Fighter ATO he walked 2000 km on the pilgrimage route

The journey took three months.

In Ukraine there is a 24-year-old fighter ATO, who on foot and single-handedly took on one of the most famous pilgrimage routes: the Camino with a length of about 2000 km, a Traveler said, what came across in the way and how his life has changed in these three months.

About socks and Sveti Jakov

Valery Ananiev went to the recruiting office the day after his 18th birthday. He was assigned to the 25th airborne brigade, which until the fall of 2014, guy served as a contract. And when the war started, to quit no more — the sense of duty overpowered. In hot spots in the East, he spent three years.

Along with his 25-th brigade of liberated Slavyansk and Zhdanov took part in fights for Uglegorsk, Shakhtersk, Dobropillya, Kramatorsk, and debaltseve-www. Left the army for health reasons — he received two contusions. To overcome the problems he encountered in civilian life (finding the place in life, adaptation to the new realities after the war), helped the dream to get to the edge of the earth. The so-called Spanish Cape Finisterre on the Atlantic coast.

In the way Valery went in June, according to the ancient way of the pilgrims of El Camino de Santiago, the famous pilgrimage route to the alleged tomb of the Apostle James. “The Gentiles walked this path long before Christians. They believed that there — the edge of the earth. No religious prerequisites in my campaign was not. I just wanted to be alone, to understand yourself. And since I have no experience in Hiking, I chose the wrong road, where a well-established infrastructure, — went to Europe”, — told the “news” ex-fighter.

Going to Europe, Valery invited everyone to sign the Ukrainian flag and then hung it to Finisterre. Your way the Ukrainians began with Paris, and the first week the road was given to him is very difficult. “The body resisted as best they could, but health happened all the sudden. But what I expected did not manifest. So, for three months, I never lost consciousness (a manifestation of a concussion), what really surprised. In the first day was 28 miles. My legs, thighs, stomach, seemed to be one open wound was in pain. I thought I would go crazy. And the first two weeks it was. The leg muscles took. After 150 km I have an inflamed meniscus. It was such that I was walking around the city and cried out in pain. Then the pain began to subside. And in my head there were thoughts, insights, ideas, which I was not even close. The most difficult was the first 800 kilometers. And when we left behind almost 2000 miles, it was easy, like just the bread went”, — told us the traveler.

Valery admitted that most of the inconveniences brought sore feet: “Socks have become my problem. They wear out quickly and rubbed his legs. I had to change them every 200 miles, and I found its replacement only after 800, because midway was going through the forest. You should have seen my feet!”

Slept on the beach and under the temple

Overnight stayed in special houses for the pilgrims who walk the Way of St. James. He says that in the books of the records did not see a single Ukrainian who’d stayed there before. “On the one hand, it’s a shame, but it’s nice to be first. I had to sleep on the beach under the Church, and even in the woods on the Atlantic coast,” says Ananiev.

In memory of the journey as Souvenirs brought the stones: “I came to Finisterre, and put there small pebbles. I’m not a millionaire and can’t buy that currently allow the rest of the group. It seems to me that such a gift is much more valuable”. Valery said that a journey took €3000, but it’s not spent is kept within 2500: “Food bought in the supermarkets and cafes for pilgrims”.

The most valuable acquisition Valery calls memories. “From the journey, I received much more than expected. Memories are the most valuable. I saw the city, which have been called the most beautiful in Europe — San Sebastian, Orleans, Barcelona, Madrid. But, for me, beautiful ocean and mountains, nothing. Trigger emotions I can only old buildings. A lot of miles I walked the Roman roads, which for two thousand years and more is like travelling back in time.”

The guy admitted that he began to write memoirs about the war that is going to issue a book. And yet hopes to visit Norway and New Zealand.

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