Watch this movie - Simply Superb

Stefanie Hurtado's brilliant Walk Through Fire is Filmtastic. I've never enjoyed a Camino video so much.

https://youtu.be/U2mrbhPhASA

I watched it in 4@15 minute episodes then had a full hour spare to watch the rest. I'm already working out a tinto y  tapas night at Swanys with a glass or two of Navarre, then a bottle of Rioja before a nice wee crate of Mencia as she leaves Ponferrade for Galicia.

If you've been on the Camino you'll have so many memories of different friends, milestones, bars and views. 

Every Camino is like a Shakespearean play with different actors treading the same boards.

As much as you want the journey to last forever, Stefanie found herself naturally moving faster and like Simon and I back in 2007 did Foncebadon to Ponferrade then to Trabadelo, then to O'Cebriero, and those early fairy steps to Orisson have  suddenly become big leaps.

Her story is her Camino and far from overstepping the self indulgence many of these videos forget, she has edited her work brilliantly and struck an amazing balance. It's impossible to complete a  distillation process that turns a month into 2 hours. This is a gorgeous attempt that encapsulates all the community of the Camino while still giving you the sheer inspirational joy of the walk.

What's also amazing is to somehow take the film without it crowding her own Camino. As a videographer it probably is natural to take your work with you but I can't wait for the kiss and tell story in 10 years time when we hear how the camera was left at home!

I've had over 20 caminos to finish writing Josephine's story Tommy turns Cars. Every Camino I just add another edit to Logrono or El Acebo. I'll talk more about Miriam and the team at Sante fe in Cardenuela Rio Pico. Another composite character appears and needs inserted.

The Camino is an absolute joy and although I had to leave sharpish from Casa Loncho in Olveira just 3 weeks ago when Jackie broke her ankle I'll be back out soon enough as the wine festivals get going in September.

Stefanie was probably home when I got Simon back out to Bordeaux in late September 2022. Her story and that of her fellow Pellegrinos is the stuff of legend and yet we live it all over every year, or even twice a year. 

The international community of the Camino often slip into politics and Stefanie summed up every pilgrim when she wished everyone could do it, even just once. 

Thank you Stefanie for a masterpiece.