Honestly, the previous two days I’d had almost too much excitement, so I was entering this day with slight trepidation.
In these messages from the road, I tell you first about the unusual lodgings I slept in the night before. Here, I also share what I do when I sleep in shelters alone. (Campsites are different in this regard—I feel quite safe knowing that if I only let out a peep, the whole tent village will be up in a minute.) I also let you in on a little secret about how to find some affordable accommodation in Berlin on very short notice.
There’s a lot of excitement here, but of the good kind. I know that I’m nearing the end of the road and that somehow, someway, I did it—one more time. You can’t really beat that feeling.
If you’re interested in information that’s more tourist in nature, check out the thread where I talk about it all on Ivar’s pilgrim forum. A fellow pilgrim just weighed in with a movie featuring the abbey at Chorin. It’s worth having a look.
Also, the pilgrim blessing I received at the church comes in the form of a song written by German pastor Eugen Eckert, Bewahre uns, Gott (Keep us, God). Couldn’t find the English version, but the first verse goes something like this:
Keep us, God, defend us, God,
Be with us on our ways.
In the desert, be the wellspring and the bread.
Be with us with your blessing.
Via Imperii Day 7: Eberswalde to Liepnitz Lake