Susi & Pina & I eventually made it all the way to the incredibly beautiful city of St. Come d’Olt, where we parted ways in graceful gratitude (with Susi & Pina stopping on the outskirts of town to pitch their tent at the local camping ground), and I proceeded onward alone through the gorgeous city […]
No sooner did I enter the St. Come sanctuary than I met fellow pilgrim Alice, and no sooner did I answer Alice’s intrigued questions about my Walk than she took me across the street to Gite d’Etape del Roumiou — where her friend Sylvain (the owner thereof) took me in for the night without pause […]
I woke up earlier than usual this morning and was already ready to set forth by 5:15am, and yet it felt somehow Right to wait and say my farewells to Sylvain in person instead. So I rested calmly in peace at the empty breakfast table awhile, until a few fellow early-rising pilgrims straggled in to […]
As my body continued to recover more & more from the intense pains & stresses of Switzerland, I found myself walking farther & farther each day. And while there was no rush — no set place to be and no set time at which I needed to get there, I realized that there was a […]
“Shall I walk or shall I ride?” asked the Pilgrim. “Ride,” said Pleasure … “Walk,” answered Meaning. “And shall I love or be loved?” asked the Seeker. “Be loved,” Pleasure shouted .. “LOVE,” answered Peace.”~ inspired by W.H. Davies
As I neared the town of Espalion, I came across the mysterious church of St. Hilarian de Perse located on its outskirts. Much remains unknown about this red sandstone, ornately carved, colorfully frescoed, and yet austerely outfitted 12th century (or possibly even 11th century) Roman chapel, and yet what is still clear beyond any doubt […]
I walked into a relatively deserted Espalion proper, and flowed peacefully a bit alongside the Lot River that was flowing through the same … 🙂 “Become as a river and then nothing is needed — flowing effortlessly in harmony with whatever channels circumstance provide, and yet flowing ever onward nonetheless. This is what it means […]
While most of the larger churches I entered on my Walk were ironically less than impressive (with most of them somehow being too cavernous & looming to provide the warmth and spiritual intimacy that my own pilgrim’s Soul seemed to crave), the main sanctuary in Espalion proved to be a lovely exception to this rule […]
“If there is gratitude in your thoughts, there will be sweetness in your eyes. If there is sweetness in your eyes, there will be Love in your deeds. And if there is Love in your deeds, there will be peace in your Heart.” ~ inspired by Sri Chinmoy
If I am being frank, Espalion wasn’t the most warm-hearted of towns (at least not on this particular day — at least not towards this particular pilgrim), and yet true to the Camino’s ever-wondrous form, just as I was about to lose all faith in the local residents thereof, I came across this donativo coffee […]
It was almost midday when I came across this naturally-made, impromptu pilgrim’s hostel, so it obviously wasn’t for me. And yet I did stay long enough to appreciate the shelter it would have provided had the day been rainy, as well as the kind sentiment left behind by a pilgrim who had previously passed by […]
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