32km today. Up and down. Scenery mostly hay field after hay field. We arrived in town and everywhere was full so we are staying at the municipal Albergue. 20 other people staying in the same room. We are really part of the Camino now and feeling it. Age is no barrier as we are all on the same journey and inspiring each other. We have been bouyed by today's experiences. Wow, we have arrived!!!
It was very strange to get up this morning and know that we were doing our 'toe taping ceremony' for the last time. We only had 10km to go which seemed like nothing after the last 32 days.
We started out in the dark and as the light came up Santiago was clouded in mist which finally lifted and revealed a lovely clear day. It didn't take long to get here and find the Cathedral and our accomodation is directly opposite so there is no forgetting we have arrived even if we wanted to.
We feel incredibly privaleged to have been able to complete the Camino and arrive here. 800km is quite a journey.
We sat in the Pilgrims' Mass with what must have been 1500 other people and we were in awe. They didn't do the big swining botifumero as there is a little problem with it but we are hoping it will be fixed before we leave.
We saw people we have seen and lost along the way and it seems that is something that happens. You may see someone for a few days and then lose them and then find them again. It seemed like we found all the people we have gotten to know over the last 800km. It is such a strange thing and very hard to try to explain.
The Cathedral is beautiful and we will do some more sightseeing in there before we leave. We will visit the remains of St James which are in there and that is what started pilgrims coming here in the first place over 1000 years ago.
So this Camino journey has reached its conclusion.......but there are others and we will be back. It's not really over!
We did another 30km day today and really made great time. We started out in tne dark for about an hour and a half and it was quite eerie as we were still on the heavily wooded tracks and paths which is where most of theday was spent. Eventually the light came through the trees and we knew we wouldn't see any rain today. Happy days..
Our thoughts turned to the fact that we will only have 10km to walk on the Camino tomorrow. It is strange to think that what we have been doing for the last 33 days so far is coming to an end. Our daily rituals and routines will no longer be after tomorrow and the people that we meet each day will be gone. This has been our life and major focus on the Camino and we wonder how we will adjust and return to the real world. Our lives are undoubtedly changed forever.
We started out with sunshine today and everyone was happy on the Camino. It didn't take long before it started to rain but it didn't matter. We are pushing on to Santiago because we want to go to the Pilgrims' Mass on Sunday so we have to get ahead a bit so we did about 30 km today.
We spent a lot of time on country lanes heavily covered with massive trees. We expected we should see a Hobbitt at any moment but all we saw were short pilgrims.
We got to our accomdation and found a laundry and finally got some much needed washing done.
Not far now.
