We found a little internet store right by our hotel, so here we are both using a computer with an American keyboard. Bet you may not have even known that there is a difference...we found out in Orleans that there is. The French must use a lot more "q"s than we do and more "m"s - so confusing on the fingers and the brain to have your keyboard revised!
We have had a great day today - getting to be in Notre Dame - which is right across the street from our little Bohemian hotel, the Esmeralda. We have a view of the cathedral on the left side of our window. I love staying down here - everything is so close and we have walked just about everywhere.
After Notre Dame, we walked to the Musee d'Orsay which has a beautiful collection of Impressionist art. We loved being there and I loved getting to share with Alea some of my knowledge of art history. She had asked me earlier in the week if I had any regrets, and really the only one that I could even consider is that I did not major in Art History in college, or choose to do a post-graduate study in it. I love it...in her asking me this question, I wondered, how might my life have been different if I had majored in Art History like my heart was telling me to choose? Funny that I ended up as an Economics major instead! I still joke that I was probably the most un-economic of Economics majors to have ever graduated from Middlebury!!
After the Orsay, we had a French tea of a plate of assorted cheeses. I was silly enough to ask if bread came with that. I am realizing that delicious French bread comes with everything at every meal here in France! The rain let up while we ate, so we then walked over to the Louvre and saw the IM Pei Pyramid. Wow!! We both loved it - it is a masterpiece in and of itself, especially how they used the space underneath to connect all of the Louvre. Funny, but all we really wanted to see was the Pyramid. So we left, and of course again it was pouring with rain. But we decided to walk back to the Latin Quarter in the rain...it was so much fun! We were definitely soaked by the time we got back to our hotel room, but what a great way to experience Paris...in the rain, walking along the Seine. This is such a magical city...we both love it!
Tomorrow we leave Paris and head to Amiens for the 6th sacred site of our pilgrimage. (I am going to write a separate post about the pilgrimage.) And then we get on the Chunnel train in the afternoon to head to England. We get to spend the night with my aunt, my father's 86 year old sister whom I love. I am so looking forward to seeing her and my cousins, Karen and Bruce. I haven't seen any of them in over 25 years - way too long. From there we head up to Scotland to meet Elaine Pascal and her daughters for the 7th and final site of our pilgrimage, the Rosslyn Chapel. I would love to stay in France longer, and I am so looking forward to returning to England...I feel as though I am going home.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
The Journey Continues
We arrived in Orléans last night after a 5 hour train ride. We had breakfast in the hotel - Alea delighted in a5 kilo jar of Nutella! I so wish that I could figure out how to translate pictures from either my phone or the camera - I have a picture of a very happy Alea with her croissant and giant jar of Nutella!!!
As we journeyed to Orléans, I had an opportunity to journal and reflect on my experience in Toulouse. As I experience each of these sacred sites, I am not always sure of exactly what I am experiencing. And then I get a chance to reflect and journal, and it becomes clear. Quite a journey of trust and faith.
(By the way, the keyboard keys are different here: the¨"a" key is a "q"; the "m" and the ";" are transposed plus a few others, so there mqy be a few typos...sorry)
The lessons from Toulouse have been wonderful...and on one hand, very unexpected, and on the other, totally appropriate and the feeling of "of course."
What I experienced and have come to understand is that I both get to and have to "own" and accept my deep desires, whatever they are. Sometimes they are easy and okay to accept; sometimes they do not fit into place or category that I find acceptable. No matter...my task is to accept and embrace them, for they are my guideposts for my Soul's unique and divine journey.
On the Camino, we were guided by yellow arrows. They were painted on the streets, on the old stone homes we passed, on the pavements and sidewalks, and as we got closer to Santiago, they were on more modern signpost. These yellow arrows guided and directed me. I followed the Camino, the way, and found my way to Santiago because I was willing to trust, accept and follow these arrows. In the same way, my deeply held desires - from my gut, my belly, my core - are my yellow arrows.
I must trust them;, embrace them to find and follow my way along my path of life. These desires are the cues and inner impulses that connect me to my heart and to my Soul's desires. And, when I follow my Soul's desires, I am aligned with God's desires and plan for me.
