Memoirs of my little journey
Camino de Santiago, Spain 2014
And so it began...
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| The Camino World awaits Captured at Sarria station October 2014 |
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| The Beginning of the road |
Before this experience I was almost certain that I would return fresh and rehabilitated from continuous mind misplacement. It was not meant to be... ;)
This is my tumble dryer of camino memoirs jumbled and rolled together. These are my cherished little memories.
BUEN CAMINO
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| Direction captured on the Camino October 2014 |
SARRIA TO PORTOMARIN
2 October 2014
Our first day walking the Camino was greeted by misty, beautiful pathways. Expectations were exceeded and oh, how beautiful the day was. ❤❤❤
We were embraced by these misty pathways, many cows in the mist and friendly people in the mist. Oh, but the Beautiful scenery! We found ourselves amongst old and beautiful buildings built up from rocks and slate with
soft green moss covered rooves. Noting that something aged is filled with so much charm and character and has a special beauty radiating through. It was absolutely breathtaking and surreal.
The day however was not without its challenges. Our first day was filled with many aches. Aching
feet, aching back muscles and spasms caused by our over-packed backpacks. I had aches in places that I have not felt aches before. The last 5km
were absolutely gruelling!
PORTOMARIN IS GORGEOUS!
It is our first time in the Aubergue. We are a mixture of
men and women of all ages from all walks of life under one tiny roof. We have a
few communication barriers but there is nothing like a smile and a look of
fellow understanding to break those barriers.
Drinking and loving a beer or two with our pizza at the Piazza.
Heavenly.
Lying on the top bunk amongst fourteen fellow walkers,
ladies half naked, old guys with smirks on their faces and chinese guys walking around in their underpants, a bit strange at first, I know, but
I take it all in while listening to Coldplay and find myself relaxed and feeling less
pain.
Pretty darned interesting! J
“Call it true, Call it true love...” ❤ Coldplay's lyrics from True Love
PORTOMARIN TO PALAS DE REI
3 October 2014
Today’s walk and scenery was so different to yesterday's.
We had many up hills as well as steep, painful down hills but walked mostly
alongside the road, entering tiny, old, rural villages from time to time. We
very seldom see the locals on the road but there are, however, many pilgrims on the
road. There has thankfully been some peaceful, solitary moments in between.
More aches and pains were felt today. More aches and pains I have not felt before, unfamiliar physical pain, yet at the same time familiar inner aches and pains. Aches and pains that need to be left behind on this journey.
The journey...
What am I learning on this journey? Today I felt confirmation that my religion is lost! Yet I find myself immersed in my own spirituality. Labelling myself as a “Christian” just does not feel right anymore. Christianity in the worldly sense has lost its spirituality and seems, to me, to be just another religion.
A note I wrote 2 weeks after completing the Camino:
As long as the world is filled with ethnocentric cultures, it will never know peace. The world and its religions are what bring much conflict and unrest. As long as there is religion there will be ethnocentrism, and as long as there is ethnocentrism there will be war. Peace is but a beautiful dream...
Imagine there are no countries, it isn’t hard to do.
Nothing to kill or
die for and no religion too.
Imagine all the
people living life in peace, Imagine..”
John Lennon
I have learnt that we, as human beings, are able to pull ourselves through challenging situations. Also learning to let go of the pain through our strength because only then are we able to go through the cleansing process to find renewal, and to start afresh.
Reflection...
Each step taken today is a jumble of pictures in my mind.
I lie in bed, in Palas de Rei, Spain, listening to Kings of Leon’s “Beautiful
War” and try to make sense of the puzzle pieces. I know it has been magical in
a strange way. I just struggle to find clarity in the day.A calming thought and great piece to the puzzle was walking through a beautiful, cool and calm avenue of beautiful trees. Like a breath of fresh air, I could feel myself breathing in nature’s life.
PALAS DE REI TO ARZUA
4 October 2014
We had fun today! So many happy, laughter filled moments.
The highlights were walking through beautiful mystical
forests, rain wetting our faces and getting drenched in the refreshing downpour.
Thinking of the fireworks in Melide that we thought were
gunshots and explosions and being afraid, brave and silly at the same time.
The most appreciated stop was at the village café eating chorizo with homemade cheese and ham on delicious home baked crispy, crunchy
Spanish bread.
Massaging my aching legs and feet while thinking about life, love and everything else.
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| Ionut Preda Paralympic athlete |
Feeling cold, wet, dirty and smelly – desperate for a
shower.
Dying for a pain tablet and then forced to accept this pain. Letting go of pain so that the journey can continue.
Realising again that I have lost my religion. Confused
about my own spirituality. Not quite finding that answer on the Camino...
Learning to let go of things that hold me back. We need to let go of the fear of
taking that step... A work in progress.
Feeling young and vibrant and beautiful again!
Exhaustion sets in. Time to sleep.
ARZUA TO RUA TO SANTIAGO
Today’s lesson was one of persistence, consistency and more
acceptance.
We have the strength to push through any
form of pain or challenge to get to where we need to be. Once again acceptance,
a big one. A lesson that sometimes we need to accept the things we cannot
change but also to challenge the mind. The mind can bring us through when the
physical body feels it is at wits end.
Felt a brief period of emotion today. My legs and feet
were in so much pain but a sadness crept over me because it was almost the end of the journey. The destination was in sight.
How crazy it felt to be sad that the pain and the challenges were coming to an
end? I know why now, it’s the lessons and the strength that the challenges bring
that I loved. I seem to be thriving on the lessons. Life would be empty without these.
ACCEPTANCE! LETTING GO! MENTAL STRENGTH! MIND OVER MATTER! CONSISTENCY! PERSISTENCE! LAUGHTER! LOVE! MEMORIES! PASSION! FAMILY!
I love my family and am blessed to have them in my life.
We walked 10km more than what we had planned for the day, but instead of being upset or devastated I can see the advantages that came from it. We have learnt so much and so much has been added to our character.
Contentment is felt yet I am unsettled.
A little restless...
Tomorrow, to Santiago.
SANTIAGO
6 October 2014
On completing the camino and entering Santiago, walking towards the Compostela I can sense the humble and satisfactory relief of the fellow walkers. The knot in my stomach tightens as I feel the quiet sadness that no-one talks about. It is that bitter sweet moment of having completed a beautiful journey.
A wonderful thought comes over me that this journey will only lead us to another. There is no real destination on earth. Go where the road takes you, learn from it's challenges, embrace each lesson, but most of all love and appreciate all the moments with passion.
Adios Santiago... Until we meet again
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