Stage 0: Genesis
The Camino de Santiago (in English, the Way of St James) is a modern long distance hike (also, a pilgrimage hike) through Northern Spain to the city of Santiago del Compostela. The Camino has been a pilgrimage hike since the medieval age, and is based upon the legend that after it became too dangerous to do a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, angels transported the remains of Santiago to northern Spain, to allow Christians to still do their pilgrimage with some safety. There are numerous paths that one can take, including the Camino de Portugal, the Camino de Primitivo, etc. Beginning last month, I took the Camino de Frances, which begins in St-Jean-Pied-de-Port (in France) and goes nearly 800 km (500 miles) to Santiago in the northwest of Spain. Over the next 20 days, I’ll be sharing the stages that I took on this journey.
A common question you encounter on the Camino is ‘so, why are you doing the Camino.’ One pilgrim I met on the road also asked it as ‘so, are you religious or are you messed up?’ (I may have substituted messed for a different word there. To be honest, I had many reasons for doing the Camino. Although not religious, I do seek out opportunities to explore religious and spiritual experience. But my reasons were more based on working out some things in my life. As those who have finished medical residency will tell you, we go through a lot of traumatic experience during our training. This seemed like a good opportunity to work through some of these experiences and ensure that I was ready for the next stage of my life. With all of that being said, I hope you enjoy reading along on the adventure and seeing my pictures from the journey. This first set, which I have dubbed Stage 0, is almost like a prequel series. St Jean-Pied-de-Port is the traditional starting town for the French Way of the Camino. It is a small border town on the French side of the Pyrenees
Stage 1: Baptism
Days: 1. Distance: 25 km.
On the first day of the Camino, I ascended the Pyrenees and crossed from France into Spain. Many say that the first day is actually the most difficult day of the Camino from a physical perspective. I remember leaving while it was still dark, a headlamp guiding my way as I searched for the yellow arrows that would mark the way. Feeling the strain of the ascent, and the doubt in myself as I felt my calves burning. The uncertainty of what was sweat and what was condensation from the mist, as I felt both hot and cold at the same time. The sense of wonder as I finally broke through the mist wall that covered the base of the mountain, and came out onto the peaks with the clouds below me. The sheer sense of accomplishment as I wandered my way through the mountains, and then down through the forests to the finishing point of the first day. When I started the first day, I wasn’t quite sure that I had what it would take to do the Camino. But as I finished the day, I knew. I knew that I would continue until the end of the Camino, no matter what. There was still a long way to go, but the first day was done.
Stage 2: Baby Steps
Days: 2 and 3. Distance: 42 km. Orreaga-Zubiri-Pamploma.
Compared to the first day, I will always remember the start of the second as a mystical and calm experience. Rather than a climb up a mountain, it started with a moon-light stroll through the woods connecting one town to the next. These next days would be relatively calm and flat, a welcome relief to ease into the long pilgrimage. My muscles, sore from the first day, were grateful for the relief of the relatively short day into Zubiri.
The path from Zubiri to Pamploma is an interesting one. Early in the day, I encountered a gardener who, knowing that I was on the Camino by the shell on my pack, instructed me on how to reach Pamploma through the hidden riverside path rather than the industrial city path. I was so grateful for this, as the entrance to the path was truly hidden and I would have never found it otherwise.
These first few days of the Camino are a treasured memory in my head. I still did not truly know what I was doing, and every experience was a new one. Each day, I questioned why I was choosing to do this, but every morning, I would wake up and do it all again.
Stage 3: Walking with the Bulls
Days: 3.
There are several cities along the way, an Pamploma was the first of them. The cities came to represent a sanctuary of sorts to me, places to regain energy and re-stock supplies as needed. Although the only true rest day I took on the Camino was in Leon, I did treat myself to a private room rather than a bunk bed in a shared room while in the cities. This allowed me to get a full night’s rest, and to air out the pack that I carried on my back.
Pamploma, a city famous for the very controversial running of the bulls, was the first turning point in the Camino for me. Originally, my plan was to take a rest day here, as I thought that I would be sore and worn down from the first several days. Although I was worn out, I surprised myself by feeling relatively well, and decided against a rest day after arriving to Pamploma. It was a city where I would say goodbye to some new friends that I had made (they were only doing the journey from St Jean to Pamploma), but also the city where I would meet friends who I would journey with until the very end of the Camino.
