends at pre-planned albergues.
Faith, Reflection, and New Traditions
As a Greek Catholic, Uliana began the Camino seeking spiritual clarity about her life and work. Along the way, she developed a new habit of praying the Rosary daily, something she had never done before. When she finally reached Santiago, she found herself kneeling in tears – wordless, but at peace. The Camino had answered questions she hadn’t even known how to ask.
Uliana is a Ukrainian pilgrim whose first Camino experience was the Portuguese Coastal Route. She dreams of walking again, perhaps alone this time, on lesser-known routes like the Camino Olvidado.