Friendship

CAMINO STAGE 12: Santander to Santillana del Mar Camino del Norte Route of El Camino De Santiago. 8 miles, 26 days to go

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“Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” Anais Nin

Walking with a friend makes the miles pass by quickly. Donna from England has become a dear friend, and it seems like we’ve known her forever. Finding out you have so much in common with someone, despite growing up in different countries, gives hope for getting along in ones own country.

“What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies.” Aristotle

We were informed there was a dangerous section of the Camino walking across a train trestle. Pilgrims were asked to take the train across this section to Requejada or be fined. Since the train was mandatory, we and several others boarded the train and enjoyed the mini break through a very industrial section of Santander.

Wealthy noblemen built villas and beautiful churches during Spain’s Golden Age, where literacy and art flourished. While walking through the countryside, we encountered several enchanting churches and buildings from this era that were still standing.

As we continued through the lovely environs, we talked art and literature and compared notes on where we were staying at each stage. Somehow we had booked 90% of the same places on our own. We will part paths after tomorrow’s stage but this leg was made brighter by Donna from England.

These incredible cobblestone roads greeted us as we arrived at Santillana del Mar as well as impressive inlaid coats of arm displayed on home’s stone facades. We had a great meal of shrimp and salmon in the gardens of one of the abandoned noblemen’s home turned restaurant La Huerta Del Indiano

“There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.”

Jane Austen, NorthHanger Abbey

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One of the joys of the Camino is getting closer to companions you brought with you and making new lifelong friends. After all, it is the people around us, on our shared journey through life, that see what is good in us, our own golden era, that stands through time.

One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood. Seneca