Stage 4: Growth
Days: 4 to 7. Distance: 95 km. Pamploma-Puente la Reina-Estella-Los Arcos-Logrono.
This was the part of the journey where things started to click well for me. Although sore, the days felt manageable and fulfilling. Each town seemed to have something interesting to see. My small amount of Spanish was improving, at least with respect to ordering food and drink. I was getting to know those pilgrims who had a similar schedule to myself, and some of these pilgrims would become likely lifelong friends.
From this leg of the journey, I remember arriving to Puente la Reina, and appreciating the ancient bridge for which the town was named (Queen’s Bridge). While there, I stayed at the municipal albergue, which has 70 beds all in one room. Far later in the Camino, I would make new friends who it would turn out stayed there in the same night. I remember arriving to Estella, and my friend who I had walked with that day getting splashed from a puddle that barely existed by the only car that went by the road that day (‘this is my life’, she would say, as it turned out she had the most hilarious but terrible karma I’ve witnessed in a person). I remember admiring the stars as I left Los Arcos early in the morning, in order to ensure arriving to Logrono before the sun became too hot. This was a wonderful part of the journey, but many more good days were yet to come.
Stage 5: Eating with the Elephants
Days: 7.
It felt like no time at all had passed from Pamploma to Logrono, the next city along the way. Logrono felt like a much smaller city than Pamploma, but had a special Spanish charm all of its own. As the capital of the La Rioja region, Logrono is a city famous for both its wine and its food.
This seems like a good time to talk about cuisine in Spain. As I was there for 32 days + post-camino days, it was a gastronomy that I became quite fond of (although it is a bit too carb-heavy for my daily life). The main way that Spanish locals tend to eat is through something called the ‘tapas’. Tapas are slightly larger than a snack, tend to come with alcohol (but not always), and are generally enough of a portion to get you through a few hours. Examples of tapas include patatas bravas (fries with special sauces, and different in each region of Spain I visited), fritatas, small sandwiches, etc. Logrono was not famous for its tapas, but for its pinchos. A pincho is a smaller version of a tapas. In Logrono, there are two streets famous for the Pincho Bars, bars that only serve one specific snack. A common night out in Logrono is to go to these streets, and hop from bar to bar, trying each of the Pinchos as you go. The locals call this ‘the path of the elephant’, as ‘you would be walking on all fours and feeling like you had a trunk’ if you were to visit each of the 60 bars on the path. My favourite of these pinchos was the Bar Sorianos mushroom (fried in garlic butter) and shrimp pincho.
Logrono was a wonderful break from the good but not great food found along the small towns of the way. But it was only a stop along the way, and the way continues ever on.
Stage 6: Travel with a Pack
Days: 9-12. Distance: 100 km. Logrono-Najera-Granon-Tosantos-Ages.
Looking back on my Camino, I think this is one of my favorite parts of the journey. Although I did have numerous different travel companions throughout my Camino, this is the part of the journey where it felt most like I had a pseudo-family of other pilgrims. A small group who walked together and who planned our days together. This was not a planned happening, but one that happened naturally. I encountered two friends as I was leaving Logrono, who I had known from before. We ended up walking together that day while I also was messaging from a friend who I had walked with previously. As the day went forward, this friend and some friends who she had met eventually caught up with us as I was helping out another friend with a sore knee and ankle. From that time onwards, without discussing it, we became a group.
Travelling with others is a different experience than travelling alone. You need to think of others when deciding how far you will walk that day, how many breaks you might take. Overall, I found that it would take longer to get to my destination town for the day, but that I would enjoy the journey more getting there (most days). I feel like this was an incredibly important part of my Camino, as to truly reflect and grow your soul, interacting with others is necessary.
Like all things, this group would come to somewhat of an end when two members ended their Camino before Burgos (a common thing to do for Europeans who want to do the full Camino is to do it in parts instead of all in one go). Although the rest of the group would continue to travel together from time to time, it never quite captured the same spirit as it had before. But this, too, is ok, as life is about change and accepting change.
