The Star (The Way in marked cards #2) (3 page)

"Sorry, but you know how we are when we are in love, is not it? The outside world does not exist. "

"I know, and I'm happy for you! You were need a new love! And it seems that him doing fine for you! Your skin looks great! "

"I am very happy! And you ? Tell me how are you feeling! Get back to painting? Do you known someone special? "

"I'm still not back to painting, and not met anyone special, and I do not want to to know, is still too early. I decided that I want to stay longer in Spain. I knew some girls that have indicated me a lawyer and I did a prolongation for another 3 months. "

"That's cool! I'm going back to Brazil in two weeks. My boyfriend wants to meet my family. "

"How's wonderful ! Go it! "

"You should open your heart to a new person. Forget what Mark did, do not worth suffering for someone who does not deserve you. "

"I do not suffer for him, but I'm at a moment in which everything that happened made me realize that I need transform something inside of me. We are in this world to evolve and have not angry with him, it is one process with myself. There is something inside me that needs to be changed. After that, of course, I can open myself up to a new love, but now is my moment from my connection with the spirit world. And I feel like that my time here is not over. I want to make the Way of Santiago in two days. Do you wanna come with me? "

"I've heard about this way ... we did! But, please explain me better ... "

"The Way of Santiago is a pilgrimage made for centuries. One route begins in France, crossing the Pyrenees, goes from east to west across northern Spain and ending in Finistère, is a few miles west of Santiago of Compostela, on the Atlantic Ocean coast, where they say which is the end of the world.”

"But why the Way of Santiago?"

"Because I received some signals in Bilbao and I had already read about it. They say it is directly below the Milky Way galaxy and follows lines that reflect the energy of the stars. It must be wonderful! I want to feel that! "

"Oh, come on! But how longer must walk? And when? "

"Let's start close to Galicia, I have no time to do all the forty days. I have just ten days off ... I need to get my stuff and return tomorrow by Granada.

"Leave your things here, we can do the way after tomorrow!" - said Fernanda excited.

"Come on! I'll call to my friend. "

"Call her right now!"

Isadora was call to Claudia and said that would make the Way of Santiago and that stay one week off. Claudia wished luck and would wait for the return of her friend. In the evening, Isadora and Fernanda dinner and combined the first steps of the way. The next day, bought the tickets, maps, backpacks and all the preparations. The way would begin by Villafranca del Bierzo, no have much time to get the way by Pyrenees. Would be few days, but she felt that the way would help her to find what she needed. The bus leave at 23 o'clock in the evening. Boarded.

"It will be an adventure!" - Fernanda said.

"For me it is more than that. The way is starting now, but I feel that it started when I received a call in Bilbao. "

"How was it?"

"I was walking around the city and heard a voice inside of me that gave me a sign of the Camino de Santiago. The shell and the arrow."

"What does it mean shell and the arrow?"

"They say that the shell, which they call scallop, symbolizes fertility, water birth. The arrow symbolizes the direction that leads us to our destination. "

"It may even being a sign!"

"And immediately that I saw you called me. Felt that it was a sign ... I thought of you and immediately invite you ... and we're here right now! "

"I feel that the way will respond us a lot of questions ..."

Hours later, one plate indicating one name. Villafranca Del Bierzo. They got out of the bus and sat down on a stone.

"And now? For where we began? "- Fernanda asked to Isadora.

"First let's take some vitamins to start walking and people watching. Let's follow the pilgrims until we can walk own. "

Isadora looked at the horizon and cloudy black and the contrast of the light poles, when she noticed the shadow of some people. As they approached, she realized that were others pilgrims.

"What do you think?" - Fernanda said, looking at Isadora.

"Let's join with them." - said Isadora, arranging our backpacks, approach with the group.

Isadora looked at the side and perceived a middle-aged man, strong, gray hair, with a headscarf, a backpack and clothing some shorts and tennis shoes . They started talking and he said that his name was Victor and lived in Madrid. They began to talking about the way.

"I come from Leon." - said Victor.

"We have no idea how the way works ..."

"If you want, can follow the other pilgrims, and I can give you a force, until be able to walk alone."

"Thank you, Victor, will be a great help!" - said Isadora.

