Epilogue 🥰

The morning after our arrival in Santiago saw us getting up late and wandering into the old town in the warm sunshine to get breakfast before going to be there when our Camino friend Paul proposed to his girlfriend, who had come to meet him. We all posed for a group photo and we were under the instructions to disperse a bit afterwards but to stay close so he could pop the question. The whole of the cathedral square went crazy when he went down on one knee!

Celebratory food and drink was called for and 20+ of us spent the next 2-3 hours chatting, eating and drinking fizz (although I was enjoying the company my body was buzzing to move as I was so used to walking miles every day!)

We wandered round the town a little, soaking up the sights, and I went to the cathedral with Nick for the pilgrim ritual of hugging the statue of St James.

We met up with more friends from the way, cheered pilgrims who were just coming in to the city, and generally soaked up the amazing atmosphere.

High on adrenaline and sunshine, our Camino family went to get tattoos, before grabbing a bite to eat and going back to the apartment for a nap.

It was Ascension Day and Santiago had huge festivities planned for the evening (we’d seen them assembling the staging) so we wandered back into town around 9:30pm to find the place absolutely pumping! Locals, pilgrims, holidaymakers, old people, young people, babies and tots were all out in force for the live music happening on 2 stages. We’d bumped into Peter from Wales again, and we all joined the thousands who were in the square, dancing to the music.

We couldn’t believe just how lucky our timing had been for this walk - the best of the weather for much of it (including warm sunshine for our celebrations), the Leon festival when we were there, the beer festival in Portomarín and now this huge town party for Ascension!

The next day, town was very quiet, like there was a collective hangover!! But we wandered in again, I finally had the churros and chocolate I’d wanted, and we looked around the shops and got friendship bracelets for our ‘family’ and presents for people back home.

Met up with Renea, Stan and Dave and then it was time to say goodbye to everyone, which was so hard. I was so looking forward to coming home and seeing Richard and the girlies, but also so not ready for my adventure to end and to say goodbye to the friends I’d made from around the world.

After teary hugs from Tom and Brittany, Nick walked me to the bus stop for the airport. I think I must have been allergic to something on the bus as my eyes were watering most of the way…

Bumped into another Camino friend at the airport, which made the transition easier, then it was on to the the plane and, a couple of hours later, into the arms of Richard and Trinity, who were waiting at Gatwick to take me home 🥰😍

It’s so lovely to be back. As well as my lovely fam, I’d also been missing soft sheets, ‘real’ towels and proper cups of tea!! Also doing the laundry without having to find 1€ coins!!

So now begins the transition period of getting back into ‘real life’ again. My days have consisted of walking, eating and sleeping for over a month and, now I’m back to all the micro decisions and busyness of the everyday, I’m determined to manage the potential overwhelm as much as I can, and take a shallow slope into all the life and work stuff that is waiting for my attention.

I’m so very grateful that I have had this amazing opportunity of adventure. I’m grateful for the love and support from my family and from my ‘business wife’ Natasha, who have all cheered me on whilst also holding the fort. And I’m so grateful for the lovely messages, likes, and good vibes from friends and family along the way.

Ultreia et suseia. The Camino will always have my heart ❤️Les mer