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Pilgrim Topics Related to all Routes
🧳 Traveling & Transport to/from/along the camino
The hardest part is the travelling
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[QUOTE="jl, post: 61693, member: 1964"] Hello Vigdis. I am selective about which posts I read and also respond to on this forum, because of time constraints, and also that I know that there are times when my views would be shouted down - so I keep my own counsel and PM instead. However I feel compelled to respond to your post. Firstly I could cut and paste almost your entire post and say I was writing about myself! I too am a nervous traveler, a statement which has my friends rolling in the aisles with laughter! The reason for this is that I have walked 3 Caminos (and planning my 4th - and 5th - and 6th!) and completed almost five thousand kilometers on these. How can someone who has walked so far through 2 different countries be a nervous traveler they ask? True, I am fine leaving Australia and waiting 5 hours for my connecting flight in Singapore. It is when I get to Europe that the nerves kick in - all those things you mentioned:- what if I cannot make myself understood, what if I get on the wrong train / carriage etc, what if I can't find the platform, miss my connection etc. I have found the secret is to allow plenty of time (which is why I never book before hand like my more accomplished friends do) firstly to make myself understood and secondly to find where I am going. The other things that I do is get to where I am going as quickly as I can. As far as I am concerned it doesn't matter if it takes the whole day. Once I am there, it is then that I can relax, rest, and in my case recover from jet lag. I am a musician, but I have the most appalling ear for languages and an even more appalling accent with the few words that I have! I try really hard, but am hopeless. However, I go with the attitude that (once I get there, mind you) all will be well. I expect nothing, give many smiles, use the basic words of hello and thank you in the language of the country I am in and somehow manage! Once one begins to walk it all seems easy - or easier! I repay the very many kindnesses I receive with a song often resulting in hugs and tears (and no - I am pretty sure because they were grateful, not because it was so hard on the ears!) One day when I was walking on the Camino del Norte I was lost. I couldn't find the arrows to leave a small town (building works had changed things around). A man went out of his way to cross the street and point me in the right direction, and every-time I veered off where I was meant to go there would be a shrill whistle - I would look around and he would be pointing the way for me. This happened about 3 times until I eventually found the arrow pointing up a steep stair case and when I turned around we waved and off he went. All this was done with me thinking in English and he talking in Spanish (may have even been Basque). I could fill a whole book of stories such as this and I guess why I am telling you this one is that yes, I know you are afraid, but try and accept that all will be well once you start on your journey. I walk in both France and Spain for the simple reason that I cannot choose between the two and so I go to both. Once I begin walking the day slots into a rhythm and somehow everything works out. I make use of the services offered (tourist office etc) and I know that if you can just accept that things will work out you will be fine. Somehow there have always been people that I can talk a little too. I remember having a great conversation with a Polish Italian pilgrim once. She had about 10 words of English, I had about 50 words of musical Italian and those - combined with gestures meant that we chatted over coffee for an hour or so! For my retirement I am planning a looooong walk which includes your country, and I am feeling the same way about that, but when the time comes (assuming all is well with my health and that of my elderly father) I will fly into Copenhagen rest - and begin walking! I plan to walk from there because I feel nervous about catching anything to anywhere else - now I know that as this is close to your territory you must be laughing at me, but I say this to let you know that there are other that feel just like you. Be brave - think about Le Puy again, it is indeed a very beautiful way. It really is nowhere near as scary as you think - and, like I say to people here in Adelaide - if I can do it with my poor language skills and nerves - anyone can!. Regards, Janet [/QUOTE]
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