Today we walked 24km´s and now have pain in our feet... and a few of the dreaded blisters for some of our friends. (Thankfully not us yet!) As we walk we talk. We meet many of the same people along the way and everyday new friends too. When we share dinner in the evening or cook in the kitchen we talk! It´s amazing that with people who are complete strangers, or friends of only a few days, the conversations are real and personal. People share their journey and their pain. Many people are walking for personal or spiritual reasons. They have big decisions to make, are in a crisis or turning point and they walk with the purpose of finding answers. They talk about God and positive energy, relationships and finding yourself. There are daily opportunities for us to listen, encourage and hopefully point people towards God. It is surprising how deep the conversation quickly become. Part of the journey of walking is sharing your life, talking and listening.
Question - why is it that people share their lives openly on this journey, yet in a bus or on a plane or some other setting, we would share nothing with the stranger beside us?
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
beds and comfort
Today is the first day that we have had a sunny day - without rain. What a joy that was and how fast it all went. We always look forward to the end of the day when we arrive in a auberge - a hostel where we can put our feet up. So often the hostellier is a kind man-woman who make you feel at home. Some of them become your friends and you sing songs in the dining room until one of the guests come in and say that it is after 10 and could you please be quiet! Some of the hostelliers are finniky and explain everything in m minute detail. All fine and good as most of them are volunteers. A great service.
Last night we slept in a room with 20 other snorers from Russia, Canada, Holland, Australia, Austria, Ireland, Estonia, Slovania etc. etc. and the space each has is just enough to walk among the beds packed with shoes, clothes, poles, backpacks, etc. Tonight however is different. This is the hilton of auberges. It is is Azofra and each room has only 2 beds. What a bliss after overcorwded rooms and noise. The best thing is that it oonly cost 6 Euro pp (times 2 for NZdollars)
Question: How much comfort and space do we need in this life for a good night´s rest?
Last night we slept in a room with 20 other snorers from Russia, Canada, Holland, Australia, Austria, Ireland, Estonia, Slovania etc. etc. and the space each has is just enough to walk among the beds packed with shoes, clothes, poles, backpacks, etc. Tonight however is different. This is the hilton of auberges. It is is Azofra and each room has only 2 beds. What a bliss after overcorwded rooms and noise. The best thing is that it oonly cost 6 Euro pp (times 2 for NZdollars)
Question: How much comfort and space do we need in this life for a good night´s rest?
Friday, May 7, 2010
The Sun is Shinning!
Beautiful views of wheat fields, olive groves and vineyards made it a stunning 21km walk in the sunshine today. This is the 6th day of our walk and the first day without rain ponchos. The headlines in the paper 2 days back declared that is has been the coldest month of May here in 130 years! The blue sky and sunshine lifted everybodies spirits as we chatted and walked with our many and varied friends on the road, journeying together.
How do we know the way? Nobody follows a map, but we follow the signs. You look for the symbol of a shell, or a small yellow arrow that marks the way periodically. You have to look for them, but they are there. No big signs, no neon lights, but small signs guiding along the road and you walk in faith hoping to see another one further down the track. A bit like life really, we often want writing in the sky from God or a vision in the night, but God points the way with small signs along the road and we continue in faith and then see another further along the way. Sometimes in our busyness of life we miss the signs on the road. Some of our fellow pilgrims have missed the signs and taken the wrong path only to have to retrace their steps.
Question - are you taking time to see the signs from God as you journey?
How do we know the way? Nobody follows a map, but we follow the signs. You look for the symbol of a shell, or a small yellow arrow that marks the way periodically. You have to look for them, but they are there. No big signs, no neon lights, but small signs guiding along the road and you walk in faith hoping to see another one further down the track. A bit like life really, we often want writing in the sky from God or a vision in the night, but God points the way with small signs along the road and we continue in faith and then see another further along the way. Sometimes in our busyness of life we miss the signs on the road. Some of our fellow pilgrims have missed the signs and taken the wrong path only to have to retrace their steps.
Question - are you taking time to see the signs from God as you journey?
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Pamploma
It´s 5C outside and the wind is bitter, but we had a lovely morning walk (just 16km today)after the two most difficult days of the whole camino. We are staying at a lovely, warm, catholic hostel with 114 beds. We plan to explore this delightful historic city this afternoon, as soon as Maree is able to buy some warmer clothes. Today the wind and sometimes hail made the journey challenging for some. We have just meet a kiwi lady who was rescued off the Pyreness mountains yesterday when snow came in and they were in distress. Apparently it was 30C here last week in Pamploma and the weather can change so fast. Many people have been caught without the proper clothing.
