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Two Million Steps: BAND-AIDS, COCKTAILS, AND FINDING PEACE ALONG SPAIN'S CAMINO DE SANTIAGO
Life is good for Patrick DeVaney. He has a loving family, a successful career, and good friends. He is fortunate in many ways, and he knows it. But Pat also knows one other thing. Negativity had seized him; his life’s glass always seemed half empty.
Despite the blessings of a prosperous life, Pat lives with a sense of dissatisfaction. He’s haunted by a feeling of purposelessness for which he cannot seem to find a solution. When a fateful phone call puts Pat on the proverbial edge, he knows he needs answers even if he doesn’t know the questions.
Pat recalls hearing of the Camino de Santiago—the five-hundred-mile spiritual path through France and Spain that ends at the traditional burial site of James the Apostle. In his state of unrest and longing, Pat makes the bold decision to embark upon the ancient pilgrimage on foot.
Two Million Steps captures Pat’s incredible journey of self-discovery along his trek through Europe and the places, people, and events he encounters along the way. For Pat, physical pain becomes a badge of honor, and every step he takes leads him closer to healing his soul and to becoming a new person.
Despite the blessings of a prosperous life, Pat lives with a sense of dissatisfaction. He’s haunted by a feeling of purposelessness for which he cannot seem to find a solution. When a fateful phone call puts Pat on the proverbial edge, he knows he needs answers even if he doesn’t know the questions.
Pat recalls hearing of the Camino de Santiago—the five-hundred-mile spiritual path through France and Spain that ends at the traditional burial site of James the Apostle. In his state of unrest and longing, Pat makes the bold decision to embark upon the ancient pilgrimage on foot.
Two Million Steps captures Pat’s incredible journey of self-discovery along his trek through Europe and the places, people, and events he encounters along the way. For Pat, physical pain becomes a badge of honor, and every step he takes leads him closer to healing his soul and to becoming a new person.
- GenresTravelNonfiction
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 21, 2017
157 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 22, 2023
Patrick Devaney's book, Two Million Steps: BAND-AIDS, COCKTAILS, AND FINDING PEACE ALONG SPAIN'S CAMINO DE SANTIAGO, is a fabulous way to experience the Camino de Santiago. I felt like I was walking alongside Devaney.
I am planning on walking/hiking the 500 mile Camino in 2024 and Devaney's initial planning process was the same as mine. John Brierley's guidebook, A Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino de Santiago: The Way of St. James, is what Devaney studied ahead of time and used each day while on the Camino. Devaney also watched the Martin Sheen movie, The Way, which was filmed on the Camino. I felt a kindred connection to Devaney early in the book.
While Devaney was on the Camino, he met Dane Johansen, a cello player who carried his cello throughout his journey and held nightly concerts. Johansen's Camino excursion became a documentary called Strangers on Earth.
Some of the powerful passages in Two Million Steps: BAND-AIDS, COCKTAILS, AND FINDING PEACE ALONG SPAIN'S CAMINO DE SANTIAGO include:
* Retake the reins of my life
* The desire to understand who I am and who I ought to be
* Saint Frances of Assisi: Start by doing what's necessary, then do what's possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.
* The pilgrimage unfolds in thirds: the first third is for the body, the second for the mind, and the last is for the soul.
* Pilgrim's proverb: It's not the road that wears you out, it's the grain of sand in your show.
Devaney's honest daily description of his journey includes slogging through mud, lancing blisters, continual rain, lots of poop by many different animals, injuries and death of other pilgrims, challenging language barriers, getting lost, wanting to give up, and swarms of bugs. The intersection of pain and challenges is offset by the wonderful people, conversations and experiences Devaney poignantly shares.
Since his first initial Camino journey, Devaney has walked the Camino four additional times.
Highly recommend, particularly for those who are considering the Camino.
I am planning on walking/hiking the 500 mile Camino in 2024 and Devaney's initial planning process was the same as mine. John Brierley's guidebook, A Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino de Santiago: The Way of St. James, is what Devaney studied ahead of time and used each day while on the Camino. Devaney also watched the Martin Sheen movie, The Way, which was filmed on the Camino. I felt a kindred connection to Devaney early in the book.
While Devaney was on the Camino, he met Dane Johansen, a cello player who carried his cello throughout his journey and held nightly concerts. Johansen's Camino excursion became a documentary called Strangers on Earth.
