What do you like most when reading about adventures: descriptions about the terrain, the culture, the challenges, the personal growth, the interactions between other adventures? Women of the Way successfully combines all these elements in a heartfelt and personal recounting of Jane V. Blanchard's 2011 five-hundred mile pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago--hiking from St-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France over the Pyrenees to Roncesvalles in Spain, and then westward across northern Spain to Santiago de Compostella.
Though Women of the Way is about Jane's journey on the Camino de Santiago and discussions with women she met along the way, this is not a "chic" book. It is about embracing the Camino. Jane discusses how she prepared for the Camino, the daily rituals in long-distance walking, the camaraderie, the personal changes, and the beauty and appeal of the most popular of all the pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela, the Camino Frances.
Leaving Roncesvalles that morning, we ask directions. A French pilgrim tells us that the path we are contemplating is the hard way up the mountain and that a much easier access starts behind the abbey. Figuring that "the easier route" is the one through the valley, we proceed to the woods and unceremoniously take our first step on the Camino.
This is our first mistake. Our second mistake is not taking sufficient water and food for that day's ten-hour hike. Our third mistake is not understanding that the towns in this area have different names, depending on the language. The Spanish Roncesvalles is Roncevaux in French and Orreaga in Basque. Since the guidebook names do not match the names on the signposts, we are often unsure of where we are.
Immediately the woodsy path becomes arduous, with a steep ascent. Here and there, it seems as if our noses touch the ground. Dennis estimates that we are climbing at a 35° to 45° angle. He uses his pole to help with the precipitous slope. I find it difficult to maintain a stride with poles and hike without them. Soon I am panting, my chest heaving as I gasp for breath. I place each step with intention, and, at times, use my hands to pull me up the mountain. Under the guise of looking at the view, I stop often to catch my breath. My nonchalant breaks do not fool Dennis; he knows that I cannot continue at the rapid pace I set for myself and encourages me to slow down. At this slower gait, I notice the individual stones, the shape of the leaves, and the clarity of the cerulean sky. The slower I go, the more I notice. I am not thinking of reaching the top or getting to the other side; I am happy doing what I am doing, climbing the Pyrenees on a sunny September day. As I get into my rhythm, the effort diminishes. It is still a difficult climb, but I am no longer gulping air or working as hard. As this transition happens, a peace flows into me. I am actually having fun!
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Italian
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Already translated.
Translated by Siriana Nasca
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Author review: Siriana Nasca was very easy to work with. I particularly liked how she worked with me to make sure the translation reflected me meaning. She maintained the schedule and used formatting successfully. It was very easy to take her translation and put it into book format. I recommend using this very professional translator. |
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Spanish
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Already translated.
Translated by Cristina Silva Turnes and Patricia Parra
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Author review: Cristina Silva Turnes was easy to work with and provided an accurate translation. She met her schedules and prodded me to complete the publication of the book. This was both our first projects with Babelcube and Cristina was very helpful to me to understand the Babelcube process. |
