Well, I just finished my 9th Camino walk. The last two were leading groups of 15 and 16 pilgrims, and that experience gave me a much greater opportunity to observe up close and personal how different people respond to the Camino experience, including myself.
The differences between personalities was incredible! Some folks walked with grace, finding joy in the experience and in helping others, even when their own bodies were weary and broken. Some folks acted more like spoiled children, being disrespectful to waiters, taxi drivers, property owners, or throwing tantrums when the experience didn't match their expectations. Some kept to themselves. Some needed to be WITH someone at all times. Some intentionally bred a sense of community; others intentionally bred disharmony. Some were very confident, others very dependent. Some transformed and found themselves. Others refused to be pliable. Each one was unique, and each one had "their" own Camino experience.
For me, it was mostly exhausting, and I learned that IF I do this again, I need to take a much smaller group. I learned I'm fairly flexible when it comes to circumstances in my own life, but that I have a lot of anxiety when things aren't perfect for those I'm leading. It was valuable information.
That said, I understand EXACTLY how you feel, Vagabondette!
I think your post was a great contribution to this forum!
It's good for people to have their rose colored glasses removed.
I've met folks who have read all the books, watched the movie, read the forum posts, think they know ALL about the Camino, and then cry, "This is NOT what I expected!" I think having any expectations at all, except to not HAVE any expectations at all, is what gets a lot of people into trouble on the Camino. The Way serves you up as it wishes. You are only in control of how you respond. If the current changes direction mid-stream, will the water choke you or will it roll off your back? That's a legitimate question I've had to answer.
You state you have enjoyed your experience, especially the people you've met, but you're just bored with it now. I hear you! The monotony can be healing for some personalities, but yes, it can also be extremely boring!
It does get old, having to pack and unpack the same clothes, every... single... day.
It also gets old having to wash those same clothes... every ... single ... day.
The scenery,well, I actually enjoy the scenery, but it's true that one village just blends into another after a while. Ask 10 pilgrims to list the villages they walked through the past week, and the majority will say, "I can't remember..."
Although I love the Spanish food in general (it reminds me of my Portuguese grandmother's cooking), I can remember looking at the Pilgrim Menu in each town, and thinking, "Oh my gosh, it's the same as last night." The first 20 times I eat this menu, I love it. The 21st time, I just want to find a good thick steak and a baked potato! Of course, a person doesn't have to eat the Pilgrim menu... but I had one waiter tell me that was my ONLY choice and that I could NOT order a la carte because I was a pilgrim. Figure that one out! :lol:
I think the food that I get MOST tired of is the bocadillo. Bocadillos for breakfast. Bocadillos for lunch. Bocadillos for dinner. Bodadillos for snacks. How can a person keep regular with all that BREAD!
The first thing I had when I got home was a big breakfast of bacon, eggs, and biscuits. Eating a bocadillo or a slice of tortilla for breakfast for 90 days straight can get to a person... although I LOVED the fresh squeezed OJ!
You are right about the topics of discussion, there isn't great variety. But then those are the topics at hand; the blisters, the injuries, where you are walking tomorrow, and how many kilometers you walked today.
Some obviously got bored and tried to spice up the conversation. It was entertaining to see how much enjoyment some of us got from watching one fellow, (who had a forum patch) and who had followed in our group's footsteps on 20-25 kilometer stages, impressing pilgrims at cafes with how he walked an amazing average of 40-45 kilometers per day, knowing he was lying and wondering why he was lying? It made me realize how we choose sometimes to allow other people's lives to impact our own lives unnecessarily. What he told others had absolutely no bearing on my own life, except that I was busy-body enough to MAKE it a part of my life.
For what it's worth, I've come home hating the Camino almost each time I've walked.
For all the reasons you list, plus the bedbugs, I say, "That's it! I'm never going back to Spain!"
Then... within a week or two, I'm planning my next Camino.
For me, the good outweighs the bad when I get back to "the real world" and begin analyzing it all.
Coming home is more of a wake-up than walking The Way.
For me, I realize it's nice not having to make so many decisions.
It's not not having to think about what I'll wear,what I'll eat, or where I'll go tomorrow.
It's nice not having to make decisions about what I'll do - I know I"m going to walk.
It's nice not having to wonder what day or time it is.
It's nice not even having to wonder where the heck I am!
All I know is "I'm going to Santiago" and sooner or later I'll get there!
I have walked without electronics and with them.
My own experience has been that when I'm COMPLETELY disconnected from the phone or computer, I enjoy the Camino much more. Having the iPhone and the internet are distracting for me. NOT having the iPhone and Internet seemed to allow me to immerse myself more completely in my pilgrimage. That may or may not be the same for other folks.
Having the option of booking private accommodation made a huge difference the last two walks. Knowing I had a bed each night took a lot of pressure off on one hand, but it also took away a bit of the sense of adventure on the other. I sort of enjoyed the occasional night under the stars or under the stairway. I think a healthy mixture of albergues and private lodging would work best for me in the future. (See? I've been home 3 days and I'm already planning the future walk!)
Having my bags transferred this time made a HUGE HUGE HUGE difference. All other times I've carried my pack. For me, not having to carry the pack gave me a lot more freedom, fewer aches and pains, and less exhaustion. I remember my first Camino, seeing people carrying those tiny daypacks and making the judgement that they weren't "real pilgrims!" Boy, did that attitude change! I felt no less a pilgrim; I just felt less damaged!
Being a pilgrim does not require suffering - it doesn't require manners - it doesn't require disconnection - it doesn't require following anyone else's rules at all.
Being a pilgrim is an adventure where you find yourself.
Sounds like you found YOU.
To me, that's a successful Camino!
I appreciate your insight and honesty.