Camino de Santiago 2010

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Our Camino de Santiago 2010 ... is complete! :)

A JOURNEY BEGUN TOGETHER ... A JOURNEY FINISHED TOGETHER

(P.S. Note the tan-lines are from the walking pole hand-straps.)

It is an incredible feeling and still hard to believe that after 5 straight weeks, to the day, of walking ... we actually don´t need to get up in the morning and start again. But, seriously (except for the pain) it has been an absolute joy!

We are so incredibly grateful for the good health and lack of injury that we have experienced and the blessings that have been ours are impossible to explain. Suffice it to say that the beautiful people we have met and the amazing country of Spain has given us a sense of fullness that is unlike anything else we have experienced. We will hold the memories close to our hearts always and we are so thankful that we have had each other to share the experience with.

These past few days the weather has been less favourable for walking, with today being the wettest and coldest. Still the excitement of being so close to Santiago was a fact that certainly spurred us on. After reaching Mt. do Gozo on the outskirts of the city, we found our beds where we will rest tonight and then we finished our walk into the city (another 4.5 kms to go!). We arrived at the cathedral about 4 p.m. ... an amazing structure which was started in the 12th C.

RECEIVING THE COVETED COMPOSTELA!

We then went to the Compostela Office to pick up our official certificate of completion.

I must say it was an emotional experience when he handed me my piece of paper and showed me where he had stamped it with the official Cathedral stamp and dated it today´s date. Martin echoes these same sentiments and he wants to add that he is very excited about going back into the city tomorrow to attend the Pilgrim´s Mass at noon and to be a tourist in the city (visiting museums, etc) and no longer have to have a 25 lb pack on his back and hiking poles!

Thanks so much to everyone who has read this little blog and to those who have wished us well along the Camino. More thoughts may be added in due time.

God´s richest blessings!

Carolyn and Martin

RESTORATION IN THE CATHEDRAL

WALKING INTO SANTIAGO FROM MT DO GOZO

A yellow bug car! Is Tianna here too! :)

VERY WET AND HAPPY PILGRIMS HAVE REACHED THE EDGE OF THE CITY! :)
(We swapped picture taking with some pilgrims from Scotland
who shared this momentous occasion with us.

MARTIN'S DEAR PILGIM FRIEND ADRIAN

... WHOSE WALKING PILGRIMAGE BEGAN AT HIS FRONT DOOR IN HOLLAND

OUR DORM HALLWAY AT MT DO GOZO

MUCH LAUGHTER IN OUR DORM ROOM WITH OUR DEAR AUSTRALIAN AND IRISH FRIENDS

IT WILL BE HARD TO SAY GOODBYE!

PILGRIM'S BOOTS ...

ALL STYLES AND SIZES ...

OURS ARE ON THE FLOOR RIGHT SIDE OF SHOE RACK ... THEY DID US WELL

BEAUTIFUL COLOURS!!!

ONE OF OUR ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE PHOTOS ... ALL THE BACKPACKS LINED UP AS WE WAITED FOR THE ALBERGUE/REFUGIO/HOSTEL TO BE OPEN

WE HAD MADE IT! IT DID NOT MATTER THAT IT WAS RAINING, OR THAT WE HAD TO WAIT

MONUMENT ERECTED BY POPE AT ENTRANCE TO MT DO GOZO

(EASTERN OUTSKIRT OF SANTIAGO)

... A MASSIVE PILGRIM'S HOSTEL THAT CAN ACCOMODATE OVER 1000 INDIVIDUALS!

STILL ON THE CORRECT PATH!

Monday, June 7, 2010

Only 2 days and 42 kms left ... wow, so hard to believe!

Saturday, June 5th
Sarria to Portomarin 22.9 km

A coke machine in the middle of nowhere!

Much of today was spent walking along tree lined roads and pathways; while we walked through many hamlets there were relatively few places to stop for a break. Most of the hamlets seem to be a combination of a few houses and a barnyard thrown in for good measure right in the middle of ´town!´

A corn crib ... we are seeing many in Galicia

We have been told that this is quite a poor region; most of the menfolk have left for the city to find employment. It is definitely the women who seem to be caring for the farm and the livestock.
The forests were magical in that the trees seemed to be ancient, as did the pathways and it felt like we could have been the perigrinos from centuries gone by; especially so, as there was a heavy mist which hung in the air for the entire day´s journey.

We stayed in a small albergue with roommates from Italy. The restaurant upstairs served some of the finest food that we have so far been fortunate enough to taste since being in Spain. From our vantage point, on a window lined terraced diningroom, we could see about 25 windsurfers doing their manouvers on the lake-dam below.

Sunday, June 6th
Portomarin - Palas de Rei 26.1 km

We began our journey early today. The street lights were still on and so when we entered the forest it was most helpful that we had headlamps. Martin wasn´t so certain about getting up at 5 a.m. to get on the road, but, once we were going he agreed that it was a very good idea indeed.

Many more perigrinos have now joined the journey as it is only necessary to complete the last 100 kms in order to receive the all important certificate called a ´Compostela,´ indicating that the Camino de Santiago has been undertaken. The new perigrinos must collect more stamps for their Camino Passports (approximately 2 per day); whereas only one stamp per day will be more than sufficient for ourselves,to indicate that we have in actual fact completed the journey and have been on the trail since May 6th.

When we arrived in Palas de Rei there was no space available in the albergues and so we stayed in a hostel just across the road. It was not much more in cost and it was nice to treat ourselves to a private bedroom and bathroom. It still takes me a long time to tend to my feet each day; but, for the most part they are not hurting as much as previously.

Monday, June 7th
Palas de Rei - Arzua 29.4 kms

Today was another day with an early start. I had a hard time ´getting going,´ today. Just one of those days! But, after toastada and cafe con leche about 8 kms after starting I was doing a wee bit better.

Again, the countryside is so beautiful and the weather today was very good for walking and hiking. Unfortunately, I began the day in shorts and did not put my fleece on as I hadn´t realized that it was cold enough to see our breath! Galicia is much more damp than the provinces we have just left behind; which is understandable as we are now very close to the coast.

At various points in the day we walked with friends which we have made along ´the way,´ from Australia, Checoslovakia, Ireland, etc. It is quite the feeling to realize that we are all here for the same reason and all coming from all over the world. Perhaps we will see each other again and then perhaps not. There are now only two full days of walking left before the decent from Mount Gozo into the city of Santiago on Thursday morning. I am not sure I will be able to sleep the night before! I do hope that some of our new friends will be there also. Naturally, we hope to go to the pilgrims mass at the cathedral in Santiago at noon on June 10th and possibly again on the 11th.