The Camino is officially over. We boarded the bus this morning to go to OPorto along with a full bus load of Peregrinos!! And we thought we were so unique deciding to head south for a few days.
Our friends, Diane and Rheinhart whom we met in Santiago before we left for Finesterre had the same plans. We're staying in the same hotel, an Ibis, in the university area of town, a 10 minute ride on the Metro to downtown.
We just returned from a long dinner with them complete with Port wine at the end. This is OPorto after all.
They live in the Yukon near White Horse, the very place 42 odd years ago that Soaring Eagle and I were going homestead at. But that's another story. Diane is from Portland and Rheinhart from Germany. They live entirely off the grid.
I brought up a sensitive topic as we were talking and sharing life stories. I talked about wanting to go sometime to Berlin and experience modern Germany, having been raised in a Jewish family and brought up in the shadow of the holocaust. Rheinhart immediately became emotional and teary and talked about the unshakable collective guilt of the nation and how his generation has not been able to show or feel any pride or nationalism at all in being German.
We got beyond this. At first I thought I shouldn't have said anything but now I think it is good and that the only way to move beyond is to meet face to face as humans in a different point in time.
War trauma lasts generations.
This is a beautiful city but it is still a shock to leave the Camino and face the choices, the noise, the busy-ness.
Hotel rooms and eating out- done!
Ready to come home . But the weather's sunny and tomorrow will bring beautiful river and ocean walks .
Wow, what a great post, brought goose bumps. I agree that it's important to have those types of conversations, to bring the guilt and sadness to the surface. Everyone can then move on to more productive and healing emotions. My friend Rolf who was German and from that generation had the same feelings. He felt ashamed of being German. It's unfortunate and sad. Anyway, glad you're having such a great time with great new friends! They sound like cool, progressive types living off the grid! We miss you so much. Hazel can't stop talking about visiting you in a few weeks.
ReplyDeleteCraig and Marilyn,
ReplyDeleteGreat posts! Our mutual friend, Leslie Flanders, shared your blog with me. I'm doing the Camino this Sept through Oct; St. Jean Pied de Port to Santiago. I see that you started in Burgos. Are you able to recommend some albergues? Would you recommend taking trekking poles? Do they really help when descending?
I've got a Facebook page dedicated to my Camino "Like A Deer Yearning for Running Stream." Did you post to your blog from albergue internet?
I'd appreciate any other tips you have for me.
Thanks, Mike Key, Georgetown, KY
Hi Mike,
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to be preparing for this lifetime adventure. At this moment, I am saddened by the horrible train accident by Santiago. How difficult it must be for all who are there or headed there at this time. This is where our faith is tested, is it not? I have no other words.
But the Camino prevails as we all try to in our own time. So to answer your questions, yes! That's a resounding yes to trekking poles. The vast majority of peregrinos had them. They take the stress off knee and hip joints tremendously. I forget the actual percentage but you can look it up. We used them all the time. Ours folded so that we could stow them on our packs for bringing on the airplane. In fact, we carried our packs and poles onto the plane, not checking anything.
I can't recommend albergues because we didn't choose to stay in them. We opted for habitaciones with private baths and beds and enjoyed this manner of accommodations immensely. We always had clean, friendly surroundings. The privacy was important to us as well as not being exposed to so many people's conditions if you will. My blog does list most of the places in each town that we stayed at. Wifi was quite available in most locations, if not in the room itself because of the thick stone walls, in the cafe or common areas. I wrote the blog and then posted it as Wifi became available. We brought along an iPhone and an iPad mini but I used the iPhone predominantly.
I don't know if you read this post. You might find it helpful: http://pipello1.blogspot.com/2013/05/reflection-q-and-a.html
And this one lists the habitaciones that we stayed at:
http://pipello1.blogspot.com/2013/04/itinerary-as-it-evolves.html
We plan to return next May to walk from SJPP to Burgos. We're hooked now!
Feel free to email with any other questions and we'd love to read your blog upon your return. I'll check your FB page as well. Please say hello to Leslie.
email is: pipello@comcast.net
¡Buen Camino!
-Marilyn