Monday, June 7, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Completo!
Yesterday we marched the final steps into Santiago! The completion of 32 days of walking and 765km´s came with mixed feelings. Relief, joy, excitement and tiredness. While everyone says the journey is more important than reaching the goal, it was wonderful to finally reach the desired destination. It was a joy too to meet and congratulate other fellow walkers arriving into the cathedral square. Pilgrims celebrated together and greeted one another all over the city as we kept bumping into familiar faces that we´d shared a room with or walked with a little along the trail.
It was strange indeed not to rush out of bed this morning and prepare for a day of walking many kilometres. Today we have been enjoying this beautiful city, alive with energy and people. There are far more religious tourists here than pilgrims... more about that later.
On Sunday we fly across the country, catch a bus to France and prepare for our onward journey to the USA for meetings... and the world of reality again.
When we get access to better internet we will post some more photos and some final reflections... but we are here!
It was strange indeed not to rush out of bed this morning and prepare for a day of walking many kilometres. Today we have been enjoying this beautiful city, alive with energy and people. There are far more religious tourists here than pilgrims... more about that later.
On Sunday we fly across the country, catch a bus to France and prepare for our onward journey to the USA for meetings... and the world of reality again.
When we get access to better internet we will post some more photos and some final reflections... but we are here!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
40km´s to Santiago
We can hardly believe it... over 700km´s behind us and just 40 ahead of us. There are mixed feelings about reaching Santiago. The thought of not having to rise early each day and walk 20-30km´s is quite appealing, yet we will miss the simplicity and rythem of life and the community of people around us.
Since the 100km mark the roads have been crowded with walkers. All you need to officially complete the Camino and receive your certificate is to have walked 100km´s. Apparently this is enough for those who believe they will receive absolution of sins. Many of these walkers have their bags bused ahead to their days destination and only carry day packs. There legs are fresh and their shoes clean. They are a different kind of pilgrim, very much with the party spirit. Many of them are Spanish. We were told that to have walked the Camino gives you the edge on your CV for a job. We are expecting Santiago to be busy and crowded. Apparently tomorrow evening there are 3000 beds set up in barracks style to accomodate pilgrims converging on Santiago. That will be worth a picture!
Our trousers are very loose and almost falling off - one of the benefits of walking over 700km´s I guess!
Since the 100km mark the roads have been crowded with walkers. All you need to officially complete the Camino and receive your certificate is to have walked 100km´s. Apparently this is enough for those who believe they will receive absolution of sins. Many of these walkers have their bags bused ahead to their days destination and only carry day packs. There legs are fresh and their shoes clean. They are a different kind of pilgrim, very much with the party spirit. Many of them are Spanish. We were told that to have walked the Camino gives you the edge on your CV for a job. We are expecting Santiago to be busy and crowded. Apparently tomorrow evening there are 3000 beds set up in barracks style to accomodate pilgrims converging on Santiago. That will be worth a picture!
Our trousers are very loose and almost falling off - one of the benefits of walking over 700km´s I guess!
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