Peregrine traveling

 Travel does broaden one's horizons, and you acquire a feeling of respect for the people of the countries visited if you view them with an open mind for their situation and not in the context of yours. Not everyone envies the North American lifestyle. Simple is better and there is something to learn from every society.
Some of the countries that we have been fortunate enough to visit, and even live in, follow here; Andorra, the tiny co-principality in the Pyrenees  between France and Spain - Austria - Belgium, the best pommes frites anywhere! - Denmark, with all those mellow Danes! -

England - Finland, to family at Kronoby on the Arctic Circle - France, where even railroad stations have gourmet food - Germany, the friendliest people - Gibraltar, you couldn't get there from Spain in 1974, you had to go on a boat (the Mons Calpe) from Algeciras to the continent of Africa at Tangier, then back from there, even though 'the Rock' actually overlooks the isthmus from Algeciras! -

Italy, wonderfully chaotic fun - Liechtenstein - Luxembourg - Monaco - Netherlands - Norway, family heritage - Portugal - San Marino - Scotland, family heritage - Slovenia, (still part of Jugoslavia then) - Spain, easy living on the Costa del Sol, hurra por la siesta! Andalusia is a wonderful place to idle away time or write your novel - Sweden - Switzerland, I know where the best restaurant in the world is, but I can't tell you - (well maybe, ask me again later) - Vatican City - Wales. Morocco - Lebanon - Iran - India - Thailand - Singapore - Hong Kong - Japan - Hawaii.

And not a bad experience in any one of them. During a year of travel, the people we met were friendly, accommodating and happy. And we learned that other cultures' different values are not necessarily lesser values.                                                                                                                                                             

Most of this travelling was from the driver's seat of a BMW Bavaria, bought on European Delivery plan from Vancouver and picked up at the factory in Munich. It was complete freedom in visiting Europe and going wherever one wanted. We lived between Fuengirola and Marbella on the Spanish Mediterranean.
                                              

We are not familiar with España verde, as our previous travels were in the far south, Andalusia. The Camino transcends the North, through Green Spain. It is a huge trek that will take this year to plan in order to get ourselves ready mentally and physically as well as gaining all the information we will need.  The idea of trekking nearly five hundred miles became sort of a personal recovery plan. To rescue ourselves from the mediocrity of daily life in Vancouver. Getting fat, lazy and winding happy hour back 15 minutes each day and then sleeping through the six o’clock news!

But why the ‘Way of St. James’? And such a distance?  We are not Catholic, and can’t even call ourselves religious. Is it a challenge in this late portion of life? A last stand in our autumn before winter sets in? Yes Why? Is it a small tribute to Pope John Paul II because he actually started the crack in the Berlin Wall that eventually ended communism in Eastern Europe. John Paul courageously went into his homeland Poland and pushed religion in the faces of the communists to start the most important process of change in any society – ideas.  Why? The personal challenge. With each painful step perhaps one digs out the dust and dirt of one's personality to expose the truth. And isn't your personal truth the culmination of learning oneself? Isn't that part of the goal of life? Finding out who you are?

The Camino Frances  begins at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France and you start out hard and cross the Pyrenees! And for the next 30 days you visit Pamplona, Logroño, Burgos, León, Astorga and many tiny villages before reaching the “City of the Apostle”, Santiago.  Legend tells that St. James' remains are buried on the site of what is now the city of Santiago de Compostela. It is the proper pilgrims' route.

So the challenge is intriguing. We need to know what shoes to buy, what kind of packs to use, what to bring? A small computer will be carried for internet access and to post reports and e-letters. What clothes does one wear? We need to learn how to say “We’re wet and tired and hungry” in Spanish. We already know gracias.

It’s still in the beginning stages right now, but the idea of an arthritic ramble has taken hold and seems to have imbued a traveler's romance in with the mental and physical challenge. An adventure looming like a glowing sunrise. Promising a spiritual journey. Yes, a pilgrimage.

We want to be a peregrinos too!

Spanish Tourism website - http://www.spain.info/

Camino de Santiago info -  http://www.caminodesantiago.me.uk/