Thoughts from the Camino…

Date: 03 September 2007

Thoughts from the Camino … the what? The Camino of Santiago de Compostela, the pilgrimage route from, well, from wherever you start, to Santiago de Compostela in north west Spain. I started from Bristol by train, then ferry to Santander, bus to Burgos then by foot to Santiago. Only the walking part counted towards the Pilgrim Certificate or Compostela. I’d been attracted to this pilgrim journey on and off for many years and at 64 really thought I’d left it too late. However after going to a ‘Pilgrim Day’ organised by the Confraternity of St James http://www.csj.org.uk, I was greatly encouraged by those there who had walked all or part of the Camino. So on 19 April 2007 there I was, walking out of Burgos. Three weeks, two days, and 488 kilometres later I walked into Santiago.

I didn’t have much with me. Well you don’t when you have to carry it all. Even the minimum felt heavy, but you get used to it. Quite a lesson in living simply - although not that simply when most villages had a water fountain and a bar for refreshments. The pilgrim refugios at frequent intervals meant that there was always somewhere to stay for the night. These simple albergues with bunk bed, shower and WC are only available to pilgrims who had the Pilgrim Passport or Credencial. The stamp in the Credencial is your proof to the authorities in Compostela that you have walked the Camino and are eligible to receive the Compostela (Pilgrim Certificate).

I find it hard to put my pilgrimage into words. As a whole it was wonderful and parts were fantastic, amazing, mind-blowing. I want to use all those over-dramatic words that teenagers use. My natural spirituality is Ignatian - finding God in all things - and I certainly found God in many different ways. I made my journey in the spirit of the four week movement of the spiritual exercises of Ignatius. I soon found the path and terrain enhanced the prayer. Being on my own I walked mostly in silence, which gave me plenty of time and space for meditation. However in the evenings there was plenty of good craic as well as friendly encounters along the way.

As I walked I received so many riches from the Camino. God in Creation, the mountains, the rivers, the wild flowers the pattern of clouds in the sky, the sun, the rain, the snow. Yes, snow as I went over the mountains before Ponferrada. God in others, the support and sensitivity of other pilgrims, and the friendliness of the local people who would go out of their way and take you to the albergue. I shared meals, memorably octopus washed down with ribiero wine in the best pulperia in Galicia, I met and shared life stories with people of all ages and from many different countries. New friends good fun laughter and joy.

Finally Santiago and a hug for St James before the noon Pilgrim Mass. The botafumiero was broken so I didn’t get to see it swing. Oh well, I’ll have to go back next year. Maybe I’ll start at St Jean de Pied Port …

Judith Collin