Pilgrims Walk the Talk Along Camino Santiago

 

A recent walk of part of the Camino de Santiago, following a tradition dating to the Middle Ages, offered a constant enrichment of faith to our group of 16 pilgrims, including six members of the Federal Association (Elizabeth Scheuren, Kathy and Peter Schaumber, Bertha Braddock, Bill Williams, and me).

 

We began the Camino in Lisbon, Portugal on May 18 and arrived at the destination of in Santiago de Compostela in Spain on May 27. The pilgrimage was sponsored by MedSeas, owned and operated by Bill Williams, KM, and his wife Esther. Several practice hikes were planned before the trip to prepare us for our daily walks of 10 to 11 miles and one that stretched 13 miles.

 

A MedSeas van transported luggage ahead to the beautiful manor houses and Parador accommodations and, if our legs gave out, provided a ride to the next meeting point. The van would tempt us at several landmarks on the daily walk. Our guide kept tabs on our whereabouts, encouraging us with exaggerated reports of how close we were to the next meeting point: “Only 2 kilometers further...!” 

 

Not only was the scenery breathtakingly beautiful –including small farms, villages, vineyards, towns, highways, forests, and streams–but our conversations were just as delightful, as we moved in and out of each other's company, depending on our pace. The Camino Portugués was not crowded and included daily greetings to other pilgrims with a smile and a “Buen Camino”, which is the traditional pilgrim greeting. We even met pilgrims on horseback.

 

The daily schedule included a rendezvous for lunch and several stops for coffee, beer, and local specialties such as shrimp and famous Padron fried green peppers. Although I had hoped to lose a few pounds, the wonderful food and wine kept my clothes fitting just about the same as before the trip. 

 

Each day we encountered reminders of what we believe: beautiful churches and oratories, crucifixes atop markers, statues, homes with outdoor Madonnas, and at the end of the pilgrimage, Mass at the magnificent Cathedral of St. James in Santiago, overflowing with pilgrims from all over the world. Every pilgrim has his or her intentions for making the trip, and each is a story of how God works in our lives, even for those who may not yet know him. A few in our group offered companionship to a young German pilgrim who confessed her loneliness and confusion about the value of her life.

 

A visit to www.medseas.com will pique your interest even more. We are very grateful to Bill Williams for planning such a memorable spiritual adventure.