She went with her friend Maja. Marija and Miran, a couple from Ljutomer, also went. Maja met them about a year ago, when Marija and Miran were walking the Slovenian Jacob's Way and stayed overnight with her. Maja is a supporter of the Slovenian Jakob Trail and has hosted travellers on several occasions. Their paths crossed again by chance when all four of them set off on a hike to Svete Višarje, a 1,766-metre-high mountain in the western Julian Alps in Italy. So the four walkers, more strangers than acquaintances, decided on the spur of the moment to set off together on a month-long Camino.
They were respectful, kind and tolerant towards each other. They made sure everyone felt comfortable. Each of them had a different walking pace. Some people walked faster, others slower, some would take off their shoes, others would sit down for half an hour. They always waited for each other. It took a lot of adjustments, but they were a real team, as all four of them like to say to this day.
One day, Olga saw a cross made of twigs on the ground by the side of the road. She picked it up and took it with her. They came to a chapel where walkers can drop off the objects they have brought with them to symbolise a problem they would like to solve. Olga put the cross there and wrote in her notebook at the chapel that she was walking with the best team from Slovenia. When the others saw this, they couldn't contain their emotions, so they hugged each other and expressed their gratitude to each other for being able to be together on this journey. A special bond was forged between them; one for life.
Maja and Marija booked their accommodation in advance each day. On one occasion, Olga and Maja did not get a room despite booking. Luckily, a kind Argentinian woman staying in the house next door offered them a place to stay. So one of them slept on a bench and the other one slept on the armaflexes that were placed on the table. Although they were cold, they were grateful that at least they had a roof over their heads that night, otherwise they would have had to walk another 10 kilometres to the next place to stay.
One day, while walking up a hill, they saw a huge cherry tree. Miran ran to it and brought cherries for everyone to taste. Olga said they were the best cherries she had ever eaten. They were never hungry, they always made sure they had something to eat. They really had a great time together.
Olga's memory is of a young boy, Blaž, whom they met on the first day on the bus, when they went to the beginning of the Jacob's Way, where they got their enrolment booklets. He walked with them for the first two days, but then their paths diverged. On the 28th day of the walk, at lunch they were talking about him and wondering how far ahead of them he must be. After lunch they continued on their way and suddenly heard someone singing a song behind them. Slovenia, where do your beauties come from. Everyone sang with him with tears in their eyes. He was Blaž.
This trip was a special experience for all four of us. I am sure it will not be the last time, and I am sure they will do it again. Of course, without trust, respect and mutual support, the journey would not have been as beautiful as it was, all four of them say.
Maja Grošelj, 14. 4. 2024
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