Some of the powerful passages in Two Million Steps: BAND-AIDS, COCKTAILS, AND FINDING PEACE ALONG SPAIN'S CAMINO DE SANTIAGO include:
* Retake the reins of my life
* The desire to understand who I am and who I ought to be
* Saint Frances of Assisi: Start by doing what's necessary, then do what's possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.
* The pilgrimage unfolds in thirds: the first third is for the body, the second for the mind, and the last is for the soul.
* Pilgrim's proverb: It's not the road that wears you out, it's the grain of sand in your show.
Devaney's honest daily description of his journey includes slogging through mud, lancing blisters, continual rain, lots of poop by many different animals, injuries and death of other pilgrims, challenging language barriers, getting lost, wanting to give up, and swarms of bugs. The intersection of pain and challenges is offset by the wonderful people, conversations and experiences Devaney poignantly shares.
Since his first initial Camino journey, Devaney has walked the Camino four additional times.
Highly recommend, particularly for those who are considering the Camino.
November 4, 2025
Not the best book about El Camino. I have read so many books written about the Camino. To be honest, it was a push to finish this book. There was not much written about the actual walking but more written about the wine and gin and tonic drinking at the end of each stage. He sounded more like a frat boy than a pilgrim. It seemed like he trained for the physical aspect of the journey but not necessarily prepared for the spiritual aspect. Also, as others mentioned, even by the end of his journey, he did not learn enough Spanish to know what he was ordering at meals. He did give a brief summary of the history of each of the cities/towns/villages that he stayed in. For someone who is planning on walking the Camino, there are other books that capture the experience better than this one.
October 17, 2019
It could have been titled Heavy Drinker Walks the Camino. The names of the scores of wines he drank would have been helpful. It was such an abrupt change in tone from the Good Time Charlie he seems at the beginning to the Spiritual Sam at the end, that I found it hard to believe. One annoyance is that he refused to learn any Spanish, even the names of foods! He had a translation app, but was surprised when the food he ordered arrived and was frustrated when he couldn’t get what he needed at the pharmacy. Odd. The descriptions of many sights and sites are wonderful and there are very few mentions of blisters, so I gave the book an extra star. Easy to read, though not interesting to me, probably because I’m much older than the author. Worth a try, if you’re interested in wine and private rooms along the Camino.
February 20, 2023
I really wanted to like this book. Having hiked many of the long trails of Europe I wanted to learn something about the El Camino. The book is a great recollection of the author’s journey, but does very little to prepare you for your journey.
January 29, 2022
An excellent book for preparing oneself to go on the Camino.
January 8, 2019
My aunt gave me this book. She has some sort of connection to the author's wife; additionally the author is from Albany, where I was born. When someone gives me a book I feel compelled to actually read it and follow up with them. In this case, I did not expect to actually enjoy the book but I really did! It was a great book to start off the new year. As middle age (or past middle age really) is on my mind, this reinforced that you are never to old to learn and take on new challenges.
June 24, 2024
Very Inspirational and worthy of your time to read
I loved this story, told from the heart, about a true experience in Spain. I recently visited Malaga for a week and wrote a journal myself that I wish to publish, and it will be my first if I ever get through it. Just looking at what that entails, I applaud Patrick for getting his story into print so we can enjoy it too. He picked good pictures to accompany the tale. At 69 I am prob too old to do such a trip, regardless of what he says, but I did clock 70 miles in Malaga in a week last April! I have been looking for a book just like this one to read because it tells of Spain AND a personal experience, and it ended up I read it exactly 10 years later to the date on Patrick’s certificate. My adult son wants to walk part of this so I am recommending the book to him. I know what Patrick means when he says at first he could count on one hand the people who really were interested in his story, but we are out there Patrick! More than you know.
I loved this story, told from the heart, about a true experience in Spain. I recently visited Malaga for a week and wrote a journal myself that I wish to publish, and it will be my first if I ever get through it. Just looking at what that entails, I applaud Patrick for getting his story into print so we can enjoy it too. He picked good pictures to accompany the tale. At 69 I am prob too old to do such a trip, regardless of what he says, but I did clock 70 miles in Malaga in a week last April! I have been looking for a book just like this one to read because it tells of Spain AND a personal experience, and it ended up I read it exactly 10 years later to the date on Patrick’s certificate. My adult son wants to walk part of this so I am recommending the book to him. I know what Patrick means when he says at first he could count on one hand the people who really were interested in his story, but we are out there Patrick! More than you know.
July 2, 2020
I am mentally, emotionally, and spiritually consumed with the Camino de Santiago. Having walked it in 2017, I count the days until I can return...work and life keep interfering with my desire. My coping mechanism (or maybe my destruction) until that day - watching pilgrim videos on YouTube and reading pilgrim memoirs.
