GOCAMINO - One Way or Round Trip

[christopher hewitt]

HI Pieter.
Sorry about the Spanish. I was thinking and feeling in Spanish and did not have time to translate it nor the desire to change my internal language at the time.  
As you can see, these are more rhetorical questions than any other. Feel free to respond, but it isn't necessary. It isn't a challange to you, nor a criticism of you. Perhaps you even wrote your email in jest when saying that a "true" pilgrim walks home. I too have thought that way at times, but it is not for me to judge what is in other people's hearts nor their circumstances. I wouldn't deny someone the experience of walking the camino if they only had a week to spare (due to time or money).  
I would suggest they walk without pressure of time or money, but understand the reality around us (even if it be treu or not that we create our own reality).

How many people told me I was going the wrong way, and I would reply, "Oh, I have already been to Santiago, I'm just going home." It was a wonderful experience to meet people going to Santiago while I walked a contrary path(but the same). The markings of the camino itself are not return friendly. I ended up getting lost for hours and even walked some of the northern route. hmm.  

The camino begins with a concept, and many people believe it is to begin in Roncesvalles. Thankfully not everyone believes the same. People from Sevilla walk the Camino Francés because they don't realize they have a road that passes by their door. A pity. It is a beautiful road filled with just as many beautiful people, just not as many beautiful pilgrims(150 a year a believe).

Anyway. I have run out of time. I must go.

Peace and smiles to all. No hard feelings... just smiles and thankful I have the chance to be a part of the Camino even in this little way.  



----- Original Message -----
From: pieter pannevis
Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2001 6:35 PM
To: GOCAMINOapete.uri.edu
Subject: Re: GOCAMINO - One Way or Round Trip


I think you try to make a point Christopher, but my Spanish is too poor to reply to your questions, can you or some else please rephrase it into English this message of which the body text was:


Si tuvieran coches en el siglo 12, habrían ido a Santiago andando?
If there were cars in the 12th century, would they have walked to Santiago?

Si dicidiera irme a Santiago en coche y volver andando, sería más peregrino que tú?
If I decided to drive to Santiago, and then walk home, would I be more of a pilgrim than the next guy?

Si una persona anduviera 4,000 kilometros de su casa a Santiago y volviera en Autobus, sería menos peregrino?
If a person were to walk 4,000 kilometers from his/her house to Santiago and then returned in bus, would that person be any less a pilgrim?

La palabra verdadera no tiene sentido si uno piensa profundamente en el mundo de hoy y ayer. No hay comparasión que sea adecuada, o ¿sí?  
The word "true" doesn't have much meaning if one thinks about the world we live in today and that of yesterday. No comparison would be an adecuate measure, or is there?

Hoy día el camino me parece más autocastigo que un castigo del estado o de una religión. Y si no te gusta la palabra castigo, tal vez sea porque hoy día no es la edad media.  
Nowadays the Camino seems more of a self-induced trial (punishment) than a state or a secular one. And if you don't like the word punishment, perhaps it is because we are not in medieval times.

Qué hará en mi próximo camino para probarme peregrino deveras?  
What will I do on my next Camino in order to prove myself a "true" Pilgrim.

Anduve de Porto a Santiago y luego de Santiago a Ponferrada antes de tomar un camión a Madrid para poder irme a casa. Soy más que un medio-peregrino, pero menos que un peregrino de veras? Quién decidirá por mí? YO.  
I walked from Porto(portugal) and then backtracked along the French route until Ponferrada before taking a bus to Madrid in order to fly home. Am I more than a half-pilgrim but less than a "true" pilgrim? Who will decide for me? I will.

En mi corazón, si yo me siento peregrino es porque peregrino soy. Si me creo mendigo, mendigo soy. Si yo me creo mejor que otro que equivocado estoy, y perdido. El camino te ayuda conocer quién eres. Puedo comparar mis hechos con los demás, pero eso no demuestra qué soy ni quién soy. Por eso tengo mi conciencia. Para eso tengo mi educación. Yo me mido más por lo que hago frente a una situación que por una definición fija. No espero ni más ni menos de los demás.  
In my heart , if I feel like a pilgrim it is because I am one. If I feel like a begger, a begger am I. If I believe myself to be better than someone else, I am mistaken, and lost.. El Camino helps one know who you are. I can compare my deeds against those of others, but that does not demonstrate what I am nor who I am. For that I have my concience, for which I have my education. I measure myself more by what I do when met with certain circumstances than with a fixed definition. I expect nor more nor less from others.

Esta palabra verdadera que nos confunde. Esta palabra verdadera que se pretende ser verdad.  
This word "true" that confounds us. This word "true" which pretends to be the truth.<br clear=all><hr>Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at <a href="http://explorer.msn.com">http://explorer.msn.com</a><br></p>
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