The Weather From Here explores one woman's year long global journey across over thirty countries and six continents. Traveling by the motto "life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" she seeks to collect experiences rather than things, and find beauty, humor and self discovery along the way.
People have asked me what is so special about the Camino de Santiago. Is it a religious thing? Why did I do it? What exactly does one do all day? Ultimately, it’s hard for me to explain. It can be religious for some, but not for others. I did it as a way to kick start my trip and now again as it is coming to a close. As my friend Jackie said “it’s like tying a big bow around a great year.”
As for what one does all day. . . WALK. You walk all day. It’s inexplicable and it’s amazing. I read a quote in my camino guide that said “We often confuse business with aliveness.” I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again: Time slows down on the Camino. There is no planning ahead. As relaxing as travel can be, it can still be stressful. Figuring out maps, booking hotels, moving from one city to the next. . .on the Camino there is none of that. You are carrying what you have on your shoulders, moving from one place to the next, and putting your trust in God. To find a place to stay, to meet who you are meant to, and to lead you safely.
A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving-Lao Tzu
Scenes from the Camino:
I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life- Jesus.Little house on a hill.Pilgrim statues line the Way.An average lunch in an open field.Lunchtime provided a minute to pause and re-assess the feet situation. Here Jackie is wrapping my feet in duct-tape, a common tip on the Camino to prevent blisters from worsening. It was a thankless job, but she did it. Did I mention she is a really good friend?Duct-tape for days.Pilgrims can walk, bike or ride by horseback along the Camino. We only walked but I was so tempted to rent a bike for a couple of days.Pilgrims can rent horses for a day, week or more. Here is a group leading the horses back home from a town at the end of the day. I wanted to rent this pup for moral/emotional support.Path along the Way.Looking back from where we climbed.A typical little town entrance along the Way.Oh hello, friend.Love is in the details. We were often passed by farmers with herds of cows. This day I was frozen with fear as these huge cows (bulls? cows with huge horns?) passed us. Hence, the horribly out of focus picture.
Camino marker.Walking from sun up.To sun down.“I have a dream. It’s time 2 make it real.” Inspiring graffiti on the Camino.
Little car under little roof.
Where I slept one night. On the top bunk, in a hostel with 50 of my closest friends. That night I had the thought: I may, in fact, be getting too old for this.
“Are we there yet?” The question I had to resist asking myself every mile.Just another day on the Camino, waiting for the cows to come home. Whatchu looking at?Someone described the walk as “monotonously beautiful.” It actually so very true. I had to stop and really take it in on most days. Keeping my mind in the moment and not thinking about what is next, is always a challengeHamming it up in front of Camino signs. Would you expect anything less from me?
These yellow flowers line the path all along the Way. Yellow is a symbol over and over again both by nature and with the yellow arrows leading the way.
A view down to a monastery.The monastery.Vamos a Samos. I’m so clever with my little to no Spanish skills.Playground. Just stop for a swing break.Most guidebooks will tell you cars are the biggest safety concern on the Camino. Much of the Way is through natural paths but there is also a lot of road walking. Speed limits in Spain seem to be, shall we say, optional, so we were always well aware of our surrounds and attentive to traffic.Wide, open spaces. It reminds me of a van Gogh painting.Another big symbol along the Way is placing rocks in various places. On markers, crosses, fences etc. Many people will bring a rock from their hometown to leave along the Way, but others just pick them up as they go.A woman tending her gardenMarkers. Both for the next town, and to signify the right path.Walking into town.On this day we walked 17 miles before getting into this town. When we finally reached our destination, we had to climb this flight of stairs into the city center. I think I actually screamed “Really? REALLY?!” There are moments of peace, reflection and emotional realness on the Camino.There is no guarantee of accommodations unless you book ahead, which we didn’t. After climbing the stairs on this day, we had to walk up this hill because all the first hostels were full.. Every time I reached the center of a town or city my feet would immediately be done. The last half mile to the hotel was always harder than the previous 10-20 miles.A morning view.
“The little oasis.” Stands like this were all along the Camino. I think there probably could have been more. I’m contemplating setting up one of these as a future “summer-job in Europe” endeavor.Necessity is the mother of invention on the Camino. No pillowcase, no problem.Perfectly imperfect.
The view from above.
One of the last signs heading into Santiago.
The walk into Santiago. Have we actually made it?!
As always, this blog was very good. To answer your rhetorical question; “yes, you’ve made it” not to just Santiago but to the end of a long journey which you will remember your entire life.
The Weather From Here 
Theresa;
As always, this blog was very good. To answer your rhetorical question; “yes, you’ve made it” not to just Santiago but to the end of a long journey which you will remember your entire life.
Looking forward to seeing you next Wednesday.
Love Mom & Dad
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