It's a Small World

One of the things that I had been looking forward to most about the Camino was meeting people from all over the world. It truly is amazing to spend all day greeting pilgrims from around the globe. The first question everyone asks is "where you are from?" Sometimes the next question is, "what languages do you speak?" Alternatively, it is "how long do you have or how far are you going?" followed with, "what brings you to the Camino?"

Last night at our table for dinner there were 2 men from Germany, two women from the Bay Area, a young Swedish woman, a Danish man on his third Camino in 3 years, a wise Italian woman and a very vivacious, talkative Italian man named Julio. The conversation was dynamic and global and personal. Julio translated as needed and entertained us all. After dinner I had a nice talk with a couple from Puerto Rica. I have also met French, Dutch, Spanish, Basque, Israeli, British, Irish, Slovenian, Colombian, Brazilian, Korean, Japanese,Turkish, Canadian, South African and others. 

We are all walking together and trying to figure everything out. Together, we do our laundry by hand, struggle to find things in our packs, sleep in rooms of 12-30 people, get dressed and undressed discreetly in coed rooms, share toilets that run out of toilet paper and showers without hot water. We help each others with blisters and sprains ankles and aching knees. We greet each other with Hola and Buen Camino. We try to give good information and help with directions or translating as needed. We laugh, and cry and tell jokes and comiserate and encourage each other. That is quite a list of things for strangers to do together. Even for those people who came on the Camino by themselves, they find that we are all in this collectively. Often times you might find yourself alone for a little while on the trail, but pretty soon you will hear the footsteps and tapping of walking poles as your are passed or passing by someone else.  A cheery Buen Camino is passed in greeting as you go on your way.