!Buen Camino!
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Updates from the Camino
Day Seven - Molly Duggan
Camino day three got off to a soggy but spirited start as we set off from Palas de Rei in the chilly morning rain. All of us a little harrowed from our arduous journey yesterday, were excited to hear that today's walk at only 17km wasn’t going to be nearly as long.
While the dampness started to settle on our skin and make some of us shiver. It was quite a sight to see all the little jellyfish covered in their plastic rain ponchos. I thought the garment unnecessary until I pulled out my damp pilgrim passport with its now curly edges and reluctantly dawned my uniform only for the rain to immediately stop. It's funny how things can happen that way. God's kindred sense of humor at work.
Today was a major day of reflection for me. As the lush forest seemed to glisten and sigh at the weight of the droplets on the leaves, I found myself putting one pole in front of the other and really gazing inward as my eyes watched my feet travel, one step and then another step. Yesterday’s walk was a major trial for me that left my feet sore and blistered and my fervor a little drained. I was feeling myself begin to doubt. To doubt my capabilities both mental and physical on this journey, to doubt that I was suited and ready for major changes and challenges that God has and will continue to throw at me.
I thought a lot today about the burdens I was carrying. What my stone represents to me. One of those things being the anxiety of not being capable. Not having the strength, agility, and grace to navigate the blisters of life.
But today, invigorated by a night of giggling, pillow fights, and hydrocolloid patches, in the moments when I least expected it, the anxieties about not being capable seemed to be lifted by the presence of a friend at my side. Someone who shifted the focus from my aching feet to the great big world around me and how much less daunting it seems when shared with a buddy.
I realized it was the people, some strangers at first and now familiar friends, who make the burden of walking through life not so tough or at least who make the journey a little more enjoyable. Filling space with either thoughtful silence or sharing in passions and perspectives.
Before I even realized it, by the end of the day, I had four wonderful people by my side filling the dewy air with laughter and energy. Energy that filled my heart and seemed to patch my feet until all of a sudden we were at a table surrounded by friends and octopus and the walk was over. And just like that, I felt more than capable.
!Buen Camino!
Molly
Day Six - Sofia Munoz
Hola a todos! My name is Sofía Muñoz and I will be telling you all about our second day on the Camino, from Portomartin to Palas de Rei.
Day 2 began on the balcony of our hotel room. Surrounded by the misty rolling hills of Galicia, we met for morning prayer; full of energy, giggles, OJ, and, of course, jamon. After a nice prayer, we decided to start the day with a bit of stretching, and thank God we did, because little did we know what the day would bring.
We began our journey with a long five-mile stretch containing no restaurants and no bathrooms. This was unfortunate for me, who had forgotten to use the restroom and fill up her water before leaving. However, the miles of farmland and dark green trees made for wonderful views to accompany us. I walked this section with fellow pilgrim Eloise, and her wit and joy helped to pass the time quickly. I had not met most of the people on this trip prior to arriving but we have quickly become close, and the time spent walking together has been such a gentle reminder of the importance of community in Christ.
It was that community that got me through the next part of our day. After our initial five miles behind us with relative ease, we stopped for a while at a cafe to sip on Aquarius (Spanish Gatorade) and some coffee. Eloise brought out her playing cards, and we spent some time laughing as a few of our fellow pilgrims poured in and joined us. After filling up on electrolytes and caffiene, we set out for the next section of our day and were met with a gentle reminder that the beautiful rolling hills of Galicia, do in fact roll.
The hill came into view very slowly, but our aching calves and creaky knees quickly brought to attention the subtle incline we were walking up. Our walk suddenly became quiet, and we realized that the next mile would not be easy. I took my hands and placed them firmly on the straps of my pack, deciding with certainty I would attack the hill head-on. 'Si se puede' we all repeated - we can do it! As we came to the top of the hill, we saw yet another peak, we turned around to see a wall spray painted with the bright red words 'Don't look back'... ok. Noted. At the second peak, there was a turn hiding another peak. I looked to my group time and time again, 'We got this guys!'. The encouragement of my new friends helped to soften the stinging of my lungs (just a bit). By the time we reached the top, we had tackled three false peaks. I am still not sure if the view was 'worth it' but we agreed it was stunning. After a quick break for pictures and some water, we continued on.
Looking back, I am reminded of what my friend Dani wrote yesterday, 'If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.'
At this point, I was really starting to feel the 14 miles from the day before, but somehow I found myself full of joy and energy. Vinny, who I had met just days ago, danced with me to 'La Vaca', a popular Latino song about a cow, and Elosie loved our fantastic dance moves (I think). The knowledge that we were all on the same journey made it easier to keep going - one step at a time. After another few miles, we stopped at a cafe and found some of our 'faster' friends had stopped at another restaurant (and already had a full meal!). We decided it was time for food and sat for a bit.
