Getting ready

Good Friday

In one month we will be leaving for Lisboa.

Last year we spent Holy Week in Santiago although it was a couple of weeks later.  One year ago, we were still over 200 Km away from Santiago de Compostela.  That day we were getting ready to climb to the highest point of El Camino Frances, it is even higher than the Pyrenees.  That was one of the most important days for me.  At the top of the mountain is the Cruz de Ferro, a humble iron cross at top of a pole, a place for prayer.  At this point tradition dictates that pilgrims should bring a pebble from their place of origin and throw it at the foot of the iron cross, asking for forgiveness for all the bad things we did or the good things did not do and the stone left behind symbolizes all the burden we want to leave behind.  In the picture you can see the size of the hill that has formed with pebbles from pilgrim for all over the world for over 1000 years,

The climb to the cross is arduous but the views of the sierra are magnificent, pretty well all morning we had light snow.

If you look at the pictures you can see why these are memories we will never forget.  This is the reason why we have to go back.

And we are getting ready.  While there is a month still for the trip, we have only two weeks at home.  Next week we are going to Mexico to visit family for two weeks and then back for only one week.  

The problems with my feet (plantar fasciatis) have finally been fixed, it took 3 or 4 months of trying orthotics and refining them before the pain went away but now I can walk.  I also injured my right knee.  The doctor says that besides some strained muscle I have arthritis but I have been going to physio and doing some exercises and the knee is better. 

I have re-packed my  backpack a couple of times and I got it down to 7 Kg.  We checked with doctor and dentist to make sure that everything is OK from their point of view.  Today we got our medications from the drug store.  We asked for them to be packed in zip-lock bags instead of bottles (reduces the volume inside the pack).   Now the pills are counted and packed and ready for Europe.

Since we have not had a chance to hike, for training we are walking around 12,000 steps a day and I am doing another 20 minutes daily of stationary bicycle at the gym.  I expect that just like last year the first week of pilgrimage is going to be difficult.

Today is the day we remember the suffering of Our Lord but Sunday is the day of celebration.  The resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This year I am looking forward to visit the shrine of Our Lady at Fatima.  This is more important for me than to visit the tomb of the apostle (Sorry Santiago).  I have had the privilege of visiting the shrines at Guadalupe and Lourdes so this visit will allow me to say that I have been at the 3 more important places Our Lady has visited.

Hail Mary full of Grace.