I enjoyed this book because it is the story of a regular American guy - not a super-saint, not overtly spiritual, maybe drinks a little too much, and cusses at inconvenient times - a lot like me! The author does a good job of recounting his pilgrimage and he doesn't sugarcoat the walk. It is difficult at times.
A pilgrimage walk is unique to the individual pilgrim and I loved reading Patrick's account. And if you are considering a stroll on the Camino, I encourage you to read as many memoirs as possible and then go create your own!
I enjoyed this book because it is the story of a regular American guy - not a super-saint, not overtly spiritual, maybe drinks a little too much, and cusses at inconvenient times - a lot like me! The author does a good job of recounting his pilgrimage and he doesn't sugarcoat the walk. It is difficult at times.
A pilgrimage walk is unique to the individual pilgrim and I loved reading Patrick's account. And if you are considering a stroll on the Camino, I encourage you to read as many memoirs as possible and then go create your own!
January 25, 2025
I am hoping to walk the Camino de Santiago in the next 1-3 yrs so was excited to read this. I still want to go, but the book was less than inspiring. It more so felt like the author’s journal of who he met and hung out with, the food he ate and the high amount of alcohol he consumed along the way. I skimmed most of it, and still took me a few weeks to get through it.
He seems like a goofball, he didn’t learn Spanish and seemed surprised when he got certain meals and didn’t know what they were. He was most interested in who he was going to hang out with for dinner and drinks.
I gave this book to my aunt to read first as she’s who I’m hoping to do the Camino with, and she agreed that it wasn’t a good depiction of what the journey is like.
He seems like a goofball, he didn’t learn Spanish and seemed surprised when he got certain meals and didn’t know what they were. He was most interested in who he was going to hang out with for dinner and drinks.
I gave this book to my aunt to read first as she’s who I’m hoping to do the Camino with, and she agreed that it wasn’t a good depiction of what the journey is like.
January 3, 2018
Pat is a consummate storyteller and this comes across as he vividly recounts his journey, by foot, from Southwest France to Santiago, Spain. I was transported to the trail of the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James) as he encountered challenges, hardships, new friendships and the spiritual renewal that led him to take the trip. It felt almost as though I were there with him. Feeling the blisters on his feet and the joy when he, at last, finds his hotel each day. If you are looking for a book that brings this pilgrimage to life, look no further. You will be treated to many humorous stories along the way and in the end, he may just entice you take the journey yourself.
March 6, 2022
This book is strangely captivating, in spite of the terrible endless ramblings on people who get mentions once and never heard from again, and things that happened decades before and have no connection whatsoever with the story. It has occasional glimpses of humor, and interesting descriptions of the things along the way. But the misspelling of "albergue" - hostel - for hundreds of times through the book drove me nuts. As well as the author's inability to learn at least basic useful words like "pork," beef" "egg" and "fish," in six weeks of Spanish immersion. But the story of this middle aged man looking for himself and his faith can be touching.
April 26, 2022
I have read dozens of Camino books. I've walked it twice; and, in preparation of my third Camino, of course I'm reading more Camino books. This is, quite possibly, the best memoir from the El Camino de Santiago I've read. He captures the Experience almost without rival. The fellow perigrinos, food, drink, screaming body, exposed nerves... I am an intensely private person; and, I think what I appreciated most in his writing was that he gave us enough of his inner story ~ one's own emotional and spiritual demons ~ without it being too much information. This is a very fine line to walk while writing a memoir. Bravo, Mr Devaney! Bravo!! A seriously Good Read :)
May 16, 2022
heartfelt
What I liked was how he told the story of pain, pleasure, friendship and drinking. It felt real. I’ve read many books on the Camino that are direct but loved the approach he took explaining in detail some funny stories, but more importantly the connection he made with fellow pilgrims. I also like that he discussed the food, drinking and camaraderie, but more importantly the impact the Camino had on him. Thanks Pat for a wonderfully illustrated book.
What I liked was how he told the story of pain, pleasure, friendship and drinking. It felt real. I’ve read many books on the Camino that are direct but loved the approach he took explaining in detail some funny stories, but more importantly the connection he made with fellow pilgrims. I also like that he discussed the food, drinking and camaraderie, but more importantly the impact the Camino had on him. Thanks Pat for a wonderfully illustrated book.
July 10, 2023
Coudn’t put the book down
I read this book in 3 days. It feels like you are right there w him.
