I don’t why I think this but…. I have the delusion when I discover something that I am the original founder of the idea . However , to my surprise I always find I am late to the party.
Just to retrace some steps before I talk about my first days on the Camino. There are things of note that I need to share.
My discovery of the Camino came about when I watched a film called “The Way” released in October of 2011 starring Martin Sheen and directed by Emilio Estevez (his real life son who also played his son in the movie). I highly recommend it. The film is very touching and accurate about the journey.
The film is about a father who travels to France to collect the body of his dead son who was killed in an accident before starting to walk the Camino. The father who had little understanding of his son decides to complete the journey. It is a very touching film about the evolution of the father’s idea about his relationship with his son. A discovery which changes his life and understanding of not only his son’s life but his own.
My husband and I watched the film around 2012. Afterwords, I told my husband that I didn’t know people did pilgrimages any more . In fact, I thought it was rather archaic idea. I said to him, “what a wonderful idea. I would never be able to do it nor would I be interested. But for those who want to make the journey, a great idea.”
Flash forward to August 2017, the idea to walk the Camino is my answer to facing my loss. When I asked for guidance from the universe… from God. in my desperation…. Walk the Camino was the answer.
As I worked on all the ins and outs of walking the Camino, I found that the Camino is quite widely known . Not only is it well-known, many I talked to about my journey to walk the Camino was not a surprise. My friends would say stuff like, ” It is on my list of things to do”. Or, they would quickly tell me that their friend or family member walked the Camino several years ago.
One of my friends, Debbie, who was interested in doing the Camino in the future was very helpful. She gave me many pointers. One of which was instrumental to my success on the Camino. She told me about the bag transport service, which I arrogantly responded with a puffed up chest…. “I won’t need it. I am going to carry my backpack like a true pilgrim”.
I went to a local hiking and camping store, REI. I walked in to buy my hiking boots and look at the various items I might need for the journey. I met a very friendly and knowledgeable store worker who asked me what type of terrain I would be walking on. I told her some areas would be road, flat as well as hilly, also gravel paths with rocks and dirt. I told her shyly thinking she would not know what I was talking about; I ‘m going to Spain, to walk the Camino. Oh… she said, ” the Camino… you will probably like these shoes”, she said pointing to the wall in front of me. It seemed to be an everyday type of question. She also informed me that she would print out an inventory of what I will need for the walk. In addition, she told me to look for a class about the Camino in January.
