Pilgrim diary: why it is worth writing on the way

In short: Paper is light, needs no power and doesn't distract you. A phone is more practical if you want to combine pictures and text.

A pilgrimage is made up of many days that feel similar afterwards. After three weeks, hardly anyone remembers where the good soup was or what the woman from Korea was called. A few sentences in the evening are enough to record it.

What to put in it

You don't have to write literature. The date, the stage, the kilometres, one encounter and a sentence about how you are feeling are enough. With notes like these, you end up almost incidentally with an account that will mean more to you years later than the photos.

Paper or phone

A small notebook weighs almost nothing and needs no power. Many people also find it helps to put their phone away in the evening. Others prefer to dictate voice notes during a break. That is quicker and captures the mood. What matters is that you keep it up.

Sticking with it

Write straight after your shower or over a coffee, otherwise you will end up too tired. Don't set a minimum length. On some days there will be only one word, and that is fine.

Diary and pilgrim passport

The stamps in your pilgrim passport are like a second diary. Lay the two side by side later and you will see the whole journey. Keep your notes in a bag, because rain is their worst enemy.