Introduction

Hola and welcome!

I'd like to begin by explaining the existence of this blog.  This fall I will walk the Camino Frances, one of the Camino de Santiago routes, starting from St. Jean Pied de Port in France, reaching the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, then hopefully traveling the additional stretch to Finisterre (Finis Terra: the end of the world) on the northeastern Spanish coast.  I'll be gone six weeks.

Foremost then, this blog is the means of keeping in touch with my family.  My children have had many questions about what I'll be doing and they, along with my husband, are interested in following my journey.  Although the suggestion for a blog came from within my family, interest in it has spread to the extended family, friends, and coworkers.  I hope I do them justice.

Next, introductions.  I am making this journey with my sisters-in-law Jerri and Beth Jenista.  You will meet them through my posts and their own comments.



Karen, Beth, Jerri



Finally, a bit about why I'm undertaking this journey, because everyone is supposed to go on a pilgrimage for a reason.  In fact, according to resources about the Camino, when you reach the Pilgrim Office in Santiago, you must state your reason/s for making the pilgrimage before you can receive your certificate of completion.

Spiritual: For the past two years, I have neglected my personal relationship with God.  In spite of my intentions to return to spiritual direction and daily quiet time, I continued to let the secular aspects of my life dominate my time and energy.  So the Lord intervened, presenting me with an offer of relationship that I could accept or refuse.  I accepted it.  I don't know His purpose, but I know He will transform me or my life in some way.

Physical: This journey will obviously challenge my body, my strength, my endurance.  It has the potential to return--even surpass--the fitness I lost during a recent extended illness.

Mental: The physical dibilitation of that illness undermined my confidence.  Loss of control, non-productivity, and isolation wore me down.  Back on my feet again, I feel a need to prove myself again, to re-earn skills and respect.  Walking mile after mile, day after day, the determination it will take may create a sense of accomplishment that will stay with me beyond the Cathedral. (By the way, this blog itself is an intellectual exercise for technologically challenged me.  And anyone who works in a library knows that the services need to keep up with technology to remain relevant to its patrons.)

Cultural: The experience of being immersed in a foreign country--the people, the customs, the language, the food--is always broadening and enriching.  I look forward to visiting Spanish libraries, too.

Diverse: Not only will I encounter Spanish culture; the Camino draws travelers from all around the world.  This is an opportunity to meet and mix with people of many nationalities, customs, and spiritual inclinations.

In short, this pilgrimage offers a variety of ways to renew, grow, and learn--personally, spiritually, and professionally.  It also offers an opportunity for me to do something I don't do often enough: play, have fun.

So if you've arrived here because you googled "Camino de Santiago," searching for helpful information, I'm sorry to disappoint you.  All you'll find here is one Average Jane's personal account of her experience along The Way.  Any useful information you pick up is purely coincidental.

Hasta luego!