Crocs

I have to post this before I forget!

Three years ago, I hooked my baby blue crocks to the side of my pack and used them as pockets for daytime food and as a boot escape at night. People would stare at them and endlessly comment on them.

Teri the trendsetter.

With a pair of socks, they were prefect for wandering around the villages in the evening. At night, they were the perfect eyeglasses, flashlight/torch and potty paper case. Shoes and necessary servicio items for the night, tucked right under the bed.

This trip? 3/4 of the men and women I met up with had them in tow! Mine, this trip,  were a perky pair of ruby pink mary janes. And they'll go with me again.

Posting Backwards

For the Portugues Route journey, I'm going to post backwards. Starting with my time in Santiago. I love it there and the weather was lovely (until the day I left).

Once arriving in Santiago, one is free to wander around and take in the Cathedral area or the city. I never seem to get out of the Cathedral area as the whole reason I'm there is to be in the presence of St. James. I like to wader the streets or sit on the steps of the plaza and watch new pilgrims stumble-run to to the church or the Pilgrims office.

The pilgrim's whole body tells a story. Darkly tanned and lean muscled, indicates they probably did all or most of Camino Frances. Crying (almost always with smiles) pilgrims tell me they have conquered many fears and perhaps sorrows during their journey. Some stride in with a confidence of having been there before. Some look as disconserted as the day they began their journey, knowing they think this is the end of their path.

Having been a pilgrim twice now, I know there are emotions that unique to each journey and emotions that are common to the pilgrimage itself. I welcome both. I've learned things about myself that I now know I can count on from day to day, pilgrimage to pilgrimage. I know if, no when, I do it again, I'll have a new experience too. The same emotions arise when discomfort presents itself and the unbounding joy of arrival is no less bright. I know the journey does not end in Santiago de Compostela. It is usally the beginning of figuring out how to get back again.

My facination with Spain and the people of the countryside is only growing. The Camino is a place I can shed my material world of professional protocol and verbal tapdancing and immerse myself in the world of universal human interaction. Many times I have encountered people who speak no English and with me barely able to order a sandwich the way I want it, but yet we manage to have a meaningful exchange. I have had tiny bent-over women, when greeted with Buenas Dias, stop and bless me. Which makes me cry, which makes them hug me more. In one of my next posts, I'll describe my arrival into Santiago and the special people who guided my way.

I visited the museum and a few of the many churches that are clustered around the Cathedral Plaza. One I visited at the same time of day that I had the last time, as the woman in the fee booth reminded me of closing time. I feel like I have a race with the clock each time, although I get to see it all. One memorable moment was that after asking permission, I was able to photograph the actual remains of St. James that are housed in the reliquary. I asked if I could as long as I didn't flash. I was allowed to take one. I am there, standing three feet from the remains of one of The Apostles. That Apostle knew and loved Jesus. Kind of like a friend of a friend feeling. It was warm, fuzzy and very overwhelming for me.

Part of my arrival post will also include the story of my first night of housing in Santiago. Some things didn't go as planned and some people I'd met on the Camino let me stay with them. A seemingly nice place to stay, but it gave new meaning to "good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite"!

The remainder of my time in Santiago de Compostela, I stayed in a pension. I thought I would miss staying in the little apartment type place Estella offered me last trip. But folks, I'm going to say that after all that hiking, the extra bucks and the soft sheets and shower with all the hot water I want, is my new treat. I like being near the Cathedral and now have my "place of choice".

Something I did on this trip was totally brilliant.....really. I bought a lapel pin, the Santiago cross.  I pinned it on the front page of my credential. When the alburgues or pilgrim or museum, gave me any paper, I'd stick it on the inside of the credential and secure it with the back side pin. All of my special items are with my credential forever. No more lost stork feathers.

There's my post journey summary.

26 Octobre, 2010

I arrived in Santiago de Compostela after walking from Redondela via Camino Portuguese. I will do this route again, hopefully from Oporto or Lisbon. It was beatiful. The last 100km seemed to me much less commercial than the last 100 on the Camino Frances route. I will write and post pictures soon.

I had buen viaje!

