PeterBarry
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances
Norte
Portuguese
Le Puy to SJPDP
Recently I have been thinking of an experience I had on my last visit to the Camino Frances.
I had walked from ST Jean to Burgos (having done Burgos to Santiago year before) and was leaving the Camino traveling to Madrid by bus.
On the morning I walked to take the bus I walked from the alburgue in the park backwards along the way through burgos town.
I met with a man I had helped some days earlier and we chatted for a few moments.
I then met with a lady who was alone. I had met with her and her friend the night before.
They had traveled all the way from germany, walked all the way.
Her friend had a knee problem and reluctantly had to finish in Burgos and this lady was traveling on alone.
I spoke with the 2 girls briefly the night before and then met this lady alone on her way the next morning.
For some reason I think often of this lady and her journey alone. I think of her courage starting alone from burgos having had her friend all the way from germany. I know the route from Burgos and it has many challenges. I wonder did she make the journey succesfully and did she miss her friend.
It is one of the strongest memories I have of my times on the camino, this lady setting out alone from her friend to complete her journey.
I can say that at that moment I wished her all the good luck that anyone could have, and I have many times since thought of her jorney. I tell this story to some of my friends family and colleagues and they wonder why this has a significant meaning for me as indeed somtimes do I.
I think she is representative of all pilgrims and signifies for me the ultimate meaning of 'ultreia' or marching on or going forward to some destiny or other.
The image of this solitary pilgrim will stay with me always.
Strangely I cannot remember a face just a form.
So its late and I am rambling.
Good night.
I had walked from ST Jean to Burgos (having done Burgos to Santiago year before) and was leaving the Camino traveling to Madrid by bus.
On the morning I walked to take the bus I walked from the alburgue in the park backwards along the way through burgos town.
I met with a man I had helped some days earlier and we chatted for a few moments.
I then met with a lady who was alone. I had met with her and her friend the night before.
They had traveled all the way from germany, walked all the way.
Her friend had a knee problem and reluctantly had to finish in Burgos and this lady was traveling on alone.
I spoke with the 2 girls briefly the night before and then met this lady alone on her way the next morning.
For some reason I think often of this lady and her journey alone. I think of her courage starting alone from burgos having had her friend all the way from germany. I know the route from Burgos and it has many challenges. I wonder did she make the journey succesfully and did she miss her friend.
It is one of the strongest memories I have of my times on the camino, this lady setting out alone from her friend to complete her journey.
I can say that at that moment I wished her all the good luck that anyone could have, and I have many times since thought of her jorney. I tell this story to some of my friends family and colleagues and they wonder why this has a significant meaning for me as indeed somtimes do I.
I think she is representative of all pilgrims and signifies for me the ultimate meaning of 'ultreia' or marching on or going forward to some destiny or other.
The image of this solitary pilgrim will stay with me always.
Strangely I cannot remember a face just a form.
So its late and I am rambling.
Good night.