My Journey that was Camino
I am a busy physician from the Philippines and didn’t bother checking the tour group that my sister and I are joining. All we wanted was to finish the Camino. When we got to Leon, I was amazed by the beautiful hotel that was monastery turned hotel! Then we met the guides, David and Niko. They are very knowledgeable, we have a nightly review of what one will expect in the trails, like ground incline, descent, where we could have a decent use of the bathrooms. Lunch was light and nutritious, made more interesting by David’s stories and Niko’s jokes. Their stories have entertained us and made us forget our pains and aches and feelings of losing hope and giving up. I am particularly touched when the guides would walk beside us, the weaker walkers, encouraging us to go on. When it rained hard along the trails, they would always ask if we are ok. The manor houses with the lovely hostesses like Elena and Dona Marisol added warmth to our spirits to finish! And when we got to Santiago Compostela, we had a special lunch to celebrate! I am grateful for Fresco for making my dream of doing the Camino come true. Not only did I get a certificate, but I gained friends, like David who has taught me Insights in life, my groupmates Kathy, Jim, Claire, Lynn, Mary and of course Niko who made me laugh and gave me the lesson to take life always with a light heart. I am back to my boring 8-5 job, but everytime I reminisce my Camino, I always break into a smile. Camino is not just a journey to Santiago, Camino is a journey through life. Life where one needs to treat everyone with love and care and a greeting, ” Buen Camino”