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I’m scared to death! Seriously! In exactly three hours, I’m heading to “The Camino.” Yes, THE CAMINO! The one you read about in books and see in movies, like “The Way”!
The Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James) is a large network of ancient pilgrim routes stretching across Europe and coming together at the tomb of St. James (Santiago in Spanish) in Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain.
It’s been on my bucket list for a long time. Well, that’s an exaggeration. It’s been on my bucket list since I moved to Spain three years ago. Everyone here talks about it. Everyone here has done it. Well, not everyone . . . not me!
When I turned 50 last August, that was what I wanted to do. I wanted to walk the Camino. I don’t mean the whole thing, not the 30-40 day adventure. I mean just a PART of it! 🙂
It seemed like I should do something crazy, daring, and out-of-the-ordinary to celebrate my five decades of life. I am now over half-way into my 51st year of life, and I still haven’t done it.
But, I won’t be able to say that for long, because today, I’m going to THE CAMINO!
One of my dearest childhood friends, Tina, came to visit last week from the U.S. My boys were on spring break, so we drove up to France. We got lost, and our 7.5-hour drive through the Pyrenees took us 11 hours! That will be another story, for another day! It will be titled, “The Joy of Being Lost!”
Anyway, we returned from France on Monday, and today, we are going to THE CAMINO! Did I already tell you that?!
I have been looking for someone to go with me. It was advised by experienced “Caminoers” to NOT do it alone. Then, my friend showed up, and it didn’t take me long to convince her to join me. Actually, zero convincing was needed. We both love to hike, and we haven’t done it together in about three decades.
At the age of 20, we backpacked together through Europe, and now we are about to backpack together on THE CAMINO.
So, I’m scared to death! Seriously, but don’t tell anyone! One of my life mantras is “DO IT SCARED!” from Ruth Soukup. So, that’s what I’m doing.
We drive four hours to Pamplona tonight, stay in a hostel, walk 27 kilometers tomorrow, stay in a hostel, walk 23 kilometers the next day, stay in a hostel, take a 1-hour bus ride back to our car parked in Pamplona, then drive four hours back home. I can only be gone three days because of the kiddos and my husband’s travel schedule, but it’s certainly better than nothing.
So, I’m scared. I’m scared that I won’t be able to walk that long and that far. I’m scared that I’ll be cold and wet. (It’s supposed to rain and be windy!) I’m scared that we won’t find a bed to lay our heads in the hostels along the way. I’m scared that my phone battery will die. I’m scared that I’ll get lost. I’m scared that I’ll get hungry and run out of pistachios and mandarines. I’m scared that my backpack will get too heavy.
I’m scared of a lot of things.
But, today, I’m doing it scared! Hopefully, I’ll survive THE CAMINO adventure and live to write about it next week. In the meantime, think of me and my friends, pray for us, because did I tell you the big news . . .
TODAY, I’M GONG TO THE CAMINO!!!!!!!!!!
—The Cultural Story-Weaver
My Gift to You—Get Your Free Ebook—”The 5-Day Journey to Cultural Awareness”!
Let’s Weave Cultures!
Have you heard of “The Camino”? Have you ever been? Check it out! Maybe you can join me in Spain one day, and we can go together! 🙂
We invite you to tell us your own cultural stories and global adventures . . . as you engage with the world, breaking down barriers, building bridges, and “weaving cultures”! Write about them in the comment box below.
