As we walked toward Piazza Venezia, I flipped open the pedometer on my belt. “How much?” Daniel asked. “Nine miles.” I’d made a mistake earlier of telling him that I set a personal record ten days ago when my sister Jessica and I walked seventeen miles one day in Rome. He, of course, wanted to…
Tag: camino
Slip ‘N Slide
Maybe hiking a steep stone trail in the rain wasn’t my best idea. But it was my first afternoon in the Cinque Terre, and I wanted to get out there. So off I went climbing up and up and up towards the Madonna di Montenero Sanctuary high above Riomaggiore. The light rain didn’t faze me….
Another Serendipity Story
Not a hair was out of place. Her skin was flawless. On her face was just the right amount of makeup to accentuate her already impeccable visage. Her suit, her shoes – she was everything I pictured a corporate America consultant to be. Next to her, I looked like the newbie I was. But she…
Seek and Ye Shall Find
“Do you have a hat yet?” she asked. “No, but that’s on my list of things I want to bring.” “I have one if you want to borrow it – a hat just for hiking. And the best thing about it?” She cupped her hands like she was holding a balloon, then brought them closer…
Back on Track!
The backpack I’ll use when I walk the Camino was bought at an outdoor gear tent sale. It’s a used pack – clearly indicated by the words “Rental EMS” written across one of the pockets. I was thinking it’d be nice to have something to cover those words. Today, I found one thing that will…
Three Pillows
I nestled myself into bed, head sinking into the pillow. I turned onto my side, reached for a second pillow, and stuffed it between my knees. Then, I grabbed a third pillow to wrap my arms around. Perfectly comfortable, I closed my eyes and a little old lady’s voice came into my head. “Travel when…
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep….
Planning one trip can be a little stressful. Planning a year of trips might just drive me crazy. In the first six months of this trip, I’ve slept on 23 different surfaces – air mattresses, couches, futons and beds of all sizes – in seven different states. I’ve stayed in the homes of nine friends…
Serendipity
“I forgot a bag again,” I thought this morning as I set off on my morning walk. The beer can glistening in the morning sun reminded me that I wanted to bring a bag on my walk to collect the cans I see along the way. I counted twenty the other day. By the time…
The Camino: In the Movies and on TV
“You’re doing what in Spain?” people ask when I first mention the Camino de Santiago. Most Americans I talk to have never heard of it. “It’s a pilgrimage walk through Northern Spain,” I explain. Well, my poor explanation got some help recently. Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez have created a movie about the Camino called…
Changing My Mind – Maybe
“You don’t have to do this,” my heard reminds me. Really? I ask, feeling a little lighter. “Remember who’s in charge of your life? You can do whatever you want.” Oh, yeah… I thought. So I closed out of the six windows I had opened on my computer in my attempt to figure out where…
RenaissanceRebecca 