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Many times I have found myself wandering around the old part of the city of Santiago de Compostella late at night, almost incoherent, barely able to find my way. But then I sleep it off and am much better the next day, ready to do it again.
I booked flights for my first Camino yesterday. Everyone thinks I've already caught the Camino bug. As it's all I read, talk and focus about right now. I've wanted to walk the Camino for over 20 years. The hope and plan was to go with my husband. He kept saying it couldn't happen until he retires, still over a decade away. In June I was diagnosed with M.S. a week later skin cancer. I've had the cancer removed 4 times since then and Cemo on it twice in December. It was after the first Cemo I told my husband that I would be walking my Camino this year, alone. Life keeps giving me baggage to deal with...so I've decided to pack it and Walk. May 29th I'll be on my Way.
Thought that was the Pacharan Syndrome no?
Thank youYay you! That's the spirit. Might see you there too although I'll have started walking on the 24th. Buen Camino!
This one affects those venturing to Florence and its art... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stendhal_syndrome
Hello Penny,I booked flights for my first Camino yesterday. Everyone thinks I've already caught the Camino bug. As it's all I read, talk and focus about right now. I've wanted to walk the Camino for over 20 years. The hope and plan was to go with my husband. He kept saying it couldn't happen until he retires, still over a decade away. In June I was diagnosed with M.S. a week later skin cancer. I've had the cancer removed 4 times since then and Cemo on it twice in December. It was after the first Cemo I told my husband that I would be walking my Camino this year, alone. Life keeps giving me baggage to deal with...so I've decided to pack it and Walk. May 29th I'll be on my Way.
Thank you for the encouraging words Thomas,Hello Penny,
My experience last fall was that the majority of those walking the Camino came alone. You don't need to wait for your husband, nor should you from the sounds of your physical challenges. .I had a discussion with another peregrino on this subject. He said "if you come with someone, you will always be alone; but if you come alone, you will never be alone." People will move in and out of your journey as you feel the need or welcome the comraderie.
You have set a "blistering pace" for yourself. Read the thread on a recent summary regarding walking time to complete the CF. Celebrate your birthday wherever you find yourself that day - celebrated mine in Pamplona last September.
You will be deeply moved by your Camino!
You will say and hear the phrase "Buen Camino" hundreds of times - and each time you are encouraged on with those words is special. As it will be when you offer the same blessing to a fellow pilgrim.
Buen Camino Penny
Hi scruffy1Several evenings ago, a middle-aged man was found walking the streets of Jerusalem entirely naked and speaking a language no one could understand. It was after midnight and 3-C degrees outside. The police quickly discerned that the poor individual was suffering from what is known as the Jerusalem Syndrome-they have been trained concerning this subject, one which affects Jews, Arabs, and especially Christians. People possessing a strong religious background or those arriving with expectations of a moving spiritual experience, all seeking the Heavenly Jerusalem as promised in the Torah, the Koran, or the Bible are especially vulnerable. The poor, the clergy, the illiterate and the well educated, as well as English and Swedish, and Russian nobility have all suffered. Sadly, while our Jerusalem can offer great religious/spiritual comfort and joy she also has her assortment of garbage trucks, beggars, pickpockets, drunks and far worse. Neither the Wailing Wall, nor Haram al-Sharif – the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa mosque, nor the Holy Sepulture are able to answer these exaggerated spiritual expectations and yearly we witness over a hundred people who find themselves in this unfortunate situation, one which requires hospitalization and removal from the city. The middle aged man mentioned above has not been identified; he disposed of all his worldly possessions as he thought was commanded including his passport and money, Id, and credit cards. It is rumored he speaks something like German, perhaps Afrikaans, but masked with a strange self-invented language of his own perceived End of Days.
I was wondering, is their perhaps a Santiago Syndrome? Santiago is also blessed with an annual influx of thousands and thousands of people, tourists and pilgrims, some with very religious/spiritual motivations and expectations. I have met very disappointed pilgrims who were quite upset with the more mundane aspects of Santiago – an overcrowded and noisy pilgrims mass in the cathedral for example or the plethora of gift shops and overpriced restaurants (moneylenders they called it), people quite irritated and even infuriated but I have never seen one who went over the edge. Is there such a thing as a Santiago Syndrome?
For more on Jerusalem try : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_syndrome#Prevalence
I find that when I get to Santiago I have quite a challenge on drinking it in memory and on behalf of past Camino buddies! But hey, by that point I am full of the Camino spirit so what is a little more?Thought that was the Pacharan Syndrome no?
Thought that was the Pacharan Syndrome no?
Well Done PennyI booked flights for my first Camino yesterday. Everyone thinks I've already caught the Camino bug. As it's all I read, talk and focus about right now. I've wanted to walk the Camino for over 20 years. The hope and plan was to go with my husband. He kept saying it couldn't happen until he retires, still over a decade away. In June I was diagnosed with M.S. a week later skin cancer. I've had the cancer removed 4 times since then and Cemo on it twice in December. It was after the first Cemo I told my husband that I would be walking my Camino this year, alone. Life keeps giving me baggage to deal with...so I've decided to pack it and Walk. May 29th I'll be on my Way.
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