Manana: Santiago de Compostela Dos

♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ My pack is packed, it's ready to go. It's standing there, right by the door. It's waiting for 3am to come 'round. I'm leaving on a jet plane and then practically walking home again. ♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪

Gathering The Important Stuff

I still haven't packed my pack. My pile of goods to go this time, is very small. No doubts about weight or volume. I hate to, but I have to, check my pack. It exceeds the ever charging Ryan Air's length. That's OK too, because coming home I'll have room for cans tuna fish with vegetables, almond cookies, a nativity scene, etc.

The important stuff is taking my thoughts of family. friends, current and estranged, my loves, my losses, my triumphs and my hurts and tucking them in a space in my bag. As I walk, I contemplate all these wonderful people and events, focusing on each one for an hour or two. With each step happiness grows, pain diminishes. At the end of the journey is an unbelievable peace.

I love my life. I am grateful for all the splendid opportunities that I've been afforded. I have the most wonderful children. All of these great and wonderful gifts will be rejoiced. I will reflect and rejoice in my sorrows too. For if any of them were absent, the journey would have been different, today's destination would be altered.

Peace, namaste, joy.

Preparing For The Journey

Today, I went through all the things I'd gathered to take. When I have a major trip or event of some sort, I start gathering or listing things that I think I might need or need to do. As the time gets closer, I weed out what isn't really needed and review what is. Having done the camino before, I did a LOT of weeding. My pack is going to be totally managable. (Not that it wasn't before).

Today, whilst walking in England's crisp fall air, I realised that I needed a converter for my phone charger. Chances are, I won't need to charge my phone, but that's one of those things, I just don't take a chance with.

I'm debating about my Kindle. I will have plenty of time to read on the plane (not as much as last time -hahahahaha!) I HATE not having a book to read when I travel.

I stood in front of the mirror whilst wearing my pack. Oh my dear friend, I have missed you. I'm so glad that I spent the $$ on a good one before. It was like putting on a favorite glove today. My boots, bought earlier this year in Scotland, have become part of my feet. I look forward to hiking with them. I'm strapping my walking sticks to my pack this time. I'm taking two, but learnt last time that one is better. I may even leave one behind. I wish I could take the one from my last Camino, but it didn't bring it to England with me. Too valuable.

I found the route to meet up with my friend. A train ride will get me there quickly and cheaply. I'll be there before he is that day. I may walk to him just to get some hiking the first day. I may go straight to the alburgue and take a nap. Who knows?

So close. I'm so anxious. I'm so ready.

See you soon my dear Santiago.

Camino on my mind

I leave a week from today to do a little Camino on the Portuguese Route. I'll meet up with Joop and walk for a few days with him.

I received my 2011 Camino Calendar.

Ready for nature. Ready for my heart to swell. Ready to be filled again.

13 Days

In thirteen days my feet will touch the Camino once again. My body is electric thinking about it. I'm wondering if it will feel the same or different. Whether I'll feel all novice again or "experienced". Will walking with a friend enhance it, ruin it, or just be different? Will the bedbugs bite? Etc., etc.

The different season will be interesting to see.

The Camino changed me. I'm excited to experience it again. (And without two days flying!)

All Roads Lead to Santiago

While back in Utah, I found some time and inspiration to pull a piece together. It was not to be a Camino piece, but, it happened anyway. The theme went deeper and deeper and linked things further and futher into my past.
 
Teri Cuts and Pastes

The irony or coincidence (don't believe in that any more) packing for my move to England last week, I was going through saved boxes. I have a special mementos box that every now and then I stroll down memory lane with it. This stroll landed on a sub-package that had my pictures and souvinirs of Portugal in it. (It was before my scrapbooking time....one of these days.) In the bundle was a National Geographic map that Dwidget gave me before the trip....to Portugal. The map is of Portugal AND Spain. On the "cover" is  a drawing of St. James/Santiago and many places that I passed during my Camino. It has all the places we visited in Portugal.

And I thought it all started in a bookstore in Seattle.....

All Roads Lead To Santiago

Once one has journeyed to Santiago de Compostella, you will most likely find that the journey never ends. You will find to, on later journeys that the Camino is never far from your periphery, as shown below.

King's College, Aberdeen, Scotland  and Colchester Castle/Museum, Colchester, England.