Mange både offentlige og private albergue åbner fra starten af juli og sammen med det meste af Spanien hilser de pilgrimme fra de fleste europæiske lande velkommen til igen at vandre Caminoen på forsvarlig vis. Vi tager forbehold og går med respekt for hinanden.
Mange både offentlige og private albergue åbner fra starten af juli og sammen med det meste af Spanien hilser de pilgrimme fra de fleste europæiske lande velkommen til igen at vandre Caminoen på forsvarlig vis. Vi tager forbehold og går med respekt for hinanden.
"Listen to your body, feed your body", Surinder Singh, yoga teacher, Rishikesh
"Listen to your body, feed your body", Surinder Singh, yoga teacher, Rishikesh
Adventure trips with time for presence
Most people walk, others go by bike, and few 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 feel like sharing. A community quickly develops, and it is funny how we meet each other again and again, like when my father and I ran into our new friends in Santiago de Compostela. Ready for a last toast with Irene, Mette, Jan, Valdemar and the Canadian professor. People choose the Camino for various reasons, and for everyone the journey is an enriching experience away from usual life and routines we have.
- My first longer walk in 2012 was about taking a pause from my hectic lifestyle with lots of work and things to do. My life was good in many ways, at least when looking at it from the outside, but in reality I felt a strong need to slow down and learn to relax my body and mind to find my inner happy boy, but after a week with long days on the path, I was exhausted and no less stressed, than when I had left from home. The whole time busy counting distances and analyzing the way with my small brain.
Stories from the way
Greetings from fellow pilgrims. Stone by stone
Albergue Verde, Sarah, Ricardo & Mincho
At the entrance to the village Hospital de Órbigo I came across Mincho, who looked like a mix of a local farmer, an Indian and Jesus with the long hair. - How are you? Where are you going today? He showed me his business card and told me about the facilities at Albergue Verde. My first thought was "go away hippie", but after a short break, I changed my mind and past the cute familyhouse on the edge of the village. Mincho was surprised to meet me at the garden gate. Again he asked about me, and I explained that I was actually I had been walking on a injured foot, being exhausted. "Don't worry, the Camino will heal you" - Mincho sent a smile, and I was overwhelmed with emotions. "Take your time." I finally found rest and peace, and my visit became a life-changing experience with important conversations og insights, my first positive experiences with yoga and an extra night of accomodation.
On the second day, Patrick arrived, after flying to Santiago de Compostela the day before with the purpose to surprise his girlfriend, who had just walked the classic route to Santiago. They had both had a need to consider the future, and now that they met, she had preferred to end the relationship and to continue alone from Santiago to Finisterre and "End of the World". Patrick had instead made a quick decision to jump on the train some 300 km. to León with mixed feelings and a new plan to walk to Santiago.
A few days later we met a young German girl and later Michelé, Stephen and other new friends, and it became a unique experience walking to Santiago. "A couple" started holding hands, and today, 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" , general (Camino) way of speaking
- Back at Albergue Verde I also met one of Mincho's friends Alex, who had been driving the whole night from Granada in southern Spain with the purpose to open a private school. Alex was also a podiatrist and showed me how to support my foot with a simple bandage to compensate for a slightly sunken forefoot. "Look for the signs, the signs of life" - Mincho greeted us, as we disappeared through the garden gate with small steps and new energy. Since then I have been visiting Albergue Verde more times, and I will never forget, when Mincho came a cross by the entrance to the Hospital de Orbiego. Honor be to your memory.
- Michelé, Stephen & Patrick
There are many websites and APPs with information and various facts about the different pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. Personally, I sometimes use www.gronze.com, that offers an overview of distances, accommodation, options for shopping and other practical information. Some systems also offer GPS function, and surprisingly many follow the "exact route" instead of occasionally being seduced choosing alternative routes, as in the photo along Camino del Norte below, where the official Camino way leads a different and more boring way, a little further inland.
- And then there was Klaus, who asked a kind of confrontationally what kind of pilgrim I was "sitting there" with my icecream and coffee? He himself didn't eat during the day, but drank a couple of beers or five while he explained, how it was the monks, who had invented the art of beer. A few days later we met again, and Klaus opened up talking about everyday-life with somehow boring routines, a house, mortgage and a job - none of which he ever really cared about.
CAMINO FRIENDS
- Of course I can share more stories from my total of 10 months along the different Camino route with time for solitude and inspiring encounters with other travelers, but instead I aim to encourage to discover different sides of life. There are many routes to Santiago and many ways to approach the journey. What does your next travel look like? Join the Camino -
Camino del Norte - a pleasure with Mia, Pia og Markus
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