Today everything felt good, all day. No aches, no pain just easy walking 18km along the flat stretch to El Burgo Ranero (pop 250). When this happens your mind starts to wander and today I started to think about all the amazing people I have met and the connections I have made.
We share all on the Camino, the path, we share food, the weather, the water from a fountain, a shady spot on the grass beneath a tree, we share wine, beer, sangria, laughs, stories, our aches and pains and sometimes tears. Each of the people I have met has given a little bit (and sometimes a lot) of themselves to me, and I have in turn, given some of me to them. No matter where these people come from (it is truely the United Nations), what they do, there is a sense of everyone being equal here. The connections are completely different than your usual social contact, the "Hola" and "Buen Camino" so quickly allow a deeper conversation, an honesty and vulnerability and a sense of trust in your fellow pilgrim, to share the heart and soul of ones own journey. It is extremely special - there is a oneness that has developed. This is the Camino. Tonight we were so moved by a story from Manuel and Svetlana, who meet on the Camino and have left their lives in Barcelana and Bulgaria to set up 'the best paella' restaurant in this tiny spot in the middle of Spain. He sang to us, and filled us with his delicious paella, and his love for his life and his beautiful Svetlana.
So tonight I am full of gratitude, and want to thank all those friends who have shared their Camino with me; my Simon, Caz and Ronnie (Veronica) from Sydney, McKensey and Harrison USA, Hedweg and your dad from Norway, Bernard, Daniel and Giovanne from Bordeaux, Miriam from Amsterdam/Sydney, Peter from San Francisco/Switzerland, Nicky from England, Larry and Lyzette from Orlando, Mark, Margie and Carol from North Carolina, Wanda and Mike from Vancouver, Natalie Mt Isa, John and Alissa, Melbourne, Finley aka Barney Rubble from Melbourne, Cheryl (Chez) and Rick from Fish Creeks, Mary and friends from Oz, Gerard 80yrs from France, Webke and Karen Germany, Joan and David from France/USA, Mr G from Peru living in Sydney, Sigga and Axel from Iceland (my first friends from Iceland), Tony from England, Allan from England with the broken rib, Evelyn from northern France, Alexandro from Italy, Alex from Germany, Sandy from Melbourne, Fatima from Portugal, Deborah from California, Karen from New Zealand, my singing Korean friend, Citus from Netherlands, Gerry and Vicky from Florida, Mark from Wagga Wagga, Anthony from Sydney, Raoul from Cuba, Cynthia USA, Nick from England, Graham doing 19marathons, Toby from Norway, Harmony from Montreal, Elizabeth from Belgium, Maree Therese, Nicole, Jean Paul & Michelle from Belgium, Lynne from England, Laia from Netherlands, Lars from Denmark and I know I have miss some more out!
Thank you all and I look forward to our paths crossing again someday. Buen Camino.
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