Santiago

Robyn and Tom arrived in Santiago on Saturday morning and are taking a rest day on Sunday before leaving for Finistere on Monday.  They found the cathedral covered with scaffolding which supports my belief that, in Europe, all important buildings come with scaffolding.  Their walk will take four days.

I´m in the final day frenzy that accompanies the camino.  By walking the last 100 kilometers, a person can earn the Compostela that  proves the pilgrimage has been completed...that means many people, including many families, walk the four days.  So many people, so much juggling for rooms and restaurants.  The challenge is to remember what you have learned on the camino and maintain the calm state you have cultivated for weeks.

It is exciting to know that only 40 kilometers remain but it comes with its own bittersweet moments. Extraordinary friendships are forged on the camino, friendships that are intense and deep but that will probably end with the camino...and so there is a little sorrow that these people who have been so important in our lives will be gone.  Luckily, their words and memories remain...part of the camino legacy.

I´ll enter Santiago (if all goes well) on Tuesday, spend Wednesday visiting the sites and saying goodbye to friends, and then leave on the bus for Finisterre on Thursday.  Seven weeks ago I promised my feet that, if they would actually get me to Santiago, I would ask nothing extraordinary of them for the rest of the trip.  That´s a promise I intend to keep so I´ll meet Robyn and Tom on Thursday somewhere in Finisterre...we have a little catching up to do!!!!!

Meanwhile, I am getting ready for the final two days...25 miles into Santiago.  Wow!

Buen Camino...Cindy