It was shortly thereafter that I came to the exact location of eleven years prior where I had encountered a fellow pilgrim when myself in a state of insecurity & exhaustion. I had been walking for many miles that day already, had no idea where I would be able to rest my head for the […]
There are many rivers through life alongside those made of water – there is the river of time (made up of myths & memories), the river of serendipity (built from omnipresent blessings & opportunities), the river of destiny (constructed from the consequences of all past choices), and the river peace (erected from all the moments […]
It wasn’t long thereafter that I walked into the town of Tardajos, where, as was my usual custom, I entered the local church to offer peaceful prayers of heartfelt gratitude and humble resolve – the former for where (and how) I had come from, the latter to where (and why) I might well travel… “I […]
This was one of the very few days when I did actually know (not with full certainty, and yet with a large measure thereof) exactly where I was headed – namely, back to the same wonderful donativo hostel* that had taken me in those long eleven years prior. And sure enough, the hostel was still […]
After checking in and setting aside my handful of things and taking a warm shower (being sure to leave subsequent pilgrims almost all the hot water that had been deprived of me by my fellow resident travelers when I had arrived later in the day those eleven years ago) to cleanse my body of dust […]
Shortly thereafter, a few other pilgrims straggled into the refuge, loosely accompanied by Victor & Eva (pictured) – two homeless (and quite hungry) travelers who weren’t traditional pilgrims per se, but who had rather chosen to live nomadically along the Camino, making its varied benches & huts & donativos their ever-scintillating home(s) for every night. […]
Even though the hostel was only sparsely populated, I maintained my humble practice of waiting until all were tucked in snugly before heading down into a common room to sleep on the floor in solitude … “When it come to life, we are all merely apprentices in a craft where no one ever can become […]
Up and at ’em early once again this morning, and I paused for a moment to marvel at the highly artistic (and also highly informative) Route Map of the Camino that had been created and hung (I assume) by a pilgrim past. How far I have already walked, just in Spain alone – and how […]
I said an oddly rushed farewell to a few fellow pilgrims who had freshly awoken and come down for breakfast, and then headed back out onto The Way. The morning was fresh and clear and the path was worn and smooth, and yet something was nagging me. I soon realized what it was: Conchi, the […]
I made it back to the hostel in short order, made Conchi her Peace Stone, gave her the same (along with a proper farewell hug, the latter of which being shared with dear Fernando as well*), said a fond farewell to Victor & Eva, and then flowed fluidly back out onto The Road – feeling […]
If we are walking The Way correctly, we feel as though we are walking like water … “This morning I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings. Skyward my heart has climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds. I have only walked a dozen steps, and […]
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