I had heard that the Camino stays with one long after the walking is done, and I can attest that this is true. I walked the Camino from Sarria to Santiago this past April, and still desire to have connections with others who have made the pilgrimage.
I remember seeing information on Fr. Greg Markey's book on the Camino shortly before I left for Spain. At that time, my thoughts were: 1) I don't have time to read another book now, and 2) I don't want to read one more person's account that might color my own experience.
I was happy to order Fr. Greg's book when I returned. I loved his detailed history of the Camino and of the research on the relics of St. James, which was far more comprehensive than anything else I had read. However, each person has his/her own Camino. I was thoroughly engaged by Fr. Greg's descriptions of his walk and his challenges, but I knew I had not been up to walking 30 miles a day carrying a backpack, along the entire French route as he did. I had read a book about another priest who walked the Camino and did not reveal his vocation to his fellow pilgrims; Fr. Greg wore his Roman collar, celebrated mass and counseled other pilgrims all along the way. I related to his sad but realistic descriptions of closed and poorly maintained churches. I had hoped to read more details of his journey on the part of the Camino on which I had walked, but in his grand trek, that was a tiny part. It made an impression on me that as Fr. Greg reflected on his pilgrimage, which had many challenges, he felt concern about returning to the weight of his responsibilities as the pastor of his church. I think we sometimes do not appreciate the crosses our pastors carry for us.
This book is an easy read, and I recommend it to everyone, regardless of whether they have walked to Camino themselves, plan to do so, or are satisfied reading about someone else's experience in doing so.
