Hi Paulo,
well following an emotional visit to Lourdes the path did finally lead me to St Jean de Pied a Port but it was an interesting journey. At the station in Lourdes, whilst awaiting my train two young women arrived at the coffee shop, soaking with rain after their bike ride from Toulouse. Laughing, joking and singing to the loud music playing in the background, they changed their wet clothing and sat down to a hearty meal. Finally, one of them, Mylene, asked me where I was going, to which I replied “oh just to Santiago!”.
She told of their Easter plan to bike from Toulouse to Avachone near Bordeaux via Biarritz. We chatted about the risks and dangers of such a long journey, but Mylene and Celine, two primary school teachers, maintained that the freedom their journey offered them, was the very essence of life itself. Asked if I could take their photo to attach it to their story, but they said “only from behind” as they teach their pupils the same at school.” It’s to protect their identities for their own safety”, they added.
So as you can imagine, the subject of blogs and internet continued and I asked if they had read Paulo’s books, “oh yes” said Celine, 4 or 5 of them and her favorite was 11 Minutes, but she had lost it and would love to read it again. So I told them of Paulo’s phylosphy of free books for the internet and they said without hesitation “that’s the future of consumption!”. So it was time to board our train and as promised, Celine and Mylene posed for a photo from behind ;) My journey continued via Bayonne to SJPP, with an unexpected delay while we tried to clear the track of a small fallen tree. We finally gave up and they ordered a small bus to pick us up. Arriving almost one hour late in St Jean Pied a Port, the Herberge people were hungry and ready to go to Mass, but they kindly issued our “Carnets” and a bed for the night. More news tomorrow,
HAPPY EASTER,
Love,
Paul
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Oh Wonderful!
Glod Bless Paul, have a memorable (and safe) time and I’m so envious. I can see my grandmother’s home town on that map.
Kathleen xxoo
Dear Paul,
I wish you have a nice journey and see all the beauty things of that wonderful trip!!!!
thank you for sharing with us that experience!!!
My best regards!!!
Love
Harris
Dear Breda:
Is your son thinking of going? How wonderful that would be! And do let me know what you discover.
My daughter, who is six, is just now getting steady on her wheels. Just the other day she said, “I have to practice a lot this summer, Mom, so we can cycle together.” I look forward to the day when we can plan cycling trips together. Forget the car, the train, the bus! There is nothing like exploring a region by bike, seeing things close up. No rush to arrive. It is ever so much slower, as a way to travel, and sometimes trying, but worth all the effort.
I used to live in Tuscany, and more than the grand museums and great attractions of Florence, I remember all the tiny backroads that led to wondrous discoveries: to quaint, out-of-the-way villages, through farmfields and vineyards, to tiny churches adorned with the artwork of great masters. Narrow pathways appearing to lead nowhere, and then ending at the doorway to a medieval castle. Of course, mine is a mountain bike, which I highly recommend, even for dedicated roadies (they can easily be equipped with road-slicks). Again, more effort involved, but far fewer limitations as to what you can explore and what sort of terrain you can travel.
Best wishes to your son in planning his pilgrimage!
Savita
Lieber Paul,
ich habe gehört, dass du dich auf “den Weg” gemacht
hast. Ich wünsche Dir von ganzem Herzen, dass Dich all das
findet dass du dir wünscht- und vor allem das von dem du noch nichts weisst,)
Bin im Herzen bei Dir
Pass auf Dich auf und GENIESS ES
Alles Liebe
Dagmar
Dear Paul,
Bon Voyage ! You will never walk alone..
Hi again. I just want to leave this link to the people who is planning to do the pilgrimage: http://www.mundicamino.com
in this web you can find all necesary information in different languages. And for the people who ask if you can do it by bike, the answer is yes, although the walkers have preference in the accommodation.
Love,
Silvia
Dear Paul, just wanted to add my wishes for a safe journey. I look forward to hearing of your experiences along the way.
Nanci
Dear Thelma-thank you so much for the interesting information,
Love
Breda
hi Savita-my eldest son asked the same question today-do people make the pilgrimage by bicycle! we will soon find out…
regards,
Breda
Estupendo Paul menuda experiencia y enriquecedora conociendo gente, intercambiando ideas y pensamientos.
Que bien que tengas un diario y que anotes tus sugenrencias e impresiones.
Cuídate, pienso en ti.
Paul, my dear friend!!!!
You are in my thoughts and in my heart!!!!
Marie shared it at facebook… and all of
us share also…. Take care…
God bless you!!!!
Love,
Patricia
Thank you, Thelma. That is very interesting, indeed!
I wonder if anyone has ever made the pilgrimage to Santiago by bicycle?! I wonder if it still counts as a “pilgrimage,” if the distance is not traversed on foot? I could see myself setting out from here (Texas)…if only there weren’t that ocean in the middle!
