Notable peregrinos

[Viejo]

I think all of us who have done a camino are notable (read "odd") in some way, but in my one experience on the CF this year I encountered several who were really notable:
- an 82-year old Japanese couple who had started in eastern Turkey and finished in Santiago
- a 79-year old Korean couple
- two babies, one being conveyed by a couple and one by a single mother
- a woman pulling a cart and accompanied by two large dogs
- several large family groups, some with 3 generations of travelers
- a guy who was running the entire CF while carrying a pack
- a 75-year-old guy who claimed to have done the CF 14 times and most of the other caminos at least once

I'd like to hear about other notable peregrinos that people have encountered.

 

[SYates]

In 2014 I met a pilgrim on a bike that had started in South Korea (using the ferry to China !) and had biked all the way to Spain. I met him when he was crossing the Pyrenees via the Route Napoleon with his bike and later also in Pamplona. Hope he made it! Buen Camino, SY

 

[GreatDane]

In 2014 I ran into a woman with her baby in one of those Bob strollers (laden with camino paraphernalia). My husband walked a little bit in May of '13 with an elderly Japanese man that was hauling a wheeled sledge behind him. But the best!! -> In April on the meseta I kept running into a group (I think they were from New Zealand) of differently abled pereginos. Some in wheel chairs, some in 3 wheeled chairs, some walked with the aide of 2 canes and I think I saw at least 2 individuals enjoying their camino completely in the supine position. The party appeared to be about 30 people including their support folks and families.

 

[VNwalking]

A large group of students from Ireland--all without hearing. They were accompanied by a priest who signed the mass in the Cathedral for them. They were such a delight to walk with, both because of their great attitude and because even though they were all talking a mile a minute it was completely silent.

And an elderly couple from Eastern Germany, who had walked in stages every year. Each had a stack of credencials and were so looking forward to finally reaching Santiago. I met them before Rabinal and thought of them many times in the subsequent days, inspired by their strength of heart and so hoping that the rest of their journey went well.

 

[MTtoCamino]

I met a family of 4 from Germany that had an infant & a toddler who walked from Germany. The mother pulled a custom made 4 wheel cart that attached to her hips, that the toddler would ride in when tired along with a pack. The father had a very large frame pack set up to carry the infant in along with other items had to be at least 100L. Simply incredible.

A Spanish couple with 2 children 6-9 living on the Camino trail in a canvas tent. They moved caravan style using bicycles to carry the tent, supplies & children Pushing the bicycles to the next location. Truly a struggle yet a reminder of the strenghth of that couple.

A young woman 18 that left her forced incarnation of drug rehab since 14 that successfully walked to Santiago to break the psyc drugs given to her in her young life. Simply the strongest young person I ever met.

Many more but these folks are exceptional.

 

[KinkyOne]

I think all of us who have done a camino are notable (read "odd") in some way, but in my one experience on the CF this year I encountered several who were really notable:
- an 82-year old Japanese couple who had started in eastern Turkey and finished in Santiago
- a 79-year old Korean couple
- two babies, one being conveyed by a couple and one by a single mother
- a woman pulling a cart and accompanied by two large dogs
- several large family groups, some with 3 generations of travelers
- a guy who was running the entire CF while carrying a pack
- a 75-year-old guy who claimed to have done the CF 14 times and most of the other caminos at least once

I'd like to hear about other notable peregrinos that people have encountered.

A lot of notable "usual suspects" pilgrims on this forum also...

 

[Deleted member 34316]

Two weeks ago, after finishing my last Camino, on August the 8th, I sat down in the front of the Santiago Cathedral next to a pilgrim, who had a look of a very seasoned traveler. He started a chat with me and soon I realized you can't meet many pilgrims like him at the Plaza de Obradoiro waiting for the 12 o'clock Mass. This was José Antonio García, "el Peregrino", a man who has walked 106 thousand kilometers over 15 years, visiting all the sanctuaries around the world. He told me his story: 15 years ago his fishing boat sank in the storm, and he was the only survivor of the shipwreck. Then he made a promise to Virgin Mary, to visit all the pilgrimage places in the world, in order to thank God for saving his life. He showed me an impressive collection of newspaper pages in many languages from many countries which narrated his ever-lasting journey (he carried a selection of them in the backpack). He also told me that on that day he finished his last pilgrimage and now he is heading home to Bilbao, but ...I found on the internet that he made such a claim before... so it seems like he is just unable to stop! Don't be surprised if you meet him on the way to Santiago, Jerusalem or Tibet....

