Santiago de Compostela

We are so thrilled to have a few more days to spend in Compestela. We spent yesterday meeting up with friends we had met along the way. For some reason ( I guess how we booked the trip), we ended up with a day we walked 35 KM when most only walked 15. The whole thing was booked so long ago, but I guess I designated 13 days hiking as a way of cutting costs. Looking back, I think I would have booked in a few days rest along the way (if I were to do it again)

A few things we have found out along the way, things that are different here from home, some just details, some important. The hotel rooms never have facecloths If you order a beer, a wine OR a coffee, you always get something with it, beit a bowl of nuts etc with drinks, or a pastry of sorts with coffee. Pretty much always, we wished we had shared one order of meal, as it was almost always too much.

We spent our second to last day enjoying a very very long lunch with Australian friends. We told funny stories about the trip for hours, until finally the waiter had had enough of us, and we all went off to meet another group of pilgrims who were just arriving. Of course we celebrated finishing the camino with them too. I guess we got to celebrate for 3 days with different people every day…. perhaps it was good to have gotten ahead of everyone.

The last time we were in Santiago de compostela I was quite sick and had a broken shoulder, but we did remember this wonderful place we went for lunch, an Italian restaurant. so THIS celebration was having pizza and Ken not having to cut my pizza for me. There really is something special about going back to a place you never thought you would ever get back to.

We have found that the whole bus system is the most well kept secret….in each place, to find the bus stop locally seems to be a secret. We are on a bus from Santiago de Compestela to Lisbon now and to make certain where the station was was quite a task. Then to get onto the bus was also a shemozzle. It was totally unclear what bus was going to Porto and which one was going to Lisbon. The luggage was all put under and at the last minute they wanted Kens Pack as well, which is where our lunch is……(and our passports). not really expecting this, another bus passenger told the bus driver that Ken needed his medication, so was able to get the lunch bag.

A few pictures from inside the cathedral, which according to some is the most impressive in Europe.

apparently there is gold up there.🤔

Well onwards to Lisbon/Lisboa, janet and Ken

WE HAVE ARRIVED! we have done our second Camino. This time we walked into Santiago de Compestela, and I must say it was rather a bit of a let down…at least the first part.

It was just walking through a city to begin with, until you get to the final square. It was a bit hard to find our way, as the markers were harder to find. However when you get to the square it is totally amazing, such striking structures and so many of them. Last time it was all under repair so the actual cathedral was cloaked in scaffolds and cranes. You can see now looking at the cathedral that is better cared for than most you see, I gather that they have lots of funding to keep it up.

I must say that of all of the cathedrals we have seen in so many cities of Europe, the details here are the most exquisite. THIS is the structure where “pilgrims”go to to get their certificate. We did not get certificate last time because of circumstances we were unable to complete the last few days. This time we opted not to do the passport book, as for us, completing the camino was just a personal goal.

It is quite a touching place, people are very celebratory, hugging, jumping around, lying down with packs as pillows, everyone gazing up at this structure. I guess you could say we were more…..”Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.” This journey has been a bit harder than the last one we did because this time we booked the whole trip and so did 13 days of hiking in a row. Last time we would go 3-4 days and then stop for a few days when we were in a major centre. I think that 13 days is about the limit of what we could do, in a row. We basically went back to our room and put our feet up for the rest of the day, rather than too much celebration. My left lower leg was quite swollen, and I just had a feeling I need to rest it. I kept it up for most of the evening and now today it feels great. Today we go in search of the best TSHIRT.

So each day we have had quite a spread for breakfast, here are a few of them…… but today I must remind myself I am now only eating for one…….one day 🤔🫢. Each day along the way we have had to be up and have our luggage ready, by 8, to be take by the company that is schlepping our luggage to the next place. Today we are on our own, so just hanging around, until check out time. We have another place booked for 3 days here in Compestela.

I think I can speak for both of us, …. we feel great, and since today is our 41st anniversary we plan to find a Paella for dinner tonite.

janet and Ken

mymostrecentobsession

The long good bye….

ponderings from the end of the trail…