Camino de Santiago de León

14.3 miles today. We left dawn, we had breakfast together before we started walking. I rained fairly heavy when we started out and the rain was intermittent the rest of the morning. I walked mostly alone the first 9 miles, but I'm glad it worked out that way. I needed to process what to make of the past 19 days. I was separated from the others because i didn't see that they has stopped at a cáfe. Then i was well ahead of everyone. I inadvertently took another Complementario route so i didn't know where I was in relation to the rest. I stopped at another cáfe about 5 km from Santiago and waited for the rest. We wanted to walk into Santiago together. after walking another 1 km, we got our first view of Santiago and the cathedral but I could not see much We started walking into the city at a slower pace just to absorb the moment. Rachel from Australia and John and Elaine from New Zealand passed us. A man on a unicycle was behind us. We heard the cathedral bells chime at noon, and then again at 12:15 when we arrived. There was a line to several hundred waiting to get into the cathedral so we didn't try to get inside. We went around to the courtyard in from of the cathedral. What a joyful time and place. i could see it in the faces all around me. The moment a dream becomes reality for so many, including myself and my companions. Jackie and her friend, the two Australian women we dined with in Trabadelo and met frequently on the trail were there when we arrived. I really don't know how to relay the essence of this moment, but the only thing missing in the celebration was Mary Kay and the ones I love most. I sent a few people my celebration picture, including Luis. Luis sent me his celebration picture. Then we went to get our passport and credentials.Read more