Footprints

I am a very much a solo pilgrim. Around me people form little groups, walking together and meeting up every now and again.

I enjoy the solitude of walking alone, sitting at a sidewalk cafe having coffee and immersed in my own thoughts.

When I walk and I see all the footprints left by the pilgrims who have gone before me on the day, I wonder how many hundreds of pilgrims have walked this path in the last year and how many thousands through the ages. . .

I wonder how many broken and wounded spirits, people with heavy burdens (not the ones on their backs), hurting people, have walked this way before. How many people have gone this way in search of answers, in search of God, in search of healing, worn down with worry, sorrow and pain. How many of them have found what they were looking for? How many knew what they were looking for? How many has given up? How many has continued the growth even after the Camino journey ended?

Many questions go through my mind. Mostly unanswered. People ask me if I am enjoying my holiday - but this is not a holiday. I could have gone to some excotic place and have a really good time for the same money. But this is more - it is a quest, a journey, a searching, a yearning that I can not explain in words.

I am certainly learning to let go off all my little quirks . . . on the Camino you simply do not have the luxury of doing things your way, or having things your way. I dry my face and my hair and my body and my shoes with the same towel and then put the towel on my wet hair again!!! Oh, the little stupid things that holds us bondage. At home I would never wipe my shoes dry and use the same towel for my hair or my body. . and what does it matter really???? What matters is that I have hot water for a shower and a bug free bed. . .that is just so much more important . . and an added bonus is an alimentation - a store where I can buy fruit for the next day´s breakfast or lunch. Finding Yogurt makes my day and if I find an auberge with a proper kitchen - well I am in heaven, because then I can make a salad and do not have to eat the Pilgrims Dinner.

More on the next blog about eating and sleeping. . .

Until then,

Ultreia!!!

Wild Peregrino