Unfortunately, this was when things got a bit more difficult. I wasn't that hungry and decided to tackle the last few miles alone - something I hadn't done yet. We all thought that there were only about 4 miles left in our walk for the day, but it turned out to be a good 6 or 7. By the time I hit mile 14, I was exhausted, and thinking there wasn't more than 20 minutes left in my walk - I stopped at a cafe to rest. A few friends stopped and said hi - then kept walking as they too thought there was only a bit left. I continued on with my walk, still alone. These last two miles hurt. Every turn I thought was the end, and with no one to cheer me on time was passing quite slowly.
Eventually, I made it to town - my feet aching so bad I didn't think I'd be able to walk ever again. I rested at the hotel for a bit, then went down for group dinner and found everyone else just as dead as me. No one had known that the day would turn out to be the longest and most difficult with 16 miles, with an almost 2,000 ft. elevation gain. But everyone had done it. Dinner was lovely, full of laughter (fueled by delirium) and good food (save for the single banana some of us received as dessert). After conversation and some commiserating, we all returned to our rooms and did compline with our roommates. An intimate and refreshing way to connect to God and each other.
Day 2 was hard. But like the entirety of the trip, it was a reminder we can do hard things. Some might have finished the day by 2:00 p.m., and some by 5:00 p.m., but in the end, we came together - in joy, gratitude, and community. I was reminded I can do hard things, even when alone. And I also learned to appreciate the power of community, and how important it is to have someone walking by your side.
'...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through he who gives me strength.' - Philippians 4:11-13
Thanks be to God!
Sofía Muñoz
Day 5 - Daniel Jaime
Hi, my name is Dani Jaime and I’m going to walk you through our first day on the Camino de Santiago.
Ready, Set, Go!
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Indeed, this journey began with a single step. Although our journey is nowhere near a thousand miles, the first day feels so daunting and exciting that it might as well be!
Our team woke up extra early to make sure our bags and gear were ready and downstairs at our hotel to drop off and have a hearty breakfast. After a feeding frenzy of yogurt, eggs, and plenty of ham, we made our way to the front of the building where other pilgrims were waiting in line for a stamp on their pilgrim’s passport to officially begin their journey.
Backpack? Check. Passport? Stamped. Our feet? Taking that single first step on our journey of “a thousand miles”.
“If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
After that first step came the second, and then the third, and so on and so forth until the team split into smaller groups. Everyone went at their own pace… but this didn’t mean any of us went alone. Along the way, were other pilgrims who were taking the same journey as us! This meant there was always someone to talk to and accompany us, ensuring that none of us ever truly felt alone. A lot of us made new friends today! Some from very far away places and some from places closer than you might think.
Besides, our closest friend, Jesus was walking alongside us every step of the way.
“We walk by faith, not by sight”
After departing the town of Sarria, we ventured into rural territory with splendid vistas of green hills, vibrant green trees, and precious flowers. The world seemed to come alive with its sights, smells, and sounds. Many of us discussed with each other what these real-life portraits and scenes reminded us of and tried our best to describe them (our words fell short every time).
Finally, our team was reunited in the town of Portomarín. Although we all arrived at different times with our sub-groups, we all crossed the same bridge over a grand river (not much unlike the one back home).
Day 1: Complete!
This first day was truly gold, but the greatest treasure that we are slowly discovering along the way isn’t the things we can see or feel, but the things we are learning in our heart to be true about our faith in a God that loves us. We know that this journey has an end, but it is not a destination. My hope is that by the end of this “camino”, every step taken has drawn us closer to God and each other, closing any gaps that may feel a thousand miles long.
¡Buen Camino!
Dani Jaime
Day 4 - Tami Woods
Day 4 started and ended great. It was the middle that had us all sweating. The morning started with a small group getting up early for a double-decker bus tour of the city. After getting on the wrong bus, we were dropped at the correct location (different than the instructions provided when booking) for the tour. We learned about so many things, from famous gardens and architectural wonders to the largest palace in Europe containing over 2,000 rooms. We ended the tour with only one hand caught in the bus door. Our second group walked to a nearby restaurant for breakfast. It received rave reviews and encouraged our pilgrims’ amazement at how affordable and delicious food is in Spain.
