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I'm glad you survived your fall to walk another eleven Caminos, if I'm counting correctly...Falling flat on my face but later meeting my first camino angels; since then so many have spontaneously helped during every camino
November 1, 2004, after crossing the long medieval bridge over the river Orbigo I entered the town of Hospital de Órbigo. Attempting to photograph the parish church I lost my footing and fell head first onto the irregular pavement! My pack crashed into my right shoulder. Flat on the ground my forehead and shoulder hurt like hell! Gently two pilgrims helped me up. An egg was quickly swelling on my forehead (by day’s end I resembled Cyclopes). After exiting the Día de todos los Santos mass a kind Spanish couple appproached and the man said “Don’t worry, madam, I am a Chevalier de Santiago and will help”. They quickly took me to the regional hospital, where I was told to rest, and see a doctor again the following day.
The couple graciously invited me to lunch at their house. My host explained that the Chevaliers de Santiago are a group of Catholic men, who have been nominated to become members and who pledge to foster the Camino and help all pilgrims. In the Spanish custom lunch lasted at least four hours! Two charming adult sons cut my food while I alternately held ice to my head and tryied to eat with my left hand since the right shoulder and arm were extremely painful. Nevertheless, how, lucky I was to be able to move and to have met a family of guardian angels.
Early next morning the Chevalier and the local priest walked into the albergue dorm to see how I was doing! The priest, the Chevalier and his wife accompanied me to the local doctor's office adjacent to the church. When we four entered the examination room, the Chevalier said to the doctor “Another one has fallen!” It seemed that earlier other pilgrims had also stumbled on that same paving where I tripped. Again I ate with the Chevalier and his family.
..Now after all these years I still fondly remember their kindnesses and spontaneous gracious hospitality. It was, indeed, heartfelt camino caritas.
just yesterday near S Beton on the Camino Portuguese, a farmer insisted we join him and his wife for tea and water. We did and loved itWe were having coffee and pastries for breakfast at a local's bar in Aulla, on the Via Francigena. When I got up to pay, the bartender told me someone had already paid for our food! We suspect it was the parish priest, who we'd met briefly the previous evening, and had spotted in the crowd milling around at the counter earlier on. But we'll never know for sure...
"A random act of kindness is a nonpremeditated, inconsistent action designed to offer kindness towards the outside world. "
Have you practiced, or received a random act of kindness while walking your Camino?
In Portugal I missed a yellow arrow (or two )and got hopelessly lost.I saw a woman working in a nearby field and attracted her attention.She quickly realised she was dealing with a lost non Portugese understanding pilgrim,took me by the arm and walked about 15 minutes away to point me at a yellow arrow.Before I could say a word she set off back to her field.We were having coffee and pastries for breakfast at a local's bar in Aulla, on the Via Francigena. When I got up to pay, the bartender told me someone had already paid for our food! We suspect it was the parish priest, who we'd met briefly the previous evening, and had spotted in the crowd milling around at the counter earlier on. But we'll never know for sure...
"A random act of kindness is a nonpremeditated, inconsistent action designed to offer kindness towards the outside world. "
Have you practiced, or received a random act of kindness while walking your Camino?
CF one day I walked too fast uphill. BeinOn Wednesday morning (yesturday) leaving roncevelles by bike in pouring rain and 4 degrees by bike I remembered I had left my poncho in England and only had a rain jacket I tried to purchase a poncho at the albergue but as I had no cash and they don't accept cards I accepted I was going to get very wet. A lovely young European girl over heard my deliema and insisted on paying for the poncho for me knowing fullwell we would never meet again. Thankyou so much and buen camino. It kept me dry all way to pampalona.We were having coffee and pastries for breakfast at a local's bar in Aulla, on the Via Francigena. When I got up to pay, the bartender told me someone had already paid for our food! We suspect it was the parish priest, who we'd met briefly the previous evening, and had spotted in the crowd milling around at the counter earlier on. But we'll never know for sure...
"A random act of kindness is a nonpremeditated, inconsistent action designed to offer kindness towards the outside world. "
Have you practiced, or received a random act of kindness while walking your Camino?
Yes and, yes.
The majority of locals living/working near a Camino route consider it a "blessing" to aid, guide, direct, assist a Peregrino. I love that.
I have received too many to list - I would say that most days, if not every day, I was at the receiving end of
Wow. This is wonderful to read. Thanks so much for taking the time to post.
So important to always have snacks on hand, yes.CF one day I walked too fast uphill. Being very susceptible to the heat I discretely retired to the bushes and puked ( is there a nicer word??) as quietly as possible. A young pilgrim came over to me. He made me sit down at the trail edge and put my head down. He then poured most of a bottle of water over my head - to my shock I might add!. Immediately started to feel better and he asked me if I had anything to eat in my pack. I did and he stayed with me until I had eaten a square of my chocolate . He continued with a strong warning to wait 20 mins before going on. For the rest of the day I was fine but stopped every opportunity for freshly squeezed orange juice!! Now on any hiking/walking venture I always have a few Babybell cheeses, a chocolate bar and an orange in my pack! have been able to pay it forward here and there.