I did get discouraged reading about all the alcohol consumption because I’ve been sober since 2017 but got a “ God wink” in his book. I can give all of my bottles of wine to other pilgrims. Thank you. I needed that.
Going in 2024.
The Camino is calling me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your story!
I read this book in 3 days. It feels like you are right there w him.
I did get discouraged reading about all the alcohol consumption because I’ve been sober since 2017 but got a “ God wink” in his book. I can give all of my bottles of wine to other pilgrims. Thank you. I needed that.
Going in 2024.
The Camino is calling me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your story!
April 15, 2019
Interesting and informative
The authors telling of his personal experience while walking the Camino de Santiago. The story was very personal and help my attention from beginning to end. As my husband and I are beginning to consider doing this pilgrimage, I learned a lot.
Thanks for writing this book, Patrick
The authors telling of his personal experience while walking the Camino de Santiago. The story was very personal and help my attention from beginning to end. As my husband and I are beginning to consider doing this pilgrimage, I learned a lot.
Thanks for writing this book, Patrick
August 15, 2024
Wonderful adventure
Loved this book -- so much history with beautiful descriptions. Patrick demonstrated such faith and fortitude. Loved reading about all his adventures! Don't think I'd ever be able to accomplish this pilgrimage since I have issues walking a block, but I can experience what it would be like through this wonderful book!
Loved this book -- so much history with beautiful descriptions. Patrick demonstrated such faith and fortitude. Loved reading about all his adventures! Don't think I'd ever be able to accomplish this pilgrimage since I have issues walking a block, but I can experience what it would be like through this wonderful book!
October 29, 2018
Buen Camino Indeed!
My husband and I plan to go on a Camino next year so I got this book. I laughed out loud and was brought to tears. I even felt the blisters! This was not a checklist of what to bring but more of a heart check. Can’t wait to walk!
My husband and I plan to go on a Camino next year so I got this book. I laughed out loud and was brought to tears. I even felt the blisters! This was not a checklist of what to bring but more of a heart check. Can’t wait to walk!
January 22, 2019
Makes me want to go back.
Fun and casual book about the Camino de Santiago. I was delighted to see how many times the author returned to the Camino. How delightful to read about another life changed. We're all pilgrims and some of us learn to recognize that fact.
Fun and casual book about the Camino de Santiago. I was delighted to see how many times the author returned to the Camino. How delightful to read about another life changed. We're all pilgrims and some of us learn to recognize that fact.
May 19, 2021
Nice discription of the Camino journey
All the Camino travels I've read are very personal, each pilgrims walk unique to themselves. So this story doesn't get old. Some of them are more well written and filled with personal opinions and experiences. This book is a good one.
All the Camino travels I've read are very personal, each pilgrims walk unique to themselves. So this story doesn't get old. Some of them are more well written and filled with personal opinions and experiences. This book is a good one.
May 27, 2025
fascinating telling of his pilgrimage
I read this book in one day. I liked that the author kept the story interesting with details and reflections of his Camino without getting bogged down with unnecessary details or repetitions.
I read this book in one day. I liked that the author kept the story interesting with details and reflections of his Camino without getting bogged down with unnecessary details or repetitions.
November 9, 2019
I wish the author would have elaborated a little more about how he changed.
January 6, 2020
I enjoyed this book very much. It was an interesting book as just a book but it also gave a lot of good information about the Camino and an important insight into what to expect.
January 2, 2021
Honest and true
A vision of the journey with detail that brings the struggle and joy to life. Worth reading even if you’re not planning the trip.
A vision of the journey with detail that brings the struggle and joy to life. Worth reading even if you’re not planning the trip.
July 2, 2021
A heavy-drinking, pretty bro look at the Camino de Santiago, though the end is rather spiritual.
July 7, 2022
A ridiculous book, but entertaining.
February 2, 2023
A good interesting book by a avid walker. I am a similar age to him so can relate to his trip more than most people who do the trip then write a book.
April 30, 2023
Thank you for the journey.
June 5, 2023
Honest and Humerous
Patrick delivers a beautiful narrative of the Camino experience. He’s honest and puts it all out there with a touch of humor. Well done.
Patrick delivers a beautiful narrative of the Camino experience. He’s honest and puts it all out there with a touch of humor. Well done.
August 17, 2023
very interesting book
Was looking for a preview for my Camino preparation. Can wait to go nice to see what experience is described on the book
Was looking for a preview for my Camino preparation. Can wait to go nice to see what experience is described on the book
August 22, 2023
If you like grueling hikes, drinking wine, and are Catholic, then you must take this hike and read this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews