053: Not Part of the Plan: Easter at Lourdes

Following intuition and curiosity to an unexpected place

I’m going to Lourdes, France tomorrow.

This was not part of my plan.

But welcome to my life.

Had you told me six years ago that a global pandemic would be the push I finally needed to become location independent and get to live my dream of living in Europe, I would have laughed so hard I’d have trouble breathing.

Yet, in July 2021, my husband and I moved not to Italy or France (as I long dreamed) but to Spain.

Not part of my plan.

We told people we were going to “try it out for a year.” He and I both knew we’d probably stay in Europe longer than that. But stay in Spain for over four years?

Not part of my plan.

The Golden Ticket

In January of 2025, I finally received my Italian passport. That WAS part of my plan.

The fact that it took 10 years to make it happen?

Not part of the plan.

And so it is that my husband and I now have the Golden Ticket. We can live in most any country in the European Union.

During our years in Spain, we often traveled to France and Italy. But every time, upon our return, we’d look at each other and say, “That was great. But I still like living in Spain.”

Until the day my Italian passport was in my hands.

When the Dream Gets Bigger

So where will we go next?

As wonderful as it is to have dozens of countries available to you, it’s also completely overwhelming.

But France was still a dream—thankfully for both of us.

My husband is a master researcher; YouTube, ChatGPT—it doesn’t matter. He’ll spend hours in learning mode.

I can’t stand spending all that time on the internet. So I married the right guy:)

A Chance Encounter

Pau, France first came on our radar when my husband heard English being spoken by a couple at our favorite coffee shop in our town of 6500 in northern Spain. It’s the kind of place where English speakers are so rare, you stop whatever you’re doing if you hear one nearby.

They were a Canadian couple who had recently moved to Pau, France. They were on vacation driving through our part of Spain.

And so it was that Michael began his research. It checked all of our boxes. Michael was sold. To the point that he didn’t even need to visit.

But me? I needed to see the place.

So here I am.

A Detour Appears

It was only last week, on my first day in Pau, that I learned Lourdes is just a 30 minute train ride away.

Those of you that grew up Catholic (like me) couldn’t have possibly missed hearing about Lourdes.

For those that don’t know, in 1858, 14-year-old Bernadette Saubirous became witness to 18 visions of the Virgin Mary between February 11 and July 16. The apparition asked for 1) prayer and penance 2) that a chapel be built on the site and 3) that people come there in procession.

“Oh. One more thing. Dig in the ground.”

Well, maybe she didn’t say it in exactly those words.

But when Bernadette dug into the ground with her hands, she discovered a spring. Today people drink that water or wash their hands and face in it. That water is also directed into individual pools in which pilgrims may immerse themselves with the assistance of volunteers.

Some 70 miracles have been officially recognized as having happened as a result of a visit to Lourdes. There are 7000 additional cases of “medically unexplained” healings.

No matter your belief in any of this, I ask of you what I always used to ask of my students: be curious, not judgmental.

My Camino “Why”

Some of you may know that I walked my first Camino in order to figure out if I wanted to be Catholic anymore. Ironic, I know. Shortly into the walk, I had my answer. God and I could have a relationship with or without my belonging to the Catholic Church.

At the pilgrim mass in Santiago de Compostela 35 days later, the priest explained that only Catholics were allowed to receive Holy Communion. I didn’t know Spanish at the time, but I knew enough French and enough about the Catholic Church to know exactly what he was saying.

I stood there a moment and thought, “I just can’t imagine Jesus standing up there saying, ‘Hey—I know you walked miles upon miles to get here. But not all of you get to share a meal with me.’”

So while many got up to receive Communion, I got up and quietly slipped out of the church.

So Why Lourdes?

So why is a woman who walked away from the Catholic Church over 14 years ago going to yet another Catholic pilgrimage site?

I have no idea.

Well, maybe I do.

Curiosity.

When you’re that close to something visited by millions of people every year, something you grew up hearing about and reading about. . . well, what’s a traveler with time on her hands to do?

And So I Go. . .

It isn’t lost on me that I will be there on Easter Sunday.

I’m not a fan of crowds.

So maybe this isn’t my best decision.

But I follow my instincts.

And it just so happens that I have the time to go. And there was a place available to lay my head for the night. And there’s a train just down the road that will take me there.

So on Easter Sunday I’ll be waking up in Lourdes, France.

Maybe by then, I’ll know why.

With love,

Rebecca

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For any of you that would like 1) a prayer to be said on behalf of you or someone else while I’m there or 2) a candle to be lit in their honor/memory, please let me know by emailing me at rebecca@theCaminoCalls.com.

🎥Camino Conversations: Join me for live interviews here on Substack!

Camino Conversations is on pause as I complete my travels in France.

In the meantime, take a listen to this engaging conversation I had with Blaine Greenfield of Blainesworld.net. I was honored to be invited to talk about the Camino and Camino Calls, and especially to share the spotlight with Tim Wesolowski, a client I had the privilege of helping begin his Camino journey.

Listen to previous episodes of Camino Conversations on Spotify or watch them here.

Want to be a guest on Camino Conversations? Email me at Rebecca@TheCaminoCalls.com or leave a comment below.

Have you been to Lourdes? I’ll take any advice you’d like to share.

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🥾Ready to start planning your Camino?

Rebecca Weston
Camino Planning & Preparation Guide (for People 45+)
Rebecca@TheCaminoCalls.com

Your Camino adventure should feel exciting, not stressful — here are some ways I can help you get ready:

• Watch Camino Conversations for practical tips and advice from my guests who have done the Camino (or more than one!).

• 🗓️ Camino Planning Session (60 min): Get answers to your top questions and a notes doc created during our call.

• 📞 Full Camino Experience: 6 coaching calls with detailed notes to plan your trip with confidence and ease.

• 🥾 Walk With Rebecca: 7-day hybrid Camino walks — 3 days guided, 4 days independent, private rooms, preparation classes, and optional check-ins. Click here to be the first to be notified about my next trip.Rebecca Weston is an American who walked her first Camino in 2012.

About me: I’ve walked more than a dozen Caminos since my first in 2012. I’ve spent many days volunteering along the trail, and if I’m not walking one now, I’m planning the next—and would love nothing more than to help you plan yours, too. Originally from the US, my husband and I live in a town of 6500 people on the Camino del Norte.