As we journeyed to Orléans, I had an opportunity to journal and reflect on my experience in Toulouse. As I experience each of these sacred sites, I am not always sure of exactly what I am experiencing. And then I get a chance to reflect and journal, and it becomes clear. Quite a journey of trust and faith.
(By the way, the keyboard keys are different here: the¨"a" key is a "q"; the "m" and the ";" are transposed plus a few others, so there mqy be a few typos...sorry)
The lessons from Toulouse have been wonderful...and on one hand, very unexpected, and on the other, totally appropriate and the feeling of "of course."
What I experienced and have come to understand is that I both get to and have to "own" and accept my deep desires, whatever they are. Sometimes they are easy and okay to accept; sometimes they do not fit into place or category that I find acceptable. No matter...my task is to accept and embrace them, for they are my guideposts for my Soul's unique and divine journey.
On the Camino, we were guided by yellow arrows. They were painted on the streets, on the old stone homes we passed, on the pavements and sidewalks, and as we got closer to Santiago, they were on more modern signpost. These yellow arrows guided and directed me. I followed the Camino, the way, and found my way to Santiago because I was willing to trust, accept and follow these arrows. In the same way, my deeply held desires - from my gut, my belly, my core - are my yellow arrows.
I must trust them;, embrace them to find and follow my way along my path of life. These desires are the cues and inner impulses that connect me to my heart and to my Soul's desires. And, when I follow my Soul's desires, I am aligned with God's desires and plan for me.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
The Second Step of the Celtic Camino - Toulouse
Alea, my 15 year old daughter arrived in Madrid on Thursday and we went straight to Barcelona. What a wonderful city! We spent Friday just walking around everywhere, seeing the La Sagrada Familia cathedral from the outside (it was so crowded with tourists that we didn't even want to wait in line for tickets), the Arc de Triomf made of red brick, to the Mediterranean Sea, where Alea got her feet and legs wet and found beautiful sea glass. We then took the metro up to the Guell Jardins which are gardens designed by the avant garde architect Guell on land on top of a big hill overlooking the city. Full of plants and views, with areas made of beautiful mosaic designs in vivid bright colors. We even were in the middle of a downpour of rain which sent most people away, so we had the area to ourselves plus discovered places we wouldn't have seen otherwise. We then went back to our room for a siesta, before meeting my Camino buddies, Paul and Wendy from Toronto, in La Rambla part of town, a lively area filled with markets and fruit and flower stands. It was so good to spend the evening with them and share our Camino experiences with Alea in a quiet restaurant sitting outside by a enclosed courtyard area.
The next day we left early for Toulouse and arrived in the early afternoon. After a nap, we walked to find the Eglise/Church of the Notre Dame de Deblade. We found it easily as we wove through old streets filled with people, restaurants, cafes, beautiful stores, and lively French chatter all around us. I realized that I love being in France and hearing the French language. I may only understand every 10 words, but it feels more familiar and accessible for me. I love being here!
The eglise Notre Dame de Deblade is beautiful and simple. I loved it. We happened to get there about 20 minutes before the Saturday evening mass, so we had a little time to just be in there before other people showed up. There is a beautiful rose like stained glass window at the front of the church that was radiating the afternoon sun into the church...magical as the brilliant colors moved on the floor of the church. I saw images of Mary Magdalene; I heard a mass in French that I felt like I received with my heart rather than my head; I saw an image of a peacock's tail in the metal gates behind the altar; I felt peaceful in this beautiful cathedral; and I just wanted to stay and soak in the energy of this beautiful place.
We came back today after a great walk across the River Garonne and the Pont (Bridge) Neuf, along the park by the river, and then back along the river until we walked up some very old steps to the cathedral. Unfortunately, the cathedral was not open this time...we arrived too late after the morning masses. And I must trust this, and be so grateful that we were here, and that we got to go inside yesterday afternoon with the beautiful afternoon light coming in through the window.
It was a blessed time to be there, and I realize had we come to Toulouse during the week, we could not have gotten inside. I realize that once again I have been guided to be here at the right time. The other sacred sites/cathedrals that we are visiting are bigger and more popular spots, so I don't think that we will have any trouble getting to go inside.
