18.1 K
We were the last to leave at 9:00am, noticing that nobody had taken advantage of 9e brekkie. The Irish group told us they were first quoted 16e! Instead we stopped at the adjacent Repsol gas station/mini mart and bought a two pack of Danone rice pudding.
Our strategy of leaving late allowed for a peaceful walk into Santiago, avoiding the throngs on their final day of pilgrimage.
This is today’s weather report: no rain but 100% humidity. What does that look like?
We stopped in the church at Escrivatude. There have been many statues of St. James the pilgrim, along the way, but this one had Jesus the pilgrim and included a dog at his side.
We also saw Mary as a pilgrim at the pilgrim’s church in Pontevedra.
When we stopped at the first cafe/bar, there were only four others, women from Denmark. Later on I noticed this hat on the table next to us.
It belonged to a man from Ontario walking with a woman from Berlin. He told us that there were three from Edmonton just ahead of us.
It was a beautiful and peaceful walk, perfect for reflecting on our pilgrimage experience.
Our last Roman road for this one.
The mushrooms were plentiful. Here’s a good example of a good sized puffball.
The last sign post pointing the way into the city.
Someone donated their boots to the cause.
We made our way to the cathedral for our official arrival photo. The last two times it was covered in construction shrouding. We had our emotional moment amongst many other pilgrims experiencing the same sadness and joy.
Walking to our favourite restaurant, Casa Manolo, where we were supposed to meet our friends from South Africa, who do we run into? The Irish crew from last night. It was a lovely reunion comparing arrival stories.
On to Manolo for dinner with Marietjie and Robin, now old friends.
C and I had the whole sole and some good dark red wine. It struck us that the 2015 and 2016 wines we are drinking are made from the grapes we tasted on our previous Caminos.
Back at our hotel, late at night, we made a decision regarding our next Camino route. A recommendation by the Danish Camino guide author we met, we landed on the Camino Inglés Route. Tomorrow we’ll take a train to Ferrol, along the northern coast of Spain, and hope to complete five days of walking back in the Camino Inglés into Santiago.
Congratulations, Li! May you be blessed as you journey these next five days on your “second final” leg of this Camino. Y’all will continue to be in my prayers. Wishing you a safe journey, good health, and more Providential encounters. Buen Camino!
Posted by: Sarah Bonner | October 10, 2019 at 03:13 AM