- Time of past OR future Camino
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A "Camino Story" is a story about a freakish but beautiful coincidence while walking along the way. It is said that whatever you ask for on the Camino, you will receive. An example of a camino story I have personally experienced involves Rebecca from Australia (2009) having a vision of a Green Bicycle when she realized she did not have enough time to walk to Santiago, and then the next day one was gifted to her. It was sort of green and she rode it to complete her path. Another story I've heard is of Christina by the tienda in Rosecanvalles, just having purchased pan y salame y queso to prepare a bocadilla, but tragically realizing she had not brought a knife, when just then another peregrino exited the store by which she was seated saying, "does anyone need a knife? I have this extra..." (it came with the ham purchased or something like that...)
My story goes like this:
I was in Astorga, having arrived totally early, I wandered about the town, taking pictures, going shopping for dinner, but feeling sort of empty and alone. Later that night, after reviewing the pictures, I remembered that my new camera could do some special things with colors and effects, so I decided to figure it out. I played with the camera, adjusting knobs and pushing buttons, but I could not for the life of me make it do what was advertised when I purchased it. It was getting late so I decided that the next time I enjoyed idle time, I would download the manual and read it again.
Well the very next day I again arrived at my previously planned destination well before noon and I could not bear to idly wander a tiny spanish town (Rabanal) again, so I proceeded further along the path. My path took me to the Cruz do Ferro, (an Iron cross at the top of a mountain) where traditionally pilgrims leave behind a stone they have brought with them from home, and symbolically leave behind a chosen burden.
As I approached the cross I was relieved that there were other pilgrims there, because that meant I could have someone take my picture at the top. As I approached the Cross, a woman was instructing another woman how she wanted her picture to be taken, aligning her special pink stone in the foreground, with her as the focus at the cross. She did it in English, which made my eavesdropping more interesting.
I patiently waited as the South African woman and the French bicyclist proceeded to take 2 or 3 shots. They saw me waiting, and apologized for being in my way, to which I responded that I didn't mind at all, and I hoped when they are done they would take my picture as well... (I was also down for the break, that is quite the mountain hike). When after 2 or 3 shots the South African woman finally assured the bicyclist that her desired effect was achieved, I handed my camera to the South African and said, "Will you take mine?"
"Of course, how do you want it?"
"However you think is right." I replied.
I walked to the top of the cross, and posed in the normal sort of way, and she took a picture, and I proceeded to walk down.
And as I walked down she said to me, randomly, "you know, you can do special effects with this camera..."
And she took me through, step by step, all the special functions of my camera.
It seems she had been looking at purchasing my camera model before she left, and chose one quite similar, and had been enthralled by the special features both offered. Enthralled enough to enthusiastically share how to isolate a single color and make everything else black and white, as demonstrated by the photo I've attached.
I never saw her again. But I didn't need to download the manual after all. She was there to teach me, at the Cruz de Ferro, how to use my camera.
It may seem trite but that day and ever since I believe. The Camino Provides.
My story goes like this:
I was in Astorga, having arrived totally early, I wandered about the town, taking pictures, going shopping for dinner, but feeling sort of empty and alone. Later that night, after reviewing the pictures, I remembered that my new camera could do some special things with colors and effects, so I decided to figure it out. I played with the camera, adjusting knobs and pushing buttons, but I could not for the life of me make it do what was advertised when I purchased it. It was getting late so I decided that the next time I enjoyed idle time, I would download the manual and read it again.
Well the very next day I again arrived at my previously planned destination well before noon and I could not bear to idly wander a tiny spanish town (Rabanal) again, so I proceeded further along the path. My path took me to the Cruz do Ferro, (an Iron cross at the top of a mountain) where traditionally pilgrims leave behind a stone they have brought with them from home, and symbolically leave behind a chosen burden.
As I approached the cross I was relieved that there were other pilgrims there, because that meant I could have someone take my picture at the top. As I approached the Cross, a woman was instructing another woman how she wanted her picture to be taken, aligning her special pink stone in the foreground, with her as the focus at the cross. She did it in English, which made my eavesdropping more interesting.
I patiently waited as the South African woman and the French bicyclist proceeded to take 2 or 3 shots. They saw me waiting, and apologized for being in my way, to which I responded that I didn't mind at all, and I hoped when they are done they would take my picture as well... (I was also down for the break, that is quite the mountain hike). When after 2 or 3 shots the South African woman finally assured the bicyclist that her desired effect was achieved, I handed my camera to the South African and said, "Will you take mine?"
"Of course, how do you want it?"
"However you think is right." I replied.
I walked to the top of the cross, and posed in the normal sort of way, and she took a picture, and I proceeded to walk down.
And as I walked down she said to me, randomly, "you know, you can do special effects with this camera..."
And she took me through, step by step, all the special functions of my camera.
It seems she had been looking at purchasing my camera model before she left, and chose one quite similar, and had been enthralled by the special features both offered. Enthralled enough to enthusiastically share how to isolate a single color and make everything else black and white, as demonstrated by the photo I've attached.
I never saw her again. But I didn't need to download the manual after all. She was there to teach me, at the Cruz de Ferro, how to use my camera.
It may seem trite but that day and ever since I believe. The Camino Provides.
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