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Sharon Boyd's avatar

Key West was known by Hemingway as "The St Tropez of the poor." It was close to perfect when Hemingway arrived via Paris through Havana. I love Key West, our Southernmost point; The Hemingway House & Museum with 50 or so cats roaming around, all descendants of Snow White; cafe con leche, Blue Heaven with its Cuban food and even bluer waters.

I love that Hemingway was your inspiration for The Camino and all things Pamplona. You proved as your inspiration did, Pilgrims are more than nomads; their journey is an inner and outer experience that changes them.

In your writings and videos The Camino with its real Pilgrims comes alive. There is a certain trust I see between the two; a knowledge that you are all walking together; and that trust now carries forward to partners such as Swiss Re.

Hemingway is quoted: "The way to make people trust worthy is to trust them." In today's world, it is nice to have people we trust and who tell the truth with all of its reflections. Thank you. Para ti!!

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Alexander Verbeek's avatar

That is so beautifully written. Thank you Sharon!

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Bernardi's avatar

Perfect.

β€œOne man loved the pilgrim soul in you, And loved the sorrows of your changing face." ~ W.B. Yeats

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Evelyne Luethy's avatar

That's quite a journey you took us on in this newsletter. I enjoyed that.

I have a great-aunt who was a baby in July 1923. She'll be 101 in January. It's equally fascinating that we can visit places people spent time in 100 years ago and also surprising that so many places are still there. I mean the world has changed so much, yet we can still follow authors' footsteps.

I love your pictures. Great selection, great composition, great addition to the story.

I must admit that despite my MA in English language and literature, you know a lot more about Hemingway than I ever will. Who knew he was a vandal and carved his name into a piano?

Thinking about climate change and how you could best show its effects when walking the Camino this year must have added another layer to an already grueling experience. Thank you for doing that. The interviews were really informative and the video material you contributed from the Camino made everything more tangible.

BIt cold to go sit in that park in Zurich and read Hemingway at the moment, but I might just have to do that at some point. Everything's connected and we truly are all in this together.

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Alexander Verbeek's avatar

Oh the thought of sitting in a ZΓΌrich park on a sunny day and reading Hemingway. It’s a distant dream in cold and snowy Ottawa.

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rena's avatar

Vandal πŸ˜„

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Marian NoΓ«'s avatar

Love your Photos and article. πŸ™πŸͺ·πŸŒ»πŸ’―

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Alexander Verbeek's avatar

Thank you, Marian :-)

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Judith L Hubbard's avatar

I’ll be back........

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rena's avatar

An "expert" interpretation of Pilgrim is subjective. The intent of the Pilgrim is in their heart 🌻 Another wonderful essay, photos, video.

While insurance companies are leaving their long-time clients in burning embers and flooded basements, your collaberation with Swiss Re gives me hope for the industry. Well done!

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Alexander Verbeek's avatar

I’m a long term admirer of their thought leadership within the business community. Swiss Re was among the very first to raise the alarm about climate change impacts and has since constructively worked towards mitigating these risks.

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Judith L Hubbard's avatar

Hemingway whether in Pamplona or Key West is always a good read. His simplicity in style, his routine of rising early every day to write before pursuing other events of the day demonstrates a commitment to his work that I most admire. And of course his love of the cats that became polydactyl and can be found in shelters as in SC so far from FL even today. I have the urge to read again β€œThe Sun Also Rises” or watch again his biography today, the last day of a weekend I give myself free of the problems of the world to be simply enchanted by it and take in both current and historic events before Monday’s troubles reign again. Excellent article; good to learn of Suiss Ri and their long term attention and development of practices based on perceived climate change. Enjoy your Sunday afternoon in the cooler north. Must admit to waking today to only 40degrees F with central heating turned off conserving energy by using a space heater and warming air filter in β€œmy space” in this leaky old house without my 😽😽 warmers who had sought out warmer corners! First time this season. 😘

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Alexander Verbeek's avatar

I'm a bit behind with reacting to comments. It's a wonderful experience to read The Sun Also Rises again, I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

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Judith L Hubbard's avatar

You missed (no worries) I’ve read and love also β€œThe Sun Also Rises” by one of my favorites. Strangest thing, cannot recall if our hero survives in the end or not? The book is in my house somewhere but unable to retrieve at present. Idea πŸ’‘ maybe I’ll just Google and cheat. I’ve learned to cheat on many word games to enhance or clarify language skills that are slippery sometimes. I think that’s productive so don’t feel guilty at all! Here’s a toast to polydactyl cats!

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Nov 25, 2023
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Alexander Verbeek's avatar

Thank you, and yes, we are all in this together because we are all on this small, beautiful, but fragile planet together.

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