The Clean PictureAll eight of us at the airport before starting the trek.
A little over a week ago, I knew that eight of us were going on a trek across Northern Spain. I knew it was called El Camino de Sanitago de Compostela, and that we’d be walking – a lot. But that’s about it. What I have come to learn is that this pilgrimage is a journey that people have made for nearly 2000 years. It was an alternative destination when the Holy Land was too dangerous to seek. Instead, people opted to go to the resting place of St. James, who was thought to be a relative of Jesus Christ. At one point in time, pilgrimage was a religious requirement once in every Catholics life, and was often used as a penance.
These days, there are as many reasons for walking the Camino as there are people walking it. Some go for religious reasons, some for historical stimulation, and others just like walking. A common theme, though, is the feeling of closeness each pilgrim feels to another- each walking the same road – coming from different places, and heading to different places afterword. But at the present, all taking the same steps toward a common place. What a way to accompany one another. One woman offered her blister kit to us at a little café along the way. We at dinner with people from around the world – sharing stories, suggestions, and a very real support of one another. Many walked physically alone, but no matter where you were on the trail, there was a very real presence of the others walking and of all those who had walked before.
These days, there are as many reasons for walking the Camino as there are people walking it. Some go for religious reasons, some for historical stimulation, and others just like walking. A common theme, though, is the feeling of closeness each pilgrim feels to another- each walking the same road – coming from different places, and heading to different places afterword. But at the present, all taking the same steps toward a common place. What a way to accompany one another. One woman offered her blister kit to us at a little café along the way. We at dinner with people from around the world – sharing stories, suggestions, and a very real support of one another. Many walked physically alone, but no matter where you were on the trail, there was a very real presence of the others walking and of all those who had walked before.
I spoke more Spanish than I ever thought I would (in a different dialect and accent).
We survived on very little -though when it rained ALL day, it seemed like a lot when we spread it out all over our room to dry... It smelled a little :)
We ate heartily to keep our bodies healthy and working throughout the long walks. Pilgrim meals were offered at nearly every restaurant we passed – 8 or 9 euros for bread, wine, water, starter, main, and dessert! Not bad :)
There were km markers along the way to state how much longer until Santiago. Only 100km left in this picture! For us this was in the first days, but for those who have done the whole thing, this is marking the last 8th of their trip. There were also little yellow arrows pointing the way every 15 minutes or so. Amazing how much trust we could put in some bright paint!
We didn’t pack much, since we would be carrying it on our backs the whole way – but after an entire day of rain, it seemed like we packed a lot more! This is our little room with our wet gear hung all over in an attempt to dry it!
We made it! This is Annika and me in front of the Santiago Cathedral – I thought it was much prettier at night! A wonderful end to a beautiful journey.
The full facebook photo album here!
Other fun spring pics here!
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