Cow 4543 and Lessons from the Camino (Etching Available)

July 24, 2026

I admit that I am a flexitarian.  In general, I avoid meat.  Partly because two of my daughters are SERIOUS lacto-ovo vegetarians.  Partly because sometimes eating meat upsets my system.  But also partly because sometimes I get close to the animal whose cousin I might be planning to eat later, and it just seems impossible.

So no burgers the night I had a staredown with Cow 4543.  She looked straight into my soul.  Asked me what I was doing out there. A question I was asking myself about then.  I wished I could read her mind:  what did she think of all these humans walking by?  Was she worried about the weather? Was this her 4543rd pose for a Pilgrim this week?  What secrets could she tell me?  Would she advise me to "just put one foot in front of the other?"

The Camino winds through some of Spain’s most agricultural regions, and cattle farming is especially prevalent in Galicia, where lush green fields, cool mists, and frequent rain create ideal pastureland.  In this part of Spain, dairy and beef production are central to rural economies, and cows are woven into the daily life of villages that have supported pilgrims for centuries.

Usually the cows were calmly grazing, and their bells added whimsy, mingled with the birdsong and rustle of the wind.  But sometimes they provided great theater.  One day, we chortled as two farmers had a short chase after two cows that had escaped.  And outside O'Cebreiro, we pressed ourselves into the bushes to steer clear (pun intended) of the cattle (and the dogs herding them) coming right down the path at us.

Once again, the Camino reminded us that an ordinary encounter--a quiet field, a curious cow, a farmer chasing an escapee--can become memorable if you slow down to notice.

--Ann

P.S. Etching available if you love this image as much as I do.