It was one of the most amazing ending of my Camino that I could imagine.
You can find many internet articles about him. Also, if you look on Youtube for "Jose Antonio Garcia peregrino" you can find several interviews with him. I am attaching the link to one of the videos. At the minute 1:48 he is presenting the full collection of his newspaper articles (he carries some of them in the backpack), and talking about meeting Pope Jan Paul II and being hosted by Dalai-Lama in his residence in Dharamshala. He also gives some tips about packing light for 100.000 km journey

 

[Mooncat]

All of the people I met had inspirational stories. I am not kidding. There was one fellow walking with a colostomy bag. He passed me, smiling. There was an older Dane walking in between colon cancer surgeries. At one point, he said his knee was hurting him and had to slow down a bit. Because of that, I was able to keep up, for a while. Then, three Danish women caught up to him and he said his knee pain had vanished. I met a Spaniard, Fermin, who had done 7 Caminos, round-trip. His first began as he was enlisted to recover the body of the son of a friend who had died on the Camino. He was 77. I met an Irishman, David, who had done 9 Caminos, and who had never been on the internet and didn't own a cellular telephone. (If anyone else met this Irishman and has his address, I would appreciate you contacting me please.) David's company was marvelous during my short time with him on the walk. I met several women hiking alone, in their late teens. They took my breath away with their focus, self-confidence and positive attitudes. I met a young Dane who talked in his sleep in 3 languages. I met an American from Austin who had an anaphylactic reaction on the trail and whose life was saved by a Bulgarian. He returned the favor when the Bulgarian had an allergic reaction three days later and he restored his breathing. Both were nurses with food allergies and did not speak a common language. I was repeatedly amazed by the people I met. Amazed and inspired.

 

[Anniesantiago]

For me, the most notable has been Daniel, who walked the entire way on crutches.

 

[scott the farmer]

Victor from Sweden has just passed 3000 kms on his walk to raise money for the charity that saved him when he was a young boy
He is near Logrona at the moment keep an eye open for him

 

[MTtoCamino]

All of the people I met had inspirational stories. I am not kidding. There was one fellow walking with a colostomy bag. He passed me, smiling. There was an older Dane walking in between colon cancer surgeries. At one point, he said his knee was hurting him and had to slow down a bit. Because of that, I was able to keep up, for a while. Then, three Danish women caught up to him and he said his knee pain had vanished. I met a Spaniard, Fermin, who had done 7 Caminos, round-trip. His first began as he was enlisted to recover the body of the son of a friend who had died on the Camino. He was 77. I met an Irishman, David, who had done 9 Caminos, and who had never been on the internet and didn't own a cellular telephone. (If anyone else met this Irishman and has his address, I would appreciate you contacting me please.) David's company was marvelous during my short time with him on the walk. I met several women hiking alone, in their late teens. They took my breath away with their focus, self-confidence and positive attitudes. I met a young Dane who talked in his sleep in 3 languages. I met an American from Austin who had an anaphylactic reaction on the trail and whose life was saved by a Bulgarian. He returned the favor when the Bulgarian had an allergic reaction three days later and he restored his breathing. Both were nurses with food allergies and did not speak a common language. I was repeatedly amazed by the people I met. Amazed and inspired.

We finally have the witness in this thread that shows the El Camino for what it is.

 

[Bogong]

Thank you so much for opening this topic. It is possibly the most inspiring and humbling I 've read on this site.

It's on an entirely different plane to the usual mundane themes of bedbugs, blisters, accommodation issues, pack weights and the like, necessary as they are.

De Colores

Bogong

 

[miguel_gp]

@JohnnieWalker who, having walked the Camino on a number of occasions, set up the Amigo (volunteer) program at the Pilgrims Office back in 2012 to enhance the experience of the Pilgrim arriving in Santiago. Volunteers are still greeting Pilgrims 4 years later. He then went on to arrange regular English speaking mass in the Cathedral in Santiago and lately, I understand, is working on a program to open up closed churches on the CF with temporary priests so that Pilgrims have the opportunity to attend mass.
And then, in his spare time, he walks the Caminos to update the donativo CSJ guides.
Thanks John for all the work that you (and the others that have contributed) do for the Camino and it's infrastructure to make it a little easier for everybody that follows.

