Camino de la Vida

(Sunday, October 20, 2024 Madrid, Spain) A week has passed since I left el  Camino de Santiago and continued on my own Camino. It took me some time to make the mental and emotional transition to accept that my pilgrimage was not what I originally planned. However, once I let go, I was able to immerse myself in Madrid and take advantage of all this grand city has to offer:

— Long afternoons with the famous Rubens, Goyas, Titians, Picassos and Dalis in Museo  del Prado, Reina Sofia and the Museum of Royal Treasures. “Los maestros, que magnifico.”

— A cooking class with Chef Angel who is world-traveled/trained in the culinary arts (and a real cutie, I might add). Along side my cooking partner John, a Canadian who resides also in Idaho, we made a pretty delicioso paella. “Yes, Chef!”

— A Flamenco performance with all the energy one would expect. “Ole’!”

— And last, but not least, shopping. Enough said about that except “Cuanto cuesta?”

I learned that I’m not one for exotic cuisine and especially not that of the seafood variety. I’m ready to be home and be my own chef.

Though I did not clock 10-15 miles a day, as my daughter and sister were concurrently pounding away on the Portuguese Camino in order to receive the famous Compostela Certificate, I did manage to get in several miles a day on the narrow streets of Madrid lined with hidden gems of tiny shops,bars and cafes. Not a single cab/uber/bolt my entire stay until Thursday when I took an Uber to the main train station and headed to Santiago de Compostela to meet up with Greta and Eva when they completed their walk on Friday afternoon. 

It was in Santiago, on Friday morning, when I fully realized the impact of this journey. I woke up to the most beautiful early morning view of the famous Cathedral of Santiago and a perfectly timed message from my friend and pastor Ron Brooks. He knew of my struggle to accept my departure from el Camino and his wise words will echo in each and every memory I have of these past two weeks:

“There is no “perfect” Walk. Not in this life and not on El Camino. It is very personal and very specific. Something that is yours to own. God’s way of love wants this to grow into an experience that will bring you more strength and courage as you realize you were not alone and did not fail.”

Thank you, Ron and all who have followed and supported me on this journey. 

Grace and peace be with you on your own Camino of Life. 

Lisa

Mi Camino No Es Su Camino. Y Eso Esta Bien.

(Sunday, October 13, Madrid, Spain) Okay. I’ve kind of been lying for the past couple of days. Well, maybe not outright lying. Let’s just say i was putting a positive spin on things. In reality, the Camino was not meant for me. Or, put another way, I was not meant for the Camino.

I was certain I could find the peace and fulfillment that so many others seem to find in challenges presented by its long walks, pulled muscles, blisters, heavy winds and rain. And I thought I needed to travel across the Atlantic to discover that inner whatever. 

But lo and behold, I’m not like everyone else. This had been a dream of mine for decades. And I failed. Miserably. Yesterday I left  the Camino early for the solace of a nice hotel in a big city to find the grace to forgive myself for quitting. I mentioned in an earlier post that one of the qualities I was seeking was the ability to give grace. Little did I know I would need to extend it to myself which I think that may be even more difficult than giving it to others. This is indeed a hard pill to swallow. 

You may ask “what happened?” I was still asking that of myself  as I sat in the tiny airport in Vigo, Spain waiting for the next flight to Madrid. So, let me see if I can succinctly sort thru this. 

Days one and two - some sunshine, lots of rain, excruciating pain in my leg for the last 3 miles and realizing this is not a team sport. I was essentially walking all alone in the rearview mirror of my travel partners. (It’s not their fault I am the tortoise and they are the hare(s).) Days three, four and five - cabbing it while others walk because my leg still does not work up to par. The outlook for the remaining 8 days was bleak  I would rather be someplace else … actually, any place else.

As I waited to board my run-away flight, I met two sisters from Boston who are my age and just came off the Camino. They were a godsend. As we talked about our respective experiences, they reminded me that the Camino provides and my Camino presented me with the gift of taking a week of spontaneity to travel Europe on my own, go wherever I want. (This too is also a long held dream of mine and fodder for an entirely new blog.)

So here I am in Madrid. Today I will shop its famous el Rastro, just a 5-minute walk from my hotel, sans climbing, rain, pulled ligaments and blisters. And I have a ticket to visit Museo del Prado. Tomorrow? Wait and see.

Lesson learned? Life is a Camino and we each have our own paths to take. Buon Camino — whatever yours happens to be.

On the Road Again

(Thursday, October 10, 2024 - Vila Praia de Ancora, Portugal) It felt good to be back on the Camino today. After yesterday’s high winds and rain, today was such a reprieve with sunshine and temps in the 50’s. We headed north out of Viana do Costello toward Vila Praia de Ancora, another lovely small town right on the coast. I was energized by the  beautiful weather. 

Today’s path took us thru narrow cobblestone alleys. After 5 km (3 mi) my pulled muscle screamed “no more”.

I was sorely disappointed and frustrated because I had lots of energy left. Fortunately Bolt (the European alternative to Uber) drivers are willing to drive down rocky roads in the middle of nowhere to pick up riders. I left Greta and Eva to walk the remaining 8 or so miles and I proceeded to our hotel. I checked out the entire shopping district comprised of about 1 city block, had lunch at the pizzeria, looked for a post office and failed to find one. 

Lots of  rain anticipated in the coming days. We will follow our trusted waymarkers of yellow spray-painted arrows and more than occasional friendly Portuguese offering directions when we look lost. And tomorrow, I hope to manage five miles on my bum leg. Bom Camino  

PS. It is strange to feel the effects of one hurricane in Portugal while another is wreaking havoc at home is the US. My thoughts were constantly with my friends in Florida as Milton caused such destruction. Our encounter here was a mere minor inconvenience by comparison.