Camino, Day 18 - Another journey, another adventure
Sunday,
So long as we imagine it is we who have to look for God, we must often lose heart. But it is the other way about—He is looking for us. - Simon Tugwell
I decided to take it very easy, so I took off early in the morning to thew nearest town to find some nice place to sit down have a coffe and uprate my diary.
Arrived in Sahagun about 9# and found a beautifull Cafe at the corner of the street and made it my permanent location for the nearest couple of hours. It worked magic, excellent cup of tea, perfect cup of coffee, perfect freshly baked french pastries with almond bits, with whipped cream and rasberries, just pure magic.
Me, my journal, sunshine and happiness. I enjoyed the idyllic time very much, but around half ten realized that being in the city has its benefits, I was able (with my poor spanish) find a 11 o'clock mass. So I finnished my diary and left looking for the church. Got the information of the place where the mass would be and looking at the churchs' tower tried to locate it.
The location job was very hard so (with my poor spanish) I stopped an older couple asking for mass, they said the´re going as well so they´ll take me with them. Great!
The mass happened to be not in the church but in the old folks house, and me entering through the side door with my back pack on, hat in my hat and baton (a walking stick) stirred up a little bit in the peacefull atmosfere before the mass. I managed to free myself from my burdens and locate the first near empty place at the back of the chapel.
The Sunday mass was beautifull with lots of songs in spanish of which I knew none (of course), but the celebration spirit came to my heart as well and I really decided to make my walk as short as possible and simply enjoy the Sunday. And so I did.
Meating with my friend Tonia after the mass I walked out of the city noise and aimed towards a crossing outside of the town on which the Camino splits. The choice given is, either follow the original Roman road Via Aquitana (also known as Calzada de Los Peregrinos) or to take a different road known as Real Camino Frances... I decided to do it the french way today.
It wasn´t a bad choice however the french Camino just seemed to be a little boring, straith paths with acer trees all along and not too nice landscapes makes you just want to finnish the walk somewhere nice. And so I did.
I arrived in Bercianos de Real Camino, a parish hostel run by volunteers, and at 45 places (25 beds and 20 mattresses) it was overloaded. My number was 55, and yet I wasn´t the last pilgrim to come this night. Total number closed at about 75 or something, and lots of people had to sleep on the floor. (I must say I was quite affraid!)
When I arrived I noticed a little prayer room with beautiful icon of the cross at the wall and I was amazed by it, nearly speechless of it´s simple beauty. Than el hospitalero took us for a tour to show us the places we´ll sleep tonight there was no space for me upstairs.
We came down and she said to me and couple of others, you´ll sleep in the prayer room.
At that moment I don´t know why but the tears came to my eyes, I was so happy to sleep on the mattress, on the floor of the prayer room.
Anyway,
we had a bit of time for the shower and stroll around the town but we had to be back @ 6:30 to help out in cooking. There was about to be a comon meal for all of us prepared from the donations of yesterday´s pilgrims (the hostel runs on donations only).
And it was marvelous, at 8:30 pm we sat down blessed the meal and had (imagine that) garlic soup (basically: water, fat, garlic, bread and poached eggs) and a salad, and melon for the dessert. I will remember this garlic soup forever, I think.
Than came the washing, and I coudn´t take it, being used to the Camphill speed of washing just had to leave the comic scene and go for a walk.
That night I got probably the best sleep so far, on the floor of the prayer room, on little mattress I fall asleep very content.
Very content...
The next day I had to get up very early and walk in the dark to make it without trouble to the next Albergue, this time more than 30 km away...
That´s it tonight folks,
God speed,
Buen Camino...
So long as we imagine it is we who have to look for God, we must often lose heart. But it is the other way about—He is looking for us. - Simon Tugwell
I decided to take it very easy, so I took off early in the morning to thew nearest town to find some nice place to sit down have a coffe and uprate my diary.
Arrived in Sahagun about 9# and found a beautifull Cafe at the corner of the street and made it my permanent location for the nearest couple of hours. It worked magic, excellent cup of tea, perfect cup of coffee, perfect freshly baked french pastries with almond bits, with whipped cream and rasberries, just pure magic.
Me, my journal, sunshine and happiness. I enjoyed the idyllic time very much, but around half ten realized that being in the city has its benefits, I was able (with my poor spanish) find a 11 o'clock mass. So I finnished my diary and left looking for the church. Got the information of the place where the mass would be and looking at the churchs' tower tried to locate it.
The location job was very hard so (with my poor spanish) I stopped an older couple asking for mass, they said the´re going as well so they´ll take me with them. Great!
The mass happened to be not in the church but in the old folks house, and me entering through the side door with my back pack on, hat in my hat and baton (a walking stick) stirred up a little bit in the peacefull atmosfere before the mass. I managed to free myself from my burdens and locate the first near empty place at the back of the chapel.
The Sunday mass was beautifull with lots of songs in spanish of which I knew none (of course), but the celebration spirit came to my heart as well and I really decided to make my walk as short as possible and simply enjoy the Sunday. And so I did.
Meating with my friend Tonia after the mass I walked out of the city noise and aimed towards a crossing outside of the town on which the Camino splits. The choice given is, either follow the original Roman road Via Aquitana (also known as Calzada de Los Peregrinos) or to take a different road known as Real Camino Frances... I decided to do it the french way today.
It wasn´t a bad choice however the french Camino just seemed to be a little boring, straith paths with acer trees all along and not too nice landscapes makes you just want to finnish the walk somewhere nice. And so I did.
I arrived in Bercianos de Real Camino, a parish hostel run by volunteers, and at 45 places (25 beds and 20 mattresses) it was overloaded. My number was 55, and yet I wasn´t the last pilgrim to come this night. Total number closed at about 75 or something, and lots of people had to sleep on the floor. (I must say I was quite affraid!)
When I arrived I noticed a little prayer room with beautiful icon of the cross at the wall and I was amazed by it, nearly speechless of it´s simple beauty. Than el hospitalero took us for a tour to show us the places we´ll sleep tonight there was no space for me upstairs.
We came down and she said to me and couple of others, you´ll sleep in the prayer room.
At that moment I don´t know why but the tears came to my eyes, I was so happy to sleep on the mattress, on the floor of the prayer room.
Anyway,
we had a bit of time for the shower and stroll around the town but we had to be back @ 6:30 to help out in cooking. There was about to be a comon meal for all of us prepared from the donations of yesterday´s pilgrims (the hostel runs on donations only).
And it was marvelous, at 8:30 pm we sat down blessed the meal and had (imagine that) garlic soup (basically: water, fat, garlic, bread and poached eggs) and a salad, and melon for the dessert. I will remember this garlic soup forever, I think.
Than came the washing, and I coudn´t take it, being used to the Camphill speed of washing just had to leave the comic scene and go for a walk.
That night I got probably the best sleep so far, on the floor of the prayer room, on little mattress I fall asleep very content.
Very content...
The next day I had to get up very early and walk in the dark to make it without trouble to the next Albergue, this time more than 30 km away...
That´s it tonight folks,
God speed,
Buen Camino...
I know thats improper word but... I'm simply jealous.... : ) Good luck hombre! One day I do the same soul-walk :)
ReplyDeleteAnd we are awaiting you in Killiney.