Day 40 - A Brea to Lavacolla

It appears the Gods wanted to provide one last 'cleansing' whilst on this wild ride... so I got to wear my rain poncho for the 4th time in 40 days (L☀️VE this ratio, how fortunate is that!!🙏)

Upon leaving Mar de Frisia this morning, we had a chat with the host about the business side of running a pensione (family owned guesthouse). I found it interesting to hear that booking.com rips them off big time! Not just with fees, but with the way they pay the hosts... they don't use a reference system and just randomly dump different amounts at different times into their account, so she said it's a bookkeeping nightmare!!
Note to self: always select the 'pay at property' option if provided or better yet, call them directly to book and cut out the middle man!

Today, I'm headed for Lavacolla ... just 10kms from Santiago! 😱

⚽️⚾️Fun fact... Lavacolla's significance to the history of the Camino is that it was the last place pilgrims would wash before arriving in Santiago. The name 'Lavacolla' translates to 'wash your scrotum' 😂... so it's been theorized that this is how it got its name!
It was also reputed to be the location of many brothels offering one last opportunity to rack up a few more sins prior to absolution and a life of new found purity! 🤣

As I arrived in Lavacolla, I noticed a windband and all the locals were dressed in their Sunday best!!
My 1st thought was... oh, how nice!! They're celebrating my soon to be completion of the camino!! 🤣... but it turns out I landed right at the start of their St. Paul festival (or was it St. Peter 🤔!) There was live salsa music & a great vibe, so we hung out for a couple of hours before heading to the accommodation - Pazo Xan Xorbo - a very quaint rural property 1km from the village.

Tomorrow feels so surreal, I can't quite put my finger on it. I know it's too soon to process all that's been and all that will be, but I feel like a deer in the headlights right now! It's blowing my mind that I reach my destination tomorrow, after being on this journey for nearly 7 weeks!

How will I integrate what I've learnt about myself and the world around me? How will I keep the spirit of the camino alive in my daily life?
Maybe those I know that have had this Camino experience can relate?!

A memorial plaque on the side of the road this afternoon caught my attention and seemed quite fitting - it read...

'Those were the days my pilgrim friend,
I thought they would never end'

- in memory of Helen Richards - 1979 to 2017

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