The Mackinaw Bridge opened on November 1, 1957; and my parents couldn't wait to try it out for another camping trip Up North! I was only four years old, but I remember the excitement of that first crossing vividly, the glorious beauty of a sunny day, and the song of the car's tires on the roadbed. I've taken that bridge many times since then, and it never fails to work its magic. July is the perfect month to connect with this Michigan icon!
Posts filed under Travel
Creature Comforts on the Camino, Part 2: Are Smartphones, Email, and Apps Existential Threats?
After my first journey to Santiago in June of 2002, I believed that a “real” pilgrimage could only be made in the traditional way, that is, the hard way. And for me, this meant eschewing the products and services that made it possible to avoid most of the Camino’s hardships. “Creature Comforts on the Camino, Part 1: Do Real Pilgrims Take Cold Showers?” addresses changes in the infrastructure that eased the way. Part 2 looks at the effect of technological advances on the Camino, specifically smartphones, email, and apps.
Chrissy Barua Eats the World
What’s for food? Where to next? Believe it or not, these two questions roll through my mind each and every day as I search my mind for ideas for my next delicious meal, or my next far-off adventure. Appetites for both, insatiable. Food and travel, the fabric of my being. And, as it turns out, the subject of my little passion project.
Creature Comforts on the Camino, Part 1: Do Real Pilgrims Take Cold Showers?
Tradition has it that pilgrims leave behind the comforts and security of their everyday lives to embark on a journey of the spirit. When I first walked the Camino francés in 2002, accommodations were basic, communications limited, and pilgrims who couldn’t strip down to the bare essentials had no choice but to labor under a heavy pack — or quit. This past summer, I discovered that things are changing fast, and these changes make it possible to enjoy the creature comforts of a fine vacation while on the pilgrimage trail.
Danger on the Camino: Trust in Allah and tie up the camels
One of the biggest changes on the Camino in the 13 years between my first journey and the one this past summer is an increased danger to women pilgrims, and not just the young ones. Even on that first trip, I heard reports about women being harassed by men who would expose themselves or urinate in public. But they were few and far between, and none resulted in any physical injuries.
