Day 27 – El Acebo de San Miguel

Many pilgrims bring significant emotional work-in-progress with them on the Camino.   The Cruz de Ferro or “Iron Cross” , a land mark prior to tonight’s stay in Alcebo, is where they come to leave it behind.  They leave stones or momentos or pictures or whatever near the cross. There is a huge pile of rocks and mementos at the base that the local government needs to clear away every so often just to keep the monument accessible.

As I neared the local peak I met up with a women from Quebec whom I had met earlier on the Camino.  We agreed to walk together to the cross and take each other’s picture on our respective phones.  (Due to the size of the monument and the limitations of the iPhone camera, mine is not blog-worthy)

I asked her if she had brought a stone from home to leave at the cross.  “I have brought 3”, she replied.  One was for a friend that has cancer, one was for another friend, and the third was a picture of a friend she had “parted with”.

I didn’t press her on the details as it sounded like a very personal issue.  When we got to the cross, we took the required pictures and then I got busy helping a husband and wife carry their baby stroller to the base of the cross and took their picture on their phone. 

When I headed back down the hill I caught up with the women from Quebec.   She said through her tears “I am feeling sad”.   I said “it’s okay to be sad.”  Then, miraculously, I found a clean tissue in my jacket pocket to give to her,  for which she expressed gratitude.

Then I realized that this was a personal moment and I was not a participant so I patted her on the shoulder and said “I’m walking on a bit” and picked up my pace.

I saw her again at an outdoor cafe at the bottom of the hill.  She was smiling and we briefly discussed the various options on the trail going forward.  

I don’t know if our paths will cross again but I feel fortunate to have shared this moment with her. 

Buen Camino,

-jgp