Oh Camino

• If you talk with someone who has walked the Camino it won’t be long until they bring up the subject of “communitas” . Many will talk about the closeness between different pilgrims on the path . Most people in their everyday life do not walk down the street and say hello to every person they see . Most do not strike up a conversation or ask the stranger sitting next to them at the cafe where they are from or what their story is. On the Camino however, you will see this everywhere . There is a sense of closeness between almost every pilgrim that walks the Camino . What I have learned over the last few days though is that the feeling of communitas does not just stop with the pilgrims. While walking through a small town that seemed to be full of more cows than people , we stopped at a one room stone hut. Inside , the room was decorated from ceiling to floor with Camino posters, painting, pins and handouts . The older man who lived there had completely decorated the place and even left out food and water for all of the pilgrims . He offered advice, hugs, and a stamp all for free . While we were leaving , someone questioned what we thought his job or hobby was. Someone else answered by saying he probably just spends every day helping and speaking with pilgrims . As simple as that sounds , it goes to prove how much “communitas” exists between not just the pilgrims but the pilgrims and the locals as well. Not only is the Camino our entire life for the time being, it is theirs as well. As much as the locals help us with directions, food, or just conversation , we help them as well with money and by simply keeping the Camino alive . The Camino does more than just bring a group of pilgrims together, it brings an entire community of people associated with the path together as well.