What I Learned from "The Way"

My husband and I have seen "The Way," by Emilio Estevez, 4 times, and there I've learned a few things about trekking in the fall:

1. The Valcarlos route is 2 hours shorter, but it only matters if you are trying to get to a party.

2. You can meet up and walk with 2 guys and one gal, all of whom will be great.

3. It won't rain on you.

4. No blisters.

5. They sing the U.S. National anthem when you show up at a roadside alburgue.

6. The guys will act like a barrier when you need to pee beside the road.

7. Avoid El Rrrramon's.

8. The Camino won't help me cut down on chocolate. Or pasta. (In the long term.)

9. Stay at a nice hotel sometimes.

10. The popcorn is best at this theatre, for some reason, and

11. Keep your sense of humor about you.

I think it's the walk that matters more than the destination. I've done other endurance-related things throughout my life, and, to me, they're like reading a good book: If you're enjoying it, you aren't complaining to yourself, "Oh, goodness! 498 pages to go!" If you're enjoying it, you want to eat Doritos and just enjoy the read. The end will take care of itself. Of course, I'm speaking from other experience, as I have not walked the Camino yet. I can't get away, at this time, but some day, I think it would be very lovely.

Ciao

Almha

(Of course, I'm being humorous in the above post, as if enjoying and joining in the play the 4 experienced post-Leon.

The film is actually very serious for the most part, and I found Martin Sheen's way of grieving and growing closer to his son on his Camino to be very touching. Though it's my nature to tease, I found the film very beautiful and lovely, and my thanks go out to Emilio for making it as writer, producer, director, and supporting actor.)

Almha

Hello Big Hairy Scottsman,

"...The camino's not a chalenge, its a journey..."

Yes. To me, I liken these kinds of things to reading a good book: You're not reading along thinking, "OMG, I've got another 358 pages to go!" Instead, you're enjoying the pages, the characters, the story line, the imagery, trying to figure things out. In this way, you're getting a LOT more out of the book than if you were just reading pages to get to the end. The end will take care of itself. And if you enjoyed the book, then you're more likely to later read another one.



Also what I learned from watching "The Way"?

If you're Irish, and if you're a jouralist, you will be able to handle your staff like a seasoned drum major.

Me? I'm probably somewhere between .000001 and .25 Irish, I can write (if not actual journalism), and I'll be carrying two Pacer poles instead of a staff................so I'll probably be able to loft one of my poles up in the air for a nice spin only to watch it clang to the ground four feet off to the side, with me jumping over to try catching it.

Maybe I should practice that.

Almha