Armchair Travel

As a traveller I love travel, both physical and mental. The other day we went to a movie after work to see The Way, My Way, a story about an Australian filmmaker, with a bum knee, who decides to embark on a pilgrimage to walk the Camino de Santiago across Spain. It hits all the notes of a grand adventure - beauty, humour, overcoming challenges and human connection.

The Camino commonly begins in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France and transverses the north of Spain. It's 800 kilometres long which is the equivalent of walking from Toronto to Quebec City - a serious walk. People have walked this route since the ninth century, which culminates at the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia.

https://youtu.be/eIYrEBQhLEQ?si=7-KHGRl4jyZC5zOM

We were lucky enough to go with another couple. She had literally walked the entirety of the camino last year. Even though I have never walked the camino, and likely never will, for that 90-minutes, I was there. I could feel the energy of the pilgrimage, of the film maker, of my friend. It was real. It excites me when people share their travels. It's invigorating to feel their excitement, their love and their discovery of a place.

Over my life I have watched countless travel shows and films that chronicled a journey. I loved the Lonely Planet Globetrekker program in the 90s. Justine and Ian were my favourite guides. I wonder what they are they doing today? They felt like long distance, exciting, friends.

I devoured guidebooks in an age before the internet. And there is nothing better than reading travel literature to escape the mundane routine of everyday life. I love to know where people go, and why. What drew them to live an unconventional life? What did they learn? How did it change them? Some of my favourite travel storytellers include Frances Mayes, Anthony Bourdain, Bill Bryson, Peter Mayle, Michael Palin, Steinbeck, Hemingway and countless others. Combing the travel literature section of the book store with a coffee was the ultimate indulgence. Travel literature is a bit of lost art today where blogging and vlogging are so immediately accessible.

As for the camino it's no surprise that the journey, not the cathedral, is the pilgrimage. The self-reflection and the growth came from the people met on the way, the weather, physical discomfort and moments of sheer beauty. The pilgrimage is walking the steps - step by step by step. I think that's part of the reason why I love the process of actually, physically, travelling. I love the journey in all its ups and downs. Life is in the weeds. I (almost never) complain about a travel day, not matter how weary. Every time I step through those airport doors, I am grateful. It is a privilege to be there.

Whether by plane, with words or watching films this is your friendly reminder to keep dreaming.