The camaraderie amongst pilgrims is lovely. We are making many friends that we meet each evening at the hostels. The depth of friendship depends on ones ability to communicate. The languages around us are primarily french and Spanish with a few others thrown in. English is not the primary language spoken. But today we walked part of the way with our french Canadian friend and our friend from Hungry, both who speak English well. Last night we had a pilgrim meal with 3 ladies who spoke french and Italian but no English. Conversation was limited but we had a lovely time.
Todays Question: Does friendship need a common language?
The camaraderie amongst pilgrims is lovely. We are making many friends that we meet each evening at the hostels. The depth of friendship depends on ones ability to communicate. The languages around us are primarily french and Spanish with a few others thrown in. English is not the primary language spoken. But today we walked part of the way with our french Canadian friend and our friend from Hungry, both who speak English well. Last night we had a pilgrim meal with 3 ladies who spoke french and Italian but no English. Conversation was limited but we had a lovely time.
Todays Question: Does friendship need a common language?
Monday, May 3, 2010
larrasoana
Dear friends,
Rain is good - rain gives growth so that those coming after us will have wine, food and shade as the trees will have leaves on them. Rain is also good for the soul as with a poncho over our head we can walk and enjoy the thoughts that come into our minds. Rain is fun as rivers come alive, we can give thanks for bridges and for sturdy shoes and walking sticks. There is so much to give thanks for on day 2 of our walk - another day of drizzle, mist and almost seeing the sun to encourage us.
We left after a general call out at 6am (lights were rudely turned on, the weather forcast was given in 5 langauages and the CD of choir music was over the intercom - 125 people sleeping in a huge ancient hall is something different. Ear plugs are also gifts. the scenery is absolutely beautiful - valleys with cute villages in them, birch forests, good paths and muddy paths, our legs are holding out well and our state of mind is good. We are positive and enjoying whatever comes our way.
Last night we had pasta, trout and yoghurt for dinner with an ample supply of good red wine as that was the pilgrim,s meal. We also joined into the church service at the ancient monastery.
God is good - how good? We are finding that out that He is good all the time.
The question for the day? Are all bridges helpful?
Rain is good - rain gives growth so that those coming after us will have wine, food and shade as the trees will have leaves on them. Rain is also good for the soul as with a poncho over our head we can walk and enjoy the thoughts that come into our minds. Rain is fun as rivers come alive, we can give thanks for bridges and for sturdy shoes and walking sticks. There is so much to give thanks for on day 2 of our walk - another day of drizzle, mist and almost seeing the sun to encourage us.
We left after a general call out at 6am (lights were rudely turned on, the weather forcast was given in 5 langauages and the CD of choir music was over the intercom - 125 people sleeping in a huge ancient hall is something different. Ear plugs are also gifts. the scenery is absolutely beautiful - valleys with cute villages in them, birch forests, good paths and muddy paths, our legs are holding out well and our state of mind is good. We are positive and enjoying whatever comes our way.
Last night we had pasta, trout and yoghurt for dinner with an ample supply of good red wine as that was the pilgrim,s meal. We also joined into the church service at the ancient monastery.
God is good - how good? We are finding that out that He is good all the time.
The question for the day? Are all bridges helpful?
Sunday, May 2, 2010
The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly on the Plain????
Ok, well apparently that is not true! After a clear start and stunning views,as we ascended into the mountains, the cloud came low and it rained on and off throughout our 8 hour walk, sometimes quite cold. But we made it through the most difficult and longest day of the journey! Some muscles are screaming in pain, but we now rest in a 120 bed hostel with other pilgrimmes before beginning our journey again tomorrow. A lovely 3 course Spanish dinner awaits at discount pilgrimme prices.
We made it through the most difficult day and are on the way!
We made it through the most difficult day and are on the way!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
In the Beginning...
We have arrived in St Jean (south of France near the Spanish border) after the stress of leaving our homes and an eventful day enroute from Nice to here. It started at -6.30am with dropping off the rental car and being locked on the property with the gates closing behind us and no one in sight to help - 20 minutes before our train departed. We miraculously made the train only to find Gabe's wallet and their credit cards were still back in the car. (Now Maree has the power of having all the money.) We journeyed on and had one further panic when we changed trains and thought the train was leaving without Gabe. The challenge of travelling through France with limited (Gabe and Biz) or no (Maree) french has also added to our adventures.
It is raining here in St Jean but we are trusting that it will clear by tomorrow when we begin the toughest day of the trek, 27km over 1400 metres on the Pyreness mountains. It can only get easier after that.
At the end of the day the question is - is it better to travel with friends without your money or to be flexible and alter your schedule in order to have money?
It is raining here in St Jean but we are trusting that it will clear by tomorrow when we begin the toughest day of the trek, 27km over 1400 metres on the Pyreness mountains. It can only get easier after that.
At the end of the day the question is - is it better to travel with friends without your money or to be flexible and alter your schedule in order to have money?
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