Life after the Camino – Explaining the Need to Return

Often we hear of people who, year after year, choose to return to their favorite vacation spots. In fact, I know of several families who have bought timeshares and return regularly to the same city, even the same apartment or house. I know from their stories that returning to a familiar location they enjoy has brought them much pleasure over the years.

Do they see the same sights? Often they do. Do they visit new areas? Sometimes they do. Do they ever get bored by being in the same location? Typically not, since the familiarity is what they appreciate about their vacation.

When I started talking about a return to the Camino, most I spoke to were in shock, or at the very least, in dismay. “Why would you ever want to put yourself through that again?” they asked. It seems that it’s not so much the idea of returning to Spain, or the Camino locations themselves, but the seemingly overwhelming effort required to complete a Camino journey. The effort in question is the walking! In my case, the proposed 800 km walk. Many I spoke with who are not familiar with the Camino find it difficult to comprehend why I would want to walk that far in the first place, let alone more than once.

I feel that the challenge I have is to convey that the walking is part of the joy, the learning, the process, and the accomplishment. I will not lie and say that it was a “walk in the park” – far from it. There were a few days where I asked myself why I was doing the journey. The walk is not easy but it brings so many things that simply cannot be explained.

“Wouldn’t any walk of a few weeks do the same?” some asked. What makes the Camino so special is a multitude of things including:

• the variety of people we meet
• the changing landscapes
• the culture of each region
• the temperature
• the physical challenges presented to us
• the clarity of thoughts that comes from long periods devoid of external distractions
• the history of the route itself, and so much more

I’ve been blessed to travel to hundreds of cities and locations, and none compare to the Camino.

Once people hear me speak of my journey and my respect and gratitude to all that I experienced on the Camino, they understand that my return to redo the Camino is deeply rooted. I believe that this upcoming Camino will be nothing like my first Camino. The “firsts” in our lives hold very special meanings. I do know that this time I am presenting myself to the Camino with a clearer mind and heart as well as a more spiritually aware state.

Many pilgrims have made the Camino journey three, five, ten and even more than twenty times. There is much to learn from the Camino and this is what I intend to do – learn!

 

Sylvie

 

 

 

Pilgrim Sylvie Hanes
Canada
www.sylviehanes.ca
Completed first Camino in 2011