We came across Dan on the side of the trail leading into the city. He had a small booth catering to peregrinos, and my eyes immediately locked onto a bunch of bananas nestled among the trinkets. It was midmorning, and the trail-hunger was setting in.
The trail descends into Pamplona, Spain.
A Chance Encounter with an “Idahoan” in Spain
“Where are you from?” Dan inquired, his eyes bright with curiosity.
“Tennessee,” Bob answered without hesitation. I shot him a sideways glance, wondering if we were skipping the small talk.
“Ah! I'm from Idaho,” Dan said proudly. Interestingly, his English was colored by a thick, melodic Spanish accent.
“Really?” I chimed in. “I have family there!”
As we chatted about our various roots, another group of hikers approached. I was still subtly eyeing the bananas. Dan noticed my focus and whispered with a wink, “Just put something in the jar. A donation is fine.”
Dan and Martin were posted.
Meeting the Crew: Filming The Way on the Camino
While I reached for my wallet, a member of the other group spotted a photograph hanging from one of the booth's posts. “Hey, is that from the movie, The Way?”
Dan nodded, a humble smile creeping across his face. “Yes. I was a camera operator.”
We were floored. If you haven’t seen it, The Way (2010) is the definitive Camino film. Starring Martin Sheen and directed by his son, Emilio Estevez, it follows a grieving father who decides to walk the 500-mile journey to honor his late son. Along the trail, he finds an unlikely community and a sense of redemption.
The film captures the soul of the Spanish landscape so well that I consider it “required homework” for anyone dreaming of this pilgrimage. (To view the movie trailer, click the link here.)
Move poster from The Way. Image from here (accessed 9/8/2021).
Behind the Scenes with "Cameraman Dan"
I dropped a coin into the donation jar and claimed my banana. Dan nodded approvingly.
Bob, never one to miss a logistical detail, asked the burning question: “Did Martin Sheen actually walk the whole trail?”
Dan laughed. “No. Only about four kilometers that day.”
It was a small reminder that while Hollywood creates the magic, the real journey belongs to the pilgrims—and the generous souls like Dan who cheer them on from the sidelines.
¡Buen Camino!
No, this is not us. It is a still from The Way (2010). Image from here (accessed 12/23/2021).
We have a full slate of trips to the Bible Lands ready to launch in 2022. One departs New York for Israel on March 12 and returns on March 25. This high-energy study tour will move light and fast, so pack your hiking shoes! Walt Harper, professor from Central Christian College of the Bible and Jeff Snell from Johnson University will assist with teaching duties on this one. For more information click here or contact me at markziese@gmail.com.
