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Camino de Santiago

August - October 2022
A 40-day adventure by Kathie Lassos the Moon Read more
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Backpacking, Culture, Nature, Self discovery, Sightseeing, Solo travel, Spirituality
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  • Kathie Lassos the MoonCamino de Santiago

    Fifty Days and Counting!

    July 8, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 82 °F

    Happy Friday! I decided to begin my journal — Pre Camino de Santiago today.

    I have walked 6+ miles every day since I returned from our European vacation. Next week, I will increase my mileage to 10 miles a day—with my backpack of course. I am easing back into my walking since vacation, I don’t want to chance an injury that might cause my training to be stalled.

    In Dallas, we have a heat “warning” today. The temps will once again be in triple digits and the heat index even more dangerously high. I will work out in the gym today and work on uphill climbing—preparing for the Pyrenees portion of the Camino.

    I find myself praying constantly for my Camino. I wake up in the morning or the middle of the night thinking about it. I go to sleep thinking about it. I am not sure if this is fear, or the strong desire to complete the entire 500-mile walk. I don’t know that it matters right now. I am doing all I can now to be prepared—well, as prepared as one can be for the unknown. I equate this feeling to when I was expecting our first child, Sara. It was all I thought about, prayed, and prepared for—but no one can really tell you what your experience will be like—what it is like to have a baby dependent on you. It takes going through it to know. So I am opening my heart and mind to an adventure, praying for joy, fellowship with other pilgrims, good health, and safety.

    There are times I wish I wasn’t going alone—but this isn’t Joe’s cup of tea. He would be miserable. And I don’t want that for him or my Santiago experience. My friend, Diane had planned to do a portion of the Camino a few years ago, but COVID got in the way. Then Diane had to drop out of going due to a walking/hiking accident she had that compromised her ankle for such a long walk.

    So, I will go alone. I will continue to fully rely on God today and every day — especially as I prepare and walk my Camino.    Read more

  • Kathie Lassos the MoonCamino de Santiago

    James the Apostle

    July 25, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 100 °F

    Today is the Feast Day of St. James!

    The reason last year and this year are considered Holy Years—when St. James’ Feast Day falls on a Sunday, Pope Francis declared it a Holy Year for the Camino. Because many pilgrims could not travel due to COVID, the Pope extended the Holy Year one more year. Camino de Santiago pilgrimage is also described as the Way of St. James.

    Saint Jacob, or Saint James, was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. He was born in Bethsaida, a village on Lake Tiberias, in present-day Israel. He was the son of the fisherman Zebedee and the brother of the apostle John.

    What is clear from their writings is that Saint James was a faithful follower of Jesus. Together with Peter and his brother John, he is considered one of the three most important disciples. He is the patron saint of Spain, where the end of the pilgrimage route named after him can also be found.

    Saint James traveled to Spain to spread the word of Christ there. He is said to have spent about seven years here before returning to Jerusalem. Around Easter of AD 44, Saint James was the first of the apostles to die a martyr when he was beheaded under the command of Herod Agrippa, king of the Herodians.

    Saint James’s head is said to be buried in Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter, where a cathedral is dedicated to Saint James the Greater. The building is said to mark the spot where he was beheaded.

    According to the accounts, the body of Saint James made a long journey west After the death of the apostle, his body is said to have been taken to the Iberian Peninsula in a boat led by an angel. After that, the saint was buried in the place where Santiago de Compostela is now located. This place is even named after him: the Spanish name of Saint Jacob, Santo Iago, or San Yago, was shortened to Santiago.    Read more

  • Kathie Lassos the MoonCamino de Santiago

    Two Weeks to Go!

    August 14, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 97 °F

    • Packing
    • Walking
    • Stationary bike
    • Repacking
    • Redistributing weight in my backpack
    • Praying
    • Weighing my backpack
    • Going over routes
    • Check things off my packing list
    • Praying
    • Checking the 14 day forecast for Spain

    But today, I am relishing the amazing time Joe and I had this week with the three little boys who crawl into my heart whether we are together or not. We love these boys!

    Since our grandsons left today, I made list as to how I will be filling my days leading up to the 27th!

    I am anxious, terrified, and very excited about walking the Camino Francés to Santiago de Compostela!

