Jakobsweg - Castile

Today I made it just before Burgos. From here it's only about 500 km to Santiago. We're all a little sad about it. I could walk like this forever, the simplicity of this way of life and constantly moving forward is simply wonderful. You have hardly any worries. But everything is really simple here, at the latest after 10 kilometers there is the next fountain for water, cafes or a hostel. You just stay where you like, eat, drink, sleep and walk again. Almost every day I wash some piece of clothing, mostly by hand, because a machine wash would cost 3-4 euros each time. I drink water from fountains or, if necessary, chlorinated tap water. Sometimes I cook, sometimes others cook, but mostly in the evening the hostels offer a good simple menu with salad or soup as a starter and a sweet dessert for the pilgrims. Or I'm satisfied with fruit, yogurt or baguette from the small supermarkets, if there is nothing else or if the alternatives are too expensive for me.

I discover so many herbs along the way. Thyme and rosemary bloom beautifully in a light purple. I've been walking with a cough that is sometimes stronger, sometimes weaker for days, and I feel great with it all. During the day, especially in the mornings, I love walking alone, enjoying the peace and nature and letting my thoughts run free.

Every now and then I rhyme a little, sing a lot, and in the evenings I meet great people for great and sometimes very intense and personal conversations.

The hardest part of this journey for me is currently learning to let go. It's still difficult for me to accept that I can only walk my own path independently of anyone else. I miss some people. But walking faster or slower doesn't make sense. And it wouldn't guarantee that I would see them again. That makes me sad often and sometimes I cry too. But that's okay, many people feel the same way. And several times I have unexpectedly met people again. The joy is huge every time and sometimes we almost throw our arms around each other because it's such a surprise and we somehow hoped to see each other again. That's the great thing about it. You can't influence anything. If it's meant to happen, it will happen. And what is meant to come will come to you. On the other hand, we can't run away from anyone either. We can try to avoid certain things or people - and I definitely do that here - but they can also appear at any time.

We can't control anything.

🎼

When I am down and oh, my soul, so weary,

When troubles come and my heart burdened be,

Then I am still and wait here in the silence,

Until you come and sit a while with me.

(Josh Groban)

🎼

All the times

There is a rhythm,

All night long

There is a song,

All the days

We crossed the rivers

How’d we know

How far we had to go?

🎼

Everyone, every choice,

Every word, I have a voice.

So I made a choice for me

And took the chance of being free

Go the path right through to me

For every single memory.

🎼

If I’ll never get the chance to say,

There’s so much that I can’t carry.

There do happen little things to me,

They do stop me unexpectedly.

There are happening funny things to me,

I learn my lesson, let me grow and see.

If I never get the chance to say,

Let me thank you now for everything.

You have always set a light on me,

You gave me love, warmth and security.

You always want the best for me,

I’ve learned so much from all your stories.

Every single word you pray for me,

Makes me grown up, wiser, confident.

Please don’t worry too much for me,

You gave me all I ever need.

🎼

(The texts are based on songs that I think I've heard before, melodies that came to my mind and for which there are certainly existing songs. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find them yet.)