Greetings From Mel

[Carlos Mentley]

Hello, Melissa.  In partial response ...

Eleven students and I just finished walking from Roncesvalles to
Santiago; we left the States on December 26, started walking on the
morning of the 29th, walked into Santiago on the night of January 25th,
and returned to the States on the 29th.  It was the first time on the
Camino for all of us.

I am sure that each of us would pick a different set of highlights.
Mine is topped by the entrance into the Plaza del Obradoiro on Saturday
night.  Of all the ways to complete the walk, I could not have asked for
one better.  Other highlights, in no particular order, include walking
on the meseta in frozen sunshine; snowy mornings walking out of
Villafranca Montes de Oca and O Cebreiro; Nájera; the cathedral in León;
Rabanal; the food, everywhere; the incredible degree of accommodation
extended to us by the people we came into contact with: Pablito in
Azqueta, the Jato family in Villafranca del Bierzo, Anya at the albergue
in Grañón, the owner of the bar at Alto del Poyo who built a fire for us
to warm up and dry off a little, to name just a few; seeing the
students' determination to continue walking even when they should have
taken a day or two off to heal blisters and rest sprains and bruises and
inflamations.  And more and more and more.

I still do not have the words to describe much of the experience; I
suppose they will come with time and reflection.

I wish you the best in your preparations and I hope to hear about your
experiences when you return.

--Carlos Mentley

Melissa Starr wrote:

> Greeting to Linda, Sarah, Mark from Louisiana, and others with Qs &
> As:
>
> Thank you for writing.  I appreciate the salutations and good advice.
> I had no idea that there were so many people interested in something
> that I want to do! I didn't introduce myself, except to ask
> questions--mostly because (until now) I find few people with similar
> interests.
>
> I'm an adventurous introvert--a seeker.  While the status-quo vacation
> may be an escape for some, it isn't to me. I dislike tourist traps and
> facades.  I want to see what is behind the scenes and be able to hear
> (and linger with) my reaction to it.  I have a hard time finding
> people who find satisfaction without overt entertainment, or who are
> dissatisfied with things that are meant to be entertaining.
>
> This is the first time in my life that I will have an opportunity to
> go off alone.  I had been married for 17 years until my divorce about
> five years ago. My 3 daughters are grown, for the most part.  Last
> October I celebrated my 40th birthday, which was a  quiet time to take
> stock of where I am in life and where I want to go.  I'm a junior
> Social Work major minoring in Women's Studies, Gerontology, and
> Dispute Resolution (mediation).  I was going after a Sociology degree
> when I didn't know what to do with people other than study them.  As I
> studied them, my desire to intervene became very apparent--especially
> in my dreams, when I hear most clearly.
>
> Anyway, I have been so busy for so long, and have a plane ticket that
> expires if not used by May 19 of this year.  I know that this is the
> time to go, and that to focus will be the best use of the time and
> money. I'll leave Boise on the 17th, but this depends on the when the
> best airline pricing is available.  Has to be United, since it's a
> trade.
>
> I'd love to get an idea of how many of you plan to go for the first
> time in the future, compared to the percentage of you who have already
> gone--and what were the highlights for you?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Melissa
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