126 - Judy Colaneri: The Camino Changed Everything

What if a walk changed the entire trajectory of your life? For Judy of Spanish Steps, a spontaneous decision to walk the Camino de Santiago in 1994 sparked a journey that would transform everything. 00:00 Preview 00:53 How a gift started it all 03:00 Meeting her Camino Family 15:06 How the Camino Tour Company, Spanish Steps, Started 24:34 How the Camino de Santiago has changed 29:07 Splitting time between the US and Spain 33:17 Tips for moving to Spain 45:39 Falling in Love on the Camino When Judy first set foot on the Camino, she walked alone through dusty wheat fields, not encountering a single pilgrim for days. The pilgrim experience was vastly different then—no smartphones, no apps, just a guidebook and the occasional payphone for making expensive international calls. At an albergue in Puente la Reina, everything changed when she met a group of international pilgrims—including a handsome Spanish man named Juan Carlos who would later become her husband. This captivating conversation reveals how their Camino romance blossomed into a 30-year partnership that includes running Spanish Steps, a company that has guided countless groups across various Camino routes. Judy shares the remarkable story of how she asked Santiago for a sign about whether to start guiding pilgrims, only to have her press release published in the LA Times a month later—launching her unexpected career. Beyond the business side, Judy offers intimate insights into the challenges and rewards of expat life in rural Spain. Having renovated an old farmhouse in Asturias into a boutique hotel, she speaks candidly about language barriers, integration challenges, and why maintaining connections to your home country might be the wisest approach for Camino-inspired dreamers. Whether you"re contemplating your first Camino or fantasizing about opening an albergue someday, Judy"s three decades of wisdom provide both inspiration and practical guidance. Her story reminds us that sometimes the most meaningful journeys don"t end in Santiago—they" Support the show Become a supporter: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751717/support Or Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/caminocafepodcast Camino News Update : https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9jRyUVnjI4WJMbM7rEbXW9ycGuQwm8Ae&si=vKPxgrYLQfyC_m4H Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQw Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaminocafepodcast/ The Camino Cafe"s intro and outro song with thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song - "Finnis Terre" - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter. Connect with Jackson: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3fdQsSqq9pDSwKcWlnBHKR