The fresh-fruit donativo stand was something special and quite energizing, no doubt, AND there was nothing on this blazing & stony afternoon that was going to remove the challenge from the day … “Here is to all the brilliant ones who love deeply, for they are the ones who write the stories that make us […]
Molinaseca: it was not a town that called itself Home, and yet it was a place that inspired serenity … “There’s something about arriving in new cities, wandering half-empty streets with no destination; a visitor surrounded by those who call your strange Home. I will never lose the love for the arriving in these more-cramped […]
I wasn’t sure where I was going to stay in Ponferrada once I finally arrived there, and yet the time of day and the state of my stamina had me knowing that somewhere within its somewhat cozy confines I would indeed remain that night … “We cannot ever say with any certainty that we arrive […]
And then, with a little assistance & direction from a pathside church (the San Andres Iglesia near the city’s central castle) and two elderly locals, I easily found my way to the famed San Nicolas de Flue Albergue, where hospitaleros Alfonso & Raquel warmly & intently listened to the tale of my Walk before smiling […]
As it turned out I was one of the very last pilgrims to pull into the hostel that night, and simply assumed that I would quietly tidy up my body & Soul and turn in for the night without being able to share with any other pilgrims who were similarly doing the same. And yet […]
I woke this morning thinking it was 6am when it was actually only 3, and quietly used the extra time to gratefully soak up the pre-dawn’s silent solitude – first while sitting in a stairwell and making some Peace Stones for hospitaleros Alfonso & Raquel & Luis, and then while sitting outside eating a breakfast […]
I headed later that still-early morning to a local Ponferrada cafe where I met up once again with my dear Friend, Naisah, and was blessed to sit with her for several hours there, reveling in heartfelt conversation about Life & Friendship & the Camino & Kindness. What a Joy to meet Old Friends once more […]
I then set back out onto The Way, walking smoothly through Ponferrada proper – munching joyfully on the banana chips & mango juice that Naisah had given as a parting blessing for my journey, and stopping briefly IN to the beautiful Basilica Virgen de la Encina on my way out of town … “The Divine’s […]
“Whenever we find ourselves stuck, whenever we find ourselves lost or confused by the chaos of the world, we can be sure that the only way to free ourselves is to take action of some kind. Just as kindness is the only way to bring peace to discord and Love is the only thing that […]
This day’s initial portion of the Walk (from Ponferrada proper, through the suburb of Columbrianos, and then to the small town of Fuentesnuevas) was heavily laden with churches, hermitages, chapels, and spiritual sanctuaries – among them the Iglesia de Santa Maria de Compostella, the Iglesia de San Esteban (and its beautiful carved-wood altar), the Ermita […]
A common site along The Way – pilgrims from all over the world gathered together as One … “How beautiful it is to get up and go out and do something – anything – for others. We aren’t here on Earth just to selfishly fart around. We are here to be actively generous with our […]
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