Once we had everything packed up and ready to go, we started calling for Ubers and taxis to head to the train station. We hoped for two larger and one small one to fit all 16 of us. Unbeknownst to us, the very large, very busy street we were staying on had been partially closed for a speed walking race. Yep, you read that right! Because of this, our rides kept canceling our reservations due to their “inability” to get to us to pick us up. Despite walking all over the place to get to a spot they could access, the rides were canceled again. We finally broke into smaller groups and were able to get some taxis to pick us up. With our last two people running through the train station to get through security, we made it on the train with 10 minutes to spare.
The train ride was uneventful and resulted in our safe arrival in Sarria. We had a delicious dinner with the Eucharist to follow. This group is amazing. They have become such a cohesive group of people over these past couple of days. We begin walking tomorrow!
!Buen Camino!
Tami
Day 3 - Tami Woods
The best, longest day ever. For some reason, none of us were able to get much, if any, sleep on the flight to Madrid. We successfully got through customs and headed straight to the Airbnb. We arrived just in time to catch the “ones who made it” group before they headed out to the Oasis Community Center to meet Sharon Miller (friend of DWTX). The excitement of finally being together helped the younger exhausted travelers to rally and head out with the group. The “olders” stayed back to take a break and met up with them at Oasis a little while later.
Spending the morning at Oasis was a wonderful experience for the whole group. The pilgrims helped prepare decorations and supplies to be used at the summer camp hosted by Oasis every summer for the children in the surrounding neighborhood. They learned about the community that is served by the good people of Oasis and the various programs that are offered.
After saying our goodbyes to Sharon and her interns, we made our way to a nearby Moroccan restaurant for our first meal as a whole group. The food was delicious and the conversation was lively. Only two people fell asleep at the table!
After lunch, the group was able to enjoy some free time to explore the city. While some went back to sleep and shower, others visited El Retiro Park and the Prado museum. Madrid is an expansive city with a variety of wonderful attractions rich in history and soaked in the Spanish culture.
We wrapped up our day together with dinner at an Italian restaurant down the street from our lodging. We unanimously agreed that it is going to be hard to leave such amazing food at such affordable prices!
As I lay in my bed fighting the time change and trying to will myself to sleep, I couldn’t help but smile to myself as the giggles of pilgrims playing card games at the dining room table drifted into my room. There is an excitement buzzing through the group as we get closer to our departure to Sarria tomorrow. What will we learn? Who will we meet along The Way? What is God revealing to us as a group and to each of us individually? I don’t know, but we are going to find out!
!Buen Camino!
Tami
Day 2 - Tami Woods
Well, not to be out done by Day 1, Day 2 brought plenty of its own adventures. For those of us stuck in Chicago, our delayed flight was rescheduled for 5:00 pm. The younger adults decided to take advantage of the extra time for some site seeing while the “older” adults decided to rest at the hotel and head to the airport early. The site seeing group visited the bean, went to the art museum, and even got some authentic deep dish pizza. As they made their way back to the airport with plenty of time to spare, the train suddenly stopped at about the halfway due to debris on the track. After further delay, the train was unloaded. Our young adults, with luggage in hand, called an Uber and raced the rest of the way to the airport. Cutting it too close for comfort, the group was reunited and boarded the plane as planned. We were finally off to Madrid.
As for the rest of the group traveling on their own, everyone arrived in Madrid as planned on Friday. People who were familiar and unfamiliar with each other were forced to navigate checking into the Airbnb and acquaint themselves with each other and the city. They did great! They explored the city on foot, went to dinner, and enjoyed getting to know each other. Only one person’s wallet was lost/stolen (we aren’t sure), but their passport remained in their possession.
Although we have not had the start that we had planned, the pilgrims have been flexible and joyful with whatever has been thrown at them. Our experience thus far has been filled with memories we will all cherish. Now, we just need to start making those memories as a whole group!
!Buen Camino!
Tami
Day 1 - Tami Woods
There is a belief that a person’s Camino begins at the moment they begin their planning. Others believe it doesn’t begin until the moment you start your walk. Either way, for many of us, our Camino de Santiago and all of its lessons is already in full swing. Seven of our pilgrims have arrived in Madrid and are settling into our lodging. As for the rest of our group, not so much. After several delays leaving San Antonio, we made it to Chicago in time to wait some more. Our flight was eventually cancelled for the night and rescheduled for the next afternoon. So, we made the voyage through O’Haire to find transportation to our hotel for the night. Today, we will try again.
What is God beginning to reveal to us on this great adventure? What are we learning? Patience? Endurance? Acceptance? Maybe nothing. Maybe this is just the “liminal” space between where we were and where we are going. Either way, the popcorn place at the airport will be open today, so at least there’s that.
!Buen Camino!
Tami
