'Loud crowds' from Sarria

[domigee]

As I've mentioned before, I had a blissful camino this Summer, probably made more perfect because I didn't expect it to be in the busy Summer time. Quiet, unrushed, peaceful...
I knew it would be different from Sarria but again, it wasn't bad at all. Even the albergue (O Durmiñento ) was surprisingly very empty and only 5 of us for dinner that night.
A day or so later, I forget where (there are 2 steep climbs on that stretch!), I found my self walking very close to a Spanish family/friends group. They were absolutely lovely but very loud and I longed for some peace... I first overtook them but
I also knew the hills were coming and I didn't feel up to distancing them sufficiently so.... I decided to stop and let them get well ahead.
Bless them!
They noticed and asked me if I was alright. I replied I just needed a rest and got out my bottle of water.
'Oh noooooo', they all cried. 'You can make it, walk with us! We'll all do it together, you'll see, stay with us and we'll all help each other'. And they waited for me before starting again!

I have tears in my eyes as I write this, believe it or not.

So much for my pre-conceived ideas about the 'loud peregrinos', they taught me a thing or two. What a lovely, lovely group of people.

 

[Mike Savage]

Thanks for sharing this wonderful experience Domigee.

 

[KinkyOne]

As I've mentioned before, I had a blissful camino this Summer, probably made more perfect because I didn't expect it to be in the busy Summer time. Quiet, unrushed, peaceful...
I knew it would be different from Sarria but again, it wasn't bad at all. Even the albergue (O Durmiñento ) was surprisingly very empty and only 5 of us for dinner that night.
A day or so later, I forget where (there are 2 steep climbs on that stretch!), I found my self walking very close to a Spanish family/friends group. They were absolutely lovely but very loud and I longed for some peace... I first overtook them but
I also knew the hills were coming and I didn't feel up to distancing them sufficiently so.... I decided to stop and let them get well ahead.
Bless them!
They noticed and asked me if I was alright. I replied I just needed a rest and got out my bottle of water.
'Oh noooooo', they all cried. 'You can make it, walk with us! We'll all do it together, you'll see, stay with us and we'll all help each other'. And they waited for me before starting again!

I have tears in my eyes as I write this, believe it or not.

So much for my pre-conceived ideas about the 'loud peregrinos', they taught me a thing or two. What a lovely, lovely group of people.

Well, I guess shit happens when you really don't expect it

sarcasm off...

 

[C clearly]

Yes, nice story. The perspective really changes when you are part of a "happy" group instead of an onlooker to a "loud" group. We need to remind ourselves of this, in either case!

 

[sabbott]

Yes, I had similar experiences, judging groups to be " obnoxious loud hikers" and then ending up talking and walking with them, and suddenly they transformed into "friendly and enthusiastic pilgrims". Lesson about not making assumptions learned--though not necessarily always remembered now that I'm back to "normal life".

 

[norelle]

As I've mentioned before, I had a blissful camino this Summer, probably made more perfect because I didn't expect it to be in the busy Summer time. Quiet, unrushed, peaceful...
I knew it would be different from Sarria but again, it wasn't bad at all. Even the albergue (O Durmiñento ) was surprisingly very empty and only 5 of us for dinner that night.
A day or so later, I forget where (there are 2 steep climbs on that stretch!), I found my self walking very close to a Spanish family/friends group. They were absolutely lovely but very loud and I longed for some peace... I first overtook them but
I also knew the hills were coming and I didn't feel up to distancing them sufficiently so.... I decided to stop and let them get well ahead.
Bless them!
They noticed and asked me if I was alright. I replied I just needed a rest and got out my bottle of water.
'Oh noooooo', they all cried. 'You can make it, walk with us! We'll all do it together, you'll see, stay with us and we'll all help each other'. And they waited for me before starting again!

I have tears in my eyes as I write this, believe it or not.

So much for my pre-conceived ideas about the 'loud peregrinos', they taught me a thing or two. What a lovely, lovely group of people.

Domigee, I had a similar experience on the Camino two years ago!

I had timed my March/April Camino (without realising it) to be arriving in Santiago on Easter weekend, so the last week or so was VERY crowded with large family groups.

As it was still early April, it was a shock to the system after a very quiet March along the way. I was feeling very 'put out' by these large groups.......until I got to know them! Such a camino lesson!

One day I walked with a family from Madrid who were so excited to meet someone from Australia. I chatted with the daughter and she told me all about her mother who wasn't able to join the rest of the family on the camino - BUT who loved Australia! They all treated me so nicely and with a little awe that I had traveled so far to walk the Camino.

We had a lovely day together and I learned even more about what the Camino means to some Spanish people.

buen camino

 

[DurhamParish]

Judging too quickly. It's all part of being a human being. Luckily, we can get over it.

Thanks for a great story domigee.

 

[GreatDane]

Leaving Burgos this early April way up ahead was a large group (24-30 people) walking, rowdy, loud, kept stopping for photo ops, 2 large support vehicles, I thought it was a student group. They gave me a very bad attitude (probably just my lack of sufficient caffeine). When I stopped at the fountain and picnic area outside of Rabe de las Calzadas I caught up with them. They ended up being the most delightful group of French adults, mostly my vintage, that were intrigued by the fact that I was walking solo. They offered me cold drinks, coffee and the best almond cookies I've had in a long time!!!

 

[trevorcc]

Well, I guess shit happens when you really don't expect it

sarcasm off...

Hey Kinkone, I will be back on the Camino France soon loud I say loud let them spend time on the Levante in the heat and I bet they will love the noise. Sorry I get annoyed at what people expect maybe they should have patience . Trevor

 

[KinkyOne]

Hey Kinkone, I will be back on the Camino France soon loud I say loud let them spend time on the Levante in the heat and I bet they will love the noise. Sorry I get annoyed at what people expect maybe they should have patience . Trevor

Ahahahaha, yes, very silent on Levante indeed

 

[nzPhreadde]

We knew a vise old monk in New Zealand who, when my wife observed that some of the visitors at the monastery may not like the noise our youngest was making during the daily office, that people may expect silence at a monastery, but they should accept what they get, not what they expect.

I suspect the same attitude applies when on Camino...

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I loved this loud group encountered somewhere after Sarria. A line of boys across the road followed by a line of girls. One of the boys would lead the others in singing a few lines of a song and then the girls would respond. They were loud and happy. I wish I could have picked out what they were singing because it sounded like a battle. The singing didn't stay loud though as they, like everyone else, were faster than us.