just a word or two about the words el camino de santiago.  everyone agrees about the saint james part.  although many people believe that this was already a pilgrimage way before the remains of saint james ended up beneath the cathedral in santiago de compostella.  the original, or pagan. pilgrimage was to finisterre, meaning ´the end of the earth´where people went to see the sun disappear into the ocean.  that was an amazing, frightening, mind-boggling sight in those days, and people were drawn from all over to actually see it with their own eyes.  but anyway, today´s pilgrimage is known as the camino de santiago, or le chemin de saint jacques, jakobsweg in german.  the reason i am writing this is because i think that the english translation is so interesting.  first of all, most english speakers just call it the camino.  but really, it is ´the way of saint james´, or, as so many europeans call it, just ´the way´.  furthermore, it is usually referred to in a possessive way, such as ´my camino´or ýour camino´.  the real translation would be ´my way´or ýour way´.  sometimes you will hear a french person say something like ´have a good way tomorrow´or ask ´how is your way?´ i just love that.  my way!  i´m walking my way!  there are so many interesting uses of the word ´way´in english.   what pops into my head is the song, of course, ´i did it my way´.  but what is really cool is to think about the phrase that someone has á baby on the way´ to mean that someone is pregnant.  it is as if the little unborn soul has a long journey to complete before being born!  but i think it is such a beautiful idea that i am walking my way.  my way is beautiful.  and my  way is all mine! 

so i wish you all the best on your way.  i know that there are so many beautiful sights to see on your way, and so many wonderful people to meet as you walk your way.  i am glad that our paths crossed on our ways.  continue to enjoy your way, and buen camino, or have a good way!

peace and blessings-
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