Photo: Walking into Viana do Castelo
I crossed the wide Lima River to reach beautiful Viana do Castelo after walking through multiple coastal villages in hills of evergreen and eucalyptus forests. I liked more up and down walking for a change versus the flatness of walking close to the ocean. I met noticeably more people today, some including those I’d met yesterday. My longest and most interesting social interaction was with a 31 year old dentist from the Czech Republic, Jacob. We met at a church at the top of a steep hill – Church of Santiago de Castelo do Neiva – where I was taking advantage of a cool breeze in the shade. (In this renovated church holds an inscription by the Bishop of Coimbra dedicating the original primitive church to St James in 862). Jacob and I immediately began talking about why we are doing the Camino. The conversation continued when we happened to see each again at a lunch spot. He sweetly bought me lunch and thanked me for the “help.”
I wish I had taken a picture of Jacob as he has a striking presence. He is 6’ 5”, thin, strong, shaved head and closely cropped beard. He hasn’t been in a relationship for 5 years. “I work all day, often 16 hours.” He loves dentistry because of the work, “not the people.” He recently started teaching dentistry at the University in Prague. He said he drinks too much, works too much, and uses drug. “I need a different life, and that’s why I’m here.” When I asked him more about the drug use he said he believes it is common for successful men to use drugs “to keep going.” He believes that this is true all over the world.
I won’t see Jacob again because he is walking this coastal Camino in 10 days (I am doing it in 13 days with 2 rest days added on.) I told Jacob that I wanted to offer him the gift of the word “savor.” I explained that I was working on embracing this way of experiencing life ever since I stopped working my 40 hour a week job a year ago. What does that mean, he asked? I said “To enjoy an experience slowly in order to appreciate it as much as possible.”
Bom Camino my friend!
