Sylvia Nilsen

Sylvia Nilsen, well known in the Camino world for her ‘amaWalker blog’ and as ‘Sillydoll’ on the Camino forums, is a South African freelance writer who has been published in numerous local and international publications. She worked as a research agent and editor for a UK-based travel guide publisher and produced several African city and country guides. She has published 7 Camino related books including an historical novel.
Sylvia has walked over 6,000 km of Camino trails, including Paris to Spain, the Camino Francés from Roncesvalles and St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago, from Lourdes to Pamplona, el Ferrol to Santiago twice, Santiago to Finisterre, and twice from Switzerland to Rome on the Via Francigena. She started leading groups of pilgrims on the Camino Francés in 2011 and the Via Francigena in 2016. She led small groups of not-so-able pilgrims to Santiago in 2013, 2014, and 2019. She has served as a volunteer hospitalero in Spain and is a Spanish accredited hospitalero volunteer trainer in South Africa having trained over 130 new volunteers. Sylvia was the Regional Co-ordinator for the Confraternity of St James in South Africa from 2003 to 2010. Her passion and knowledge of all things Camino shine through in this book.