Stage 7: A Vision of Heaven
Days: 13. Distance: 22 km. Ages-Burgos.
It was 3 AM and I hadn’t been able to sleep. I had a whole host of thoughts going through my head and it was just refusing to turn off. And so, I thought, why don’t I just start my day early. From what I’ve heard, there are some pilgrims who do the Camino mostly at night, leaving in the evenings and waiting to check into the albergues after arriving into the town in the morning. This was an infinitely more complicated way of doing the Camino in my opinion, but I had been planning to do at least one good night of walking, and this seemed like a sudden opportunity.
There is a special magic to walking, guided only by the moon and the stars, turning on a headlamp when necessary to find signs and your way. As you walk along the path, you can hear the sounds of nocturnal creatures around you. The dark world is not a lifeless world, but one filled with activity and noise.
As I wandered my way along the Way, I eventually began to think that I may have lost my way. It had been some time since I had seen a waystone, and the path was less well marked than I would normally see. When I was beginning to have more and more doubt, suddenly, I emerged onto the top of the hill, with a moonlit cross in front of me. Burgoss, the next city, was visible in the distance from the top of the hill. I took many moments to sit upon this hill and reflect upon the journey so far, and then I continued into Burgoss.
Stage 8: Breaking Burgoss
Days: 13
In some ways, Burgos felt like a half-way point along the journey, even though in terms of distance it was not quite halfway yet. It is a city at the start of the part of the Camino called the Meseta, a ‘desert’ in the middle of the Camino. Many pilgrims will take a bus from Burgos to the next city, Leon, in order to skip the Meseta. It is also a popular stopping point for those doing the Camino in parts. And even for those who aren’t stopping, it was a popular city to take a rest day in order to recover before the Meseta. What this all meant is that there were many goodbyes happening in Burgos.
The Camino is a journey filled with meetings and goodbyes. Although there were some friends who I was lucky enough to meet with and travel most of my journey with, there were several others who I only knew for several days. Although on the Camino, several days can feel like a lifetime. You get to know people quickly, both their flaws and strengths. But by the end of the Camino, every meeting will have a goodbye. Or if not a goodbye, at least a ‘see you in a while’. After a while, you learn to appreciate your time with others, no matter how long or short that time is. This is a lesson I will take from the Camino.
Stage 9: Trials of the Meseta
Days: 14-20. Distance: 178 km. Burgos-Castrojeriz-Fromista-Carrion de los Condes-Terradillos de los Templarios- Bercianos del Real Camino-Mansilla de Las Mulas-Leon.
The Camino is filled with challenges. There are physical challenges like crossing mountain ranges and covering long distances. There are also mental challenges. The Meseta was definitely a mental trial, and honestly, may have been the hardest part of the Camino for me.
The Meseta is an agricultural highland located between Burgos and continuing past Leon. It is a steep climb to enter from Burgos, but relatively flat once you are on it. The towns in the Meseta tend to be further apart from each other, and the landscape very gradually changes. Depending on the day, the sun shines bright and hot with very little shade to be found. All of these can lead the days on the Meseta to feel long and hard.
I made a mistake at the start of the Meseta. I allowed myself the sin of pride, and I pushed myself to walk farther than I had on any other day. To prove to myself that I was young and fit and strong, I pushed my body to walk 40 km in one day. And the next day, I suffered my first blister of the Camino as an instant karma for my sin. And unfortunately, the blister was right on the part of my foot that I used to push while walking, and so it never fully healed. This blister, combined with the Meseta, led to this being the most grueling part of the Camino for me.
But, despite this trial, there was beauty to be found as well. The Meseta is a more rugged, less crowded part of the Camino, where you have more time alone and to reflect. Although in some ways the lack of changing landscape can make you feel like you aren’t progressing, in other ways this also allows your brain to relax and to think through the journey that you have had so far. I also found that the locals on the Meseta tended to be kind and open and generous.
Overall, the Meseta was a difficult trial on my Camino, but it was one which I found incredibly rewarding. I learnt many lessons on the Camino, and it prepared me for the next part of my journey yet to come.
