Walking with a Frenchman

    Yesterday after I posted I walked out into the courtyard of the alberque and who do I see but Danielle!  She´s a Frenchwoman who speaks very little English, but is delightful.  I met her at an alberque the third night of the Camino and have not seen her since.  We had a wonderful reunion.  She also let me know that she had Polly´s information so I love that she was able to help me to connect to Polly - even if we do not see one another again on the Camino.
    So today I headed out about 7AM.  Orion in the sky, Venus, I turn around every so often and watch another amazing sunrise.  The walking was easy in the coolness (luckily not as cold as the two nights before).  Stopped at the first town, then headed to the next.  I had now completed about 5 miles when a young Frenchman asked me if I knew the time.  I told him I didn´t and he noted that he had just posted a letter and it said 9:30 pickup so he wondered if it would go today.  Then he shrugged and said that it didn´t matter anyway - he´s on the Camino.
    We walked together the next 5 miles to Rabbinal and he talked the entire time.  He was very cute.  He told me he had started the Camino in Lourdes France and walked the Camino Avillia(sp?) which wasn´t very crowded, then it joined the Camino Frances.  He´s been walking for 4 weeks.  I asked him why he was walking the Camino and he told me, "Well, that is a very long story... I will try to tell you."  And the story began.
    Reason number 1.  For Adventure.  He loves the idea of adventure and so he has decided to just go whereever whenever.  He said "Sometimes it says the Camino is there... so I go there instead... a little adventure."  He said that if he doesn´t eat for 24 hours he´ll survive.  There will be a village with a market at some point.  If he has to sleep outside, that´s okay.  He likes sleeping under the stars.  He also said he enjoys seeing new places.  Plus he noted that he only knew a little Spanish, could not put together sentences, but he asks people words and is now speaking Spanish quite well.  Everyone who walked by who was Spanish seemed to converse easily with him.  He noted that many French do not bother to speak spanish, but since he is in their country he thinks it is nicer to speak their language, or at least try.
   He also noted that he has his cell phone, but put a message on it to not leave a message unless it is an emergency.  He checks every 4 days or so in case something has happened with his family.  He told them, to not expect him to call.  He did not bring a camera, instead if he sees something of real interest he is taking the time to draw it.  He said something like drawing is not efficient, but I´m on the Camino and it is not about an efficient journey.  He intends to take the time he needs to record his journey by drawing.
   Reason Number 2.  To step back and take time.  He had heard about the Camino before.  Then his grandparent died a few years ago and one of his uncles suggested the family walk the Camino de Puy (in France) one week each summer.  He went last year and really liked having that time set aside.  He added that he was a "Chief" at Boy Scout camp this past year and the training was at a monastery where they had time for training, but also for prayer and personal time.  He really liked that.  And he was at a place where he had time to do this "stepping" back.
   He talked about liking one aspect of the job he has had in Paris the last couple of years.  So he left his job and when he returns he wants to return to the aspect he liked.  He spent some time in the Monastery thinking about his work and got some clarity about what to do, so he thought, perhaps the Camino would also help bring some clarity.
    Reason number 3.  Hopes to reconnect to God.   He said he was raised in a Catholic family that is very involved with the church, but as he turned 21, 22 he started questioning and not taking it as seriously.  Now at 25 he feels very strongly that it is important to have God rather than for each of us to believe we are in total control of our lives.  I asked him about how he would describe God.  He thinks of God as a loving parent, someone who guides, but does not get upset if you go another way.  God is always there.
    In between the lines he explained and told stories that were great - like his mother has 9 brothers and sisters and each has 6-7 kids so he has over 50 cousins.  He made reference to a number of family meetings.  He talked about his grandfather who cared for acres of forests (he felt he should care for God´s creation), and now after his grandfather´s death how others in the family are stepping in to care for the land. 

Marc stops to help another French peregrino

One of many interesting cairns on the Camino

A Sheep dog earns a cool reward

A shepherd waits for the dogs to lead the sheep to him.

    So as we reached Rabbinal we parted as I stopped to eat my lunch.  We exchanged names. his in Marc.  I told him how much I enjoyed visiting with him and he said something like... "Yes, I know I really talked a lot."  But it was delightful, Marc.  May God be with you on your Camino.  Bueno Camino!