4th January 2025
The process of leaving one’s everyday life is somewhat traumatic – much as l am grateful for the time away and the fact that it is completely necessary, I cannot escape the difficulty of breaking free. Our journey to Newquay airport sums up the struggle: a lift in a car with some mechanical issues brewing in the transmission, overheated almost terminally in the early hours of the morning on the A30.
Now I am away; I feel I am on retreat. ‘I have entered the desert and can reconnect to my true self’ (from Thomas Merton).
5th January
Everyone in Alicante is excited, especially the children, about the arrival of the ‘Reyes’, the three kings, this evening. They seem to be coming a day early to accommodate the fact that Monday isn’t a great night to stay up late eating sweets if you have to go to school in the morning.
8th January 2025
Lorry drivers toot and wave when they see us walking near the Autovia and people passing us wish us ‘Buen Camino’ or householders sometimes rush to bring us an orange or walnuts or a can of beer!
We on the Camino are symbols of the fact that all human beings are on our life journey. People see us and know in their hearts that ‘we all are pilgrims’ – ‘Todos Somos Peregrinos’.
9th January
I love this verse from the gospel of Thomas:
If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you.
Meditation and walking both are ways to bring forth that  beauty from within.
Arriving at Almansa
Some thoughts today about community. There is a tangible connection between peregrinos who are on the way or who have walked some Camino in the past; a community who know the frailty of existence and the importance of showing love and kindness, especially to people who are far from home.
Two evenings ago we were looked after by Pepe and his friend Paulino.  They invited us to their Bodega, a cave traditionally used for making wine. Down in the cave a meal was prepared over a warming fire, Pepe shared wine and stories of past Camino characters.
At the close of the night Paulino put a little wooden Santiago cross around  our necks. He said a blessing in Spanish about the need for good hearts in our troubled world, where some have no food and many others are suffering.
As we know though, the real Camino is the one of your own life; where you are able to become fully yourself.
This journey is continued when we return home to the everyday and messy world.
Simon Andrews
Organising Team member S.W. Retreats
Images: Simon Andrews