Walking the Camino

juli - august 2022
Et 34-dagers eventyr av Susan Les mer
  • 32fotspor
  • 2land
  • 34dager
  • 247bilder
  • 0videoer
  • 659kilometer
  • Dag 30

    Santa Irene

    30. juli 2022, Spania ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    Our last full day of trekking, 30k, prior to arriving in Santiago, ended in Santa Irene, a small farming community. Our albergue offered a communal dinner, so we got to share a meal with Victoria. from Romania, Peter from Austria, and Silvi from France. We shared experiences of the Camino, the translation of the word snore in 4 different languages, and how we would be feeling upon reaching the end of our journey. I was asked. if I thought I would feel sad when I reached Santiago, completing this adventure. I answered with a resounding No. It is true that s has been a privilege to have had this amazing journey of a lifetime, shared with a wonderful friend, meeting warm and interesting people from around the world, and getting an intimate view of Spain and the varied elements of Spanish culture. It is also true that I have the most wonderful husband, family, and friends in my home community who I love and miss terribly, and can't wait to get home to.!
    Love and much gratitude l to the warm and wonderful people of Spain who shared their homes, food, advise, stories, and hearts with this traveler from California.These wonderful memories that you have helped to create will be with me always.❤️
    Photos: so many kittens; heading up the Camino for milking; water fonts along the way for pilgrims; the kitchen in our albergue.
    Les mer

  • Dag 31

    Santiago de Compostela

    31. juli 2022, Spania ⋅ 🌙 79 °F

    We arrived in Santiago de Compostela, and commenced with our daily ceremonial rituals of our arrival to new city: bigs hugs and a toast to the adventure of the day!
    The cathedral was beautiful; a parade of classic cars made it's way through the cobblestone streets, just in time for mass; and a bag pipe band made music in the streets. Throngs of pilgrims made their way to the Compostela office- seeing familiar faces, we stopped along the way to congratulate each other and snap pictures in front of the Cathedral. At the Pilgrim Compostela office- I was issued a certified document stating that: I walked for 31 consecutive days, covering 779 kilometers. Distance traveled is verified by a Pilgrim Credential, where stamps are collected throughout the journey at stops along the way. We also carried our backpacks the entire distance.
    I consider myself a goal driven person and have never really subscribed to the notion that, "It's not about the end result, but all about the journey." My experience of walking the Camino de Santiago was the exception. Arriving in Santiago was a beautiful experience, and, so was our trek: over the Pyrenees Mountains; through Basque country; navigating Castilla and Leon; over long stretches through the Meseta; over the Cantabrian Mountains; and through Galicia. Walking the Camino was ALL about the journey, from beginning to end. And what a journey it was!🏞️ Tomorrow we will take a bus to Finisterre, the Atlantic Ocean- the end of the earth to early Pilgrims. And, Tuesday I'll journey to my favorite place on earth- home! Love to you all!
    Les mer