Thinking of those who walk for less happy reasons

Prentiss Riddle

Aprendiz de todo, maestro de nada

Time of past OR future Camino

Português and/or Francés in 2023

• Aug 12, 2015

• #1

My Camino obsession has made me feel like a kindred spirit to anyone who undertakes a long walk, including those who do so out of desperation. So I have been very moved by Shannon Jensen's photos of the shoes of war refugees. Many of these people walked for 30 days, just about the length of the Francés.

http://www.shannon-jensen.com/#/1/

I hope I will remember these the next time I'm inclined to complain about my own blisters.

 

annakappa

RIP 2024

Time of past OR future Camino

Part frances jun 07/rest frances may- jun 2008/Frances sept-oct 2009/ Sanabres Oct 2010/Frances sept-oct 2011/Aragones Sept-Oct 2012. Hospitalero Sept 2010, Amiga in Pilgrim's Office Oct 2013. Part Primitivo Oct 2013. Portugues from Porto June 2015.

• Aug 12, 2015

• #2

Food for thought here! Thank you Prentiss Riddle, for posting this!

 

Kanga

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Francés x 5, Le Puy x 2, Arles, Tours, Norte, Madrid, Via de la Plata, Portuguese, Primitivo

• Aug 13, 2015

• #3

Last night I watched a program about those desperately waiting in Calais hoping to get to the UK. One was a female doctor who had to flee because the local morality vigilantly squad came to the hospital with the intention of killing her (because she is female). She was not at the hospital at the time, so they killed all her patients instead.

But, relevantly to this thread, I felt so sad when I saw the children with outgrown shoes. They had to make do with their shoes cut open at the back, and their heels unprotected from the ground. Some had walked extraordinary distances like that.

 

A

Anemone del Camino

Guest

• Aug 13, 2015

• #4

And many of those wearing such shoes are living just blocks away from us, keepimg warm on a subway went or entrance. Not only do they sipuffer from hunger, but from being outcasts and often mentaly ill.

 

kelleymac

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

March/April 2015, Late April 2016, Sept/Oct 2017, April 2019.

• Aug 13, 2015

• #5

Thank-you. Honestly, the shoes really brought their plight home to me.

 

Hélène Cholette-Lacasse

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Aug. 2015 Camino Frances

• Aug 14, 2015

• #6

Thank you Prentiss Riddle for this human reality check!..All my aches and pains suddenly disappeared -)

 

wawpdx

Active Member

• Aug 22, 2015

• #7

Thank you for this sobering post.
It is humbling in the light of our "weigh the options" questions. I went to the link and saw that photo #2 is from a 70 year old.