 

[grayland]

I might point out that active pilgrims in their upper 70's (and higher) are not rare on the forum.
Most do not think it is notable or special.


I walked from LePuy a few years back and a group of adults, who were challenged mentally, showed up in a gite where we were staying.
They were from a group "village" in France.
They walk for two weeks every year. Some were married couples with children who were 8-10-12 years old.
The children were "normal" and actually acted as chaperones along with adult caregivers.
My first encounter with them was without warning and was with just one man, about 25 or so, who just walked up to us and was very excited and happy to be walking.
He did not make much sense in the conversation and we were confused until one of the children ran over and in very mature manner let us know the situation.
He did this in impressive English.

They all live in a "village" type atmosphere with some couples,who are able, living in their own cottages and the others in "apartments". They strive to give them as normal life as possible.
This was a very special group that we ran into every day for a week or so.

 

[wayfarer]

An 82 year old Japanese man with a prosthesis leg from above the knee whom we met in 2012, we were a "young 58 and 60" and we could not keep up. We met him again at the lighthouse in Finisterre and he told us it was his second time walking it in two years.

 

[Wokabaut_Meri]

My Camino notables:

• A delightful joyous energetic cyclist on a round the world epic journey from his home in Japan who stopped to help us take some group photographs
• A Polish family with 3 young children and a baby in a pram who we met off and on the Camino Francés all the Way to Santiago where we walked into the Pilgrim Office together
• A beautiful young lady who laboured physically and painfully with every step but just kept on walking with such focus and courage
• A blind pilgrim holding onto a pole and being guided by his compañeros who described the countryside around him as they walked
• Every pilgrim who stopped to help another along the Way and they were abundant along our Camino
• The wonderful people of Spain who made us welcome in their backyard and taught us their language. Especially the Elders of many of the villages who proudly took us through their vegetable gardens.
• All the volunteers in all their different capacities wherever we found them along the Way

Puts all our exploits, petty annoyances and trivial issues into perspective.

Thank you @Viejo or gifting us this thread.

 

[BonitaHolland]

I love this thread and I hope to become notable in my own small way- not because I have a disability or due to my age or through distance speed or other physical prowess (although I'm truly in awe of these people) .... I'd like to be the compassionate person who restored someone's faith in humanity with a small act of kindness to someone who needs it. If I can do this I'll be satisfied I think. And of course I hope that I'll come across many others who have the same values- as at my age (58) with a disability (Bletherospasm Dystonia) I'll also probably need a little help along the way....

 

[good_old_shoes]

First of all, thank you for this topic.

I have to say, usually I'm very bad at remembering people, but somehow, there are so many from the camino I do remember very well. Even though I don't even know the names of most, and many I only talked to for a few minutes, I still don't think I'll ever forget them.

That's probably a Camino thing, and I guess I'm not the only one who feels that way.

The whole list of people I do remember as "notable" would be far too long to type down here, so I'll mention only two who I think are not the kind of people many remember in a good way, while they deserve it.

One is the man who found a rather useless item I had lost, knew it was mine, and even though others said "probably left it because it was too much weight!" knew it was important to me (I had mentioned it was a gift from a family member) and carried it all the way from Leon to Finisterre to give it to me. I'll never forget that. There were a few other pilgrims who called him "strange" and didn't want him for company, because he was rather poor, and somehow looked that way (he was very good at managing the little he had, though! Amazing! A very fine human being, overall).

The second is someone who other pilgrims spoke badly of, because he, too, was walking with very little money (and, different to the other pilgrim I mentioned, wasn't that good at managing his finances, and when he ran out of money, relied on other people's charity). I met him when I was sick, had to take several rest days, and then could only manage to walk very short stages. All the people I had known had passed me, there were no familiar faces anymore. I felt horribly alone. That pilgrim everyone spoke badly of, walked with me for several days, the very short stages I was able to do, in my turtle pace, and kept me company when I really needed it. We stopped all the time to look at the landscape, make photos, and talk about flowers, birds, ect. we saw along the way. I payed the albergue for him once, and was happy to do so (he didn't even ask for it, even though maybe expected me to, anyway). He might have been a freeloader, or a scammer, or maybe was simply irresponsible, someone who most would give the advice to "better stay at home, if you can't afford it". But so what? I didn't care. He acted like a human being towards me, saw what I needed when I was in need of help, and that I am very grateful for.