Giving them and receiving them are part of the magic of the Camino experience in my mind.Have you practiced, or received a random act of kindness while walking your Camino?
I have received too many to list - I would say that most days, if not every day, I was at the receiving end of some stranger's kindness (and I hope I was a source of it too): fellow pilgrims offering their food, water and soap; having our coffee paid for anonymously; a hospitalera calling round every other person in a 5km radius looking for a spare room when my kids got sick; little gifts produced for our children out of thin air: from a little torch and small shells to chocolate and ice-cream; the farmer who allowed/encouraged my kids to go into his field of hay to have a 'hay fight' because it reminded him of his own sons when they were little; a bar tender producing an splendid three-course meal out of hours and out of the contents of his home fridge above the bar for very little money; another bar tender whose frier had just died and went to his back yard to get us two freshly-laid eggs each from his own chickens in lieu of the chips that were meant to come with our steak, because 'we would need the strength'; the hospitalera that gave us the same much-coveted quiet corner beds we had had ten years beforehand in our previous camino without us asking because she was so pleased we were back; the hospitaleros that went looking for a spare mattress to accommodate us when there were no beds left; the anonymous person/s who took a washload out of the drier and folded it impeccably while we were at dinner; the group of cloistered nuns waving at our kids with broad smiles after vespers; etc, etc, etc.
I have also seen a couple of pilgrims changing their plans and choosing to walk much more slowly over several days to get another fellow pilgrim they had recently met (who had had a fall and was on crutches) through to Santiago (they all made it!); pilgrims offering to carry things for others; pilgrims sharing everything from food to plasters; locals being endlessly patient and accommodating with all manner of reasonable and less-reasonable (to my mind) requests which implied them going out of their way; etc, etc, etc.
Random acts of kindness received and given with no expectation of any return are (to me) one of the most uplifting, life-affirming and soul-refreshing aspects of the Camino.
Too many to enumerate. That is El Camino. Ángels everywhereWe were having coffee and pastries for breakfast at a local's bar in Aulla, on the Via Francigena. When I got up to pay, the bartender told me someone had already paid for our food! We suspect it was the parish priest, who we'd met briefly the previous evening, and had spotted in the crowd milling around at the counter earlier on. But we'll never know for sure...
"A random act of kindness is a nonpremeditated, inconsistent action designed to offer kindness towards the outside world. "
Have you practiced, or received a random act of kindness while walking your Camino?
I think I posted this story a few years ago, but I’ll add it here again.
In 2012, my two walking-mates were ahead of me and I got distracted by a beautiful rhododendron bush and was taking pictures of the flowers when a 10-year old boy came up to me and asked, “Peregrina?” I said ‘Si!’ And he pointed behind me, as though that was the way I should go...but that was the way I had come from. I ignored his suggestion and finished taking photos, then began walking up the long trail ahead a of me, feeling sure that was the right way. It wasn’t.
I'm always amused at how quick the locals are to point you in the right direction if you look even just a little confused. Very kind of them, and yes, agree, in a few cases it prevented us from straying from the route. It's like having a real-life GPS.
We were having coffee and pastries for breakfast at a local's bar in Aulla, on the Via Francigena. When I got up to pay, the bartender told me someone had already paid for our food! We suspect it was the parish priest, who we'd met briefly the previous evening, and had spotted in the crowd milling around at the counter earlier on. But we'll never know for sure...
"A random act of kindness is a nonpremeditated, inconsistent action designed to offer kindness towards the outside world. "
Have you practiced, or received a random act of kindness while walking your Camino?
A very nice lady gave me 2x packets of pocket tissues from the multipack she had just picked up - the last one in the shop. She would take no offered money. 'Just pass on the goodwill.' Well, my companion and I stayed that night in a private room which contained three beds and a bunk bed, so five total. When two peregrinas arrived to find the place completo I suggested we offer them the chance to stay with us, seeing as we had beds available. They accepted and were spared the need for further enquiries or having to walk on.
Outstanding act of kindness
Wow, giving up space in your private room must be one of the ultimate sacrifices! Thanks for sharing.A very nice lady gave me 2x packets of pocket tissues from the multipack she had just picked up - the last one in the shop. She would take no offered money. 'Just pass on the goodwill.' Well, my companion and I stayed that night in a private room which contained three beds and a bunk bed, so five total. When two peregrinas arrived to find the place completo I suggested we offer them the chance to stay with us, seeing as we had beds available. They accepted and were spared the need for further enquiries or having to walk on.
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