Image Up Advertising & Design

FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | DECEMBER 2019 11 Left facing page, top: First day of our journey crossing the Pyrenees Mountains in France Left facing page, bottom: Cathedral in Leon, Spain Left: Finishing our hike arriving at the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela Above This shadow box has our Compostela's (certificate of completion for the Camino Francis) the shells we wore on our backpacks and the credentials that are stamped in every city we stayed in The subtleties of what we experienced were incomparable to any other adventure we have experienced. We met people from all over the world on the same mission to walk to Santiago de Compostela. We were "unplugged" from our lives here; no TV or radio and no responsibilities. It was a glorious time to just reflect. There is something almost hypnotic about the rhythm of walking. We challenged ourselves with a walk of this length, as we acknowledged daily it was not a "walk in the park," but the payoff was priceless. We had time to just be quiet and to reflect on our lives. We had time to ponder what is important. The simplicity of a journey like this gave time to simplify our lives. The weather was perfect, as it only rained three days. The countryside of Spain is very beautiful with acres as far as the eye could see filled with sunflowers, grape vines, and agriculture. Their irrigation system was set up by the Romans and is still functioning well today. The air was pure and the water was clean. There were drinking fountains along the way and even one drinking fountain of wine that had a tap to fill your cup to fortify the journey. We ate wonderful food that was all homemade. The flavors were delicious and most meals were reasonable. We enjoyed a Pilgrims three-course meal almost every day that included wine and dessert for about $14. There were bars and Albergues (pension or hostel) that sold the best coffee and chocolate-stuffed croissants. There were tapas and pinchos (small appetizers) available everywhere. The Spanish are very creative with their food and presentation was always beautiful. Even the most humble places offered their food on china, no plastic or paper ever. Every town or hamlet we visited had a magnificent church as its centerpiece. There was no specific denomination but mass was in Spanish or Latin and all were welcome. As pilgrims, we were invited up to the front of the church for a blessing. We were brought to tears on many occasions. We experienced history like we could never imagine. We saw where the beginning of man was reportedly discovered. We went to the Natural Museum of Man that had our heads swimming. We visited cathedrals with stained glass that was so shockingly beautiful, we were speechless. We saw buildings built in the year 700. We have been home for two weeks and are just starting to really process the magnificence of our Camino. There are seven Caminos in Spain (English, Portuguese, Irish, to name a few), but we did the classic French Way. The Camino is said to be a metaphor for our lives. It was a magical adventure, one we will never forget and we are so grateful we were able to experience every step of "The Way." ~Linda and Laurie

• Cover