We walked 14.3 miles today through these amazing forests. The trees were so magnificent, but it was impossible to capture them in a photograph. We should arrive in Santiago de Compostela early tomorrow afternoon. We are so close!
I had a funny bit of excitement today! All this Camino we have been seeing acres and acres and acres of corn, wheat, olive groves and vineyards. Yet we eat so many potatoes! I wanted to find the potato farmer, and I finally met one today! His name is Manuel…we had a delightful little conversation.
I am walking today for all the Spanish people who helped us in the albergues, hostels, bars, restaurants, and pensiones. They work tirelessly with such patience, hospitality and generosity to all the pilgrims. Some asked us to remember them in Santiago. In many cases we came to understand that their service to the pilgrims is their “participation” in their personal pilgrimage. Seldom did we meet anyone who had actually walked it. They were too busy working.
In the eighth day of our novena to St. James we read about Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came to the Apostles, which empowered them to be fearless witnesses of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the prayers, we remember, with thanksgiving, our Confirmation and beg that we, as Christians, can be responsible, worthy and brave, collaborating in the evangelistic work so that Jesus can be known, lived, and followed.
Answers to your questions! Thanks for emailing them!
Q?: How did you do laundry? A: Albergues are set up for you to wash by hand – everybody has to do it! Public wash basin, clothesline. Some have washers and dryers, some just washer. It’s a daily chore since we just have the two sets. Pensiones or Hostels will wash them for you for a charge – 5 to 10 euros. If there was no other option, we used a public laundromat, which were really quite nice, quick and convenient!
Q?: Besides family, from a practical standpoint, what did you miss the most? A: Cooking my own food, wearing clothes other than these, sleeping in my own bed. We also miss the facility to find Mass and open churches! Marsha added – Mass and confession in English and smells of home! Mary agreed and added – sleeping in!
Q?: Rearching online it looks like there’s alot of road walking (not scenic). Doesn’t sound like your experience. How much was on the road? A: Understandably, going into or away from larger cities, there is some, and we went though a large industrial area once. The Camino goes through small villages (the communities were established to support the pilgrims) so we share the small roads with the townspeople. Majority of the walk was spectacular countryside. Thankfully, there was far less road time than I expected.
Q?: Would you consider doing it again? A: I would do the Camino Frances route again ONLY If my husband wanted to go. There are other Camino routes that are shorter. I would consider doing the Portuguese route. Marsha – only with husband and doing a different route. Mary – I would go as a companion to someone who wanted to do it. I would not want to do just part of it. Maybe the Northern or Portuguese routes.
Q?: How did it get started and why is it so significant? A: Other faiths have pilgrimages to different places, but in Christendom, the three major Christian pilgrimages have always been to Jerusalem, Rome, and Santiago de Compostela. Significant because St. James is buried there. There are many established routes to Santiago, but the most popular is the Camino Frances.
Q?: Did you ever want to give up? Did the tiredness of walking ever overtake the desire for the journey? A: Me – Honestly? Truthfully? No, not once. Not for a moment. Marsha – No. Mary – Maybe at beginning, around noon (end of the day’s stage when it was the hardest) I would ask myself, “why am I doing this?” But just at the beginning.
Q?: Is the Camino everything you thought it was going to be? A: It is extremely exciting to be completing a long held personal goal. It was more difficult, in many ways. Day after day of physical challenges – I think I described it once as an “obstacle course.” I brought over 100 recorded podcasts, thinking it might get boring at times. I listened to part of one. I celebrated the quiet, truly, although loved our fun and sometimes deep conversations. We very much respected each other’s quiet time of reflection, which was most of the time!
Q?: Has it been challenging walking every day? A: Probably moreso in the monotony of the Meseta, but on our longest days of walking, our feet just ached at the end. We have been blister-free for a couple of weeks – probably for diligent foot care and our feet adjusting. 10 hours of walking carrying all that weight is quite alot of “trauma” on our feet and legs!
Q?: What has been your biggest injury? A: No injuries, per se. In the steep descent into Molinaseca, I had two very sore ankles. Then, by the time we made it to Ponferrada I was in serious need of ankle support. Ibuprophen has helped also! Marsha and Mary had sore knees early on, and knee braces gave helped them considerably.
Q?: What has been a spiritual thing that’s happened to you on your way? A: Probably how God has provided and cared for us. Also the profound charity of the Spanish people and among the pilgrims. Dedicating each day for a particular person has been extremely powerful. The Pilgrim Masses were very moving. We prayed in the presence of some amazing Saints!
Q?: Is the scenery beautiful? A: Spectacular! The best are the lush green mountains and climbing them!
Q?: Have you met a lot of interesting people and anyone do you think you will keep in touch with? A: Fascinating and lovely people from all over the planet! We only shared first names with pilgrims, so no, except for Stephanie. And she’s from our area! We believe that God directed the three of us together.
Q?: Would you recommend the Camino to others? A: Yes, of course, but I think you REALLY have to want to do it. It is extremely challenging, physically and mentally. Like Marsha said, “It’s not really a “vacation” kind of activity.” It is very demanding.
Q?: Does someone really have to prepare to do it? A: Marsha and I seriously trained for it for about three months and I’m so glad we did! Others (perhaps younger folks) probably (I’m guessing) don’t prepare physically.
Q?: Who was the most interesting person you met? This was unanimous! We found ourselves sharing a bunk room with a man, Carlos, very quiet, to himself. We were seated with him at the pilgrim meal. He was doing the Camino for the second time, this time in thanksgiving for a miraculous answer to prayer! He was a breast cancer surgeon from South America originally, lived and practiced in Spain for many years, now practicing in Switzerland.
Q?: What was the largest number of pilgrims you had in a dormitory bunk room? 12 in one room. Sometimes they were opened ceiling “cubicles” so we could hear everything from 20+ pilgrims, but people were pretty respectful. On three occasions we had 2 bunks in a room, no one took the 4th bed so it was just the three of us.
Tomorrow from Santiago de Compostela!