Eat + Pray = Love?

Earlier this week I was fortunate enough to be sent abroad again, this time to the north-east of Italy, to a small town called Tolentino. I was visiting a leather factory there. For all the sluggishness of the Italian economy, there is a lot to be said for the importance the Italians put on mealtimes. … Continue reading »

24: Teo – Santiago

‘I just can’t give up now, Come too far from where I’ve started from. Nobody told me The road would be easy But I don’t believe you’ve brought me this far To leave me.’ 7.30am – FF shook me awake ‘EVERYONE’S GONE! We have to get out of here before the Spanish boys wake up,’ … Continue reading »

26: Pontevedra – Briallos

‘So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. … Continue reading »

27: Redondela – Pontevedra

‘At the same time, since all things are new, you see only the beauty in them, and you feel happy to be alive.’ The Pilgrimage, Paulo Coehlo Although we slept in a hot room with 50 other pilgrims, FF and I slept like queens thanks to two large glasses of vino tinto before bed. The … Continue reading »

28: Tui – Redondela

When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.” Jonah 4v8 And so to Spain and almost immediately we crossed the Rio Minho, we felt … Continue reading »

29: Rubiaes – Tui

‘Whoever wishes to be my disciple must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.’ Our last day in Portugal. It feels like we’ve got a proper rhythm to the days now – rising, walking, resting, greeting fellow pilgrims arriving in time for siesta. The days stretch leisurely giving us plenty of time … Continue reading »

30: Ponte de Lima – Rubiaes

I’m living on the mountain, underneath a cloudless sky, I’m drinking from the fountain that never shall run dry, O yes! I’m feasting on the manna from a bountiful supply For I am dwelling in Beulah land! In the youth hostel in Ponte de Lima there were rumours of other pilgrims – a rucksack in … Continue reading »

31: Barcelos – Ponte de Lima

‘When you travel, you experience in a very practical way, the act of rebirth. You confront new situations, the day passes more slowly, and on most journeys you don’t even understand the language the people speak. So you are like a child just out of the womb. You begin to attach much more importance to … Continue reading »

32: Rates – Barcelos

We got up at six to steal a march on the day. The sun was rising, and so was a group of vocal Irish walkers from Galway, who woke the other pilgrims in the albergue, whether they wanted to wake early or not – inside I groaned, like I had done when I discovered I … Continue reading »

34: terminals

In religion and spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long journey or search of great moral significance. Sometimes, it is a journey to a shrine of importance to a person’s beliefs and faith. A person who makes such a journey is called a pilgrim. Wikipedia All pilgrimages properly begin at the doorstep of your own front … Continue reading »