30 days - 450 Kilometers Walked
I am back home after walking an average of 10 miles a day for 30 days. I had hopes of keeping up with reading journals on the trip but it soon became apparent that I would not have enough time.
It has been a wonderful 2 months with many emotional highs and lows. For the first two and a half weeks, we toured Greece with Cevyn, our 15 year-old granddaughter and her aunt Tiina. We had a lovely time visiting the historical sites such as the Parthenon, Olympia and Delphi. Then we took a 3 day cruise around the islands. Santorini is magnificent! Tiina and I were looking for property!
On the 20th of August, Tiina and Cevyn flew home and Joe and I flew to Barcelona and took a train to Pamplona. We rested for a day before starting our pilgrimage. It was a bit surrealistic walking out of a bustling city with only a back pack and hiking poles, with no idea where we were headed or where we would sleep that night. We followed the yellow arrows and scallop shell logos. We had a book with information but that wasn't a great deal of help. As we walked, more and more people passed us or caught up with us when we stopped at a coffee shop. The usual greeting was "Buen Camino"
We opted to stay in hotels or guest houses rather than the refugios or hostels. I just couldn't face the thought of sleeping in a room with up to 40 or 50 people! From the stories we heard, we made the right decision. However the cost rose from 5 or 6 Euros per person to 12- 20.E. A couple of times we stayed is higher end hotels but often the small inns in the villages were more appealing.
I found the walk meditative and often would get well ahead of Joe who stopped frequently to take photos. I will post some when Joe gets them downloaded.
The Camino is supposed to be magical. I am not sure about that. However I do believe Lisa joined us on a regular basis. We had a tiny orange and black butterfly ahead of us for several days. Then a blue butterfly showed up (blue is my favourite colour) then a green one arrived (Lisa's favourite colour). A week or 2 later, near the end of our walk, we met birds. I was surprised because all day long, we would see a little bird who sat in plain view and sang beautifully. We could get quite close. One time it was in the middle of the trail, looking at us. Another time, one was sitting on a branch which was bent towards the trail. I was walking straight toward it when I saw the bird. It was at eye level and for a few seconds, just sat there and looked at me. When I was telling someone about it, she said she saw the birds but they were very shy. At that time I felt so close to Lisa.
As I walked, I sang (quietly), cried, prayed and tried to come to terms with my life - they whys, and what do I do now. I still don't have answers but on the walk, I met people who are searching for the same things. We all had our own private reasons for walking. I was asked if I would do it again. I probably wouldn't do that one again but there are other walks and pilgrimages.
We were unable to do the whole 700 kilometers but we did walk 450 K (around 300 miles I think). You get a certificate in Santiago if you walk the last 100 K. We did far more than that so we got our certificate. Then we went to the Pilgrim Mass. I am not catholic but it was a very spiritual experience.
The walk is grueling at times, boring at others and magnificent at others. The people along the way, both the walkers and the residents were wonderful. We were invited to a street party to celebrates a couple's 35th anniversary in a village. One everning we were walking on a trail behind the village. We commented on the doors that seemed to go in to the hill. We met a man and son so Joe asked what they were. He said they were bodegas - wine cellars. He invited us in to his fathers cellar. Just inside the door was a set of stairs. We went down and found a large barrel and a smaller one. He offered us the best red wine we have tasted. He explained that the wine had no additives and the grapes were crushed by foot.
I think Lisa led to the Camino and kept an eye on us. We ended the walk relatively healthy. We saw people on crutches, bandaged, limping etc. Many people kept walking when they would have been wiser to take a break. The one thing about the camino is you don't want to quit. When we did ride the bus (we avoided very steep climbs as Joe has bad knees), I felt antsy. I really wanted to be walking, despite the sore feet and heat (during the fist week or 2, the temperature was 40C - around 100F). Thankfully, it cooled off so we weren't drenched in sweat for the whole 30 days.
As I refect on our pilgrimage, I will share more. I am still overwhelmed and very jet lagged!
