For once I was at an advantage. Being both deaf and blind I was not easily distracted by my surroundings and could concentrate on the spiritual journey I was making.

As we walked I was aware of the smells and some background noise. I knew there were crowds of people around me, because sometimes they bumped into me. But when Jesus walked that way, there were people there too. He did not walk through empty streets.

I was able to identify in some small way with what his feelings may have been on that fateful day. In the midst of the crowd he was still very much alone. This is a feeling I often experience. I may be surrounded by people but because of the nature of my disability I am cut off from them. It is a very lonely, isolating feeling. But on this occasion my isolation enabled me to keep focused on the significance of walking the Way of the Cross.

I was briefly told about which Station of the Cross we had reached when we stopped for our devotion. This helped me to concentrate on the events that had taken place on that first Good Friday.

I didn't realise until later that there were some in the party who were having problems in experiencing any spiritual dimension to what we were doing because of the distractions they encountered.

Some of the group had been busy looking around at the architecture, especially of the churches at the Stations of the Cross. Some had been busy taking photos to take back home with them.

Several said they had been distracted as we walked through the market that spilled across the way. They had been unable to resist looking at what was on offer and even tried their hand at bargaining for items before rushing to catch up with the group again. Some clergy found it difficult to accept that the way of the cross should be through the busy everyday market place.