Reflections

Monica from Pamplona. A sweet girl I met that I hope to see again.... when I live my next dream.... to live in Spain

The ocean at last.... on the last painful downhill approach to Cee. This was near the end of a 4o km day for me and all I could say as I made my descent back to sea leval was ouch, fn ouch, I was in tears at the end of the day because every single step was brutal but I knew the pain like most days wouldn't last. It sometimes is simply an exercise in trust... trust that everything will be ok eventually. And you know what? It was.... eventually.

Herman from Germany had been walking for 2 months when I met him. He started walking from his front door. I was sure I would see him again... but no...

Denise from France, another person I shared time with and may never see again (I can't read her handwriting in my book.) Too bad because I would have liked to send her this fabulous photo. She had her own wonderful style.




I hesitate to write the last posting with my reflections because that really means my camino is over because my blog is over. It is often said that when one finishes the camino, that is when the real one begins. It is sad to say goodbye to the walk and the wonderful lifestyle of just getting up and walking to destinations unknown.

Words of advice for anyone considering walking the camino.... I started in Burgos and took my time. I could have walked further in a shorter amount of time but I didn't want to do that. I didn't want to be stressed by a schedule. Also, I have allowed myself some time at home before going back to work. Just as well because I haven't slept worth a damn and when I do it is at odd hours. I think it is true that the jet lag coming in this direction is tough. Anyways for anyone considering the walk, I recommend taking as much time and walking for as long as you can. Some people start later than I did in Leon, or even Sarria which is only 100 kms, enough to qualify for a certificate from the cathedral. Where I started, the majority of pilgrims had already been walking for a couple of weeks. They had chilled out by that time and patiently showed me the way.... their way. By the time we all get to Sarria, it is as if there is a flood of chatty, excited, hyper people on what was once a quiet walk. It takes a couple of weeks to empty out the mind with busy thoughts and that to me is the best part of the camino. I won't give the usual tips such as pack lightly, break in your boots, try out all your clothes and pack at home... but I guess I just did, didn't I?

One thing I loved about Spain that took me a while to clue into was the lovely spanish men who call the barristas guapa (beautiful) when ordering a coffee or whatever. The women love it of course and I think calling someone you don't know beautiful makes the world a better place. I was in Madrid in a little tienda and I heard the most groovey cubanlmusic and I asked who it was. It turns out they had the cd for sale....Rauel Torres, originally from Cuba but now living in Madrid. I was so thrilled. When I paid for my cd and got it in my hand, I told the woman, muchas gracias guapa. She gave me the nicest smile and a flower. I wasn't sure if women called other women guapa until I was called guapa by a female musician earlier that day in the Plaza Mayor.

The weird thing about the camino is that there are so many connections made, so many sharing of moments only to find out that one never ever will see that person again. I lost a few people on the walk that I was so sure I would see again. The aussie brothers.... Gabriel... Judy.... Herman... Dora... Natasha....even Miguel who professed his love for me while I washed my socks..so many.

Would I walk the camino again? Abso-fn-lutely! I would choose a different season... maybe the winter or the spring. As I walked, I knew I was only catching a snapshot of just one season and I would try and imagine the hayfields with their first shoots coming up out of the ground in the spring and how different that must look. Another time, I would have a better idea of what to put in my pack and more importantly what not to put in my pack.

I would take better notes. The days tend to blur together. And I would try and learn some working french and german to be able to communicate with more people. My spanish was ok but those other languages would be really helpful.

I walked by so many albergues I would have loved to stay in but it was too early in the day to stop. I would like to see the sunrise at the cruz de ferro. And I definitely would walk all the way to the end of the world... Fisterre again. And I would walk into many more sunsets.

The walk isn't for everyone and perhaps everyone isn't for the walk. It was a must-do-before-I-leave-the-planet thing and now it is a must-do-again-before-I-leave-the planet. I am grateful that I gave myself this gift of time. It was a gentle way to say goodbye to my dad and a gentle way to get reaquainted with life. So simple. One foot in front of the other. The pain and discomfort passes. As that aussie woman Sonja said, walking with the pack is purgatory and at the end of every day is heaven when it is time to give the aching feet and tired bones a rest.

I guess my camino is over or hopefully just beginning. Estoy agradecida por todo. Buen camino a todos.