 

[Saint Mike II]

I love this thread and I hope to become notable in my own small way- not because I have a disability or due to my age or through distance speed or other physical prowess (although I'm truly in awe of these people) ......

Bonita - you are already very notable. Buen Camino!

 

[MTtoCamino]

I love this thread and I hope to become notable in my own small way- not because I have a disability or due to my age or through distance speed or other physical prowess (although I'm truly in awe of these people) .... I'd like to be the compassionate person who restored someone's faith in humanity with a small act of kindness to someone who needs it. If I can do this I'll be satisfied I think. And of course I hope that I'll come across many others who have the same values- as at my age (58) with a disability (Bletherospasm Dystonia) I'll also probably need a little help along the way....

You will find that we all have such different experiences that when reflecting it seems the Camino seems as if our personal experience seems customized to finding answers it is a bit surreal.
Keith

 

[kay lee]

An elderly Jewish couple (mid-70-s?) from Haifa. They went to Jerusalem to buy a bunch of rosaries made of the olive trees grown in Jerusalem. They wanted to meet the Catholics on the Camino and share their little gifts. They were lovely, open minded, and readily helpful with other small chores along the way.

 

[MaWinMex]

All of the people I met had inspirational stories. I am not kidding. There was one fellow walking with a colostomy bag. He passed me, smiling. There was an older Dane walking in between colon cancer surgeries. At one point, he said his knee was hurting him and had to slow down a bit. Because of that, I was able to keep up, for a while.

Thank you for this, and for the inspiration it has given me. As a 74-year-old survivor of colorectal cancer surgery myself, and walking with a colostomy, I've been increasingly apprehensive as my 9/11 departure from SJPdP draws closer. I don't consider myself in any way notable compared to some of the examples on this thread, but it's good to know I won't be the first to make the journey with this condition. But I can pretty much guarantee that I won't be passing too many of my fellow pilgrims!

 

[Deleted member 43780]

Stopped at Burma while walking the Ingles this May.

Met a woman at the A'berg in Burma. She walked the Ingles 12 times !

I wonder why one would do the same walk 12 times.

 

[Albertagirl]

I wonder why one would do the same walk 12 times.

@martyseville
Maybe you will find out.

 

[SYates]

Stopped at Burma while walking the Ingles this ...

Isn't autocorrect lovely! The idea of walking from Ferrol/A Coruña to Santiago via Burma/Myanmar - that would be an adventure! Buen Camino, SY

 

[Sirage]

Many many notables in all their diversity, from the apparently poor (or it may be the not-poor in a Camino frugal state of mind ! ) to the seriously rich enjoying the rich communal nature of the walk and Albergues.
And the Frenchman who, at 82, this year was doing his 10th consecutive Camino from Arles to Santiago. Up very early, walking long days , eating simply and going to bed early whilst most others were socialising.

 

[Holly Mitchem]

@Anniesantiago we also met Daniel this year, about four days out from Santiago and enjoyed a couple of lunches and a dinner with him. What an inspiring young man. He could manage 1k per hour and had wonderful stories about his encounters with others who had helped him along the way. He told us he took the after arriving in France from England, he hitchhiked to SJPdP and started on the Feast Day of St. Katherine (April 29th), hoped to arrive in Santiago by the Feast of Santiago on July 25th, and return to England on the Feast of St. Dominic (August 6). Although we spent four nights in Santiago and saw many people we had journeyed with, we never saw Daniel again. I do hope he made it to Santiago and out to Finisterre....

 

[M. McNabb]

Thank you so much for opening this topic. It is possibly the most inspiring and humbling I 've read on this site.

It's on an entirely different plane to the usual mundane themes of bedbugs, blisters, accommodation issues, pack weights and the like, necessary as they are.

De Colores

Bogong

I so agree

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Although we spent four nights in Santiago and saw many people we had journeyed with, we never saw Daniel again. I do hope he made it to Santiago and out to Finisterre....

I believe you would like this thread:
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...iel-from-england-walking-with-crutches.41686/

 

[anna klara klintegaard]

So many beautiful pilgrims on the Camino... I especially remember:

- A father with 5 kids. He walked the Camino every year with all his kids that was old enough join and wasn´t so old, that they were in college. Meanwhile his wife had a holiday. He had 8 kids and one to come soon. He hoped, he would be fit enough to bring the youngest in 6-7 years. They were so happy and caring all of them.