You did it…I feel so happy,thanks a lot.I was just hinting at some pictures, and here they are.I feel really excited, thanks again,dear Paul.Have a wonderful time, I see you just manage to do that voyage so well.So proud of you…Love,Alexandra
Dear Paul, I’m writing from León (Spain) and I wish you a great way to Santiago. It is a really good experience that I will try to complete some day (as soon as I have the time).
I have made some stages of this pilgrimage and it is an experience that I will never forget.
I will be glad to give you any help you may need along the way.
Love,
Silvia
Thank you Thelma for the information..
Paul, u are always in my mind, and always praying that everything goes well with you..
Remember that a search always starts with beginner’s luck and ends by the test of the conqueror. Be always ready for the tests, courage..courage :)
Hugs,
Sara
Hello Paul.I see you moved on the map…Keep it up.Write bit more, if you can.What about some pictures?Is that possible?Take care,bye
SANTIAGO de Compostella.
….
The 1000 year old pilgrimage to the shrine of St. James in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is known in English as the Way of St. James and in Galician as the Camiño de Santiago. Over 100,000 pilgrims travel to the city each year from points all over Europe, and other parts of the world. The pilgrimage has been the subject of many books and television programmes.
Pre-Christian legends
As the lowest-lying land on that stretch of coast, the city’s site took on added significance. Legends supposed of Celtic origin made it the place where the souls of the dead gathered to follow the Sun across the sea. Those unworthy of going to the Land of the Dead haunted Galicia as the Santa Compaña.
Alchemical metaphor
In Fulcanelli’s Mystery of the Cathedrals the pilgrimage to Compo-stella is decoded as a metaphor for one of the processes for making the Philosopher’s Stone, namely the method using antimony. This method will produce stellated crystals in the arm of the retort, which are then further worked upon. A common misunderstanding which mislead many, including Newton, is that the “stellate regulus” of antimony is the matter to be used.
The pilgrim’s shell was a motif used by the alchemist Jacques Coeur on the many buildings he erected, and was his personal motif; it is also the shell upon which Venus rides as she rises from the sea (morning star = stellated matter); this ocean is green, the color of many Venusian minerals, but it’s meaning is deeper. Basil Valentine said that the alchemists called their first matter by the name of anything green to confuse the ignorant, but in truth there is such a first matter that is a green esculent water. Venus represents the generative force, the power of attraction/repulsion which brings forth the cosmos. Her water is that of the Fire of Desire which motivates this push and pull. The shape of the calabash carried by the pilgrims is another clue to the source of this green water.
It was also common for churches to place holy water in a container shaped like this shell, although it is unlikely most clerics would know why. This holy water (imbued with the Spirit) was another metaphor for the Mercury of the Philosophers.
These are very interesting infromations about Santiago de Compostella I have just found in the Internet.
LOVE,
Thelma.
Querido Paul cuando llegues a Panplona no te olvides de visitar en Puente la Reina la Iglesia de Santa María de Eunate: recuerda dar tres vueltas al recinto y delante de la puerta pedir permiso para entrar y luego dentro pedir que se mantenga en secreto tu identidad. Ahi fue donde Paulo Coelho celebró su fiesta de San José en el 2007 y tuve el gran placer de asistir.
Después de Santo Domingo de la Calzada está en Viloria de Rioja un Albergue de Peregrinos donde Accacio y Orrieta grandes amigos te atenderán muy bien y podrás ver que es un Albergue bautizado por Paulo Coelho.
Un beso y feliz viaje.
Por si quereis ver el Albergue podeis ver en esta página:http://www.myspace.com/acaciorietta
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sun_Also_Rises
Ernest Hemingway’s novel [and film] taking place in Pamplona.
Paul is walking today towards Pamplona. In the Google I found the .. story of this beautiful town, which is also famous for the San Fermin Festival in July.
I wish the weather will be helpfull and beautiful for ‘our Paul’!
LOVE,
Thelma.
Dear Paul,
I know how you must feel.
Hang in there buddy.
Got a compass handy?
Love
Dear Paul,
I have had my own journey these last two weeks, and as you embark upon yours may I offer you this; a Warrior’s blessing, as you begin your quest?
“ I salute you!
By the love which is the essence of your own inner fiery being!
By the impeccability which constitutes your invincible power!
By the humility which is the mark of your free spirit!
May the peace and the harmony of the Yellow Rose of friendship abide with you now and ever more! “
I am your brother and you are mine.
Travel well my friend!!
Alan
what a wonderful idea – GPS travel logging ;o)
and what a wonderful and fun journey…
safe travels Paul ;o)
solidarnosc
My dearest Paul,
My soul is travelling with you…Thank you for sharing these precious
moments of yours.Have a blessed Easter !I wish God bless you always.
Much love,
Chrissa
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