By Maryanna Gabriel
I just came through an intense weekend of training along with nine others so that I may return to the Camino as someone who assists in the refugios. Sounds like a a good way to help out and keep the Camino spirit going. Mary Virtue, who heads the Victoria Chapter for the Camino, is a going concern. She and Daphne, another experienced volunteer, led us through every contingency as we prepared for the experience together. It was a bit like grown-up summer camp except it was very much in the Camino way. The Camino way is hard to describe.
For one thing it involves Basaque cake, empanadas, bean soup, chorizo, olives, and of course dry wine, as we laughed, cried, poured over maps, sang, role-played, shared information, wisdom, and talked about the current state of the Camino, the needs and wants of those walking it now and those who were there as hospitaleros at present, and a man who had just returned. And of course how best to make a contribution without keeling over in a dead feint.
We even got recipes. The cake below was made by Mary and is often found on the Camino. I loved every minute of it. The camaraderie was indisputable and it was wonderful to talk about it with people who immediately "got it" and who had so many stories to share.
