Reflections

5/24
Writing this blog chronicling my camino has been a very positive experience. I find I am seeing Spain not only through my eyes but also through your eyes. This adds a different dimension and enhances the entire experience for me. Thank you so much for following my adventure.

I love hearing your comments and getting emails of encouragement. Special thanks to Keith, Mom, Laurie, Alice, Helen and Spring (I will include more horse shots for you two!),  Laura and both of my brothers.
(I notice that I have many Facebook messages but I no longer use messenger due to some negative issues so if you wonder why I have not responded.... Well
You can always email me at vicquilter@gmail.com.)

Random thoughts:

Occasionally I still get the feeling that we are all sheep following Santiago but then the beautiful butterflies fly around our tired dirty feet and I know I am on the right path. Seriously --- they do!

On the walk to Muxia we met many pilgrims that were walking in the other direction, back towards Santiago. Most of them had walked to either Finesterre or Muxia or both and then walked back.

I seem to sleep best when I am in an albergue dormitory room with 17 other pilgrims. However, that being said, custom earplugs are essential.

Ordering food in Galician restaurants was often difficult. The tv on, other noisy patrons, the coffee machine going ... there was usually no menu, the waiter would go through all the courses verbally. It is far easier to understand the written word and when we did not understand a written menu we had google translate.
There was usually little choice other than various types of meat, all with french fries.

In Galicia we saw 100s of cats, all very tiny and not friendly. I only met 2 that deigned to submit to a pat.

5/25
Here I sit on the boulders gazing at the rolling Atlantic waves in northern Spain. Over the last 54 days I have walked from Seville in southern Spain in a northerly then north westerly direction to Muxia on the north coast. I am proud to realize that is a distance of 1090 kilometers. Each day was begun with contentment, an easiness of knowing what I wished to accomplish that day. The distance was (usually) the given factor but everyday there were added bonus' of new aquaintances or sometimes precious time to myself, but also new wildflowers, farm animals, quaint Spanish villages and beautiful landscapes. This journey has been a privilege to be on and to celebrate its completion here in this beautiful spot is a gift.

I seem to be putting pressure on myself to come up with something very profound ..

but ya know..

I am just not a profound kinda gal.

So I am letting myself off the hook.

That was easy.

Here is my completed credential. One stamp for every albergue.

Saying goodbye to my good friend Danielle. She is walking 1/2 way to Finesterre today and will finish tomorrow. Since this is her 3rd camino she was so helpful to me. I thought I knew lots when I started out but no I did not. There is a culture and seemingly a network of information that I was not always privy to, Danielle always calmly helped me along.

We did not always walk together but when we did we talked easily and best of all, we were both always hungry at the same time. However she marvelled at how much I ate at every meal and I wondered how she could manage on so little food.

Today after "breakfast" (I was so excited cuz the restaurant next door to the albergue advertised a full breakfast ... but it never opened!) I walked back to the northern point to enjoy some contemplation time in the beautiful weather. Some of the following photos are similar to yesterday's but much better in the morning light.

Kilometer Zero

It was important to me to bring my packsack here to km zero. It has been on my back the entire way, I have become quite attached to it.

Mom just mentioned in an email that she did not realize that the end of my journey was Muxia rather than Santiago de Compostela. Mom, I didn't know that either but as I approached the ocean it just seemed like an appropriate end. Santiago is too busy for quiet contemplation, Muxia encourages thought.

Gorgeous

I again enjoyed talking with Silke who joined me for a nice conversation this morning.

This could be Ireland. Same plants, same turquoise sea.

Another contemplation spot.

This could also be Ireland with the ancient stone walls separating garden plots.

Drying fish

At 2:30 I took the bus back to Santiago de Compostela. There are only 2 busses per day. It was a large bus and it was a huge crowd that was waiting. All like me, with their packsacks. Somehow it worked out perfectly with only about 2 seats left vacant.

I had the most delightful seatmate, a young girl named Anna from Oregon, going into grade 8. She walked the Camino Frances with her parents and 3 siblings, the youngest looked about 6 years old. What a task for her parents to make sure that the 4 children were always fed and had a bed. The parents deserve special pats in the back. Anna was very talkative and insightful about her journey, her schooling in a tiny Church of LDS school and the environment. The 1.5 hour bus trip was quickly over.

I am staying in the same hotel as before.

Seminario Mayor

This is the view from my room.

The city has a very different feel this time, it is Saturday and there is a large fair happening (see the giant ferris wheel on the lhs), lots of people and lots of noise ... it's a happening town!

I happened upon this talented group of diners. They broke into song, one of the women was directing the wonderful a Capella tune. 

Tomorrow a train trip to Santander and the next day a flight to England.

So no blogs for a few days.

Caroline, I hope you have some peanut butter on hand!