    Photos from our week with our grandsons!    Read more

  • Kathie Lassos the MoonCamino de Santiago

    God-incident?

    August 15, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    My grandmother encouraged us to pray the rosary. She told us every Hail Mary you say you are giving the Blessed Mother a rose, when you say the rosary you give her a bouquet of roses. She said, “When you get to heaven it will be wonderful to see all of the roses you gave the Blessed Mother throughout your life!” This started my true affection for our Mother Mary!

    My grandmother said the rosary all throughout her day--8 times throughout the day. When she died, she died on the Feast of the Holy Rosary Oct. 7th! This will be the day I finish my Camino!

    Blessings this day of Mary’s Assumption into heaven, body and soul!    Read more

  • Kathie Lassos the MoonCamino de Santiago

    Six More Sleeps!

    August 21, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 86 °F

    Excited. Anxious. Terrified. Joyful.
    I leave on Saturday for Madrid.

    People walk the Camino for a variety of reasons; some walk for the physical challenge, some walk for the solitude, or to walk the journey with a good friend, spouse, or sibling, and others walk for a spiritual reason—some walk for all three. I believe my pilgrimage is for all three reasons, and some reasons I won’t know until I’m on the trail.

    Just had to compare and contrast my packing from our Cruise to my Camino.
    Joe and I shared the larger luggage bag, but my “stuff” alone occupied the carry-on and red backpack!

    I have repacked it multiple times. I am missing a few small items here, but for the most part, this is it.

    Prayers appreciated for myself and other pilgrims on their Camino!    Read more

  • Kathie Lassos the MoonCamino de Santiago

    My Camino Prayer

    August 23, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F
  • Kathie Lassos the MoonCamino de Santiago

    Seashells Pointing the Way!

    August 24, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 86 °F

    Earlier this summer when we were on vacation, I had moments of doubt about walking solo.

    As we were touring Antwerp, and Bruges Belgium — one of our tour guides pointed out a brass seashell in the pavement. He asked if anyone knew what it meant. I exclaimed, “Camino de Santiago!” Our tour guide explained the Camino to our group and shared that last year he cycled the Camino — starting in Antwerp!

    Throughout the remainder of our trip, other passengers on our cruise showed the Camino seashells to me pointing the way.

    It may seem silly, but the seashells on the pavement or the bright blue background with yellow seashells (especially the one on “Pelgrim Stratte” in Antwerp) really encouraged me.

    I’m not a big believer in “signs”— anyone who knows the story of our wedding can attest to the number of signs I ignored —but we are still together after 37 years…a story I will save for another time!    Read more

  • Kathie Lassos the MoonCamino de Santiago

    Sweetness!

    August 25, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 90 °F

    I received a package in the mail this afternoon and was touched beyond measure! My sweet friend made a wool pair of socks for me! As she was making them, she prayed for me and my pilgrimage. The icing on the cake —
    St. James is on the cuff of one of the socks! Blessings!
    Thank you, Sue!
    ❤️✝️    Read more

  • Kathie Lassos the MoonCamino de Santiago
    8

    The Adventure Begins!

    August 27, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 93 °F

    I didn’t think I would be so emotional as I said goodbye to Joe at the airport! I will miss him on this adventure.

    I’m excited to be going. I reached a point earlier this week where I just wanted to begin. So here I am.

    Joe slipped a large envelope into my backpack and told me I had strict orders to follow the instructions. When I got to the gate, I pulled out the envelope — tried not to cry in the lounge of American Airlines! I love my family! 📝♥️

    Once in Madrid, I will be either taking a taxi to the train station and a train to Pamplona or taking a bus to Pamplona. I’m a little type A and knew I would feel better having a plan B in the event 2.5 hours is cutting it close to make the train. The train station will be 25-30 minutes. I hope that Sunday mornings are slow in Spain!

    Here I go!    Read more

  • Kathie Lassos the MoonCamino de Santiago

    My First Blessing While Boarding!

    August 27, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 93 °F

    I saw a woman at the gate with seashells on her backpack. I started to ask if she…and she immediately said to me with a huge smile, Camino?!
    We chatted while we were waiting to board. Susan has walked portions of the Camino, she was very excited for me! She gave me a little charm (so to speak) that has Buen Camino (have a good Camino/walk). This is a common greeting/goodbye. #blessedRead more

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