Day Four. Over the past day or two a community of English speaking pilgrims has formed. We don’t see each other every meal but we pass and talk at least once a day. When I walk past a cafe someone will yell out for me to stop and sit with them. Last night we all considered our next two days. There is a mountain top route or a lower route. The mountaintop route comes with uncertainty—less amenities, less beds, less water and food. We all considered our options and made plans. I, of course, wanted to travel the mountaintop route. When we arrived in the small village where the paths diverge we found the uncertainty had pushed most everyone past the albergue and many open beds remained. I think there is a truth in this story. A desire for certainty often steals us away from the most beautiful opportunities. Today we enjoyed panoramic mountain top views. With such beauty to take in no one on the trail spoke a single complaint. None of us considered the miles or incline even for a moment, there was simply so much good to process there was no room to consider anything else. One story from the road. There was an old farmer working in his field. He yelled at us, and we didn’t have a clue what he was saying. We followed him and he offered us raspberries from his vine. He brought us into the barn and had us sign a book, he had cared for over 10,000 pilgrims before us. He gave us flowers from his garden and water from his well.

It felt like undeserved favor, so simple and pure yet its presence could change your life. As pilgrims we are considered temporary saints and the people here treat is accordingly. They provide us rest and water and invite us to taste the goodness of their toils. This simple undeserved act brought us to tears. Not because we were weary but because we felt as if we belonged. #caminoadventuress #caminodesantiago #caminoprimitivo #pilgrimage