Stage 10: Laying with the Lions
Days: 20-21
I had a blister that wasn’t healing. I was sore and feeling relatively defeated by the Meseta. I was feeling the full fatigue of the Camino that I had done so far. By the time that I got to Leon, it was finally time to take a rest day.
Rest days are an important part of the Camino, especially when you are doing a longer journey. The amount of rest days also varies pilgrim to pilgrim. I met some pilgrims who would take a rest day often, in order to ensure that they could keep going. I met others who not only didn’t take rest days, but also were travelling nearly 40 km each day and were doing their Camino at a rapid pace. For me, this was the only rest day that I took, but it was an absolutely necessary one and one that I enjoyed.
After the Meseta, being back into a large city felt strange but welcome. I was able to find myself a north American style latte, and I took a break from Spanish food and found a high quality Asian restaurant. I took the time to explore the local landmarks including the cathedrals and churches. And most importantly, the day off from walking allowed the blister to heal enough that it wouldn’t be a problem for the rest of the Camino.
From this point onward, I was acutely aware that I was over halfway done the journey. Halfway is not fully done, however, and there were still many adventures and lessons to be had.
Stage 11: Crossroads
Days: 22-23. Distance: 47 km. Leon-San Martin del Camino-Astorga
Re-charged and revitalized from my rest day, I hit the road again. Although still technically in the Meseta, I found that the landscape was slightly different and the days were less hot than previously. Possibly because of my rest, I felt like I was able to more appreciate the landscape and the towns that I came across. Astorga, more of a small city than a town, was one that sticks in my memory.
Astorga is a crossroads. It is a meeting point for the French Way and the Silver Road, the two longest Caminos. It is city with roman history, as well as amazing cathedrals. It is a town that at one point, it was wagered that most of the wealth of the Spanish region would pass through. It is also a town known for its chocolate and pastries. Obviously I was a fan of all of this history and food.
Having taken a day of rest, this was also a part of the journey where I would make new friends, as many of my old friends had gotten ahead of me by a day. Like said previously, the Camino is a journey where you are constantly meeting new people, and constantly getting to experience what life is like for others. This was a short section of the journey, but an important one never-the-less.
Stage 12: Ascension
Days: 24-25. Distance: 52 km. Astorga-Foncebadon-Ponferrada
I love mountains. I love stories. These days held both.
From Astorga, you ascend into the mountains. There is an old tradition to grab a stone from the road here. Some say that this stone should be as big as you consider your sins to be. Others say that rather than bringing a stone from here, you should actually bring one from where you come from instead. Regardless, you are expected to bring a stone or rock up the mountain with you.
The climb into the mountains is a good one. I can remember the tree-lined natural path, and at times moving from stone to stone along the way. I stayed overnight in a mountain village, and then made it to the Iron Cross early the next day, letting starlight guide me to it. There, I laid my stone at the feet of the Iron Cross, and continued on my journey, feeling a lightness where before there was a burden.
The next day would prove to be a beautiful one, as the path took you along the tops of the Montes Leon. This day felt like a dream, with beautiful landscapes all around.
Finally, a steep descent waited, and Ponferrado, the last stronghold, was the destination. This would mark a great change in my Camino, as an old friend joined me for the remainder of my journey. My solo Camino was ended, but there were still many adventures yet to be had.
Stage 13: The Last Stronghold
Days: 25
Ponferrada is the last large city before Santiago when walking the French Way Camino. Along my Camino, cities were the places that I recharged and recuperated from my journey along the road. They were the places I would tend to get a private room, in order to have some privacy and introvert time. Ponferrada was also the transition point between my solo journey and a duo journey. By the time that I reached Ponferrada, I was feeling that the end of my Camino was drawing near.
The most famous landmark in Ponferrada is the Templars Castle. Constructed in the 1100s, it was a fortress built to protect pilgrims on the Camino. As I walked over the ramparts of the castle, watching the city around me, I felt a sense of peace and resolution toward my journey. Ahead of me, a steep mountain and another mental trial loomed, with the conclusion lying behind them. I felt that I was truly entering the endgame.
