Adventure trips & time for presence

A special part of the experience of walking the Camino is the many meetings and moments with other travelers. Most people walk, others cycle, and several times I have met pilgrims on horseback, or with a donkey as a companion. It is easy to get into conversation about the day's challenges, and whatever else we want to share with each other. A community quickly develops, and then it is funny how you meet each other again and again, like when my father and I ran into most of our new Camino friends in Santiago. Ready for a last toast with Irene, Mette, Jan, Valdemar and the Canadian professor. Suddenly they were there again.

People walk the Camino for many reasons. Often it stems from a desire for personal development or a need for a little respite. My own first walk in 2012 was about getting down to business and feeling myself after several years of work rush and generally a lot to look forward to - but after a week I was instead quite exhausted after many long days and no less stressed than when I had left home. There had also been good moments along the way, but I had not managed to slow down and surrender to mindfulness. All the time on the way to the next thing, busy counting km. and checking the progress of the day with my little head.

Stories from the Camino

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From one of more trips with my beloved father

Albergue Verde, Sarah, RIcardo & Mincho

At the entrance to the village of Hospital de Orbiego I met Mincho, who looked like a mix of a local farmer, an Indian and Jesus with his long hair and warm smile. - How are you? Where are you going today? Mincho took out his business card and told me a little about the facilities at Albergue Verde. At first I thought "go hippie", but after a short break in the town square, I walked past Albergue Verde, where Mincho met me at the garden gate. He asked me again, and I replied that I was actually well-used and had a bad foot. "Don't worry, the Camino will heal you", Mincho responded with a smile, and suddenly I collapsed, overwhelmed with emotions. "Take your time". I relaxed a bit in the garden, and soon I was ready for a little tour. A lovely stay with pleasant conversations, my first good experiences with yoga and an extra night at the warm hostel with time and energy for most things.

On the second day, Patrick arrived. A few days before, he had flown to Santiago de Compostela to surprise his girlfriend, who had just walked the entire classic route, about 800 km. to Santiago. They had both needed to consider the future, and now that they met, she wanted to end the relationship. Patrick had packed his backpack well from home and made a spontaneous decision to jump on the train to León (about 300 km. from Santiago) with mixed feelings and a new plan to walk to Santiago. A few days later, we met a German girl and several other new best friends, and it became a very special experience further along the Camino. "A couple" started holding hands, and now many years later, Patrick is still with the (new) girl from the Camino.

- The Camino doesn´t provide you, what you want, but what you need

- Back at the Albergue, Alex walked through the door. He had driven all night from Granada in southern Spain and was in the area with his girlfriend to open a private school. Alex was also a podiatrist and showed me how to support my foot with a bandage and compensate for a slightly sunken forefoot. "Look for the signs, the signs of life," Mincho greeted us, and we disappeared out the garden gate full of experiences and good energy. Since then, I have been back several times, and I will always appreciate the time Mincho accosted me at the entrance to the Hospital de Orbiego. Honor be to your memory.

A special time around Michéle, Stephen & Patrick

- And then there was Klaus, who asked me what kind of pilgrim I was, sitting there with coffee and ice cream? He himself didn't eat during the day but drank a couple of beers or five while he explained how the monks had invented the art of beer. A few days later we met again, where Klaus opened up more and told me about everyday life at home with a mortgage and a job that he had never really enjoyed.

There are many websites and applications with facts and information about the different pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. Personally, I sometimes consult www.gronze.com, which offers an overview of distances, accommodation options, shopping options and other simple and practical information. Some APPs also offer a GPS function, so you can continuously track your location, and surprisingly many follow the exact route in cyberspace - instead of also being seduced and occasionally choosing alternative routes such as in the photo along the Camino del Norte, where the main route leads to another, more boring road, a little further away.

Rejs 22. eller 23. april / Camino del Norte Bilbao - Santander

Rejs 20. eller 21. maj / Camino Primitivo fra starten i Oviedo

Rejs 30. eller 31. maj / Camino Santiago - Finisterre - Muxía

Godt i gang på Caminoen / Læs mere om turene til foråret

Rejs 15. eller 16. april / Oplev Camino del Norte fra start i Irún

- Of course, I can tell more stories from my total of 10 months on the Camino, with both alone time and enriching meetings with other travelers, but instead I would like to encourage you to travel and experience different sides of life. There are several roads to Santiago and many ways to approach the journey. What will your next trip look like? The shared trips next spring are for a maximum of 6 participants. Join us on the Camino.

Lasse Juhl Hansen