Camino Primitivo – in Santiago
Its always an amazing experience to walk into Santiago de Compostela from Monte de Gozo in the early hours of the morning. Centuries ago there was a clear view of the Cathedral from the mountain and I can well imagine how pilgrims must have felt walking...
Camino Primitivo – in the rhythm
I involuntarily started my walk in the early hours of the morning from Melide after a group of young men began packing their back packs at 4 am in the morning, waking everyone in the Albergue in the process. 'Learn to be tolerant. Don't go into anger,' I...
Camino Primitivo – walk into the unknown
An unidentified Peregrino left a message on one of the marker stones between Ponte Ferreira and Melide. 'Every day is a walk into the unknown.' True, you never know what might come around the next corner. Especially here in the northwest of Spain...
Camino Primitivo – empty space
During the past two days I've walked 62 kilometres and I'm feeling my body going into rebellion with all sorts of aches and pains. When I walked my first Camino in 20o6 I had some hard lessons to learn. By the time I was reaching Santiago my back pack was...
Camino Primitivo – Land of the Celts
Galicia is the land of the Celts. Many traditions like the bagpipe, called the gaita, date back to pre-Roman times. According to legend the Celts already walked the Camino as a processional route while following the milky...
Camino Primitivo – hero of the day
Leaving Grandas de Saline this morning for Fonsegrada - a good 25 km hike - our group of pilgrims spotted a familiar face. It was Frans from the Czech Republic, cheerful as ever and still going his pace. He arrived at the Albergue the previous night at 9...
Camino Primitivo – soul purpose
It was another foggy morning starting out from Berducedo this morning. Walking to the next village of La Mesa the clouds opened up to sunlight spotlighting the chapel of Buspol - another magical Camino experience. The Camino Primitivo has many more...
Camino Primitivo – Faith and Fear
One of the many lessons on the Camino is dealing with life's ups-and-downs. After a bad night in the fly infested village of Borres, today was one of the most physically challenging sections I have walked on the Camino. It is...
Camino Primitivo – third day
Shortly after leaving Cornellana the Camino offers a spectacular view of the San Salvador monastery. Parts of the building date back to around the year 900 with the complex being restored section by section. The good 18-kilometre walk to La...
Camino Primitivo – At the crossroads
Upon leaving Germany for Oviedo the headlines reported another terrorist incident, this time by a 17-year-0ld refugee attacking innocent commuters in a train in southwestern Germany. So on my first day walking from Oviedo to the...
On the Way – the Camino Primitivo
Tomorrow I'm leaving for Oviedo on the Spanish west coast to start my walk on the Camino Primitivo - the oldest part of this ancient pilgrimage path. It will take me 320 kilometres through the mountains and to Santiago which I hope to reach during the first week of...
Which side are you on? Lessons from Brexit
I have learned a lesson from all the controversy surrounding the British Brexit referendum to leave the European Union. When people have made up their mind on a highly emotionally-charged issue, there is nothing in the world that you can do to convince them to think...
The healing power of language
Monks and wise teachers from the times of yore knew of the power and resonance of language in formulating the first mantras and healing prayers. Recent psychological reasearch has confirmed that there is a direct link between the use of language and health. Thus...
Why you need to take a break
With work pressure increasing in practically all sectors its not uncommen for people to remain stuck at their desk for hours and taking their "lunch" while tapping away at the computer or taking a call. On the long term this is wreaking havoc on concentration levels,...
Who are you allowing into your home?
The persons you surround yourself with make you into the person who you are.