Stage 14: Slaying the Last Giant
Days: 26-27. Distance:56 km. Ponferaddo-Villafranca del Bierzo-O’Cebreiro/Linares
The climb to O’Cebreiro is the last ascent of the Camino, as well as the steepest at a gain of 1300m. Thankfully, it’s a climb that mostly takes place under the sheltering shade of the old trees along the path rather than under the hot Leon sun. When you reach the top, you are welcomed with a sign welcoming you to the province of Galicia. Galicia’s weather, cooler and wetter than Leon’s, would agree with me quite a bit after a few days under a hot and unforgiving sun.
After slaying the last giant that is this climb, you are welcomed to a quant celtic town named O’Cebreiro. Apart from having a special type of cheese named after the town (and which I am unable to find at all anywhere else. I miss this cheese like no other), it is also home to a previous miracle. The story goes that a villager from a nearby town made a trek for mass during a severe snowstorm. Arriving just in time, he was scolded and mocked by the priest for making the walk during such a storm. As he was being scolded, the wine and bread turned to blood and flesh.
O’Cebreiro is also home to the man that many credit as bringing the modern Camino back to fame, Don Elías Valiña Sampedro. He was a priest from O’Cebreiro who studied the Camino, and who is credited with reviving the French Way by painting the infamous yellow arrows along crossroads in order to help guide pilgrims along the way.
One of my favorite stories from my own Camino happened on this climb. We were about 2/3 of the way up, taking a quick break in a small town along the path. An older British man, persevering but struggling, was also taking a break. He asked us where we planned to stop for the day in O’Cebreiro. When we told him that we planned to continue for 5 km past O’Cebreiro, he looked at us aghast, shook his head, leaned back into his chair and patted his legs, and simply sighed out the word ‘Animals’.
Stage 15: The Greens of Galicia
Days: 28-29. Distance: 66 km. Linares-Samos-Portomarin
Once upon a time, I walked over 40 km in a day and regretted it as my body suffered for several days after. I promised to never do it again. During this time, I broke that promise. My travelling companion wanted to test herself, and to see how far she could walk in a day, and so a bad idea was made. Another long, brutal day was enacted, but we made it. And surprisingly, I felt fine. Just like anything else, I think that if you continue to push your body, it gets used to new upper limits.
Galicia was beautiful. The majority of mornings felt chilled, with a cover of fog over the land. The hills were rolling, and the vast majority of the walk was on natural earth paths that were separated from the road and traffic. Before Galicia, I had started to deveop shin splints from the hard road walking. I was beginning to worry about this causing delays to the Camino. The soft earth of Galicia proved to be the perfect solution, and I was able to not only continue but the shin splints resolved despite continuing to walk long distances each day.
This part of the journey through Galicia will remain in my mind as a mystical and magical journey. There would be one trial left before the conclusion of my journey, however.
Stage 16: The Trials of the Last 100
Days: 30-33. Distance: 92 km. Portomarin-Palas de Rei-Arzua-Labacolla-Santiago
At the end of the Camino, you get something called a Compostela. This is a certificate signed by the church stating that you have completed the Camino. In order to receive the Compostela, you are required to walk at least 100 km of a Camino ending in Santiago (or to bike 200 km). I was lucky and privileged enough to be able to take the time to do the full French Way of the Camino. This is not the case for everybody. Given this, the last 100 km of the Camino sees over five times the traffic as the preceding parts, as many either only have the time or motivation to do the mandatory section to complete the Camino.
Due to this increase in crowd, I considered this to be the second great mental trial of the Camino. If you remember, I considered the first mental trial to be the Meseta, as it required mental fortitude to continue in a never-changing landscape under a hot sun. This was a challenge in and of itself, as there was a huge amount of new pilgrims who didn’t yet understand Camino customs and culture. After nearly 4 weeks on the road, it was a lesson in staying patient and humble.
Like the Meseta, this trial was an important lesson. This served as a lesson to have patience and love for others in my heart, and to respect the fact that although 5 days is less than 32, it is still a sacrifice and one that deserves respect. By the end of this trial, I would find myself in Santiago, the town that was the goal all along. It was a long journey, but one that contained many lessons.
