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Agree completely. I'm even in risk of the moderators wrath with writing this. I would say that someone thinking Meseta is like a desert that he/she definitely has a little really deserted (might be just a little piece ) and completely empty part of his/her soul.The Meseta is nothing like a desert no matter what time of year one walks it, and I laugh every time someone describes it as one.
Oregon? Kansas? Yep, cereals, cereals, cereals, cereals, cereals, but the wind in them fields, AHHHHHHHH........., pure beauty. For me, that is...It is flat stretches and rolling hills with a lot of agriculture growing. Sunflowers and grain. Reminds me of some parts of the US. It's not unique to Spain.
Actally I think it does "play" with your mind. Or at least it couldIt doesn't play with your mind, and I can't say I had any more or any less self reflection, deep thinking, or whatever when I walked it. Just another lovely stretch of a lovely walk.
More or less the words I have been trying to find in myself.I am sure many on the Forum have read that the Meseta is long, boring and without redemption. I disagree, though initially, I accepted the hype. Here's what I found: the Meseta provides the opportunity to relax. In many cases, we look forward to or cringe at the thought of walking km after km in an unchanging panorama. Have you considered that the brain catalogues "Normal"? It's part of the "fight or flight" instinct. On the Meseta, the brain can process the unchanging, non-threatening and visually unrestricted view, thus allowing the pilgrim to walk km after km safe in the subconscious. Thus giving vent to reflection, contemplation, and realization that today and now are all that's important. The Meseta allows the connection between pilgrims, that can often be lost due to steep grades, winding roads or bustling towns. So often, the pilgrims we encounter become invisible, or at least "out of sight" to the point they are out of mind. These long, connected waterholes of humanity that mark the Meseta not so much as boring...but alive with opportunity.
May I suggest that you not take that bus or train that relegates you to less than an observer of the Meseta, but rather grasp the brass ring that fairly guarantees you an experience not to be missed.
Buen Camino,
Arn
y'all should have gotten a taxi....I have to admit I was not happy whilst walking the Meseta..... it was HOT, temperatures was 39C, I think, plus, the scenery was just brown (parched) and terrain flat....... then, I witnessed/heard of some unhappy incidents. In my mind, it is a desert - maybe I need to walk it in the spring, to erase that unhappy mental image.
During that trek, a pilgrim developed severe foot problem and was unable to walk, so one of the heroic pilgrims had to carry her heavy backpack plus his own..., 2 of my friends were so dehydrated - one ran out of water (an experienced CF pilgrim) and another almost fainted from the heat and lack of food (another experienced CF pilgrim)..... another pilgrim lost his phone when he stopped to answer nature's call, and he had to backtrack 12 km (in the heat!) to look for it (he found it, thanks to some help) so I guess, mentally, I think of the Meseta with some misgivings.
That was the statement I was looking for. The Meseta for me is tranquility, peace and reflection. It is one of the best stretches on the Camino Frances.People who say the Meseta bores them are saying more about themselves than about the region. They may be better off skipping on by if they just don't "get it."
Indeed. Very well said. I echo it entirely.On the Meseta, the brain can process the unchanging, non-threatening and visually unrestricted view, thus allowing the pilgrim to walk km after km safe in the subconscious. Thus giving vent to reflection, contemplation, and realization that today and now are all that's important. The Meseta allows the connection between pilgrims, that can often be lost due to steep grades, winding roads or bustling towns
Not a bad idea at allOh rats, maybe jump the rainy Galiza. And first and foremost skip the last 100km of tne Frances.
Yes, that one I do mean, in fact, the Forum should give a certificate to those who walked any othwr 100km, allowing the last ones to go back to what they used to be, ie not too horible. ;0).
Perhaps the reference was symbolicThe other day I read a thread about the meseta. Some thought it was a desert, which made me laugh so hard. Fields of green or brown, something grows there.
This is the desert I live in.
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it's only about 17k from Carrion to Calzadilla......This day in June. Lingering, seeing what I can see. And knowing the hot afternoon sun is waiting. With a burning sun and a straight path all the way to Calzadilla de la Cueza. I am late. I walk alone. My brothers are further up the road. The other pilgrims have gone by.
All I want is sit in the shadow. But the path has to be taken. And there is no shadow. My water is not endless. A sense of fear. But what can happen, the earth will carry me. I force myself to collect stones. And write them. And lay them on the path. Don't look back.
(last year's M. experience http://sobercamino.blogspot.nl/2015/06/always.html)
... The Camino is an Intelligence Test and if you walk all of the Meseta, you failed.
I have to admit I was not happy whilst walking the Meseta..... it was HOT, temperatures was 39C, I think, plus, the scenery was just brown (parched) and terrain flat....... then, I witnessed/heard of some unhappy incidents. In my mind, it is a desert - maybe I need to walk it in the spring, to erase that unhappy mental image.
During that trek, a pilgrim developed severe foot problem and was unable to walk, so one of the heroic pilgrims had to carry her heavy backpack plus his own..., 2 of my friends were so dehydrated - one ran out of water (an experienced CF pilgrim) and another almost fainted from the heat and lack of food (another experienced CF pilgrim)..... another pilgrim lost his phone when he stopped to answer nature's call, and he had to backtrack 12 km (in the heat!) to look for it (he found it, thanks to some help) so I guess, mentally, I think of the Meseta with some misgivings.
I walked the Meseta this year in the beginning of June and it was a walk in a wild flower garden. So beautiful.
So fragnant.
Most of my pictures were of flowers.
Then I'm very happy to be a multiple failure.The Camino is an Intelligence Test and if you walk all of the Meseta, you failed.
Yes some parts run along the roadway...not unlike other parts of the Camino...such as in life...good and bad.Might be worthwhile If you did not walk along side of a road with traffic all day! It is NOT a rural pathway through fields like some people expect it to be--but best part last month was watching a juvenile red fox catch mice in the weeds between the Camino pathway and the road.
The Camino is an Intelligence Test and if you walk all of the Meseta, you failed.
CastrojerizViewed in the Meseta. It gives you some perspective...
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A desert is any uninhabited wilderness.
Just a bit over-broad. If true, the Boundary Waters/Quetico Wilderness is a desert, as is the Oxbow region of Oregon and large portions of Canada.
I think not! It is not clear to me why one would not use the standard geographical definition, nor is it clear that responding to some of the inflammatory posts makes much sense either. But then, I have failed the @xin loi intelligence test, and might do so again.A desert is any uninhabited wilderness.
Happy that I failed.Might be worthwhile If you did not walk along side of a road with traffic all day! It is NOT a rural pathway through fields like some people expect it to be--but best part last month was watching a juvenile red fox catch mice in the weeds between the Camino pathway and the road.
The Camino is an Intelligence Test and if you walk all of the Meseta, you failed.
Well the topic of the term "desert" to describe the relatively short section of the entire Camino Frances known as the "meseta" (plateau) is kinda important to prospective pilgrims who have never been there before. To the average person when you describe a location as a desert, they think (geographic and weather) sand, cactus, extremely high temperatures, very little water, scorching sun, etc. Like a Beau Geste movie. It is in fact nothing like that, and no special equipment or changes in walking is needed. It's just a flatter part of the walk and it goes through a lot of agriculture fields.I fail to see what arguing and debating about whether the Meseta is or is not a desert, or whether Canada is or is not populated, is really of any benefit or help whatsoever to people who are coming to this wonderful Forum for help and advice about their forthcoming Camino journeys, or, even to those of us who just want to share some of our experiences and insights along the way. Pardon me if I am treading on any toes here, but, with everything that is going on in the world at the moment, this just seems like a rather pointless and divisive debate.