[Gocamino] Fwd: A Traveler's Highway to Heaven

[Jeff Stys]

I've always interested in the discussion on the list serve.  I've only posted a few times in the past few years, but Patricia's story inspired me to share my shell story. 

It was my second time walking a section of the Camino Frances.  I realized I had some unused vacation time at the end of the year so I decided to spend a few weeks walking from Pamplona to Leon.  I was a bit worried about a Winter Camino but I got some great advice from the folks on the list serve.  

It had been a long day of walking when I reached Burgos, the long walk in on the main road left my feet aching.  I wasn't in the greatest of moods when I arrived and became very indecisive.  "Should I stay or keep walking?"  I just couldn't decide.  I came across a large albuerge - it was set somewhat in a city park.  It seemed nice and I decided to stop. When I got there I had one of those quintessential camino experiences that has stuck with me for a long time.  The hospitalero was so happy to see me.  He was about to eat his lunch (lentils and homemade chorizo) and insisted that I joined him.  There had not been many pilgrims in the past few days and he was missing talking and visiting.  

We spent the afternoon eating and talking.  He told me how a maritime accident led to him being disabled and confined to a wheelchair.  Later in the afternoon a Spaniard who had walked with his german shepard (named Lobo, I'm a dog nut)arrived.  We sat and drank coffee, wine and scotch until the early hours.  The next morning the hospitalero greeted me with all the information I needed to make it to the next albuerge.  As I was leaving, he gave me a scallop shell that had been painted by developmentally disabled children of Burgos.  As a walked out of Burgos, a light snow started to fall and I was very happy to continue on the way of my winter camino.  

My scallop shell hangs in my living room.  I have since done two different stages of the Via de la Plata but my evening in Burgos will always be one of my fond memories of my pilgrimages.  

Jeff
Houston, Texas 

-----Original Message-----
From: gocamino-bounces at oakapple.net [mailto:gocamino-bounces at oakapple.net] On Behalf Of Hathor821 at aol.com
Sent: Saturday, December 08, 2007 3:37 PM
To: Jethess777 at aol.com; PatRush1 at verizon.net; Gocamino at oakapple.net
Subject: Re: [Gocamino] Fwd:  A Traveler's Highway to Heaven

Joanie, I just returned from abroad so I have not  much of an idea of what is 
happening now with the 'shell' issue....perhaps  someone gave this pilgrim 
the shell....perhaps a nice Spaniard sat in the  Cathedral steps and offered the 
shells that he had painted himself to arriving  Pilgrims, who 
knows....perhaps one day someone will say that there was a Pilgrim  from the USA who gave to 
hospitaleras a real rice pearl necklace with gold beads  and when she was 
asked 'why are you giving me this' this Pilgrim said.....'about  200 were made by 
my Mom 20 years ago before she lost her mind to Alzheimers, so  take it, enjoy 
it, and if you want to give thanks pray for peace in our  planet'...who knows 
what will be said 50 years from now about this  
Pilgrim....legends....stories....who knows.....
 
I was this Pilgrim.
 
Patricia
Coconut Grove (Miami)
* I wear only one pearl necklace at a  time....won't be buried with l99...so 
I made many people real happy....it was my  way to say....thank you!



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