- Two blind pilgrims, one with a dog and another with a companion, happily chatting along in the morning sun overtaking everyone on the way.

 

[patk]

Thank you for this, and for the inspiration it has given me. As a 74-year-old survivor of colorectal cancer surgery myself, and walking with a colostomy, I've been increasingly apprehensive as my 9/11 departure from SJPdP draws closer. I don't consider myself in any way notable compared to some of the examples on this thread, but it's good to know I won't be the first to make the journey with this condition. But I can pretty much guarantee that I won't be passing too many of my fellow pilgrims!

The first bit up the Pyrenees might be the worst as it is straight up with not many stops to change your bag.
what about taking the bus to Roncevalles and starting from there? Otherwise, you can stay at the halfway restaurant, and/or take a break. Buena suerte and you have my admiration.

 

[ess1113]

I need to be totally honest, if you have walked the Camino then you are a notable perigrino.
I totally get what everyone is saying but I was humbled by everyone I met on the Camino and in this forum without exception. I am really looking forward to next April and the Portuguese route, and meeting new people and places.

Buen Camino

 

[scruffy1]

Two elderly French pilgims who regularly walked back and forth between Hornillos and Castrojerez picking up trash, sorry pilgrims never leave trash behind, flotsam and jetsam along the Camino.
Three nuns from Korea who alternated carrying a cross from SJPP to Santiago.
Has anyone read "The Camino" by Shirely MacClaine? That was a ah...that is...I mean...a "notable" Camino.

 

[Terrri]

The most notable pilgrims I met were the only other pilgrims in an albergue in Maneru with my daughter and I. This was a short day for us and we arrived at this albergue around 1 pm. The hospitalero was very casual and asked who ever was up last to please lock the door.

The young 19 year old man from Denmark was the only pilgrim there when we arrived. He had been averaging 50 km a day and on this day ended walking early because he was sore and tired and made the comment to us that he thought he was superman until this day. He spontaneously decided to walk the camino so wasn't overly prepared and didn't have rain gear or a wind breaker but had good scarpa boots so his feet stayed dry. He left early the next morning around 6:30 am - I assume off to walk another 50 km day. He didn't have a timeline to meet but rather that was his walking style - young and full of energy.

The other man that stayed that night was in his mid 70's from France. He arrived around 6:30 pm that night and leisurely made his dinner. At 10 pm he was asking if we wanted to join him for a cup of tea but the young man was already asleep and we were about to do the same. When we left the albergue around 8:30 am Bernhard was just starting to cook his breakfast. This wasn't his first camino and he told us how he would stop for naps in parks in the middle of the day and he never walked on sundays because that is the lord's day and a day of rest. He always picked religious albergues on those days and would be allowed to stay two nights.

These two pilgrims were very notable to me because of their diverse ways of approaching the camino. Prior to this I was of a different mindset.

 

[Mooncat]

Thank you for this, and for the inspiration it has given me. As a 74-year-old survivor of colorectal cancer surgery myself, and walking with a colostomy, I've been increasingly apprehensive as my 9/11 departure from SJPdP draws closer. I don't consider myself in any way notable compared to some of the examples on this thread, but it's good to know I won't be the first to make the journey with this condition. But I can pretty much guarantee that I won't be passing too many of my fellow pilgrims!

MaWinMex, May you have a marvelous journey. People on my Camino did not open up immediately about their sorrows or burdens, but told me about them once a level of trust was established. Sometimes that happened after a quarter mile, sometimes after half a bottle of wine, sometimes after I confided in them. They always caught me by surprise. You will be walking among friends, and they will give you strength. Also, if you seek inner peace or a respite from something that is troubling you, that may happen too. It sounds like you deserve some solace. At Cruz de Ferro, I requested strength to overcome a specific issue that had been denying me peace for many years, and, my request was granted. Whether that counts as a miracle or not, I will take it. I hope your Camino reinforces you to continue fighting your physical battles and gives you inner peace to enjoy the rich life you have earned. Buen Camino.

 

[ChloeRose]

I met a German man, only about 21 years old, who was biking all the way to Santiago from Paris. When we met, he had already made it all the way down to Le Puy when his bike was stolen! He trained all the way back to Paris, replaced all of his stolen items (must have cost a bundle) and went straight back to Le Puy to begin again.

