MWerda
New Member
Hello, Bonjour, Buenos Días,
I leave for my Camino in 148 days. I can’t believe it’s actually happening. My name is Mike. I’m a school teacher from coastal Mississippi, in the United States. I’ve been a lurker on this forum for a couple years. This past fall the bug hit and everything started falling into place. I previously explained in my introduction in the Class of 2020 thread ( https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/class-of-2020.58941/post-683888 ) how I was introduced to the idea of walking the Camino when a friend shared with me the movie, “The Way.” I thought about it, and eventually put it on the back burner. This past year some friends from my church parish did a pilgrimage to Fatima, Santiago, and Lourdes. One of the ladies posted a picture of the Botafumeiro, and my fire was stoked. When I finally told some friends that I was thinking of doing the Camino, that was all it took to manifest my dream.
So, now that most of my plans are solidified, what am I doing? The day after teachers finish for the school year, I’m on a flight for Paris. I’m spending the weekend (Pentecost weekend) in Paris and then taking a train to Lourdes. I’ve never been on a train, let alone a high speed train - I’m excited. I’ve been trying to learn a little French with Duolingo, both for Paris and Lourdes, but also because my Camino begins in Lourdes. On 03 June, I begin walking from Lourdes to Saint Jean Pied de Port. So, a little French might just help a week of walking in southern France. On 10 June, I begin walking the Camino Francés. I’m also taking a couple of Spanish classes to brush up on the Spanish I learned in middle school and high school. I’ve got reservations at Orrison and Roncesvalles. I’m not planning on rushing this pilgrimage. I’m going take 40 days to walk the Francés, attempting to stay between stages as much as possible. I’ll get into Santiago toward the end of July. The plan is to walk to the Atlantic and then bus back to Santiago for the weekend of 25 July, the Feast of Saint James. I made sure to get reservations in Santiago both before going to Finesterre/Muxia and for the return and weekend. I’m hoping the Cathedral will be open for Masses once again, not because it’s a culmination, but because it’s potentially part of the Camino experience.
I have learned so much from the posts I’ve been reading here on the forum, as well as vlogs on YouTube. And now, I have 138 days to wait, get in shape (strength training and training walks), and fine tune my packing list.
I’m sure many of you know the feeling, but the days I got my Orrison e-mail (that sounded a little like Harry Potter getting his Hogwarts letter,
) and booked my flight I was tingling, giddy even. Even today, I just booked my flight from Santiago back to Paris and I’m grinning from ear to ear.
Buen Camino!
Mike
I leave for my Camino in 148 days. I can’t believe it’s actually happening. My name is Mike. I’m a school teacher from coastal Mississippi, in the United States. I’ve been a lurker on this forum for a couple years. This past fall the bug hit and everything started falling into place. I previously explained in my introduction in the Class of 2020 thread ( https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/class-of-2020.58941/post-683888 ) how I was introduced to the idea of walking the Camino when a friend shared with me the movie, “The Way.” I thought about it, and eventually put it on the back burner. This past year some friends from my church parish did a pilgrimage to Fatima, Santiago, and Lourdes. One of the ladies posted a picture of the Botafumeiro, and my fire was stoked. When I finally told some friends that I was thinking of doing the Camino, that was all it took to manifest my dream.
So, now that most of my plans are solidified, what am I doing? The day after teachers finish for the school year, I’m on a flight for Paris. I’m spending the weekend (Pentecost weekend) in Paris and then taking a train to Lourdes. I’ve never been on a train, let alone a high speed train - I’m excited. I’ve been trying to learn a little French with Duolingo, both for Paris and Lourdes, but also because my Camino begins in Lourdes. On 03 June, I begin walking from Lourdes to Saint Jean Pied de Port. So, a little French might just help a week of walking in southern France. On 10 June, I begin walking the Camino Francés. I’m also taking a couple of Spanish classes to brush up on the Spanish I learned in middle school and high school. I’ve got reservations at Orrison and Roncesvalles. I’m not planning on rushing this pilgrimage. I’m going take 40 days to walk the Francés, attempting to stay between stages as much as possible. I’ll get into Santiago toward the end of July. The plan is to walk to the Atlantic and then bus back to Santiago for the weekend of 25 July, the Feast of Saint James. I made sure to get reservations in Santiago both before going to Finesterre/Muxia and for the return and weekend. I’m hoping the Cathedral will be open for Masses once again, not because it’s a culmination, but because it’s potentially part of the Camino experience.
I have learned so much from the posts I’ve been reading here on the forum, as well as vlogs on YouTube. And now, I have 138 days to wait, get in shape (strength training and training walks), and fine tune my packing list.
I’m sure many of you know the feeling, but the days I got my Orrison e-mail (that sounded a little like Harry Potter getting his Hogwarts letter,
) and booked my flight I was tingling, giddy even. Even today, I just booked my flight from Santiago back to Paris and I’m grinning from ear to ear.Buen Camino!
Mike
is planted? It simmers away on the back-burner until it simply must be addressed.
