à la carte spirit by ilona fried
Camino de Santiago
Amtrak: An American Camino?
I recently traveled in an Amtrak “roomette” from Boston to Denver. It’s not a choice I would have considered but, my younger brother’s wife, sensing that a slower trip West would be less jarring than a faster one, suggested it. Since I was still reeling from the shock of re-entering the United States after walking … Continue reading
To Hang On or Let Go?
There is an end-of-Camino ritual at Finisterre, to burn something from the trip (or toss it into the sea). The symbolism is personal: for some, it could be a form of spiritual completion, a break with the past and/or the promise of a new beginning. A few days before arriving to the coast, I walked … Continue reading
To the Camino, with Gratitude
The last few nights I have dreamed that I was walking long distances outdoors; I guess the Camino is still rooted in my subconscious and in my body, which has been conditioned to keep moving. With no more yellow arrows to follow, will I take up sleepwalking?! Since it’s Thanksgiving, here are some appreciations, from … Continue reading
Reentry: A Rude Awakening
To be fair, I did not go directly from the Camino to the US; I spent a few days resting in Santiago before heading to Madrid on Sunday to catch a plane yesterday. To be honest, I was not eager to return. I considered extending my stay and paying the change fee for my flight, … Continue reading
Shabbat in Santiago
Yesterday (Friday) I returned to Santiago from Finisterre; the distance that took me three and a half days to walk was covered in just two and a half hours by bus. For the last several weeks and 880 kilometers, I have followed waymarks, mostly yellow arrows (from faded to fresh) that are either spray painted … Continue reading
à la carte spirit by ilona fried 
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