Just to let you know I have added pictures to the majority of the posts up to our stay in Condom, will add others when time permits.
Jeremy
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Camino Reflections Part 1
When we left Spain I promised a few reflections on our experiences so far. I have not forgotten, but needed a couple of weeks to get my thoughts together. The 6th of November was the date we were supposed to be in Santiago, and we heard from our friend Luc, that he had arrived safely and that it was raining!
LUC
There is so much to reflect on, but to first thoughts. I guess my most special memories about our Camino so far are going to be about the many wonderful people we met, some only once or twice others many more times.
At the beginning of the trip, the three Australians, the French couple who sat with us and sorted out a non-fish meal for me. The number of generous French people who would invite us to join them for our picnics at lunch time. The French people who invited us to the street party.
The German family with the problem with “Bladders”. All the people we met in France who like us were intending to go all the way to Santiago, including Philip (the only British person we met on the whole trip!). Then there were the Canadian girls and their amazing message that sat there for four days before we walked past and found it.
Our good friends Anne and Seb (of the Hi-Vis hat).
Fr Roger who gave us coffee and Armagnac. Terries and her self giving hospitality, Mme. Sykes and Anthony her partner and that's only a few of the many people we met in France.
Then when we got to Spain there was Johnas and Luc particularly,
but also the wonderful Dutch Hospitalaros at both Roncevalles and Villamayor de Monjardin. Also the two couples we met who were walking the Camino for their honeymoons. And then there were the various Australians and American we met. Not to mention all the every helpful Spaniards who would tell us where the path was, or direct us to the albergues, or just wish us a good Camino as we walked passed them, or would toot their horns and wave as they passed in their cars or lorries.
I think it was principally above all, all these people and many others to numerous to mention which made the Camino for us. To often through the news and media we only hear of the bad side of human nature, with wars, violence and crime. But apart from one notable exception, for fifty days we met the other side of human nature, the great generosity of the human spirit, embodied in people like Therese,
but in many, many others as well, who were prepared to share their lives with us for a short time and to offer hospitality and friendship to a couple of pilgrims who were lucky enough the chance to encounter them upon their journey. When all else has faded about the Camino and we are back into the routine of everyday life, the pictures and memories of all the people we met will keep me going and will be a constant reminder that there is always another side to people and not just the side we see all to often on the news.
LUC
There is so much to reflect on, but to first thoughts. I guess my most special memories about our Camino so far are going to be about the many wonderful people we met, some only once or twice others many more times.
At the beginning of the trip, the three Australians, the French couple who sat with us and sorted out a non-fish meal for me. The number of generous French people who would invite us to join them for our picnics at lunch time. The French people who invited us to the street party.
The German family with the problem with “Bladders”. All the people we met in France who like us were intending to go all the way to Santiago, including Philip (the only British person we met on the whole trip!). Then there were the Canadian girls and their amazing message that sat there for four days before we walked past and found it.
Our good friends Anne and Seb (of the Hi-Vis hat).
Fr Roger who gave us coffee and Armagnac. Terries and her self giving hospitality, Mme. Sykes and Anthony her partner and that's only a few of the many people we met in France.
Then when we got to Spain there was Johnas and Luc particularly,
but also the wonderful Dutch Hospitalaros at both Roncevalles and Villamayor de Monjardin. Also the two couples we met who were walking the Camino for their honeymoons. And then there were the various Australians and American we met. Not to mention all the every helpful Spaniards who would tell us where the path was, or direct us to the albergues, or just wish us a good Camino as we walked passed them, or would toot their horns and wave as they passed in their cars or lorries.
I think it was principally above all, all these people and many others to numerous to mention which made the Camino for us. To often through the news and media we only hear of the bad side of human nature, with wars, violence and crime. But apart from one notable exception, for fifty days we met the other side of human nature, the great generosity of the human spirit, embodied in people like Therese,
but in many, many others as well, who were prepared to share their lives with us for a short time and to offer hospitality and friendship to a couple of pilgrims who were lucky enough the chance to encounter them upon their journey. When all else has faded about the Camino and we are back into the routine of everyday life, the pictures and memories of all the people we met will keep me going and will be a constant reminder that there is always another side to people and not just the side we see all to often on the news.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
First pictures added
I have now added some pictures to the posts I wrote at the beginning of September.
More will follow when I have time.
Jeremy.
More will follow when I have time.
Jeremy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
