The beautiful thing about favorite memories is they travel with you wherever you happen to go. While sitting in a cafe hundreds of miles away, your mind can open its treasured recollections and, for a while, you’re back on the dusty trail sharing a conversation or a laugh with friends you made along the way.
This is a very pleasant read capturing the spirit of Camino de Santiago.
I don’t like to wish ill on anyone, but I can definitely think of some angry political candidates who could benefit from 3 turns around the central pillar, particularly if the Arga was in flood stage.
I enjoyed your observations of the watcher at the Bridge of Rabies and your translated interactions with him. The Camino seems to be such a rich source of experiences and memories - a lovely payback for the taxing effort you put in to the pilgrimage.
Nice article, Alex. It kind of reminds me of "A River Runs Through It." The Arga River flows through The Camino in its tranquility to Pamplona carrying prophecies for the centuries; a cure for anger and rabid dogs? If only we could transport our angry politicians acting like mad dogs to its shores.
You never step your foot in the same river twice, it changes constantly on its way to the sea never holding all the water that passes through it, reminding us of the pilgrimage of life. "All streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are. Humility gives it its power." In Yoga Mudra, you place your head beneath your heart. It is a tiring pose, and you must stop doing and rest. To me, this shows if we do not bend, life will break us. Rivers know this.
I get the sense the old man in the worn brown jacket resting his chin on his walking stick, knows all the river's secrets. We should be so lucky. I am jealous. I think I will always be "haunted by waters."
Love the storytelling in this. Love that Luna is in it for a brief moment too. Nicely done. I'm now gonna try and get blister lady out of my head. Thanks for linking Rona's info. Have a lovely Sunday.
She was so kind to help. Many inexperienced walkers have real blisters for the first time by the time they arrive in Zubiri. Her help is much appreciated by all.
As it happens, I was just dumping enormous numbers of emails by the batch, barely glancing at headers, hoping not to permanently delete a consequential piece of information. Your admission to “work overload” was comforting to this slow, impaired older lady trying to get/keep the basics in order. Learning that is not going to be possible. That I am not alone in this by someone as admired as you are to me is a comfort. I retain your stories of the Camino in memory, especially those first three days as you depart on the “Way” and climb up and beyond the Pyrenees. The photos seem familiar and are beloved. The Bridge is there in my memory bank, its extraordinary architecture and timeless beauty, but the addition of the legends of curing anger is new. So sorry the video no longer seemed “right.” Any cure for anger in the last few weeks of this life for so many would be welcome. My response in the USA is more overwhelmed than any other feeling; despondent that I can do so little to help others from my sofa and iPad, but I continue to work at it more slowly than in prior months; the distraction from personal issues and feeling of purpose are essential. I welcome the comfort of my fur babies who persist in bumping the corners of my device and my bifocals, reminding me of their need for care and reciprocal love; adore them, my family. Thank you for the paragraphs that morphed into a newsletter so welcome with memories of the Camino inspiring as always. Wishing Rona much success in her endeavor. I suspect it will be more successful than protests that have moved beyond what is considered acceptable.
Emotions out of control; solutions in process but so very late. Too late for the thousands of dead and displaced real people on the other side of the world. 💔💔💔
It's an interesting narrative, very pleasant to read! Thanks a lot, Alex, for sharing this!
The memories of this pilgrimage have marked my mind and my heart for a long time, perhaps forever!…
I did it just after finishing my studies, before starting my professional life
A long time ago now!
It is an inner experience but also a walk in contact with other pilgrims, all towards the same destination, each at their own pace and immersed in nature.
This profound experience of this “path shared” by so many people, for so many centuries, is truly irreplaceable!
As far as I am concerned, almost all the anecdotes of encounters, of difficulties, of privileged moments, fade over the years, but never this feeling of serenity, of inner joy, and never the memory of all these invisible links, but strong, with the other pilgrims.
Some pilgrims take this path for very spiritual reasons, others to experience a very personal, unique adventure... but all are equal on this same path!
For me, after so many years, I still have the feeling of having lived through an exceptional period of my life. A path traveled in inner serenity, in sharing, outside of everyday life, outside of time 👌🌿🌅🙏
A return to the Camino if only via memories
.
The beautiful thing about favorite memories is they travel with you wherever you happen to go. While sitting in a cafe hundreds of miles away, your mind can open its treasured recollections and, for a while, you’re back on the dusty trail sharing a conversation or a laugh with friends you made along the way.
This is a very pleasant read capturing the spirit of Camino de Santiago.
I look forward to next year.
So do I :-)
Thanks for taking us along the different places and rivers in the fresh and green Pyrenees.
