The mist returns. Shady forested trails with gentle climbs. Reforested with eucalyptus—we crush leaves in our hands and inhale. Banana flowers and palms—corn and blackberries—the diversity confuses us. Cyclist pass us giddy with excitement. Today they will reach Santiago. Tomorrow, Lord willing, will be our turn. And still there are Pilgrim stories:
• Two pilgrims (us). We note that Oct 12 is a National Holiday—we don’t register that tiendas and supermercatos will be closed. Dad flags down a delivery truck. We buy a giant loaf of fresh bread—wholesale😄 Blessing. A bartender is convinced to sell us a chunk of cheese. Blessing. I ask our hostelier if he will sell us a couple of the oranges that he has piled up to juice in the morning. He places his finger on his lips and gestures that I should “keep it quiet” as he gifts me fresh juicy oranges. Blessing. We are feasting. We are satisfied. The simplicity—The Camino. • Yesterday a man and his donkey. Today a man and his dog. Outside Santa Irene we meet Flan. Along with Walter (his human Pilgrim companion) he is a local celebrity. Of course they have copies of their book La Soledad Compartida (The Shared Solitude). It contains almost 500 pages of the wisdom they have gleaned travelling the Camino together. You can get an autographed copy—paw print and all! I resist the book as it is written in Spanish and I would have to carry it😄 I don’t resist the paw print stamp for my credential. Doggie/human inspiration “Sometimes a simple moment of joy is all we need to remember how lucky we are”. The simplicity—The Camino. So close I can almost smell the incense burning. You are Always in My Prayers. Love Mom.
2 Comments
Nano
10/13/2017 01:18:22 pm
How many km tomorrow? So freaking proud!
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Mom
10/13/2017 09:56:30 pm
Sixteen more!
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Ray & Diane HomewoodSharing the Blessing of Travel Archives
January 2018
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