Almost final thoughts.

 Posted by VQT. 

P from Ukraine and his 2 dogs.  

We often can’t remember the town name of where we stayed the day before or what day of the week it is or how many days we’ve walked BUT there are moments that will always stay in my memory.  

We stopped this man to talk because we were curious how he was traveling the Camino with 2 dogs.  And being dog lovers we miss our dogs at home.  Plus, who can resist a dog wearing a scallop shell on its collar?  

He’s from outside Kiev, Ukraine.  He’s a farmer.  He sold his car for a few hundred euros.  All he has is his backpack with fishing gear, a tent and his dogs.  He told us he’s trying to find work on a farm.  (Almost all the farmers we’ve seen are older and farms appear to be family owned.) There’s a saying, “the Camino will provide”.  I hope for P and his 2 dogs that he finds employment and a safe haven on the Camino - that it does provide.  

In a Hollywood or Disneyland world I wish all the world leaders could be dropped off in St Jean Pied de Port with a backpack and a guidebook.  At Orisson- the first place we stayed in the Pyrenees - there was a sign - No We Don’t Have WiFi Talked to Each Other.  Maybe just maybe there’d be peace for everyone by the time these leaders reached Santiago de Compostela.  Maybe it was the heat and sun of the Meseta that caused me to dream of this? 

The Camino experience is something I wish for everyone.  The camaraderie is so special.  In our divisive world it’s so refreshing to enjoy people from all over the world who share one common goal - reaching Santiago de Compostela and completing the Camino. It’s a time out from 24 hour news and normal day-to-day life.  

What might be even more realistic is to wish everyone a Camino experience.  If walking 500 miles is more than you can or want to do consider walking the final 100km.  If that’s not possible plan a touring vacation to visit wineries and cathedrals in these cities and walk a few sections of the Camino.  If that’s not possible plan that winery and cathedral vacation and be sure to be sitting at a cafe/bar in a town square as the Camino pilgrims walk in, drop their backpacks and collapse into a chair with a large beer in their hand. Hopefully your timing will be perfect to witness a reunion of Pilgrims that met days or weeks earlier and spot each other again.  Eavesdrop on their conversation and when they struggle back to their feet and put on their backpack raise your glass to them and wish them - Buen Camino.  

On 6/2 as I sit in a comfort seat on a plane heading home I’ll have much to reflect on.