"My pleasure, will be an honor!"

Victor began to tell on the Way of Santiago. He said it was the second time he was doing, that he knew impressive stories of people that went through and about the miracles that happened. He said that of the other time they made the journey there was a girl who did the pilgrimage without one cent in your wallet, and eated and sleeped during thirty days, with only love and willpower.

"I've heard many stories about the way and now I want to feel this sensation!" - said Isadora.

"The Way awakens in people the humanity and the solidarity. The people really help each other. Enjoy every moment that the way be shown . This is a unique experience, after that we'll talk about this. "

While they talked, the other pilgrims followed them. There was a lot of fog on the way, then lit the lantern to have more visibility. Soon they spotted a hostel, and at the entrance there was a woman seated in one chair with her feet bandaged. She was a blonde woman and started talking with Victor. She was from Netherlands and was walking on the way for 35 days. She was feeling pain, but said that there would not give up, will staying until the bruises heal, and would follow along.

"Is that also going hurt my feet like that? But, pass what pass, I will not give up! "- Isadora thought.

In the reception of the hostel pick up a notepad where they should put one stamp in each place that stopped, because this procedure served as a proof that the pilgrim was making the way. They followed the road and realized that the sun was already rising. They stopped to admire the view from the mountain top. The landscape was worthy of being contemplated. The mountains were magical, the the mystic atmosphere was lovely. They followed the way and hours later, when they came down the mountain stopped to drinking one coffee. Started talking to know each other, everything was new for all three. Victor began explaining more about the way.

"We must always follow the yellow arrows ... if you getting lost, go back and search for the yellow arrow, just it shows the right way." - Said Victor.

"Okay, but now you have an important mission which is to teach us walk through the Camino de Santiago. Are you ready for this? "- Fernanda said.

"Sure girls! Will be fun!"

Walk They returned to and after nearly six hours of walking stopped to take some water in a natural source that founded along the way. Isadora and Fernanda stopped to straighten your hair and makeup. A laugh interrupted both.

"What happens Victor? Never saw a women getting ready? "- Fernanda said.

"It's funny to see you guys getting dressed in one pilgrimage. I do not give for you two days to take off the earrings, put some pants and throw the half of pouch away. Just do not throw out the sunscreen, it yes, I consider it important ... the rest is pure vanity. "

"Think Victor, we like always be beautiful, some lipstick and a pretty hair always does not make bad to anyone." - Isadora said, arranging her hair.

"Let's get going!" - said Victor, laughing, waving his hands.

They continued to walk, until faced with an arrow indicating the trail up a steep mountain and climbed nonstop. The mountain had one altitude of approximately to 1.300metros, was Cebreiro High, one of the highest peaks of the Way. Finally, another yellow arrow indicating the continuation of the way, yet the side of a restaurant.

"It's right here!" - Isadora said breathlessly.

"It was a long time since I climbed a mountain." - Fernanda said wearily.

"Now will not rise as much, is easier. This is the peak of the High Cebreiro, the view is beautiful, but I want to alert them that today is just the first day, have a lot of road ahead. "- Victor said wearily.

"We know about this Victor, but in the first day is everything new, then we will get in the rhythm of the pilgrimage." - Fernanda said.

"Yours are look like two princesses doing the way ... I'm sure I will see you soon look like a pilgrims."

Fernanda and Isadora looked at each other and laughed. Walking again observing the landscape and everything that showing up.

"The Cebreiro is charming, an authentic museum of popular architecture. The conic's forms thatched roofs around the village gives the impression that we are in a scenographic city . "- said Isadora.

"They say it's one of the more beautiful villages of Spain. Look at all simple village houses. "- Victor said, pointing to the houses.

While walking around and observing everything, cows and dogs passing by and they stopped to let them pass. The dogs was quite angry in that region. A lady came in the direction of Isadora and offered her a cake.

"Do not accept" - said Victor, alerting.

"Why not? May be poisoned? "- Said Isadora.

"It's just an advice. You accept if you want ... "

Isadora accepted the courtesy of the poor old lady.

"Can you give me 1 euro?" - said the old lady Isadora.

"I don't have, I'm sorry."

"You have, and you ate my cooking!" - Said the lady, with one rough voice.