Useful sites to plan your own Camino

If you're planning your own Camino the following sites/forums have been a godsend towards my own preparations. There is sooooo much useful and practical information, I've been researching as much as I can on the Camino for over a year now and I'm still learning something different everyday..

http://www.pilgrimage-to-santiago.com/board/

( I find this forum to be extremely informative the people on here have created a fantastic Camino community)

http://www.caminosantiago.com/

(Another forum which I found to be very useful)

http://groups.msn.com/ElCaminoSantiago/weathercaminofrances.msnw

(I like this forum it posts different kinds of questions the other 2 don't usually have)

http://www.csj.org.uk/

(A fantastic place to purchase Camino DVD's, books, postcards etc. Easy to navigate)

http://www.santiago-compostela.net/

(Another great site with lots of useful tools)

Happy preparations!

Thank You Everyone!

I knew this time would come, emotions are starting to stir and beginning to surface...I've been feeling really emotional the past couple of days. It's a mixture of excitement, fear, anticipation, adventure, doubt and so much more. Although the strongest feeling is this overwhelming sense of gratitude.

I'm sooooo grateful to the many many people who have helped me get to this very point. From someone recommending a book, to someone giving me a newspaper clipping, to someone allowing me to use their credit card to pay for my ticket, to people sending me gifts, to people helping me with researching, to people offering encouraging words, to someone counting down the days with me, to people advising where the best foreign exchange rates are, to people helping me start up this blog, to someone giving me a lift, to people sitting patiently listening to my fears and desires, to the many people living this dream with me.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you everyone, I'm sure you all know who you are, I can honestly say without your help I wouldn't be heading off to live this 11 year dream. You are all in my prayers and I'll be sending out good wishes for you all!

Muchas gracias

What is the Camino?

I believe the best way to understand the Camino is to watch the following clip:
(Mikey and Scotty this one's for you...hehehe)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDOTJHbwRj4
'Thoughts on the Camino'
(to gain the full effect, make sure you have sound)

Why?

Why? Why do you feel propelled to walk 800kms and for what?

Because I feel a strong inner pull to do it! That's my biggest reason. (Thanks Paulo Coelho)

This is the question everyone wants answered. There are sooo many reasons why I want to do this, the most powerful reason is this inner calling to slip on my hiking boots and walk this ancient road to Santiago... Am I religious? I like to say I'm spiritual. I believe strongly in a higher spirit. Who knows what experiences, challenges, people or miracles I'll come across, but that's what I can't wait to experience.

A couple of weeks ago a close friend asked me this same question and I replied 'I know I won't find all the answers to life or the actual meaning of life, all I want, is to experience something new. I'm ready for newness in my life. A new chapter has opened itself up and is calmly awaiting a new story.

In a nutshell these are my reasons:

• Learn to Risk more


• Travel by myself. I've always travelled with someone, I'm inspired by females travelling solo.


• Challenge myself physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually


• Practise Spanish
  
• Eat, eat, eat....I love Spanish food...Bring on the Tapas


• Hopefully discover what my life's purpose is..Especially in the work arena


• Open myself up to meeting and creating new friendships


• Laugh as much as I possibly can


• Take one day and one step at a time


• Let go


• Give thanks to God for all the blessings in my life


• I'd like to come across healers who can teach me different healing techniques


• I'd also like to give back to other pilgrims by doing reiki on them. It's been awhile


• Send out prayers and good wishes to all the people in my life


• I want to look back in life and say I've accomplished something extraordinary


• The majority of people I've spoken to who've completed this walk seem to go back time and time again, I want to know what that feels like.


• I want to experience miracles


• I want the adventure of my lifetime


• And ultimately have the time of my life!

No doubt I'll be adding more later down the track...hehehe

Let the journey begin............

A moment of Inspiration

When I start doubting myself whether I'll make it to the end (Santiago), I watch the following clip.I've watched this clip sooooo many times (hence why I've posted it twice within my blog) and it still manages to give me goose bumps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDOTJHbwRj4

I've been fortunate enough to chat with loads of people and the strongest piece of advice shared with me is 'It's the journey that counts, not the destination'.

Enjoy and who knows this may inspire you to plan your own Camino
;)