It was a little easier getting all geared up and ready today than it was yesterday. Everything didn’t feel as new or unfamiliar. We had our routines established. Before we started off, Brenda informed us, “Today will be an uphill day.” And it was. It wasn’t like mountain climbing but much of the day involved […]
We Walked Fifteen Plus Miles Today Read More »
I woke up at 5 this morning, slipped out of my bed at Hotel O’Cebreiro, packed my bags, and went out in to the darkness to walk through the town before anyone was up. It was chilly and misty and pretty soon it started to rain. I went back in to retrieve my raincoat and
Today we walked our first miles on the Camino de Santiago. It was only a few miles because most of the day was spent in transit from Madrid to O’Cebreiro Pass. Walking to the taxi stop, taking taxis to the first bus, five hours on the first, a final hour on a second bus. We
Today: We Embarked on the Way Read More »
Eating the hugest plate of padron peppers with Andre Mallinger planning our opening ritual for the beginning of our pilgrimage, our first day on the trail. We leave Madrid in five minutes for a long day of transit.
Last Dinner in Madrid Read More »
I just taught the first writing class of our Camino pilgrimage. I was blown away by the cohesiveness, intimacy, and presence of our group, right from the very first class. What an amazing group has gathered for this creative pilgrimage—what an amazing, as-yet-to-be-discovered journey we’re going to have together. And the tie-ins between writing and
The First Writing Class Read More »
We started with art again this morning. I’ll be teaching our first writing class this afternoon, but we wanted to be out painting before the day got hot. When we gathered with our art kits on the street this morning outside our hotel, Brenda Porter handed us each a swatch of watercolor paper with one
In Wild, the author recounts her months-long hike along the Pacific Crest Trail, a journey that she took entirely alone after life as she’d known it had fallen apart. “It was a world I’d never been to and yet had known was there all along . . . one I’d staggered to in sorrow and
A Risk I Took to Save Myself Read More »
We just had our official orientation session. In the hours leading up to our 4:00 pm start time, I felt out of sorts as I always do before a retreat, workshop or new class begins. I took a nap. I looked at my notes for our orientation. I crocheted pink and grey ears for an
Our Journey Begins Read More »
Madrid. Relax and turn up the volume and watch these amazing dancers. There are four different windows into their performances.
I’m enjoying wandering around Madrid during these few preparatory days before the official start of our retreat. I went to the Prado today to drink in art for a few hours with my co-leader Andre. She and Brenda and I are meeting every day to go over last minute details. Our group starts arriving tomorrow
I arrived at my hotel jetlagged, grubby, and tired (I only let myself sleep 4 hours on the plane to help me adjust to the time zone here). But it was a pleasure to unpack, do a bit of handwashing in the sink, take a shower, step out of my airplane clothes and into shorts
First Walk in Madrid Read More »
It’s my last full day at home, time to let go of months of preparation and to embrace the actual experience before me. Regardless of what I hope this experience will be for myself, my two co-leaders, and for the women hiking with us, I have no idea what it actually will be. For instance,
The Camino Walks You Read More »
