Fourth day: a long walk as pilgrims

Today, August 13, we woke up earlier than usual because we had a train to catch to Padron station, this being the beginning of our route today. This route was in fact but a part, about 20 kilometers, of the Camino (the Way), whose beginning is in Portugal. When we arrived at Padron station, we prayed, we tensed up, we warmed up and off we went.

The first thing that caught the eye was the color green, vivid green! Not faded green, burnt by the sun, a green of thorns, but a vivid green the bears witness to much water and fertile earth. The blue sky with a few lone clouds, the warm sun, a light, fresh breeze. On the horizon all around us green mountains that add an incredible backdrop to a pastoral scene in the heart of which we were walking towards Santiago. It is easy to understand the idea that lurks behind the calm and tranquility found by the pilgrims on these routes. The quiet, the unity with nature, brings one back to one’s natural place. All this helps to reconnect with the sense of harmony (peace and tranquility) in the world and gives an incredible opportunity to have an intimate conversation with one’s inner self and of course with God.

We are very happy that we have had this opportunity to walk just a small part of this way of life. Some of us even expressed the desire to set off and walk the whole route in a few years time despite the physical duress we experienced. It is a wonderful sense when one lies back, seeing the Cathedral at the end point, and one looks on its unique beauty. After a short time for rest, we sat in a circle in the middle of the square, opposite the main entrance of the Cathedral, and we prayed a prayer of thanksgiving and of pardon.

A side note: During our voyage here, going through the city, we meet many groups from all over the world, who like us, are on their way to Madrid. It is indeed astounding to encounter groups from Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Venezuela, Korea… and it continues to be astounding with each new group we meet. Yesterday we met a group from Russia while out shopping and then in the evening groups from Australia and the United States. Today we met at least five groups from France, each group carrying a different flag, and then also Japanese and Italians. It is simply a heartfelt joy to see so many people all having one objective.