I just finished The Alchemist and I could have stayed at the albergue of a real one!It was strangle hiking into Sarria. Five years ago, four of us were delivered to the hotel to start our 115 Kms walk into Santiago. I walked by the hotel we stayed in, had a beer at one bar along the river where the four of had dinner and then walked up the same, many steps with a much different mind set.
The 800 km French Way is such a huge journey. I have walked most of the 700 km in silence and alone. It is too far to try to walk the steps of another person or to be in the same mindset as others for more than a few minutes. For moments, people meet on the Camino and share stories and lives and then move on, perhaps meeting later in an albergue or cafe/bar. Many young people have formed groups but they also flow through the days at different paces, finding each other in the evenings. Many people have touch my life and will be part of this great memory. I do hope that some will journey to the Pacific Northwest and let me share our beautiful area with them.
But mainly, for me, this journey was meant to be a time to renew and regenerate. To have time in silence to enjoy the moment without worrying about the next minute, hour, or day. To allow the Camino to lead me. I love not thinking about what is ahead but what is around me at that moment. If I do this again it will with no book but a trust in myself and the Camino.
Not many pictures today because electronics didn’t charge last night. It was weird and fine to just take pictures in my mind and not know how many km we have walked.
Camino Moment: There is a large group of Camino friends that walk together. We ebb and flow with them daily now. They were at a cafe early this am when we stopped for coffee. As I was leaving the bathroom I was stung by a hornet. I had about 20 stings a few years ago, so was a bit worried that I might have a reaction. I asked the group if they might have a bee sting swab. No one did so I went for ice. I turned around and a young guy had come back to offer some Benadryl. That and the ice kept the swelling down and by tonight it is normal.
Candi, it must run in the genes. I remember when Josh got stung coming down the Dungeness River on his bike. We were close to the truck, but by the time we got there he was swelling profusely. Boy, would I ever love to be in the physical shape I was then.
Don’t we all.
So so happy you read The Alchemist! One of my all-time favorite books. Wishing you all the best, wild woman!