Stage 17: Salvation at Santiago
Days: 33
After 33 long days, the journey had reached its end. Now, along the way I had been contemplating if I wanted the journey to end in Santiago. Although the ‘official end’ of the Camino, many do continue on to Finisterre, a small town at the coast of Spain. This is considered to be the end by some for a few reasons: historically, many pilgrims would continue to the shore to obtain a clamshell as this was the way that you would prove that you had done the Camino. There is also legend that before the Camino, there was a pilgrimage which would involve going to the coast, as this was called ‘the end of the world’ and you would gaze out into the Milky Way from here. Either way, this was something that, at one point, I was certain I would do. And yet, when I reached Santiago, I felt complete. I felt that for me, Santiago was the ending point for this journey. I cannot explain why I felt this way, but I am certain that this was the way that I felt.
After this journey, I was expecting to have some crystal clear lessons that I would have learnt. And although I felt like I had the beginnings of these lessons, they were not yet grown within my head when I reached Santiago. They were just out of reach. This was frustrating to me, but I had faith that with time, these thoughts would become clear in my head.
It is difficult to put into words the sense of accomplishment I experienced upon seeing the cathedral. Everything else: getting the Compostela, hugging Santiago’s statue… it all paled in comparison to this simple feeling of finality.
Although my time on the Camino was coming to a close, I still had days left in Europe, as I had booked extra time in case I had to deal with injuries or delays on the Way. These days would prove vital with regards to figuring out these lessons that were just beyond my grasp. Although the Sojourn was done, the Epilogue remained.
Epilogues in Europe
Epilogue 1: A Prayer in Porto
Camino Lesson 1: Protect Your Energy
Not even a day had passed from Santiago before I was on the road again. Only this time, I was not walking. My friend and I were on a bus to Porto. Being on the bus was strange. I couldn’t help but stare in wonder at the landscape going by so quickly. To make things even weirder, this was no ordinary bus, but a party bus booked by a stag party who had a few extra seats that they sold over BlaBlaCar. A brief, strange journey later and we were in Porto, Portugal.
I want to say that Porto was a beautiful city that filled me with wonder. I want to say that I had a wonderful time there and that it was a highlight of my trip. Unfortunately, I can’t. And this is in no way Porto’s fault. From what I could tell, it was a wonderful city filled with charm and wonder. I, however, was tired. I was only just catching up with the thoughts in my head from the Camino, and my brain was in no mood for exploring a new city as quickly as my heart had wanted me to be ready.
And so, the first lesson of the Camino crystallized in my head. On the Camino, there were days when I walked alone because I did not have the energy for others. And here, I forced myself to explore a new city even though I knew I wasn’t ready. The lesson was to protect your energy, and to know when you need a break.
Now, despite my energy being fragile and spent, there were definitely still parts of my Porto adventure that I loved. Being confronted with a new language that is DEFINITELY NOT ‘basically Spanish’ was an exciting challenge. Portugese food is very different than Spanish food, and as anybody who knows me will tell you, I enjoy exploring new cuisine. The architecture in Porto, as shown in my pictures, was super charming and pleasing to the eye.
Porto was a lesson to both my friend and I that a break was needed. And so we would return to her home city for a rest and recovery.
Epilogue 2: Finding Sanctuary in Salamanca
Camino Lesson 2: Embrace Your Connections
One far less unusual BlaBlaCar (when compared to the surprise partybus) ride later, and we were back in Spain. As I mentioned, I was thoroughly feeling my exhaustion at this point, but Salamanca would prove to be a perfect place to recover. The city itself is a relatively quiet one, with a mixture of university students and an older population. It is small and easily walkable. Helping this, I was able to stay with my friend rather than in a hotel, which made the entire experience seem much more like home than I had gotten used to.
For those less familiar with it, Salamanca is a very interesting little city. Perhaps Salamanca’s greatest claim to fame, it has one of the oldest universities within Europe. The university was founded in 1134, and is now both an active university and a world heritage site.
Another claim to fame in the city is the Salamanca Cathedral. In actuality, there are two Cathedrals, the new and the old. The Old Cathedral is only accessible from the New Cathedral, but both are incredibly beautiful and steeped in history.