Well, time to go to the train station and be on our way to Orleans!
love,
Sarah
The next day we left early for Toulouse and arrived in the early afternoon. After a nap, we walked to find the Eglise/Church of the Notre Dame de Deblade. We found it easily as we wove through old streets filled with people, restaurants, cafes, beautiful stores, and lively French chatter all around us. I realized that I love being in France and hearing the French language. I may only understand every 10 words, but it feels more familiar and accessible for me. I love being here!
The eglise Notre Dame de Deblade is beautiful and simple. I loved it. We happened to get there about 20 minutes before the Saturday evening mass, so we had a little time to just be in there before other people showed up. There is a beautiful rose like stained glass window at the front of the church that was radiating the afternoon sun into the church...magical as the brilliant colors moved on the floor of the church. I saw images of Mary Magdalene; I heard a mass in French that I felt like I received with my heart rather than my head; I saw an image of a peacock's tail in the metal gates behind the altar; I felt peaceful in this beautiful cathedral; and I just wanted to stay and soak in the energy of this beautiful place.
We came back today after a great walk across the River Garonne and the Pont (Bridge) Neuf, along the park by the river, and then back along the river until we walked up some very old steps to the cathedral. Unfortunately, the cathedral was not open this time...we arrived too late after the morning masses. And I must trust this, and be so grateful that we were here, and that we got to go inside yesterday afternoon with the beautiful afternoon light coming in through the window.
It was a blessed time to be there, and I realize had we come to Toulouse during the week, we could not have gotten inside. I realize that once again I have been guided to be here at the right time. The other sacred sites/cathedrals that we are visiting are bigger and more popular spots, so I don't think that we will have any trouble getting to go inside.
Well, time to go to the train station and be on our way to Orleans!
love,
Sarah
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
The Celtic Camino Begins
As one journey ends, another begins. I have been in the middle of a transition ever since walking into Santiago.
I was given the name of the second part of my journey by Luiza, an Australian living in Texas who has a list serve on the Camino and who we ran into on about Day5 in a little town whose name I can´t remember and I don´t have the Camino book with me right now to look up the name. She knew the book ¨Rosslyn¨that inspired this next journey and called it the Celtic Camino. I love the name and resonated with it, so now I call my journey the Celtic Camino as well.
The Celtic Camino includes seven sacred sites that serve as stations on this rite of initiation, a passage of sorts where I will travel up the seven chakras and oracles through France to the Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh in Scotland. I have not been sure of what to expect, and so have had no expectations other than knowing that this is the journey I have been preparing for. Even the Camino, every step of every 170 kilometers, was a step of preparation for what I will experience and receive on this journey. I am prepared to receive.
Each of the sites sits on a pre-Christian site that relates to a Roman oracle such as Jupiter, Mercury, and also also related to a chakra. Santiago is the base chakra, the root chrakra that sits at the base of our spine. It reflects issues of connected and relatedness, being part of a tribe or a group, and our sense of connectedness.
Also, each of these sites now has a cathedral or chapel that reflects in its architecture and symbolism the information of each site´s special and unique energy. I will share more as I experience each site and place. I have just been reunited with ¨Rosslyn¨the book as I had shipped it from Samos to Santiago and have just retrieved it from the post office. So I will share more of this information regarding Santiago when I have had a chance to look at it again.
Anyway, look at how my experiences here in Santiago (which I related in the previous blog) are directly connected to the first chakra issues of the Celtic Camino´s first sacred site. This is the magic and healing of my being here and having started my Celtic Camino journey. I am not surprised by my experiences here, but I really had no idea what was going to show up or how it would look or feel. The Camino guides and provides once again. I am so grateful and so blessed.
I will write more again soon. I must go now and get ready to leave tonight and eat with my Camino group before we all begin to disperse this evening. Much love to you all...
I was given the name of the second part of my journey by Luiza, an Australian living in Texas who has a list serve on the Camino and who we ran into on about Day5 in a little town whose name I can´t remember and I don´t have the Camino book with me right now to look up the name. She knew the book ¨Rosslyn¨that inspired this next journey and called it the Celtic Camino. I love the name and resonated with it, so now I call my journey the Celtic Camino as well.
