A JOURNEY BEGUN TOGETHER ... A JOURNEY FINISHED TOGETHER
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| (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
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| A yellow bug car! Is Tianna here too! :) |
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| 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!
Congrats! Yay!
ReplyDeleteNow you can come home and get your crazy dog! :)
I have been trying for over an hour to send a message and only determination has me trying again.. My wonderful messages are somewhere in cyber-space. I will just say congratulations and thanks for all the wonderful messages you sent back to us each time. It actually made us feel you were still in the world somewhere. I am going to send this now and will write again if it actually goes somewhere other than the rejection bin. Love to both of you, your computer illiterate sister, Lois
ReplyDeleteHey there, you made it! All finished. Wow!
ReplyDeleteI would not be on here tonight except that this afternoon I had told Lois to click on the COMMENTS in order to get to where you send a message and also to create a Google account so that she could complete and send one.
Lois called me a while ago to tell me that she had tried and nothing worked.
So, I opened the blog so that I could walk her through the process and voila' we found that her note above had been posted.
Lois was surprised to see it! I am glad that she is getting the hang of using her computer because I think the more proficient she becomes the more she will love to use it.
I think it is even more wonderful that both of you finished your Camino and with time to spare.
I love Charis' note above--must be some kinda' mutt you have:)
The landlord paid the utilities so we won't have them cut off on Monday! Bonus.
It was/is pouring today and supposed to continue to rain throughout the day tomorrow.
I don't know if I got the story completely correct, but Lois was telling me that it was "raining cats and dogs" in Salmon Arm the other day and Karis wanted to go outside. Her Mom was not into allowing it.
So...Karis said, "What about this deal, Cheri? I'll put my boots and coat on...."
As though, before the "deal," Karis should have been allowed to spirit outside in the pouring rain without a coat or boots but she would make a concession and put them on!
Gotta' love the way kids say what they think so honestly. I have been gettng a chuckle out of what this little, almost 3 year-old, said to her Mom ever since Lois told me. Cheri was so surprised by "the proposed deal" that she left the words on Lois' message machine and you know how much Lois would love it:)
Wow! To have so much spunk at such an age. I think we need a lot more spunk in this world.
I got the zinnias and most of the gladiolus planted today. Hope to finish the planting tomorrow as it is well into June.
I think it is fabulous when we can live in and enjoy "the moment" but gardens take long term thought as well. Sorta' like doing a Camino in some way--enjoying each day but needing to keep in mind the goal.
I am glad that you paced yourselves so as to have a bit of time to heal your bodies and enjoy part of Spain before your return flight.
Please do keep sending messages of your daily adventures. And, remember that it is always easier to make notes now than it will be to try to recall the daily events after you are home and in the thick of everyday life.
I know, as I write this that it might be more unsolicited advice but it has been my experience that if I don't stop to record things as they happen, I never seem to find the time to go back and do the recording and it is not as authentic as what I would have written at the time.
I was watching a movie when Lois called. I don't have TV channels. But, I bought a new big screen TV last fall and this is the third time I have watched it. It is a comedy so I think, now that I am more tired, I will leave the rest of it for tomorrow or some other day.
I never rent but I buy VHS movies at Sally Ann's on Senior's Days then it is not much of a loss if I never watch them and they are around when Riley comes to visit or I get in the mood.
Both of you have earned a good rest after all that walking but after the "rest up" I hope to read upcoming reports of untold sights and sounds and experiences.
Love and congratulations to both of you on your amazing feat! FEET!!! Matuga