Sunday, June 27, 2010

Post Camino

Well, it has been a little more than 2 months since we finished our Camino. As soon as we finished we began our touring of Spain. We've been home for 2 weeks and thought it would be a good idea to share some "superlatives" with those of you followed our journey. First though, we'd like to thank each and everyone of you for the comments, thoughts and prayers you sent our way! It really meant a lot to us.

Towards the end of our Camino I thought, "how can people want to do this again?" Sure, it's beautiful, you meet wonderful people, drink good wine, etc. But you can never recreate the experience. So I just figured that somehow the good things must be pushed forward in your mind while the difficulties (sore feet, wearing the same clothes day after day..) are pushed into the back. But here we are, after 2 months post Camino, starting to have thoughts like all the rest of the pilgrims on the Forum (www.caminodesantiagodesantiago.me/board) and the pilgrims I met on the Camino who were doing it for the second, third or fourth time. It really is the simplicity of "The Way" that is most appealing. Getting away from the fast paced life, the traffic, the news, the yard work, etc. Having time to just enjoy nature and being part of something bigger than ourselves, something intangible.

So how does one bring the simple life of the Camino back to your life at home? Right now I have the feeling that, that is more difficult than walking the Camino itself. Perhaps with each Camino you bring home a bit more of the simple life.

Anyway, we wrote some notes while on the bus to Finisterre, making lists of what we liked best and least, our most cherished experiences, our "nightmare" experiences and what we least expected. When I look back on my notes I also notice that what starts out as a "nightmare" ends up being the "most cherished". More to follow.....

5 comments:

  1. Ain't it always that way? You learn a lesson, but applying it is so very hard. You learn a word in Spanish or French, now you have to try and put it in context, a sentence and actually communicate with it! So the journey goes on! I've enjoyed so much being able to snope in to your Camino and appreciate the sharing! As I plan and plot my next go at it!

    Buen Camino, Karin

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  2. Welcome home. I totally enjoyed following your pilgimage through your daily blogging. I was also quite impressed at how faithful you were in posting your experiences. I look forward to the "more to follow . . .."

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  3. You both have become authors and photographers. Now you only have to figure out a way to get paid for it!

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  4. I really enjoyed following along - and you are so right - the nightmares do often turn in to the most treasured memories!

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  5. Despues de varios meses de acabar el Camino aún siento nostalgia de las personas que conoci entre otros vosotros Cullen y Palma. Traducidos vuestros escritos me acuerdo de los muchos ratos que caminamos juntos, me acuerdo de muchas de las personas que citais. Kaija... Xang ( Korea)el señor que le falta un brazo ctc etc. El Camino Frances pasa cerca de mi casa (60 km) y cuando veo tantisimos peregrinos me dan pena, no hay infraestructura para tantos.Saludos para los dos....y el 2011 quiero hacer el Camino del Norte ( Camino de la Costa).

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