CAMINO

So many little mishaps on my way to the Camino and I even speak the language. But then what is an adventure without mishaps.

I first learned Spanish at age 27 in Central America. Truth be told I never excelled in it. Although Spanish is Spanish, the Spanish spoken in Spain is a bit different than that spoken in the Americas. Sort of like a New Yorker trying to understand a deep south Texan. The Spanish in Spain has that “th lisps” sound, so gracias sounds more like Grathiath. They can understand me but sometimes I have a hard time understanding them.

I try to purchase a ticket on the subway in Madrid to take me to the Renfe train station where I already purchased a ticket on line. The subway machine will not accept my coins. Fortunately, I ask the subway police for help and discover I am at the wrong station, this one only takes cards and I must go down two more flights to enter the subway for the Renfe Train. On my way down the steep escalator, I hear a loud scream and when I turn around a huge black suitcase had fallen out of the hands of its owner and is headed right for me. The hard metal handle is out and is traveling too fast to get out of the way safely. I am certain when it hits me it will break my ankle. Fortunately, I got away with a few cuts, bruises and later swelling.

When I finally deboard the 6 hour train ride to reach my destination to the beginning of the trail I disembark from the train into nowhere. This is such a change from Madrid with it’s busy hustling streets at all hours of the day and night. Heaven help me if there are no coffee shops or Tapa bars. There are no other people, no station to ask questions, no roads, no cars, no taxis. In addition it is cold, windy and rainy. I walk less than a mile and finally find a busy street and a taxi drives by, I yell for him, he stops and I hop in. He tells me to hop out, he is picking up another passenger going the opposite direction. I feel like all of this is a “sign” saying turn around now before it is too late. But at least the taxi driver calls a friend for me who comes to my aid.

I am surprised that the train station is so far to my little hostel I am staying at for the night before starting the walk. The driver proceeds to tell me that although I may have picked the shortest route in miles it is the hardest route because it is all hills, up and down, up and down and some very steep. In addition, he said I am too early, it is raining all the time and cold, the temperatures have been in the 40’s. I tell him I chose this time of year because it would not be too crowded. I have read that in May and June it can me so crowded you might have a hard time finding a place to sleep at night. He said that would not be a problem now, but added that many of the hostile don’t even open until April. I am beginning to regret not signing up with a travel group and guide who make all these arrangements for you ahead of time.

The hostel is a freezing cold, stone buildings with no central heat. They do give you an extra blanket and they have warm water to shower. In addition I find a place to purchase a rain poncho, which I did not think I would need and the price did not break the bank.

There are 6 or 7 different Camino routes. The longest and most popular starts in France. Another starts in Portugal. They were all established during the crusades, those who walked it were lured to it by the motive to show alliance to their God. Like most travels the destination does not offer as much as the journey. And at the end of the journey are the relics of St. James.

The gospel tells us that James was in the fishing boat with his brother John when Christ called them to follow him and fish for men. James was the most zealous of the apostles and was beheaded in 44 AD by Herod as a martyr. Kneeling as he was beheaded, he put his arms out and caught his head in his arms. Still holding his head, he was placed in a marble sarcophagus and was shipped to Spain in a boat. His remains are in a cathedral in Santiago de Compostela at the end of the journey.

From a podcast I listened to today on Good news network

If someone offered you $10.00 or 10 million dollars which would you take. No question – 10 million. Now what if they told you that with the 10.00 is attached 60 years to live and with the 10 million is attached to 60 days to live. Again, no question. You would now take the 10.00

When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at a change.