Coincidences?

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Drove about 6hrs the other day and ended up in a small town near Munich called Dinkelsbuhl.

Dinkelsbuhl is on the famous Romantic Road, and is a picture postcard historic town, restored like a Disneyland theme park.

Even at this time of the yesr, it’s notoriously difficult to find a parking spot in these towns, especially when you arrive late in the afternoon as I did.

My GPS – yes, GPS – led me straight to the hotel in the main street, and surprisingly in a town jammed packed without a free parking spot anywhere, there was an empty parking space virtually right outside the entrance to the hotel – about fifty meters down, outside some shops.

“They kept it free for you,” my wife said.

I didmt know what she meant.

She pointed out her side of the car window, to the shop I’d parked out front of.

It was a clothing store – and on the glass panelling of the front door to the shop was a sign. It said PILGRIM. It must be a clothing or footwear brand.

But they kept the space free for me…

(photo to come)

24 thoughts on “Coincidences?”

  2. Bill – the Camino’s EVERYWHERE when you see the world through Camino eyes !
    And, as we all know, THE CAMINO PROVIDES !
    Cheers – Jenny

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  3. I have an Aussie friend who is a Swami and she too seems to always have the god-of-parking with her, although, as there usually is not an OM sign around, maybe the Camino spirit is extra strong!! Whatever, I’d just be grateful to have whatever is needed provided at the right time; may it continue and by extension for Jennifer 🙂

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    • Britta,

      I have had the most incredible luck with parking this trip,

      Literally every place, someone has just or was just leaving the perfect parking spot just as I drove up. Every time,

      Very freaky!

      Bill

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  4. Hey back again! 1st, I can ‘like’!! 2nd, great to have previous blogs embedded giving me a chance to go over some that I really related to, or that I might not have seen previously what with being such a flit-about. Hope you’re safely home in sunny Australia relaxing after your LONG trip 🙂

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  5. Is it a Pilgrim store or just randomly a store with that name? How fantastic!
    Mike is following a young mans blog right now that is walking the Camino starting from the east side of Switzerland. Mike just read to me that he is encountering other Pilgrims even that far from Spain, had a meal with 25 Pilgrims followed by a mass with Blessings. WOW! That amass me.

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    • Hi Kathryn

      Can you please send me the link to that blog?

      That is pretty amazing.

      The store by the way was a clothing store. Pilgrim must be a clothing brand name.

      Bill

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  6. Bill, for many years I have used these “sure find” parking prayers:
    Hail Mary full of grace, please find me a parking space.
    OR
    Hail Mary and Good Saint Anne
    Find me a space as fast as you can.

    A wee bit cheeky, but they work!!
    Safe travels home.
    Anne

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  7. Hubby says, whilst passing empty parking spots and ignoring my pointed finger” 2nd spot from the top”… and 2nd spot from the top it is. Always gets me. Some people just have all the luck, but then he also says, Luck is good planning carefully executed. Hmm, wonder how he would make out on the Camino, it worked best for me when I had no plans. Cheers all.

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    • Ingrid,

      The version I have always heard is where opportunity meets preparation. Is that so far from pgs?

      Steve

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      • Steve, as someone who always wanted to be prepared for any opportunity (I drove him crazy with my many possible scenarios in anything I planned), he now wonders if the Camino kept me and send home a clone with a more relaxed attitude. Little things keep creeping in again and I find myself drifting towards the old “I must control everything” persona. Me thinks it is time for another long walk. 😉

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        • Ingrid,

          Generally speaking, I have learned that I don’t control anything, thus my attitude of living without expectations. There is certainly a lot less stress this way. God can handle the control thing. I will just go along for the ride. Took a long time to learn, and I occasionally find myself in continuing education. 🙂

          Steve

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    • Hi Ingrid –
      Perhaps it would be useful to have your husband with you on your next Camino … but then he would always be saying “the second albergue from the top isn’t ‘completo’ “, and guess what, he’d be right!
      Cheers! Jenny

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  8. Satan,

    You are a spineless bastard that hides behind anonymity with your judgments and criticisms. Perhaps you should contact Sister Clare herself to see how she feels about what happened. I have. It was an unfortunate incident but one of her own makings as she well knows. You don’t know Bill Bennett or Sister Clare, yet you sit in judgment, and I guess you are one of the true Pilgrims that we hear talk about. Buen Camino.

    I find you disgusting.

    Steve

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  9. Satan,

    You’re a coward.

    As history has shown.

    I reveal myself, and I stand behind what I do and say.

    You are gutless. You hide behind a coward’s hotmail address.

    Reveal yourself, then I will engage in a dignified debate.

    If you don’t, then you will be seen to be the vile repulsive reptile you are known to be.

    By the way, if I were Sister Clare, I would be concerned that Satan was defending me.

    Bill Bennett

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  11. Satan,

    You remain a spineless bastard shrouded in your anonymity. That’s not a judgment, but an irrefutable observation.

    Hope Bill does not dignify you with any more comments. I won’t either.

    Signing off,

    Steve

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  12. Steve is absolutely right –

    You are a gutless spineless creep.

    You send this with an email address of 666@hotmail.com. You throw rocks from behind an anonymous sever and an email address which obviously amuses you. It sickens me.

    You sicken me.

    You might think the situation with Sister Clare is funny, but I don’t, and I dare say no-one else on the blog does either.

    I’m glad you’re getting a chuckle out of it. No-one else is.

    Have the balls to reveal yourself, creep. Your true name, your true identity.

    But you won’t, because like all bullies you are a slithering coward.

    Bill Bennett

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