Wendy, a Pilgrim Who Fell in Love with the Galician Language and the Less-Travelled Caminos
Some people simply aren’t built to follow the easiest path. Wendy Wermech is one of them. Born in Alabama (United States), she lived in Portugal before settling in Rome (Italy), sharing her life with Australian journalist Nico Leonard. It was with him that she walked her first Camino de Santiago, an unforgettable experience that connected her deeply with Galicia.
That’s Wendy for you, a woman full of passion for pilgrim routes. Her travels explore far beyond the conventional, always seeking new routes and experiences. In 2017, she finally had the chance to walk the Camino Frances. At the time, it was the only one she knew of, but talking with other pilgrims she discovered a whole network of Caminos de Santiago. Since then, she sets out on at least one every year, sometimes more.
But for Wendy, the interest goes beyond simply walking these ancient trails. She immerses herself in Galicia’s local culture by learning Galician. Her linguistic journey began in 2021, self-taught. Already fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, she saw in the Galician language an opportunity to broaden her cultural horizons. This curiosity drew her even deeper into local culture, exploring, learning, and enjoying the language and its nuances.
This year, Wendy decided to intensify her linguistic immersion by walking the Camino de Invierno (Winter Way) and then taking a Galician course in Santiago. The course, Gallego sin fronteras (Galician Without Borders), attracts foreigners eager to learn this beautiful language. Wendy happily shares her experience on the course, made up of students from all over the world.
A tireless traveller, Wendy changed her life a few years ago to have more freedom and devote herself to her passions. With time to enjoy life, she sets off for Santiago every year, gathering memories and experiences on the different routes she walks.
In 2021, braving harsh weather, she walked the road on the Camino de la Geira y de los Arrieros. Despite the heavy rain, it didn’t dampen her wish to repeat the route and fully enjoy the walk. She is currently walking the Camino de Ignacio Taverneiro, enjoying the company of local people on less-crowded routes, where the welcome is special and the encounters are unique.
Recently, Wendy had a moving encounter in Moscoso, where the generosity and warmth of the local people touched her deeply. This is just one example of the experiences that make the Camino de Santiago unforgettable for her.
With her backpack always ready, Wendy continues her journey on the way to Santiago, where life is lived one small step at a time, savouring every moment and every experience on this unmatched personal journey.
