Miles Hiked Overall: 484.0 (779.0 km) Miles to Santiago: 0.0 (0.0 km)
Steps Taken Today: 41,142
Blister Count: Who cares now? Our feet can only get better from now on!
Spanish Word of the Day: Compostela (certificate you get for officially completing the Camino)
What We Learned Today: Getting up early to go to mass in Santiago at noon is worth it!
Today was the big day! We've walked nearly 1.5 million steps and 500 miles to get here. We've put up with rain, wind, and blazing sun. We've slept in some interesting places and washed out clothes every night. We've met friends from all over the world and tried some food we didn't know even existed. We walked through so many small villages and accepted "Buen Camino" from hundreds of peregrinos. And it all led to this exciting moment...
WE ARE IN SANTIAGO!!!!!!!!
It all started early. We were on the road, walking by 5:50. We figured we needed to leave that early in order to get to Santiago in time for the special Sunday Pilgrim Mass at noon. The cathedral has seats for 1000 but we had to stand. Pilgrims from different parts of the world said prayers and read from the Bible in their own languages. They read off a list of where pilgrims who arrived that day were from and it was amazing. The best part, though, was at the very end when they had 6 attendants swing the giant incense burner, called a botafumiero, across the entire cathedral. (It was used years ago as a way to fumigate the sweaty and perhaps disease-ridden pilgrims.) That was really special to witness and made it real for us that we had actually made it!
After mass, we were exhausted. We found our hotel, had some lunch and then waited for Theresa to arrive. (Pam and family had sponsored this college young woman from Germany a few years ago and since they were on the same continent, she decided to come visit.) The rest of the evening was spent having dinner and catching up.
Editor note: Karen and Pam's Camino is complete, but if you are interested please visit the blog again for some after the Camino reflections that will be added, as well as photos and updates on their "recovery time" in Italy.
Why Walk the Camino de Santiago
Because of the Santiagos: the saint and the city
Because of the rhythm of walking.
Because of the laughter … and the tears.
For the adventure of it.
For the joy.
To find yourself.
To lose yourself.
To go looking for God, whatever God might be.
Or not, if that’s not your journey.
Because whatever you believe or don’t believe, it’s nice to have clear guidance: just follow the yellow arrows and you’ll be all right.
Or use a map and leave the arrows.
Any road to Santiago de Compostela is a Camino de Santiago.
To immerse yourself in history and culture.
To meet other pilgrims of all ages and backgrounds and nationalities.
To experience the kindness of strangers, and get a chance to lend a helping hand.
To start a day not knowing where it will end, and then another.
And another.
Because old architecture.
Because cafe con leche.
Because fresh grapes and fresh figs and fresh blackberries.
Just because.
To have your sins forgiven.
To hug the apostle.
To learn another language.
To walk over mountains.
To meditate or pray.
Because cheap wine.
Because you see a place differently when you walk to it and through it.
Because, even if you’re too hot, or too cold, or your feet hurt, or your back hurts, you feel alive.
Because it’s nice to be in shape … eventually.
The day you feel like you can fly is worth every moment of slogging up hills.
And let’s be honest: because you can eat as much chocolate as you like and still lose weight.
To live another life, just for a while.
To appreciate the little things of “normal” life, like feet that don’t hurt and non-dorm rooms and washing machines.
To be part of something that’s huge in time and space.
To say thank you.
For the journey.
For the stories.
For candles and stained glass and statues.
For the arrival in Santiago or Finisterre.
Because friendship.
Because movement.
Because pilgrims.
Because it’s there.
Done! Complete!! Finished!!! We did it!!!! Exhausted!!!!!