Coming home is very hard for me but I am happy to see my friends and family.
It has been a wonderful 2 months with many emotional highs and lows. For the first two and a half weeks, we toured Greece with Cevyn, our 15 year-old granddaughter and her aunt Tiina. We had a lovely time visiting the historical sites such as the Parthenon, Olympia and Delphi. Then we took a 3 day cruise around the islands. Santorini is magnificent! Tiina and I were looking for property!
On the 20th of August, Tiina and Cevyn flew home and Joe and I flew to Barcelona and took a train to Pamplona. We rested for a day before starting our pilgrimage. It was a bit surrealistic walking out of a bustling city with only a back pack and hiking poles, with no idea where we were headed or where we would sleep that night. We followed the yellow arrows and scallop shell logos. We had a book with information but that wasn't a great deal of help. As we walked, more and more people passed us or caught up with us when we stopped at a coffee shop. The usual greeting was "Buen Camino"
We opted to stay in hotels or guest houses rather than the refugios or hostels. I just couldn't face the thought of sleeping in a room with up to 40 or 50 people! From the stories we heard, we made the right decision. However the cost rose from 5 or 6 Euros per person to 12- 20.E. A couple of times we stayed is higher end hotels but often the small inns in the villages were more appealing.
I found the walk meditative and often would get well ahead of Joe who stopped frequently to take photos. I will post some when Joe gets them downloaded.
The Camino is supposed to be magical. I am not sure about that. However I do believe Lisa joined us on a regular basis. We had a tiny orange and black butterfly ahead of us for several days. Then a blue butterfly showed up (blue is my favourite colour) then a green one arrived (Lisa's favourite colour). A week or 2 later, near the end of our walk, we met birds. I was surprised because all day long, we would see a little bird who sat in plain view and sang beautifully. We could get quite close. One time it was in the middle of the trail, looking at us. Another time, one was sitting on a branch which was bent towards the trail. I was walking straight toward it when I saw the bird. It was at eye level and for a few seconds, just sat there and looked at me. When I was telling someone about it, she said she saw the birds but they were very shy. At that time I felt so close to Lisa.
As I walked, I sang (quietly), cried, prayed and tried to come to terms with my life - they whys, and what do I do now. I still don't have answers but on the walk, I met people who are searching for the same things. We all had our own private reasons for walking. I was asked if I would do it again. I probably wouldn't do that one again but there are other walks and pilgrimages.
We were unable to do the whole 700 kilometers but we did walk 450 K (around 300 miles I think). You get a certificate in Santiago if you walk the last 100 K. We did far more than that so we got our certificate. Then we went to the Pilgrim Mass. I am not catholic but it was a very spiritual experience.
The walk is grueling at times, boring at others and magnificent at others. The people along the way, both the walkers and the residents were wonderful. We were invited to a street party to celebrates a couple's 35th anniversary in a village. One everning we were walking on a trail behind the village. We commented on the doors that seemed to go in to the hill. We met a man and son so Joe asked what they were. He said they were bodegas - wine cellars. He invited us in to his fathers cellar. Just inside the door was a set of stairs. We went down and found a large barrel and a smaller one. He offered us the best red wine we have tasted. He explained that the wine had no additives and the grapes were crushed by foot.
I think Lisa led to the Camino and kept an eye on us. We ended the walk relatively healthy. We saw people on crutches, bandaged, limping etc. Many people kept walking when they would have been wiser to take a break. The one thing about the camino is you don't want to quit. When we did ride the bus (we avoided very steep climbs as Joe has bad knees), I felt antsy. I really wanted to be walking, despite the sore feet and heat (during the fist week or 2, the temperature was 40C - around 100F). Thankfully, it cooled off so we weren't drenched in sweat for the whole 30 days.
As I refect on our pilgrimage, I will share more. I am still overwhelmed and very jet lagged!
Coming home is very hard for me but I am happy to see my friends and family.
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