My long-legged smoothness of gait and unhurried-yet-dogged pace had me arriving in Ostabat well ahead of most other pilgrims today, so I – as had so often been the case – headed first & foremost into the local church to gratefully revel in its calming confines … “At the start of the journey, part of […]
“We have no right or cause to bow down to the memory of another person simply because he was of great intellect or great eloquence or even great intention. Indeed, many preachers and soldiers and lawyers and politicians have used these same great gifts for most unholy causes. No, we must meet each day to […]
As I exited the church, the Peace of the place was still heavy and soft on my shoulders, and so I chose to pause there awhile longer, looking out upon the surrounding the world – a world that still held so much Beauty; a world to which I so longed to bring Peace… “We might […]
I walked back down into the two proper thereafter and my fellow pilgrim Friends were still mostly yet to arrive. Jean Marc had told me that he had reserved me a room in town for that evening, so I intuitively stopped in at Auberg Ametzanea to ask if he had done so at that particular […]
It is indeed possible that Ostabat’s close proximity to St. Jean Pied du Port – the final destination for most of the pilgrims who were walking this particular stretch of The Way – made everyone a bit more jovial on this day, and yet it was equally possible that the released rigors and transcended challenges […]
The warm revelry continued into the evening, with me immensely enjoying both the renewal of already established friendships (namely with Jean Marc & Stephane) and the making of new alliances as well (primarily with Berend, who as walking his pilgrimage from Ireland to Santiago to raise money to combat childhood cancer) … Like the rest […]
I woke easily after a decent night’s sleep, enjoy a warm wake-up shower, and then headed over to the neighboring pub (which served, at least at that time, as the hostel’s dining room) for a relaxing later-than-usual breakfast with my fellow pilgrims. Even though they had slept elsewhere last night, Stephane & Pierre (who I […]
The start of any pilgrimage leg – at least those that are being walked by more than one’s self – is always accompanied by amicable conversation, and so was the case for me on this commencement as well; conversing smilingly with Berend & Gerard & Denise & Patrick about the day and their respective lives […]
As I had previously agreed with a later-starting Jean Marc, I paused awhile at the pathside bakery on the outskirts of Larceveau – long enough for Denise & Patrick to offer me a chocolate croissant, long enough for me to thank them humbly for the same, long enough to wait until they had walked on […]
“A journey measured by miles traveled always pales in comparison to a journey whose miles are measured by moments unraveled … It is true that society cane be readily enjoyed in a room of fellow travelers, and yet there is something indeed to being out of doors, where Nature herself is one’s only company. Oddly […]
Once again I came across a gate designed to constrain (and thereby de facto enslave) some local dairy cows, once again I was asked to close the gate behind me after I crossed its threshold, and once again I blatantly disregarded said request – admittedly doing very little to free my bovine friends from the […]
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