You describe how you traversed these in friendly company and I guess from your photos in pleasant and green surroundings and heights.
Some friends are walking the Camino now for to escape the great heat you know.
I hope they will enjoy the Camino as much as I did.
Thank you for linking Rona's information!
I don’t like to wish ill on anyone, but I can definitely think of some angry political candidates who could benefit from 3 turns around the central pillar, particularly if the Arga was in flood stage.
I enjoyed your observations of the watcher at the Bridge of Rabies and your translated interactions with him. The Camino seems to be such a rich source of experiences and memories - a lovely payback for the taxing effort you put in to the pilgrimage.
Someone just asked why I laughed when reading this 😂 🌊
Nice article, Alex. It kind of reminds me of "A River Runs Through It." The Arga River flows through The Camino in its tranquility to Pamplona carrying prophecies for the centuries; a cure for anger and rabid dogs? If only we could transport our angry politicians acting like mad dogs to its shores.
You never step your foot in the same river twice, it changes constantly on its way to the sea never holding all the water that passes through it, reminding us of the pilgrimage of life. "All streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are. Humility gives it its power." In Yoga Mudra, you place your head beneath your heart. It is a tiring pose, and you must stop doing and rest. To me, this shows if we do not bend, life will break us. Rivers know this.
I get the sense the old man in the worn brown jacket resting his chin on his walking stick, knows all the river's secrets. We should be so lucky. I am jealous. I think I will always be "haunted by waters."
Me encantaria vivir como un rio.
Another reminder to write the stories of the Colorado River. I hope I will someday…
Your book on this iconic river will turn up when we need it most. Like magic.
😊😊😊
Always love your warmhearted and amusing observations. This is a delight! Thank you :) Buen Camino
😊
I could have done without blister lady ... ;-)
I couldn’t have done without her.
I'm especially fond of all the blister discussion 😄
Enjoy!
Love the storytelling in this. Love that Luna is in it for a brief moment too. Nicely done. I'm now gonna try and get blister lady out of my head. Thanks for linking Rona's info. Have a lovely Sunday.
She was so kind to help. Many inexperienced walkers have real blisters for the first time by the time they arrive in Zubiri. Her help is much appreciated by all.
As it happens, I was just dumping enormous numbers of emails by the batch, barely glancing at headers, hoping not to permanently delete a consequential piece of information. Your admission to “work overload” was comforting to this slow, impaired older lady trying to get/keep the basics in order. Learning that is not going to be possible. That I am not alone in this by someone as admired as you are to me is a comfort. I retain your stories of the Camino in memory, especially those first three days as you depart on the “Way” and climb up and beyond the Pyrenees. The photos seem familiar and are beloved. The Bridge is there in my memory bank, its extraordinary architecture and timeless beauty, but the addition of the legends of curing anger is new. So sorry the video no longer seemed “right.” Any cure for anger in the last few weeks of this life for so many would be welcome. My response in the USA is more overwhelmed than any other feeling; despondent that I can do so little to help others from my sofa and iPad, but I continue to work at it more slowly than in prior months; the distraction from personal issues and feeling of purpose are essential. I welcome the comfort of my fur babies who persist in bumping the corners of my device and my bifocals, reminding me of their need for care and reciprocal love; adore them, my family. Thank you for the paragraphs that morphed into a newsletter so welcome with memories of the Camino inspiring as always. Wishing Rona much success in her endeavor. I suspect it will be more successful than protests that have moved beyond what is considered acceptable.
Emotions out of control; solutions in process but so very late. Too late for the thousands of dead and displaced real people on the other side of the world. 💔💔💔
Thank you, Judith. Happy to briefly take your thoughts Spain.
It's an interesting narrative, very pleasant to read! Thanks a lot, Alex, for sharing this!
The memories of this pilgrimage have marked my mind and my heart for a long time, perhaps forever!…
I did it just after finishing my studies, before starting my professional life
A long time ago now!
It is an inner experience but also a walk in contact with other pilgrims, all towards the same destination, each at their own pace and immersed in nature.
This profound experience of this “path shared” by so many people, for so many centuries, is truly irreplaceable!
As far as I am concerned, almost all the anecdotes of encounters, of difficulties, of privileged moments, fade over the years, but never this feeling of serenity, of inner joy, and never the memory of all these invisible links, but strong, with the other pilgrims.
Some pilgrims take this path for very spiritual reasons, others to experience a very personal, unique adventure... but all are equal on this same path!
For me, after so many years, I still have the feeling of having lived through an exceptional period of my life. A path traveled in inner serenity, in sharing, outside of everyday life, outside of time 👌🌿🌅🙏
A beautiful memory, I think that must be true for all who walked it. 😊