The Celtic Camino includes seven sacred sites that serve as stations on this rite of initiation, a passage of sorts where I will travel up the seven chakras and oracles through France to the Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh in Scotland. I have not been sure of what to expect, and so have had no expectations other than knowing that this is the journey I have been preparing for. Even the Camino, every step of every 170 kilometers, was a step of preparation for what I will experience and receive on this journey. I am prepared to receive.
Each of the sites sits on a pre-Christian site that relates to a Roman oracle such as Jupiter, Mercury, and also also related to a chakra. Santiago is the base chakra, the root chrakra that sits at the base of our spine. It reflects issues of connected and relatedness, being part of a tribe or a group, and our sense of connectedness.
Also, each of these sites now has a cathedral or chapel that reflects in its architecture and symbolism the information of each site´s special and unique energy. I will share more as I experience each site and place. I have just been reunited with ¨Rosslyn¨the book as I had shipped it from Samos to Santiago and have just retrieved it from the post office. So I will share more of this information regarding Santiago when I have had a chance to look at it again.
Anyway, look at how my experiences here in Santiago (which I related in the previous blog) are directly connected to the first chakra issues of the Celtic Camino´s first sacred site. This is the magic and healing of my being here and having started my Celtic Camino journey. I am not surprised by my experiences here, but I really had no idea what was going to show up or how it would look or feel. The Camino guides and provides once again. I am so grateful and so blessed.
I will write more again soon. I must go now and get ready to leave tonight and eat with my Camino group before we all begin to disperse this evening. Much love to you all...
Santiago - the End of One Journey and the Beginning of Another
I have now been in Santiago for 2 days, and feel like I know my way around. And even though I have arrived, the journey continues.
At Mount Gozo, I decided to walk into Santiago on my own without the group. I gave myself permission to do this because several kilometers earlier, Linda had clearly stated that she wanted to walk in by herself. That gave me the opening to really be clear about what I wanted also. I had just thought that of course I would walk in with every one else.
All along we had walked together as a group. By that I mean we would walk together, alone, in different pairs and sometimes trios. Our walk was like a dance. We never knew what the configuration would look like. Sometimes I walked with Vanda, a beautiful 39 year old woman from Toronto of Portuguese descent. She was our translator on the journey, speaking enough Spanish to help us in many situations. Sometimes I walked with Paul, a 50 year old who was challenged with significant blisters for just about every kilometer of the camino. One morning in particular when I walked with him, I was sure to keep his focus on anything but his feet as we walked 4 or 5 kilometers. So I learned all about one of his favorites sports, curling - something I knew nothing about. I now want to find out about it and if it exists in Colorado yet!
I also walked with Wendy, Paul´s wife. I had brought an umbrella on one author´s suggestion. I brought it for Wendy as she was very challenged by the sunshine and intense heat. Her nickname became ¨Mary Poppins¨as she walked kilometer after kilometer with her purple umbrella that she snapped open with a flick of the wrist.
And then there was dear Linda. Linda brought ¨snail¨energy with her to walk the Camino. She had one speed - slow - and she walked at this speed ¨easily, joyfully, lovingly and gracefully.¨ She sang these words up every hill and down every hill and now brings them home with her. I loved my times with Linda. She listened, she shared, she has seen in me my light and my love and has only encouraged me to share it more. What a true gift she is. I feel as though I came on this Camino with this group to get to know her and have her become part of my life.
And then of course, there is Sue, the beautiful leader of our group. She guided us with wisdom, compassion, joy, laughter and trust. And in turn, we came to trust not only ourselves, but also the Camino. The Camino guided us and we trusted it as we were still walking at 8pm with no place to stay. We learned to trust that the Camino would take care of and provide for us...and it did, every step of the way.
We also experienced the art of ¨brinksmanship¨from Sue - the art of totally trusting that what you need and want to happen - will happen, even when you have no idea how or when. Sue provided us with so many opportunities to experience this first hand. It is a whole other level of living with trust, from trust, in trust. I am so grateful for being with Sue and experiencing who she was with us as we walked the Camino.
