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In graduate school 50+ years ago I attended courses by the great medieval art/architecture historian Meyer Schapiro. Several erudite lectures focused on the architecture along the Camino Frances, not only great monuments but also simple vernacular buildings. He stressed the importance of carved shells as the major iconic motif for identifying all related to Saint James as well as the immense social impact of the camino path across northern Spain; the path became the 'main street' with ‘burgos de francos’ or independent neighborhoods settled by former pilgrims nearby and, thus, the towns developed. ... Bingo I was hooked and decided that someday I would walk that path myself. Forty+ years later I did; fifty+ years later I still am.
Margaret Meredith
I've posted previously that it was reading a book 40 years ago ,but having to wait until I retired to achieve my dream.Like so many others,I have become an addict,and plan to celebrate my 70th back on Camino in 2017.Thanks for all these wonderful anecdotes; it seems the Camino has inspired journeys of discovery on so many levels! Please, keep 'em coming!
This is following a post yesterday, where someone was trying to track the name of the film that marked his initiation into 'camino consciousness'. Thought it would be a fun thread on its own! So, when did you first become conscious of the Camino? When was that lovely little seed first planted?
That was the first time I heard of the Camino, too. Then Shirley MacLaine.the Paulo Coelho book ... 'The Pilgrimage’ piqued my interest.
This is such a WONDERFUL thread! It really does show that we are all called to Camino - and once it gets into our minds that it just won't let us go.
Rather reminds me of the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind, where some people just had to get to that mountain but didn't know why. No aliens on Camino - well, not yet!
To be fair (in case she's reading this, haha!), I should say that I hated her book on the Camino but have enjoyed Shirley Maclaine's other books.Shirley MacLaine introduced me to the Camino via her book 'The Camino' in 2000. I quite enjoyed the book as I'd read most of her other books - really entertaining and quite insightful in her zany way.
Rather reminds me of the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind, where some people just had to get to that mountain but didn't know why. No aliens on Camino - well, not yet!
That's a perfect story which is hard to trump! I must read the book and maybe some of the magic will be passed on!In 2010 I was at the Rome airport, getting ready to board an airplane for the United States. As I moved toward my gate I recognized a stand-up comedian I had seen on television a couple of times in the United States. He was dressed as a Catholic Priest. I was offended and almost walked over to tell him I was offended. But I was tired, and in a hurry, so I continued to my gate.
After boarding my plane I was shocked to find out that my seat mate was going to be the stand-up comedian dressed as a priest. After we took off, I turned to him and said, "Haven't I've seen you on television?" He immediately shot back, "My brother is a stand-up comedian--I'm really a Catholic priest!"
After a good laugh, we began discussing sights in Rome that I had visited. This lead to a discussion of the three greatest pilgrimages in the Catholic faith--Rome, Jerusalem, and Santiago. I of course knew about the first two but had never heard about the third. He told me if I was interested in walking the El Camino de Santiago I should read a book called To the Field of Stars: A Pilgrim's Journey to Santiago de Compostela by Father Kevin Codd.
After getting home I ordered Father Codd's book. I was shocked to see that he lived just 30 kilometers from my house. I called him and we became friends. He instilled in me his love for the Camino.
On my third Camino I met my wife. And all because I sat next to a Catholic Priest on an airplane.
Yes, that was a terrible book!I don't remember how, but I was aware of the camino when I saw Shirley Maclaine's book on the library shelf in 2000. As I read the dust jacket, I immediately knew that was something I'd like to do. (I do remember that moment standing in the library aisle.) Even reading that terrible book did not put me off!
I love this thread! I was fortunate enough to have a wonderful professor (from Spain) during my last two undergrad years. He made Spain come alive for me and others in his classes. My roommate and I promised ourselves we'd go to Spain to experience the places and history he'd made so vivid. The fall after I graduated I met her in Spain (she was doing a year in Madrid). We each got a month-long Eurail pass and wended our way through Portugal and on to Santiago de Compostela where we attended Christmas mass with the incredible swinging of the Botafumeiro. From there we went east and visited a number of places along the Camino (Burgos, Leon, etc.). I had been raised Catholic and knew something of the various pilgrimage routes; now this particular Camino raised my interest. That said, I didn't consider walking it until three years ago as my 70th birthday approached. I knew this was the way I wanted to mark the start of a new decade. My spouse and I had to defer the dream until this year. I feel it was in some ways absolutely essential to be "forced" to wait until the time was right to begin our Camino. Feeling fortunate! And beyond excited. To each and all of you, Buen Camino.This is following a post yesterday, where someone was trying to track the name of the film that marked his initiation into 'camino consciousness'. Thought it would be a fun thread on its own! So, when did you first become conscious of the Camino? When was that lovely little seed first planted?
Wonderful story……Buen Camino. I am 16 days away from my first.I love this thread! I was fortunate enough to have a wonderful professor (from Spain) during my last two undergrad years. He made Spain come alive for me and others in his classes. My roommate and I promised ourselves we'd go to Spain to experience the places and history he'd made so vivid. The fall after I graduated I met her in Spain (she was doing a year in Madrid). We each got a month-long Eurail pass and wended our way through Portugal and on to Santiago de Compostela where we attended Christmas mass with the incredible swinging of the Botafumeiro. From there we went east and visited a number of places along the Camino (Burgos, Leon, etc.). I had been raised Catholic and knew something of the various pilgrimage routes; now this particular Camino raised my interest. That said, I didn't consider walking it until three years ago as my 70th birthday approached. I knew this was the way I wanted to mark the start of a new decade. My spouse and I had to defer the dream until this year. I feel it was in some ways absolutely essential to be "forced" to wait until the time was right to begin our Camino. Feeling fortunate! And beyond excited. To each and all of you, Buen Camino.
10+years, 50years ago and now continually going... mine is 10years ago still sowing indefinite still when to harvest to go...Forty+ years later I did; fifty+ years later I still am.
This is following a post yesterday, where someone was trying to track the name of the film that marked his initiation into 'camino consciousness'. Thought it would be a fun thread on its own! So, when did you first become conscious of the Camino? When was that lovely little seed first planted?
I have a few friends that did short Camino trips. I wasn't interested at first but I became intrigued, especially when they spoke of how healing and transformative it is. That's what pulls me in.
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