A "hope" pilgrim

[Rosina Lila]

Hello you all,
The following article appeared in yesterday's Correo Gallego (www.correogallego.es), and since I know that this is precisely the type of information that interests all of us, here goes:.
"THE PILGRIM OF HOPE".
Wouter Mullink, a 27-years-old Dutch citizen decided to walk the Camino after a rash of painful and difficult personal experiences. Yesterday, after walking 2,400 kilometers in 97 days he reached Obradoiro Square.
During the last year Wouter had lost several family members and suffered a crisis in his romantic relationship. Further, this young social worker suffered feelings of inadequacy, felt that he was a disappointment to his dear ones and thought  that the best way to bring about a personal change would be to walk to Santiago from his home town of Verdon, in Holland.
He began walking alone in October and had a difficult time for the first days since he did not meet one single other pilgrim until he reached France. The weather was nice, though. In Belgium he twisted an ankle, which forced him to rest and slow down. When he entered France he felt better, more so as he was nearing Roncesvalles.
This young pilgrim's memories of the better times in the Camino were created in Spain. He celebrated Christmas alone with only a piece of bread and some tinned sardines, and, on New Year's eve, he ate the twelve "good luck" grapes, although he had troubles swallowing them whole. In Spain people were more generous towards him, offering frequently not only food, but also money. One of the most positive Camino experiences for this young Dutchman was such generosity, and the opportunity to admire the physical beauties of Northern Spain so different from the Dutch landscapes.
After 97 days, and the punishing winter weather that he faced during the last stages, Wouter reached Santiago and withheld the Cathedral with much emotion. The first thing he did, after getting his Compostela and hugging the Apostle, was smoke a Montecristo cigar and drink a glass of Brandy at the Reyes Catolicos hostal. At this time, a happier Wouter travels to Holland by bus to reunite with this family and to keep the promise that set him forth in the Camino: to be a better human being."