People are probably mainly familiar with the Camino in Spain, but it is worth noting that there is also the Slovenian Camino. It consists of three parts. One of them runs through Dolenjska, through the place where I live. - Podbočje.
When Franc joined the Facebook group The Way of St James announced that he was going to follow the route through Podbočje, I immediately contacted him and said I would like to meet him. Word got around and we had already agreed.
I've walked it myself Slovenian Camino oz. I was always welcomed, helped, pointed in the right direction, offered food and drinks if I was not sure where to go... I received so much kindness during my time on the Camino that I promised myself that if I could, I would take care of the pilgrims in my own town, if I could. I will help them if they need anything, or I will just meet them and bring them a little something. That was the moment when I simply trusted people to be good and honest, but I still believe that good things come back to good people.
And so it was on Thursday, 22 August 2024. I asked Franco before the meeting if there was anything he needed, and he said just good cheer and a smile. How modest he is, I said to myself. We met in a tavern in Podbočje, where Franc took a break to rest. He had already walked well over 20 kilometres that day and was only a few kilometres away from finishing the day's stage.
With a big smile, we immediately recognised each other, hugged and started chatting. We talked about a lot of things and time flew by, and we talked like clockwork. He also admitted that he had been quite ill and in and out of hospital a lot, and said that he was now well, feeling fit and strong. I was quite saddened by what he said. But his gestures and words were full of hope and joy, and I was happy for him that he had chosen Jacob's Way as a kind of thanks for everything and a recommendation for the future.
There was so much more to say, but Franz had to go on. While he was getting ready to leave, he checked his rucksack to make sure everything was OK, and we took a few photos together as a souvenir. Then he reached into his rucksack, opened his hand and gave me an owl drawn on a pebble. It was so beautifully drawn that I just looked at it without saying a word. This is an idea from an association called Randomised kindness - Random kindness. Being part of this association, he gave away the painted pebbles to those he felt it was the right thing to do.
I was very, very touched by what he did and I was honoured that we met and forged a friendship. In between, he mentioned that his charger had broken while he was walking, or that he could not charge his phone, and that he was going to have a problem with that because, of course, he would only need his phone. I covered my ears and immediately offered to bring him my charger. He defended himself by saying that he didn't need it that much, that he was already working on the problem and that he didn't want to bother me because I would need it and that he had to move on... So, a bunch of excuses just so that I wouldn't have any extra work to do.
Of course, I persisted and persisted and finally, when I assured him that I had at least two more chargers and that I would not be without, he just accepted my offer. I got in the car, drove back home, three kilometres away, found a charger and went back to Franco. He didn't even wait for me for 15 minutes.
There was no end to his thanksgiving. I was happy to have helped him, knowing that he still had a few days of walking ahead of him and that he would definitely need his phone and charger. We agreed that when he got to the end of the route, we would hear from each other again and arrange to pick up the charger. There was not a shred of doubt in my mind that I would not trust him to return it. Anyway ... Even if I didn't get it back, I had given my promise and my good deed, and that was enough. I still have faith in the honesty and kindness of people, as I have been the recipient of many of them myself.
We promised to keep in touch and that if he needed anything, he could contact me. And so it was. Later, he told me that everything was fine, that he was fine, and almost every time we heard from each other, he thanked me for the charger. He said that he really did not know how he would have fared if he had not got it. When he came home, he brought me the charger and a bunch of goodies to say thank you. But since we couldn't catch up at the time, he left the stuff at the pub where we met on that Thursday in August.
We met again on a hike and every now and then we write something to each other. I know we will meet again and then we will have more time to talk about everything; including our favourite subject - the Camino.
Andreja Bakšič Grozdina, 9.6.2025
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