a spiritual experience by the wayside

To see the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (Spain)Christian Faugier worked for 30 days. At 59, he left his family in Saint-Étienne (Loire) to hit the road. He feels like he’s changed forever. “We can’t leave alone like that, for so many days, and it doesn’t change anything. It is not possible“, he confides. He left fromIrun (Spain) to reach Saint-Jacques. He traveled 840 km, far from any comfort. Every morning, however, he treated himself to a French-style breakfast. Alone or accompanied, Christian has market 20 km per day.

Along the way, everyone shares often difficult moments. He took stock of his life. Educator with people with disabilities, he has asked himself many questions since the health crisis. “It allows you to think a little about your choices, what you want to do, who you are“, he says.

Before the finish, a last evening under the tent, for two Americans. They walked 34 days together. At 52, Gladys Rice suffered particularly from the heat wave, andrepeatedly fainted under the effect of heat. “Every day you learn humility,” she comments.