Can Mr. 5 – Star Handle the Luxury of El Camino ?
Good Morning All!
I realize that not everyone who may be reading this blog will know me quite well. Do not worry, you will soon! LOL!
Most of my friends and family know that as I progressed within my career, my vacation style and life style became that of a “5 Star Approach”. Yes, LUXURY ALL THE WAY! Ocean views, world class food, luxury linens for the bed, amenities, spas, business class travel, air conditioning, etc.
Luxury lead to my fondness and strong liking to a high thread count of Egyptian Cotton sheets for my bed at home. After all, a good nights sleep in total comfort is good for you, right?
Let me share an experience I had with the “softness”of hospital gowns last year.
I remember chatting with a nurse when I was having my knee surgery last January. The nurse gave me a hospital gown. I touched it and it felt like sandpaper! I called her over and said “Excuse me but you have given me an exfoliation gown (judging from how rough it was, I am sure it worked well) but I am looking for something softer, Egyptian Cotton perhaps?” She HOWLED and said “sir wear this or wear nothing, NO Egyptian Cotton here.”
How does that story relate to my Camino 8 months later?
I will be doing a pilgrimage. I will giving up my 5 Star Luxury Lifestyle for something more simple, practical, sacrificial, and much more economical. I have been researching many “Albergues” (hostel in Spanish). I now realize that the exfoliation gown worn at the hospital was just a preparation for what is to come! I survived that experience and it is in knowing how fine that experience was, which will make El Camino just fine!
Last night after searching out Albergues along the way, I had nightmares of what lies ahead.
Please enjoy the photos below showing the Luxury Lifestyle I am about to embark upon!
There are NO bed linens, instead I will use my very own sleeping bag liner made from a low grade, inexpensive silk and place it on rubber mattress.
VARIOUS PHOTOS of the Albergues I MIGHT Experience!
All kidding aside, El Camino offers a wide range of accommodation and types of Albergues. Some are more quaint, rustic, and older than others. Some are brand new. ALL offer pilgrims the chance to mingle, share stories, develop friendships, examine their spirituality, and build life-long memories of one of the greatest experiences ever.
Perhaps El Camino provides luxury for the soul instead? El Camino may just cause me to do some soul searching for what really counts in life? Is it really material things like Egyptian Cotton and 5 Star Luxury? I doubt it. Pilgrims have walked El Camino for centuries carrying nothing and why? What were they searching for? Maybe it was realizing what really matters in life; the gift of good health, a loving family, good friends, realizing that helping others counts, the joy felt when smiling at people, and the power of just being kind to each other.
I am ready, very excited, and willing to experience all that comes my way! Who needs Egyptian Cotton anyways?
KEEP WALKING!
