Monday, February 15, 2016
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My name is Ann Sieben. I'm American by birth and global in existance. I was in
In December 2007, I began a longer pilgrimage from
After that, I found that there were still many miles in my legs. I chose a route with Aix la Chapelle (aka
The life of a winter pilgrim suits me just fine. As winter approached, I prepared to walk the next ancient path discovering the world at a comfortable pace, meeting people, experiencing an interesting world in a slightly non-traditional way. Another winter, another walk; I walked from Kyiv, Ukraine to Patras, Greece along the general route of St Andrew in the first century.
A silent pilgrim does the world no good, so I've given talks and spoken to many diverse groups about these pilgrimages. A recurring, slightly cynical, comment was often made - 'sure something like this might be able to be done in Europe, but not in the US...it's not in our culture, no one would open their door to a pilgrim.;
It saddened me to hear this, and I disagreed. To demonstrate that North Americans are just as kind as Europeans, I set out last autumn from my home in Denver, Colorado to Mexico City on yet another historical path. The early Spanish settlers established a Royal Road from Mexico City as far north as Taos, New Mexico, a little over 100 miles south of Denver. What a success!! Americans are just as friendly as Europeans. So are Mexicans.
Just when I thought my pilgrim life was a thing of the past, the Arab Spring allowed inspiration to enter my heart with the possibility to walk across the history of North Africa. While full of trials and tribulations - barred from entering Algeria, prematurely expelled from Libya, and hurried across the Sinai - the fact that the world is really full of good people was underscored with more great success.
o City, this time through South and Central America. Follow along...Shortly after arrival at the pilgrim destination, I was inspired again by the Empress of the Americas and am compelled to make a long journey again to the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexic
Be a pilgrim =)
4 comments:
Wow, you are in Ottawa! I wish I was there to meet you, I have followed all your pilgrimages. I hope you were well received. Enjoy and Bueno Camino Ann, for this last part of your Canadian winter pilgrimage. Someday I will meet you.
I am so excited to see that you have made it to Ottawa! I miss you dear friend. Enjoy your journey! xo Heather
Feb. 17/2016 Hi Ann, Bernie's cousin wrote on his FB page that he saw you in Bourget yesterday. I was glad to read that you made it safe and sound from that weather. Claudette (Navan, ON). :-)
Hello, You may remember my stepsons and I picked you up outside of Constance Bay and drove you for a while - enjoying your first (only?) Tim's coffee and hot chocolate. In any event, we are glad to know you reached your destination and to read of your travels. The boys speak of you often and ponder a pilgrimage of their own to Montreal. Blessings.
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