Hello everyone! I'm Cynthia, from central Texas. I've been lurking here for a couple of months on and off, and figured it was time to introduce myself.
I was thinking about what kind of adventure I could have next (haven't had one for quite a while, actually), and I happened to remember several years ago an acquaintance telling me about a walk in Spain that she was planning to take, so I thought I'd look into where that might have been. I started googling and in short order found out about the Way of St. James - aha! To walk the entire French Way would take longer than the amount of vacation time that I have, so I kept reading and found out about the Portuguese Way. It immediately appealed to me because I studied (Brazilian) Portuguese in college and loved the language, and also because it's short enough to be doable in the time that I can take away from work.
As I read more and more, though, the idea of walking the Camino bacame more than just exercise or adventure. Besides this forum, I've read To Walk Far Carry Less, Seven Tips to Make the Most of the Camino Santiago, and Planning Your Camino. I think what really set the hook was the wonderful introduction to To the Field of Stars ... who could resist "stars dancing in a field at night"?!
So, I bought my plane tickets last week and have begun gathering gear. I've been walking almost every morning, and sometimes again at lunch; my hiking shoes seem to be comfortable and in mid February I plan to start carrying my pack on my walks. I've ordered the Brierley book and maps. I feel like my Way has begun.
Thanks to everyone who shares information and inspiration so freely here! I'll be posting questions on the Camino Portugues board ...
I was thinking about what kind of adventure I could have next (haven't had one for quite a while, actually), and I happened to remember several years ago an acquaintance telling me about a walk in Spain that she was planning to take, so I thought I'd look into where that might have been. I started googling and in short order found out about the Way of St. James - aha! To walk the entire French Way would take longer than the amount of vacation time that I have, so I kept reading and found out about the Portuguese Way. It immediately appealed to me because I studied (Brazilian) Portuguese in college and loved the language, and also because it's short enough to be doable in the time that I can take away from work.
As I read more and more, though, the idea of walking the Camino bacame more than just exercise or adventure. Besides this forum, I've read To Walk Far Carry Less, Seven Tips to Make the Most of the Camino Santiago, and Planning Your Camino. I think what really set the hook was the wonderful introduction to To the Field of Stars ... who could resist "stars dancing in a field at night"?!
So, I bought my plane tickets last week and have begun gathering gear. I've been walking almost every morning, and sometimes again at lunch; my hiking shoes seem to be comfortable and in mid February I plan to start carrying my pack on my walks. I've ordered the Brierley book and maps. I feel like my Way has begun.
Thanks to everyone who shares information and inspiration so freely here! I'll be posting questions on the Camino Portugues board ...
