Member Since: Nov. 20, 2012

Liz Hardy

Smashwords book reviews by Liz Hardy

  • The Kiwi Sisters' Camino de Santiago on Nov. 20, 2012

    The Kiwi Sisters’ Camino de Santiago is much more than a simple travel narrative: it’s an inspiring reflection on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Sue Dwan talks about an experience many people will never have – walking the 800 km Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail across northern Spain. Despite having very little knowledge of the local language and customs, Sue and her sister Catherine set off every day into an unpredictable landscape that exists far beyond their comfort zones. A kaleidoscope of changing scenes and experiences opens up: walking in the early morning under moonlight; eating simple food with fellow travellers; the physical challenges that come with persistent lack of sleep, crippling blisters, food poisoning and leg pain. But despite these obstacles, kind strangers – or ‘angels’ – show up on an almost daily basis to provide support and relief. While pushing her body beyond what it can reasonably handle, Sue’s self-awareness becomes more acute. She sees key experiences as significant, larger lessons about what it is to be human – and it’s impossible not to think about these lessons as they might apply to your own life. The book is a fascinating insight into how to prepare, experience and recover from an epic and challenging journey. It should be compulsory reading for anyone considering walking the Camino trail. But it’s equally relevant to the less adventurous – the insights offered here could help people who may be facing many other kinds of seemingly impossible challenges.