Departure day is quickly approaching. Just five days remain until Judi and I start our journey! Both of us have been furiously busy – Judi was in California last weekend for her daughter’s wedding; I’ve been in Maine and visiting with my mum and my sister Peggy and her husband (who are here from Florida).
Today I’m in Candia, meeting some folks for lunch, picking up Euros from the bank, and rechecking my packing list. To restart at square one, this morning I emptied my fully packed backpack and re-examined the contents. How did twelve shirts get in there? What on earth was I thinking? No wonder the backpack weighed sixteen pounds, instead of something less than thirteen. I must remember, “To walk far, carry less.”
Last-minute quandaries:
- Do I bring pajamas?
- I hate hats….do I bring a hat?
- What if my fountain pen leaks in the pressurized cabin of the plane?
- What if my pack doesn’t fit in the overhead bin?
After the trip is over, I’m sure I will laugh at my fretting over such inconsequential things.
Albergue – basic overnight facilities with dormitory-type sleeping arrangements, usually bunkbeds; synonyms: hostel, refugio.
Compostela – Literally, field of stars, the Milky Way. Also, a document in Latin which each pilgrim can earn by walking at least the last 100 kilometers or biking the last 200 kilometers of the Camino.
Credential – a small document (see picture above) in which the pilgrim authenticates his or her progress by obtaining stamps (sellos) along the way.
Yellow scallop shells and blazes – Markers to show the way to travel.
Finally, and most important, the phrase Buen Camino, which is the universal greeting along the way: “Have a good walk!”
Thank you, dear friends, for all of your positive wishes. We love you, and buen camino, wherever you go.
– Barb
