Adios

Today was my last day.
I feel really content with how everything went and I’m ready for home.
I finally slept well for the first time in weeks last night, my psyche must know the job is over
I hit the jackpot at lunchtime today with the nicest meal I’ve had in five weeks too and I’ve decided, we do food really well in Australia.
I never quite knew what to expect when I ordered something over here and there were a few surprises along the way!
I did the rooftop tour of the Cathedral this morning. It was fun looking down from above. My attention span for tours really lacks and history isn’t really my thing, but the view was nice.
I’ve seen enough churches over the last month to see me out now, they have all merged into one.
I wandered the laneways again in an attempt to do some gift buying but had little success. A bit too souvenir-ish for me. At this point my presence at home will need to be their present 🤓
I spent the afternoon sitting in the square people watching. I could do it for days.
Today I ran into two people from days gone by and the buzz of seeing familiar faces in a foreign country is so exciting. Lovely Erika from Mexico and Cathy from Newcastle.
Cathy had sprained her ankle and was bruised up to her knee but still managed to finish the walk. That’s bloody tough.
A few funny observations from the last five weeks:
• Distances are up the shit. Do not take notice of signage. It can say 22km then 2km down the road 15km - very disheartening when you’re on foot
• Daylight at 10pm was never going to be good for this early bird.
• The pillows are long and thin and seem to be the width of the bed. You mostly only get one.
• No doonas in Spain. I wonder if that’s why I slept so badly. I need the security of a doona.
• I’ve barely eaten a vegetable since leaving Australia. Basic salads yes, actual vegetables no. They aren’t on the menu, not available
Bring on the broccoli.
• My little skort with bike shorts underneath was one of the best things I packed. I’m converted.
• My walking poles were used to hike, dance and bounce along to the tunes in my head when the days got long and the delirium set in. Thanks Noah and Hayley, they gave me them for Christmas before I had even committed to the walk.
• There are so many young people walking the Camino.
• Supermercado is a supermarket.
• Café con leche is basically a latte
•Bocadillo de jamón con queso was a baguette with cured ham and cheese, my favourite over here
• Agua con gas is soda water.
• Santiago gets rain around 180 days a year and I dodged it.
• Big chimneys on old houses meant more wealth.
I was incredibly lucky with the weather. Five weeks away and maybe two light showers, a couple of overcast days and not once did I need long pants or a jumper.
Tonight I fly to Paris, tomorrow I start the long journey home.
Five weeks ago this all felt a very long way from reality. Now home feels close
I’m sad it’s over, happy it’s over, sad to be leaving and happy to be going home.
I think it’s a good sign that it was exactly the adventure it was meant to be.Read more