Santiago where the wind greets you

By Collin Choi

"If you know how much I love you, you'd cry of joy."Exactly ten years ago, on a summer day, I was walking through the Tibetan Himalayas. I walked with a very painful headache from altitude sickness, along the muddy trails, chitchatting with my Chinese friends in the mountain rain. I remember one day I took off in a car and sped without any direction, suddenly surprised by the unforgettable scenery of a lake and mountains, reflected by the glow of sunset. It was ten years ago that I was touched to tears by the impression of Dalai Buddhists, who walked hundreds and thousands of kilometers from the door of their house to the Tibetan capital, Lhasa. And ten years later this summer, I am walking to Santiago de Compostela on two clay shoes and it has been over 30 days so far."We have to be brave to say hello and also to say goodbye."This is one of the things that I learned from Camino de Santiago: because we were heading to the same destination, we could become friends in the same boat. But as time went, we slowly recognized that one day we should say goodbye and go our own way after the pilgrimage. It was difficult to say goodbye to really good friends.This is a travel essay and photo gallery traveled through French way (Camino Franc?s) of camino de santiago, also in the names of Peregrinatio Compostellana, Pilgrimage of Compostela, O Cami?o de Santiago leading from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain. This road is called, The way of Saint James. This is registered as UNESCO World Heritage site. You will need to get a pilgrim's passport (also called credencial) and follow the sign of shells or yellow arrows. You will experience many types of albergue or religious dormitory/bed for all journey. I hope you don't meet any bed bugs that I suffered from in hot summer.The main and popular routes are Camino Franc?s ( French Way) , Camino Primitivo ( Original Way) , Camino Portugu? (the Portuguese Way) and Camino del Norte (Northern Way).*ContentsPrologueDay 0. From Slovakia to Saint Jean in FranceDay 1. Drinking raindrops on leaves (to Roncesvalles)Day 2. Loving spicy noodles (to Zubiri)Day 3. Are you Japanese? (to Pamplona)Day 4. I want BBQ(to Puente la Reina)Day 5. You are fat, really? (to Estella)Day 6. Race discrimination? (to Los Arcos)Day 7. Oh, my chili pasta (to Logrono)Day 8. No energy (to Najera)Day 9. Should I pay for the entrance to "Chicken" church? (to Santo Domingo de la Calzada)Day 10. Holy water (to Belorado)Day 11. My legs are short (to Ages)Day 12. Tapas with beauties (to Burgos)Day 13. Wanted to escape from bed bugs (to Hontanas)Day 14. Two girls with long legs (to Boadilla del Camino)Day 15. Please, stop complaining (to Carrion de los Condes)Day 16. My beer belly is gone (to Terradillos de los Templarios)Day 17. Why so many Korean pilgrims? (to El Burgo Ranero)Day 18. The best side dish for alcohol (to Mansilla de las Mulas)Day 19. I forgive you because I like the wind (to Leon)Day 20. Right knee has a problem (to San Martin del Camino)Day 21. Because it is a pilgrim road (to Astorga)Day 22. I want to see the stars (to Foncebadon)Day 23. It's the same wind (to Ponferrada)Day 24. Don't be lonely (to Villafranca del Bierzo)Day 25. Any music, please (to O Cebreiro)Day 26. How could it be? (to Triacastela)Day 27. I was not lonely (to Sarria)Day 28. Can we spend more time here? (to Gonzar)Day 29. Hurt is hurt (to Melide)Day 30. Friends will meet again (to O Pedrouzo)Day 31. Why did you bring me here? (to Santiago de Compostela)Epilogue

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1090839634
• ISBN13: 9781090839633
• Release Date: March 2019
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 189 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.4" x 6.0"