Persistance!

 

[Snigelanna]

I am in Villafranca right now. (Unfortunatelly not feeling good so will have to stay here for a while)
Everytime a tell someone that I am Swedish they say "Have you met Viktor?" Apparently he has been an inspiration to many, starting in Sweden 4 months ago, I have been told. I am so curious - who are you Viktor?

 

[JohnMcM]

I met the me I once was happy to be and thankfully we have remained friends.

 

[Trevor Ockenden]

In 2013 in Burgos my partner and I met a Dutchman who was doing it for the 5th time from his home in Holland. He told us his mother was several days behind him and she was on her 11th time. After some chat he admitted he had been a drug addict and his mother somehow convinced him to do a Camino and now he was addicted to doing Caminos. He also admitted he was prone to losing his stuff and on several occasions he had to wait for his mother to catch up to help him out. It could have just been a story but he seemed genuine enough. A really pleasant guy.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Stopped at Bruma while walking the Ingles this May.

Met a woman at the A'berg in Burma. She walked the Ingles 12 times !

I wonder why one would do the same walk 12 times.

Why some one will go each year to the same place on his vacation? ? Mabe because they love to do this year after year.
Wish you well, Peter

 

[stevenjarvis]

I met the me I once was happy to be and thankfully we have remained friends.

A great aspiration , and achievement, thank you for sharing. Buen Camino.

 

[vegoodrich]

I have to agree with what someone else said that every pilgrim I met was so different and each had their own amazing stories. I have a hard time judging which was more notable than the next! I think the best part of the camino is the variety of people you meet and how you can often find some different way to relate to each of them. Truly like nothing else and what will draw me back eventually.

The truth is that I still have pretty vivid memories of my times spent with each of them. Something I treasure from each of my 'camino friends'. Buen Camino indeed

 

[AKflyer]

I think all of us who have done a camino are notable (read "odd") in some way, but in my one experience on the CF this year I encountered several who were really notable:
- an 82-year old Japanese couple who had started in eastern Turkey and finished in Santiago
- a 79-year old Korean couple
- two babies, one being conveyed by a couple and one by a single mother
- a woman pulling a cart and accompanied by two large dogs
- several large family groups, some with 3 generations of travelers
- a guy who was running the entire CF while carrying a pack
- a 75-year-old guy who claimed to have done the CF 14 times and most of the other caminos at least once

I'd like to hear about other notable peregrinos that people have encountered.[/QUOTE

Last year one of my inspirational characters making the trek was a "small person" about 40" inches tall from South Africa. His steps were about 1/3 those of mine and therefore I thought his Camino was about three times mine in steps. His backpack was about as big as he was and almost touched the ground. He was originally from the US. His smile was as big as his determination. Amazingly notable.

 

[Lavonne Feyen]

All of the people I met had inspirational stories. I am not kidding. There was one fellow walking with a colostomy bag. He passed me, smiling. There was an older Dane walking in between colon cancer surgeries. At one point, he said his knee was hurting him and had to slow down a bit. Because of that, I was able to keep up, for a while. Then, three Danish women caught up to him and he said his knee pain had vanished. I met a Spaniard, Fermin, who had done 7 Caminos, round-trip. His first began as he was enlisted to recover the body of the son of a friend who had died on the Camino. He was 77. I met an Irishman, David, who had done 9 Caminos, and who had never been on the internet and didn't own a cellular telephone. (If anyone else met this Irishman and has his address, I would appreciate you contacting me please.) David's company was marvelous during my short time with him on the walk. I met several women hiking alone, in their late teens. They took my breath away with their focus, self-confidence and positive attitudes. I met a young Dane who talked in his sleep in 3 languages. I met an American from Austin who had an anaphylactic reaction on the trail and whose life was saved by a Bulgarian. He returned the favor when the Bulgarian had an allergic reaction three days later and he restored his breathing. Both were nurses with food allergies and did not speak a common language. I was repeatedly amazed by the people I met. Amazed and inspired.

I met the man who had had an allergic reaction along the trail and was helped, and then later was able to help the person who had helped him. I was in the room when the emergency call went out for a dr. or nurse. An amazing Camino story! This was 3 or 4 years ago. Don’t remember which allergies, but the host’s name was Eduardo.

