Pilgrims and the trail.

When I walk for hours on end there is plenty of time for reflection. The Camino is an amazing path and there are so many friends of the Camino that facilitate our journey that we do not even know. I am inspired as I watch fellow peregrinos walk with excitement, purpose and hope. And I know there is much good in this world as I see young people wanting to do something so meaningful with their holiday. In Zubiri I talked to a Swedish preschool teacher and I asked him why he was doing the Camino. This young man with long black hair looked me straight in the eyes and said: "Because I am angry with the world, and I needed to so something". He may be angry with the world but he is not taking his anger out on the world. Instead he is positive and friendly towards his fellow travellers and chooses to go within to figure things out. That makes me hopeful.

What is more of a concern for me is people´s lack of consideration on the trail when I see the littering much too frequently. The friends of the Camino follow behind us cleaning up our mess. For part of a day from Zubiri to Cizur Major we picked up litter and that was a wake-up call. The pace slowed dramatically due to the constant stopping. But how is this different from everyday life? In Pamplona the mess was everywhere, and it was hard to watch and not be judgmental. It looked awful and the stench of old alcohol and garbage shot at me as I entered the old town. Someone has to clean it up later. What makes us think that it is ok to violate our nature and common spaces? And how is this small scale violation different from the big scale abuse on the environment? There are these amazing people who make the Camino a peaceful and hospitable place for us to have a safe, healthy and wholesome experience. Do we acknowledge their effort? Even restaurants offer meals of great value so that we can do this trek without breaking the bank. Do we look at them as they serve us and acknowledge their contribution to our experience? They make less money in jobs that are already low paying. Do we tip them, offering a small token of gratitude or are we just too preoccupied with our own experiences? How much do we live in our little bubbles and how much are we ready to open up and connect with the bigger tapestry that we are such integral parts of?

The Camino is a rare gem in this world and I am mindful of the privilege it is to be walking this historical trail. I am also mindful that my path in this world is a privilege to travel on and that I do have a responsibility to be mindful of the mark I leave. Europeans are so far ahead of North America with their energy efficiency and I am again reminded of the inefficiency in my home and my part of the world. We definitely have a few things to learn...

For now I am grateful to be part of something so much bigger than me and again I am open to learning lessons that the Camino has in store for me.