Day 8 of El Camino de Santiago Francés!
We have stopped in Ponferrada for the day, which means we have travelled about three-quarters of the entire pilgrimage. El Camino de Santiago Francés (The French Way) takes about a month to complete in total, depending on your pace. We only have about three weeks, so we decided to hike the beginning portion (St. Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona) & the end portion (Léon to Santiago de Compostela), which cuts out about 370km of the total 790km. On El Camino, we are called pilgrims, or in spanish, peregrinos. We are travelers on a journey, usually waking up before the sun, about 6 or 7am here, walking by moonlight or with our headlamps on until sunrise, & continuing to hike until about 1 or 2pm, covering an average 20km per day.
A lady who checked us in at the beginning of El Camino in St. Jean called El Camino a ‘baptism by fire,’as the elevation gain is 4100 feet in the first two days. Which we hiked in the rain! It has been quite a challenge & adventure: everyday is a different scene, different weather, different people, different town & hostel. And even with sore knees & blisters, I have loved every second of it.
We get to see much of Spain, passing through countryside & little villages along the way. Last week we stopped at a church in Zubiri where they gave us a paper with ‘The Beatitudes of the Pilgrim’ which is a list of blessings, exhortations, & tips for pilgrims to ponder on El Camino.
Here are a few of my favorites:
•blessed are you pilgrim, if what concerns you most is not to arrive, as to arrive with others.
•blessed are you pilgrim, because you have discovered that the authentic “Camino” begins when it is completed.
•blessed are you pilgrim, if your knapsack is emptying of things and your heart does not know where to hang up so many feelings and emotions.
•blessed are you pilgrim, if you discover that one step back to help another is more valuable than a hundred forward without seeing what is at your side.
•blessed are you pilgrim, if you discover that the “Camino” holds a lot of silence; and the silence of prayer; and the prayer of meeting with the Father who are a waiting for you.
We plan to hike into Santiago de Compostela, & spend a few days there before heading to debrief as a squad in Mejas, & then onto Morocco!
Thank you for reading & being apart of my journey! I still need about $6,000 to be fully funded, it would mean the world if you would pray & consider supporting me so that I can continue!
Be in touch soon!
Xx Love Emily
