Behind the Albergue Door: Inspiration Agony Adventure on the Camino de Santiago

almost something missing to be no longer part of something so much bigger than myself. Even though I clearly remember all the painful and uncomfortable parts I would absolutely be willing to do it all over again - and am already considering 2014…

Melinda Dobsova
    Slovakia
    We started off that day in a remote place, just after Leon. The previous day we chose the road less traveled and we ended up in this nice albergue, where there were only four people, including me and Sofia, my constant companion ever since day 1, the tiny Swedish girl. She was the slowest walker ever, I was probably the fastest one. We knew this would be the last day we saw each other, as I just wanted to keep going and she wanted to slow down and enjoy a day in Astorga. So I walked ahead of her all day, and I sort of had an epiphany, just like Paul in the Bible on the way to Damascus. I felt so much love that I thought I knew the answer to everything. At the next coffee stop I caught up with my other constant companions, Dean, Laynni, Father Frank and Barry - later it turned out that was their last day together as well. I was so happy to see them again. Sofia arrived, we said good bye and off I walked with the group, crossed the oldest and longest bridge on the Camino... it was such a long and eventful day, now that I think of it. Caught up with others as well and from then on we sort of followed each other all the way to Astorga. Me always in the back as I still refused to walk with anyone, but at the same time I did not want to lose sight of these people who grew so close to my heart without any effort being made on either side... After a long time, and maybe for the first time in my life, I felt it was okay to be completely myself, I did not have to pretend to be someone else to please others and no one had expectations towards me. I was completely free of all the prejudices. And that is when the magic happened. My group of Camino friends was ahead of me, they had just climbed a hill and I followed. When I got to the top they were all sitting there with this mystical Catalonian called David, inviting me to have some organic food, while I was more interested in this blue-eyed blond alien who lives outside on the Way to Astorga, welcoming pilgrims as his friends and giving everyone a big hug who accepts it. Of course, I was doubtful at first. I kept asking everyone, who is this guy? What is he doing here? I kept asking him as well, and he probably thought I was a bit nuts, because I asked him the same questions again and again. He tried to answer them with his broken English and all I could do was believe him. It was not his words that convinced me, but his presence. He was the bravest man I have ever met! He managed to do one thing that I had longed for and I will always long for: make himself independent of the sick world. By that time I already wished that the whole world would be one big Camino! And he built his whole world around the Camino! Doing service, not just begging for money, but cleaning the surroundings he lives in, cooking for pilgrims in a humble way - my English friend still talks about the amazing dish he had there half a year later. If you go along the Way with an open heart, you will find David and you will go and accept his hug. If you walk past him, you will think of him as a bum, who probably went nuts while walking the Camino. Once I realized what he achieved and I looked into his blue eyes, I felt I could stay there forever. Once everyone left, we stopped talking, I lied down in his hammock and read the quotes people left behind on his wall. I felt that I had arrived, this is how much I loved him. And no, I am not talking about cheesy romantic love at first sight. I loved him as a human being could love another one with all the respect and acceptance of what he was and what he had achieved. He lived in a world where there was no money, no society, no judgement, no mortgage, no stress, no career ladder, only timelessness. He carried this air of eternity, the natural state of an enlightened human being, the knowledge that this life is just temporary. And of course love that he wished to share. I asked him whether he was lonely, he said no, he has all his friends on the Camino, ergo pilgrims. Of course, I wished he had someone beside him. I really hope next time I go back he will have already have found a woman to stay. Because he was beautiful inside and out. I wish I could have stayed, but I was not ready. I wish I