New beginnings

"For mange er magien ved at holde om apostlen Sankt Jacobs statue i hans egen katedral i Santiago de Compostela symbolet på renselse, befrielse og en ny start i livet".

And that is exactly what I would like. A new beginning!

Unpilgrimlike behavior?

The blog "To Santiago de Compostela and beyond" confirmed the wisdom of the decision to start at the start of the camino: 

...Others walk only the last 100km from Sarria(112km), this qualify’s pilgrims for the compostela, which many people want. Because of this I found the last 100km the least friendly part to walk. Many people had just joined the Camino and did not mix very well. There was a rush each day from Albergue to Albergue to ensure a sleeping place for that night. 

This reminded me of what I had heard about the final climb before arriving at Machu Picchu in Peru. Everyone wants to be there at the break of dawn. According to my fellow travellers who chose the Inca Trail - as opposed to the Lares Trail we took - the rush to the top in the darkness of the morning was very unpleasant with people pushing their way through on the narrow path uphill.

Is this what awaits the pilgrims at the final stage before Santiago de Compostela too? Anyway, this will not be a problem for me this time.
  

Starting off

Just back from the local Confraternity of St. James (etd. 1996) and receiving friendly advice from Eivind Luthen who has played a central role in rekindling the whole idea and practice of pilgrimage in Norway.  


He convinced me to start my camino at the start of the  Camino Frances, at the border between France and Spain, at Roncesvalles. And not, as I had imagined, at some town or village located a 10-14 day walk away from Santiago de Compostela, my final goal. 


I went into the pilgrim's office with my baggage from modern life, with goals and plans, and questions to match. Initially I resisted his suggestion because this would mean not making it to Santiago de Compostela. I was made aware of the fact that many pilgrims progress slowly, doing a part of the walk at a time. Did someone not say that it was the journey, not the destination, which was the real deal? 

Okay. I will not get to Santiago de Compostela this time. 

But I AM starting my journey to S d C and beyond.

When I accepted the idea to start my camino at the beginning of the camino, and not at a spot 100 km from Santiago de Compostela, my worry about my fitness and my ability to complete the camino within the 14 days I had blocked in my diary melted away. My motivation to go on the camino increased severalfold. I felt happy! Almost euphoric.