The big lesson for me in Santiago has been that even though I chose to walk into Santiago by myself, I was never separate from the group. It may have looked like I separated, and even felt like it. As I walked the long, hot walk through the city into the inner old city where the cathedral is located, I felt sad. I now realize that I felt as though I had separated and done something selfishly. Now, I realize that I followed my true inner impulse and did what was right for me, AND that I was still very much a part of the group. I just happened to walk in by myself. To experience the completion of my Camino with and by myself, only to hook back up with the group at our hotel, Casa Felice, within a few hours.
There is obviously so much to share, and I have barely scratched the surface. I will write some more shortly. Let me take a break and come back. I am at an Internet cafe right near the Cathedral, so after a break I will come back and share more.
At Mount Gozo, I decided to walk into Santiago on my own without the group. I gave myself permission to do this because several kilometers earlier, Linda had clearly stated that she wanted to walk in by herself. That gave me the opening to really be clear about what I wanted also. I had just thought that of course I would walk in with every one else.
All along we had walked together as a group. By that I mean we would walk together, alone, in different pairs and sometimes trios. Our walk was like a dance. We never knew what the configuration would look like. Sometimes I walked with Vanda, a beautiful 39 year old woman from Toronto of Portuguese descent. She was our translator on the journey, speaking enough Spanish to help us in many situations. Sometimes I walked with Paul, a 50 year old who was challenged with significant blisters for just about every kilometer of the camino. One morning in particular when I walked with him, I was sure to keep his focus on anything but his feet as we walked 4 or 5 kilometers. So I learned all about one of his favorites sports, curling - something I knew nothing about. I now want to find out about it and if it exists in Colorado yet!
I also walked with Wendy, Paul´s wife. I had brought an umbrella on one author´s suggestion. I brought it for Wendy as she was very challenged by the sunshine and intense heat. Her nickname became ¨Mary Poppins¨as she walked kilometer after kilometer with her purple umbrella that she snapped open with a flick of the wrist.
And then there was dear Linda. Linda brought ¨snail¨energy with her to walk the Camino. She had one speed - slow - and she walked at this speed ¨easily, joyfully, lovingly and gracefully.¨ She sang these words up every hill and down every hill and now brings them home with her. I loved my times with Linda. She listened, she shared, she has seen in me my light and my love and has only encouraged me to share it more. What a true gift she is. I feel as though I came on this Camino with this group to get to know her and have her become part of my life.
And then of course, there is Sue, the beautiful leader of our group. She guided us with wisdom, compassion, joy, laughter and trust. And in turn, we came to trust not only ourselves, but also the Camino. The Camino guided us and we trusted it as we were still walking at 8pm with no place to stay. We learned to trust that the Camino would take care of and provide for us...and it did, every step of the way.
We also experienced the art of ¨brinksmanship¨from Sue - the art of totally trusting that what you need and want to happen - will happen, even when you have no idea how or when. Sue provided us with so many opportunities to experience this first hand. It is a whole other level of living with trust, from trust, in trust. I am so grateful for being with Sue and experiencing who she was with us as we walked the Camino.
The big lesson for me in Santiago has been that even though I chose to walk into Santiago by myself, I was never separate from the group. It may have looked like I separated, and even felt like it. As I walked the long, hot walk through the city into the inner old city where the cathedral is located, I felt sad. I now realize that I felt as though I had separated and done something selfishly. Now, I realize that I followed my true inner impulse and did what was right for me, AND that I was still very much a part of the group. I just happened to walk in by myself. To experience the completion of my Camino with and by myself, only to hook back up with the group at our hotel, Casa Felice, within a few hours.
There is obviously so much to share, and I have barely scratched the surface. I will write some more shortly. Let me take a break and come back. I am at an Internet cafe right near the Cathedral, so after a break I will come back and share more.
Monday, June 1, 2009
I AM HERE IN SANTIAGO
It must be about 3pm. I arrived a couple of hours ago. The cathedral is magnificent ; the old part if the city is beautiful and busy with tourists and locals alike. Not sure what I am feeling. Actually, I am aware o the paradox - the joy of having arrived and the sadness that the Camino is over. Will write more soon.
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