As I was resting and relaxing and enjoying my friendship in Salamanca, the second lesson of my Camino was crystallizing in my head. During this time, I was able to re-connect with many of my loved ones back home, as well as continuing to communicate with my new friends. During this time, I realized how important it is to ‘Embrace Your Connections’. Don’t take the people you have in your life for granted. Accept them for who they are rather than for who you want them to be. Let yourself love those that you love, no matter what form that love chooses to take. We all only have one life to live, and so you should surround yourself with those that you want to share that life with.
Salamanca was a wonderful rest, but bigger cities were calling to me. The next stop on my Epilogue journeys would be Madrid.
Epilogue 3: Meditations in Madrid
Camino Lesson 3: Don’t Fear Your Limits
Madrid, capital of Spain, was next. This was the city that I would re-assume my solo travel ways. It was also, by far, the largest city I had been to on my trip so far. Compared to my Camino days, I was almost overwhelmed by the amount of people and traffic. But the overwhelmed feeling quickly turned to wonder, as I looked around this old beautiful city and discovered its charm for myself.
There is a lot to see in Madrid. Highlight of the trip for me included the wonderful art museums, the palace, and the parks. There is also an Egyptian temple that was gifted to the Spanish by Egypt, and reconstructed within the city. But honestly, the best part of Madrid is just the atmosphere. Just walking along the streets and taking in the mood is wonderful.
I was slightly nervous to leave Salamanca for Madrid. I had found some sanctuary there, but I knew that my trip must continue. And, as I was overcoming this mild anxiety of being in a new big city, the third camino lesson crystallized in my head. On the Camino, there were many days where I would question if I had it in me to continue. And each time, I was able to push through. The third Camino lesson, for me, was to not only know your limits, but to not fear pushing against them.
Now, I’m generally a giant advocate of not working yourself to death. I think its important to know your limits. But its also important to, from time to time, challenge those limits in a safe way in order to grow. This whole trip was a big limit push for me, and I feel that I’ve grown from being able to push and challenge and make new limits for myself.
I enjoyed my short time in Madrid, but the last stop on my trip was calling me. It was time to leave Spain, and to become a Pilgrim in Paris.
Epilogue 4: A Pilgrim in Paris
Camino Lesson 4: Think Beyond Yourself
Ah, Paris. City of Romance. City of Love. City of Light. Paris a city that is on any traveler’s list. With a rich history, numerous landmarks, and a romantic atmosphere, it is definitely worth the visit. This actually surprised me, as I always thought that Paris would be a city that I wouldn’t enjoy due to it being such a tourist hotspot. I’m happy to admit that I was wrong, however.
Paris is definitely a tourist hotspot. I would say, however, that it is a city deserving of this attention. The downtown is basically a large living museum of artistic achievement and human history. This is complimented by a food and café scene that is thriving and delicious. To put it as simply as I can, there is a certain magic in the air in Paris that just makes everything seem a little better than it otherwise would be.
As I was busy exploring the art and history of Paris, my subconscious mind was working away reflecting and contemplating the Camino journey that I had been on. The context of being in a historic city was that it allowed my mind to put my own journey into the context of human history. As a pilgrim finding his way through Paris, I finally realized the final lesson.
I realized that my Camino journey was not just about me. It was about the connections I made, the stories I heard, the landscapes I witnessed. It was about the shared story of the Camino, both with those I met and those I didn’t met. It was about people working together to accomplish something. We all share this world and this story, and it is up to us to preserve it.
During my residency, my energies and thoughts were more or less completely needed to survive and thrive in my training. It was beyond a full time job. It was a long 2 years, and one in which sacrifices had to be made. As I was in Paris, thinking over my Camino journey, I finally realized that residency was over and it was time to start my new life. And, importantly, I no longer had to make the same sacrifice. In fact, to be the best doctor I can be, I feel that you have to be able and willing to devote part of your energy to something beyond yourself and the individuals in front of you. We all live in the same world, and we are all part of the world. If our world can’t sustain us, then we’ve failed. And we, as individuals, as groups, as families, and as societies, must start to take action to make sure that our world remains sustainable.