Hello Dear Ones,

We are 115 miles from Santiago. What began as a dream has steadily come to pass. We have days still to walk but not many.

After many days crossing big agricultural country with so many rolling hills of grain and skies that went on and on with endless shows of cumulus and light, we climbed up into the mountains. Suddenly we were surrounded by pink and purple blooming heather as tall as we were. Somedays it seems the birds sing just for us. Tomorrow we climb up again and into the Province of Galacia. The influence of the Celts is large in this landscape. Looks more like the west of Ireland than Spain or so we’re told.

We are starving for real vegetables, tired of eating meat and even though we love the bread – we’ve eaten enough of it for a life time. But these are such small complaints, by the time we find food in the evening we’re grateful for whatever it might be.

Thank you for continuing to hold us in your thoughts and prayers – we feel them especially on the long days.

We send our love,
Catherine & Dana

 

Yes, yesterday I got awesome long email from one of Phil’s Angels who hails from the beautiful city of Barcelona.  So, let’s get started.

First she wrote about the holiday on April 23rd and here is some Wilipedia info about Laura’s favorite day of the year: “La diada de Sant Jordi is the most amourous day of the Spanish year. Lovers walk hand in hand and the streets are filled with red roses and stories of love. In Catalonia it is tradition to give men (often family and friends as well as partners) a book and men traditionally give women roses, however today books are oftened exchanged between friends of all sexes. The streets in Barcelona and other cities in the principality are lined with street venders selling bunches of roses and with book stalls. It really is a beautiful sight to behold. It is estimated that on La diada de Sant Jordi, over 4 million roses are sold and almost 800,000 books, which is around half of the annual number of books sold in Catalonia! No wonder it feels like love is in the air…”

Yea, sounds like a plan to me.  Then she went on to say:

In the schools and other associations, the students can present a poem to what is called “Floral Games”. This year my son (18), the middle one, the artist, the camino walker, presented 3. One in english, one in catalan and one in spanish.
He has won the first award in the three of them!!!

I’m gonna share with you the one written in english 🙂

Cosmic embrace of the soul between the golden sheets of the holy skies.

Skulls,

in forgotten meadows.

Dreaming,

of heaven, holy heaven.

Soaring laughs,

high above all roads.

The end.

As beautiful as unholy, my friend.

Who is saying what to whom?

Is it me?

Still the wind blows in vain,

earthly caressing the despair and the pain.

There is no life,

and there is no death.

Was it me who said that?

Was it me?

The punching fists of wisdom leave

corpses scattered all over the streets.

I can fly! I can fly!

Scarce, yet pure voices arise

from the ashes of the unseen world.

From the ashes of the unseen world.

Girls, boys, please keep forever walking carelessly

through the innocent clouds of infancy.

For there shall not be a wall high enough

to prevent children from jumping.

And there is no well deep enough

to keep their feet from falling.

As dim as the light might be,

as far as it might seem,

please walk, walk, and walk.

Now, the trees have lost their leaves.

The bells don’t chime and clocks don’t tick.

With no better light than the dark night

to fight the knights of heaven.

And no other choice than to patiently rest

and patiently wait for a patient star

to come by your side and shine the way

of our future path.

Heaven, heaven again.

Where was I when I was you?

Jules Kors

And then Laura went on to write about a trail that goes around the sea shore of Menorca Island  in the Med off of Barcelona.   Here is Google info: “Camí de Cavalls is an ancient path of 185 km long that surrounds Menorca following its coast. It crosses gullies, rocky zones, valleys, torrents, wetland and farming areas; it connects ancient watchtowers, lighthouses and trenches, and it leads to a great deal of coves and spots of the island. Decidedly, it is the best way to discover the natural wealth and heritage of the island”.   Maybe in our future?

OK, best wishes to our Buddy and Angel, Laura.  She is sending out big hugs for the Caminohead Tribu (Tribe).   OK, have to get ready to walk Phil’s Camino.  Only the best to you The Tribu, Felipe.