Day 23 June 11 O Pedrouzo to Santiago

 

Our hotel tonight is Montes Pension in the old city.

14 miles today

Beautiful at the start thru nice shaded forest then some farming villages, finishing on a pavement slog thru the city. Strangely today, we saw no churches in the villages until almost to Santiago. We met our Canadian friends, Mark and Iris, having breakfast in one of the cafes/bars so we hung out with them a bit and walked into Santiago with them. While sitting at the bar, Iris just happened to mention that she used to be an Air Traffic Controller in Edmonton, Alberta back in the early 80's. John and I looked at each other and laughed then I told her that I had been one for 25 years. What a coincidence as I had not told a soul what my career had been until then.

As we crossed to the Port de Camino, we entered the old city to the Cathedral Plaza. Hot and tired, the temperature was in the 90s, we went straight to the hotel to stash the packs before going to the Credencial Office which just happened to be right outside the back door of our hotel.

 

We arrived too late for the noon pilgrim mass at the cathedral so we got our Camino certificates, did some exploring of the old city and went to the 7:30 mass at the cathedral. It's an incredible church as well as the many others in Santiago.

While standing in line at the Credential office, our old friend Teoman from Turkey saw us and came over to say hello. He was leaving the next day to walk to Finisterre.

Throughout the day, we met up with Iris and Mark, Juan from Spain, Joe and Sheila from Vancouver, Dava and Jorge from New Mexico, Jean Paul and Jacqueline and Sylvianne from France, as well as others we had met on the Camino. It was a great day.

There were musicians playing all over the city. It was quite fun.

For awhile, we sat on the cathedral steps, along with many others, and watched other pilgrims arrive. Many, many arrived limping, some with obvious blisters, swollen feet and lots of bandaids. We, with our few ailments, considered ourselves lucky. I guess good preparation pays off.

Off and on we saw a group of American women walking. Most times the youngest one carried the packs of two others. One day, one was struggling so badly we wondered if she should go the hospital! We did not see them until Santiago; they all made it. It was at the train station that we actually met them and heard their stories.

We did meet some members of a group being pampered and chaffeured along the last 100km of the Camino. It did not seem fair to us at first, but everyone does the Camino their own way.

It's been an amazing journey. Before leaving Denver, we felt unprepared as we were so busy with the sale and moving of our mountain cabin. Yet we were able to do this, 489 Kilometers (actually quite a bit more with route changes and after walking around villages after walking all day). The people we met, the strength we had and the memories will be with us always. We now think we are ready to return to do the first part of the Camino Frances to Burgos that we were not able to do, then take a train to Santiago and complete the journey to Finisterre at the ocean. Maybe next year?

Now we know that less is more. Just a small pack of 16-20 pounds will carry more than enough. There were only a few items we packed that were not used as we traveled the Camino Our Way. We have learned much and on our next Camino will be smarter and better prepared.

End of the Line" Tom Petty.

Not really. We are now just between Caminos!

Buen Camino

 

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