 

[NorthernLight]

I met the man who had had an allergic reaction along the trail and was helped, and then later was able to help the person who had helped him. I was in the room when the emergency call went out for a dr. or nurse. An amazing Camino story! This was 3 or 4 years ago. Don’t remember which allergies, but the host’s name was Eduardo.

Is that an auto-correct from albergue to allergies?

The only albergue host named Eduardo I know of is at En El Camino in Boadilla del Camino.

 

[RumAndChupacabras]

Such an amazing thread, needs to resurface!

 

[Deleted member 397]

Mine is a little different....on the via francigena i met a man who had walked with h I s dog from Inverness. I met them near rome and saw them at st peters. The dog had special booties, a small backpack and was rightly the centre of attention

 

[Ungawawa]

In 2017 I met an American guy with a long white beard, traditional brown pilgrim robes, bare feet and a staff, calling himself "Father Blissful", a self-professed monk of "an order of two". The other one hadn't made it to the camino. He seemed a nice chap even if his religious credencials were a little D-I-Y, and said he was doing it barefoot and on donations, though I think at some points he must have worn shoes because this was a 40-year-high heatwave at the time! This also was at Eduardo's albergue in Boadilla.

 

[lizlane]

Great thread! Thanks for resurrecting it! Only piping in so I can follow it better!

 

[Mooncat]

I met the man who had had an allergic reaction along the trail and was helped, and then later was able to help the person who had helped him. I was in the room when the emergency call went out for a dr. or nurse. An amazing Camino story! This was 3 or 4 years ago. Don’t remember which allergies, but the host’s name was Eduardo.

It must be the same two fellows. Eduardo was in Boadilla del Camino. I am still in touch with the Peregrino from Austin. I will tell him that his experience has become legendary.

 

[Mooncat]

The resurrection of this thread has resurfaced memories for me. There were so many other stories I could tell of people with whom I walked. Everyone has a story, all of them notable if you wait and let them tell it. It has made me want to return to repeat the effort, but I hear Thomas Wolfe whispering, "You can't go home again." My greatest fear is that the people I met and the experiences I had on my one Camino were unique and exceptional, and if I try it again, I will be disappointed. However, where would we be if we always listened to that voice? I had read threads on this forum from previous walkers that warned me back before I departed in 2015 that the Camino had changed since they had first walked it and it was not the rich experience it had once been. But, in 2015, in my ignorance, I found it to be challenging, spiritual, and marvelous. Since then, I have been longing to return.

Decades ago, I fished a broad bend of the Missouri River in Montana on a bright day in late summer. It had been such an enjoyable day that I returned the next morning to the same stretch of water. But, much to my dismay, was having not too good a time. I kept getting my line snagged and the fish did not seem as responsive. The weather was the same and the river had not risen or fallen. I decided that it was my expectations that had changed. The river and the fish had nothing to do with how I had approached the day. I had screwed it up myself.

With that, I will see if there is one more Camino in this aging, broken and rehealed body and, if granted the opportunity, will endeavor to set my mind to embrace whatever challenges and people cross my path. Buen Camino.

 

[nycwalking]

The resurrection of this thread has resurfaced memories for me. There were so many other stories I could tell of people with whom I walked. Everyone has a story, all of them notable if you wait and let them tell it. It has made me want to return to repeat the effort, but I hear Thomas Wolfe whispering, "You can't go home again." My greatest fear is that the people I met and the experiences I had on my one Camino were unique and exceptional, and if I try it again, I will be disappointed. However, where would we be if we always listened to that voice? I had read threads on this forum from previous walkers that warned me back before I departed in 2015 that the Camino had changed since they had first walked it and it was not the rich experience it had once been. But, in 2015, in my ignorance, I found it to be challenging, spiritual, and marvelous. Since then, I have been longing to return.

Decades ago, I fished a broad bend of the Missouri River in Montana on a bright day in late summer. It had been such an enjoyable day that I returned the next morning to the same stretch of water. But, much to my dismay, was having not too good a time. I kept getting my line snagged and the fish did not seem as responsive. The weather was the same and the river had not risen or fallen. I decided that it was my expectations that had changed. The river and the fish had nothing to do with how I had approached the day. I had screwed it up myself.

With that, I will see if there is one more Camino in this aging, broken and rehealed body and, if granted the opportunity, will endeavor to set my mind to embrace whatever challenges and people cross my path. Buen Camino.

Go again.

And, walk west young man.