The Camino

These past three weeks have been some of the best times I have ever had.  We saw so much, explored so many new places, and learned a lot about history and ourselves.  I had never traveled outside of the country and without my family, so there were a lot of new experiences.

I really enjoyed visiting all of the various cathedrals and churches along the camino.  Each one of them was so unique and different and had its own atmosphere of peace and tranquility.  I felt a sense of tranquility every time we entered into one of these spaces.  The amount of time and patience that it would have taken to create any of those places always astounded me.  I especially enjoyed when we got to witness a mass or worship of some kind in one of these holy spaces.  It really helped make the trip more powerful for me as I as able to partake in worship and practice my faith while travelling.

However, my favorite part of the trip was getting to observe and interact with other pilgrims.  I met two pilgrims in Burgos, Spain and had a very nice conversation with them about their journey so far, and one of them said something that has stuck with me ever since.   She said that the camino is your camino.  You are in charge of your own camino and your own journey.  I was floored by the depth of that statement, because it was so true.  Everyone is on their own journey and walk of life, and while multiple people may be doing the camino, each and everyone of them is going to experience it in a different way, and walk away with a different meaning.  I couldn't believe how relevant that statement was to all people, in every situation.

There is so much more that I could say about this trip.  I could talk about the food, the places, or even the music we listened to in the van, but none of it would do this trip justice in explaining exactly what it was like.  This trip has changed my perspective on the world and shown this small town girl just how big the world is.  I have often thought before the trip that it might be fun to someday walk the camino.  After this trip, it will definitely be happening.  I don't know when or how, but someday the camino will see me again.

Oh Carcassonne...

... One of the prettiest cities we visited. This walled city has been standing since mideval times. In the 1800s the city and castle had fallen to ruins when there was an initiative to restore this place to its former glory. Drawings were made, and slowly the city began to take life once more. It wasn't long and it became a stop for travelers from all over the world. Everyday people flood the streets to visit the shops and stores, tour the museum and castle, and enjoy the many options for food and drink. We greatly enjoyed our time here, exploring and experiencing the culture.  A few of us commented about feeling like princesses living in our own mideval castle. Overall, we had a wonderful time and I would love to go back to visit again someday.

 

People of the Pilgramage, my most memorable experience!

While in Leon walking back to our hotel, two others and I met pilgrims doing the Camino. One, a female (we did not catch either of their names), was from Toronto, Canada and another, male, was from Ireland. Both had just met a day or so prior to speaking with us when they stopped us on the street and asked where we were from. As we began to talk about our class on the Camino, they started to tell us their own story about their journey doing the Camino. We talked about the woman who was doing the northern route both walking and busing (because her legs were tired) and the man who said he has done part of the Camino each year in two-week chunks. They shared their experiences of meeting new people and bonding during the walks/at hostels. The book we read for this class reflected on the author's experience with meeting new people and then getting to speak with others who were also experiencing it, and getting to experience it in our own way as well, was amazing. I loved chatting about how they did the Camino and why they did. They expressed that you had to make it your own Camino and not do it for someone else. They also emphasized walking in a small group or by yourself, bigger groups get too hectic and harder to make it an individualized experience. Through this interaction, I feel like I got more information and knowledge that I would have without speaking to people who currently were walking the Camino because of how real it made the trip seem. I know that I was studying the Camino and "doing my own Camino," but speaking to those who were walking it because they want to know they can made the trip and my knowledge of the Camino that much better.

Camino de Santiago

At the beginning of this trip, I was not sure what to expect because this was my first time taking a class abroad. I didn’t know anyone in the class and that made me a little worried at the beginning, but I was able to get along with everyone very easily.

During our three week class, we went to many different cathedrals that each of them had something special and unique, visited museums, bridges, and many other places. All the places that we visited had meaning, they were all part of the Camino De Santiago, our topic of study. Before this class I didn’t know much about the Camino until we got to France. I didn’t understand the importance of this pilgrimage until we started our own journey of the Camino and actually experience what everyone else was experiencing. We saw lots of pilgrims during their journey and we got the opportunity to talk to others. Once we made it to Santiago, the end point of the pilgrimage, we could see how happy the pilgrims were because they made it after who knows how many days, and this leads to my favorite part of our journey.

I enjoyed going to the cathedrals, museum and even all of our hikes, but my favorite part was seeing all the pilgrims walking the Camino and how excited the local people were about the Camino. The Camino is as important for the people that are doing it and for the local people that live in the area. During our time in Spain, I was often asked if I was doing the Camino and I would tell them that we were studying about the Camino and walking small parts of it. Even though we weren’t actually doing the whole thing, the fact that we showed interest in the Camino made the local people very happy.

I was able to make new friends, experience new culture, try different foods, and enjoy the beautiful mountains and ocean views. 

 

                                                     

The Pilgrims Journey Ends

Well, now that the trip is over, all I can feel is overwhelmed by everything that happened. We saw and did so much that it's almost too much to process. We tasted amazing food, visited beautiful places, experienced different cultures and learned so much about a journey most of us knew nothing about until this trip. If I had to pick one thing from this that will stick with me though, the beauty of nature all across this journey will stick with me forever.  I love all things nature. One of the hardest things to come by in Iowa are beautiful areas of nature that aren't parks or landmarks (unless you find flat farm fields beautiful). For me, this trip allowed me to find so many opportunities to truly appreciate the world we live in. Everything from the gorgeous hiking trails we walked to the views we saw on the drive to our next location, so much of this trip was filled with breathtaking sights. I also think nature is such an important aspect of the pilgrimage. To step back from everyday life and go into the unknown world is a vital component to appreciating everything this journey has to offer. The world is a wonderful place and this trip really gave me the amazing chance to see more of these beautiful environment.

The Finale to a Wonderful Experience

I was beyond excited to be embarking on this journey when it began, and let me tell you, it was more than I could've imagined. Not only was there plenty of splendid food, beautiful sights, and great company, but I learned so much about the path that many pilgrims follow along the Camino. As someone who is unsure on what I believe in terms of religion, the prospect of following a religious pilgrimage was daunting at first. But I learned on this trip so much about how it doesn't matter what you believe when walking the Camino de Santiago. The Camino can be whatever journey an individual decides to make it about. People from all walks of life come to follow this path, and it is quite inspiring to learn about. I've been enlightened on this trip, and feel as though I only got a small taste of the amazing things that the Camino can give me. I fully intend on returning someday in the future to walk every kilometer of it...

A City of Guarded History

Carcassonne is far and away one of my favorite cities from the trip thus far. This was originally a strategic trading location linking itself to the Mediterranean Sea and the Pyrenees. The location is most well-known for its fortified Roman structures and to the two walls that surround the city. The structures fell into disrepair and were renovated in 1853 by a famous architect at the time, Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. For me personally, one of the main reasons I liked this town was because of the unique historical feel.



Everywhere you walk is within a historical landmark. In fact, the town itself is a World Heritage Site of UNESCO. The old brick and stone streets have been walked on by generations of people, the cathedral that stands tall and proud in front of the gates, and the wall that can be seen from virtually every point in town. Everywhere you go makes you feel like you are a part of history. This feeling mixed with the sadness that this was one of the last spots on the trip really gives Carcassonne a lasting impression in my mind.