[su_dropcap]I[/su_dropcap]N 2013,, a friend called to see if I wanted to go on the pilgrimage I had been planning to do when I turned 65. It just so happened that a few of my friends and a priest were given the opportunity to do “The Way”, in October 2013. Two years before I would turn 65.
“The Way”, a movie produced by Emilio Estevez, where the role of a father was played by Martin Sheen, who viewed his son in the movie as not doing much with his life, was critical of the lack of desire to be something more, but the son’s life was to explore life and do what made him happy. The father (Martin Sheen) who is a successful doctor, drops his son off at the airport only to get a call a week later telling him that his son had died “doing “The Way”. The son, (played by Emilio Estevez) got lost through the Pyrenees Mountains, during a terrible storm and died.
In the meantime Martin Sheen travels to France to collect his son’s remains only to decide that he himself would finish what his son started.
When I found out that the cost of this pilgrimage would be much less than what I had planned, I spontaneously said yes, and the next thing I knew I was booked to fly into Orange County where I would meet up with the small group of 8 and we would have two days to prepare what we all had been getting into shape for over the last several months in order to strengthen our bodies.
I researched extensively the right type of backpack to carry, the weight, what to take, what not to take, and just prepare my heart for a spiritual journey. I figured I was in pretty good shape, despite the training I had done and the fact that I was relying on God and my Guardian Angel to help me through this journey.
This may be a little longer post than normal so I hope you will bear with me, I don’t know if I want to do it in two or three parts, but we will see.
After a few days of walking 7 – 10 miles when I arrived in California before we were do to leave out of LAX, with backpacks loaded according to the weight we would be carrying there, I felt ready. I was excited and ready to go.
We departed in October of 2014 and would be gone for up to six weeks. There are different paths in doing “The El Camino”, as they call it that you can choose from, one more difficult than the next. Our group decided to fly into Madrid, after nearly a twelve hour flight. For the sake of space regarding this post I won’t dwell on the setbacks in getting to our destination, but I will tell you, I would not take this particular flight path again.
It was 4 a.m. in the morning when we finally arrived at our place of stay for the night in Madrid Spain, before heading out to the place where we would actually start our pilgrimage. First, we would catch a train to Astorga and start from there, that being 250 miles to De Compostela in Spain, known also as “Camino de Santiago”, “The Way of St. James”
Each day we would be walking an average of 19-22 miles per day in order to reach our destination. We walked and walked and walked. It’s true that there are Hostels or Albergues. (Pronounced al-BEAR-gays) along the way, but not being prepared enough, one would be better off staying in a Hostel, as they provide the showers and beds just like a hotel room. The problem with Albergues is that you are among many pilgrims, and depending on where you stay, showers and bathroom areas are co-ed, meaning that both men and women take their turns, not showering with each other but just taking turns with what is available.
Not something that I was accustom to. I will share with you only two experiences, one in a monastery where I shared a room with 50 different people coming and going at all different times. And the fact that I did not take enough euros with me, so that became a problem. I was separated from the group, due to issues I will not go into, and for (4) days I was surviving on just coffee because of the lack of Euros, as I had to decide what was more important, a place to sleep or eating meals.
Every day that I was waiting for the group to catch up, I would attend the Pilgrims’ Mass at the Basilica of St. James in the center of town. It is beyond words to describe this massive and beautifully huge ancient church. In the center of the Church at the altar is a huge Thurible, (a metal censer suspended from chains), in which incense is burned during worship services. History has it that as the pilgrims would end their journey and attend the Holy Mass, the Thurible with incense was to help with the odor as many had not taken baths or washed in days.
At one point I even had to ask for money from others just to have a cup of coffee!
Everyone does “The Way” for various reasons. Some to see if they actually can complete the journey, some for spiritual reasons, some to leave behind the things that trouble them, and some, just for the experience. For me it was spiritual. I was thankful for many things upon my return home including hot baths, clean clothes, and the fact that I had come back with no blisters or bedbugs. There were so many other events that I would love to record that took place but that would have to come on a second post, if at all or if the interest from readers is there.
Would I do things differently should I attempt “The Way” again? Yes, yes, and yes.
Lynn, I couldn’t wait to read your story. Please write more about this, I want to hear everything. You should talk to Dennis about his trip last year. His wife blogged about their adventure and posted photographs too. It was amazing to experience their trip with them. Back to your story, Absolutely I would be surviving on coffee, although I’m sure food would have been welcome, but coffee is a nice alternative when there are few choices. I can’t imagine being out in a strange land separated from the security of my group, but how blessed to be able to attend mass while waiting for things to become normal. I thought as I read the account, that you were on the pilgrimage for spiritual reasons and God provided the place for you to be spiritually filled every day. Please tell us more.
I will do so Jane, and thank you. It definitely was an experience, I think I will have to do a Pilgrimage Part II with some pic’s. May the Lord bless and keep you and yes, I will look into Dennis and his wife’s trip as well.
Dear Lynn, I for one would like to know why you did this and what you gained from your pilgrimage? Part II or even III would make some interesting reading indeed.
I agree, Danny! I would like Lynn to write more about this pilgrimage. I would be interesting and encouraging.