"The Pilgrimage"

In the Tel Aviv airport Nate spotted a copy of the book "The Pilgrimage". It's Paulo Coelho's first book, written right before "The Alchemist". We had to buy it! I started reading it today during our relaxing day on the ship. It's about Coehlo's real-life journey across Spain along a pilgrimage route from medieval times.

I wish that I could write the way Coelho does, but since I can't, I think this quote pretty much sums up what Nate and I have been feeling and experiencing on our adventure over the last few weeks:

When you travel, you experience, in a very practical way, the act of rebirth. You confront completely new situations, the day passes more slowly, and on most journeys you don't even understand the language the people speak. So you are like a child just out of the womb. You begin to attach much more importance to the things around you because your survival depends upon them. You begin to be more accessible to others because they may be able to help you in difficult situations. And you accept any small favor from the gods with great delight, as if it were an episode you would remember for the rest of your life.

At the same time, since all things are new, you see only the beauty in them, and you feel happy to be alive.

-The Pilgrimage