Day 30
Big day. Today I completed the 779.5 km / 500 miles from Saint Jean Pied de Port, France to Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
I slept in until 7, readied myself, got breakfast, and headed out. It was such a luxury to have First Coffee in the place I was staying.
And, I haven’t mentioned it thus far but every time I’ve stayed in a private room I tip the cleaning service so they can get First Coffee too. There is a certain road-grit and grime that comes with being a pilgrim and I don’t want to overlook that someone has to clean up after me. End of day I always feel a bit like Pig Pen, from the Peanuts. Just the act of taking off my socks produces a little cloud of dust. Albergues have rules to keep the grime to a minimum. Shoes are taken off in the lobby and left on a rack. Anyway, I’m grateful for the cleaners.
I know my pace is relatively slow – so it didn’t bother me when other pilgrims passed me. I enjoyed the shade and eucalyptus forests. Part of the 15 km walk this morning was around the back of the Santiago airport.
And I was delighted to see these two horses in a beautiful, walled forest. Plenty of shade and room to wander. I wished I had carrots with me for them.
The city is quite large, so you’re in it for quite a while before you see the church. But, once you see it – it’s unmistakable.
I made it to the cathedral by noon then headed to the Compostela office. I was amazed – they’ve automated everything and it was just minutes, rather than the hours it took last time. I got my certificate and the volunteer told me to go to the office in Muxia once I get there to get a supplemental certificate. I didn’t realize that was a thing.
I wandered around for a bit and found an albergue not far from the cathedral. I love that they have a door security code that changes daily – Santiago is, like any city, a magnet for opportunists.
Got settled in then went out to find lunch. I saw the most amazing Ensalada Mixta and went into that place for my meal. There’s enough to have it for dinner as well.
Pilgrim’s Mass is at 7:30 in the cathedral. Looking forward to it!
I’ll add the next portion of the trip onto this for all the grand totals once I get to Muxia – but these are the trip walking totals thus far…
Floors climbed: 292
Steps: 1,210,132
Miles: 508.1
More later…
If you’d like more information about my walk for charity:water, please follow this link. Thank you!
https://www.charitywater.org/marilyn-peterson/marilyn-s-camino-for-water
You did it! Way to go, Sis! I am so proud of you, and your face in the photo by the cathedral shows how happy and excited you are to have accomplished such a goal. You’re all smiles (as usual)!
Thanks, Sis! Really appreciate the support and encouragement all along the way. Mucho. 😀
All the best,
sis
Congratulations! What a special accomplish!
Thanks, Karen! I appreciate the support and encouragement. Looking forward to your Camino, too. Not everyone who hears about it feels called to do it – so if you do … go for it! 🥾😃🌻💕
Well done and congratulations. That is some achievement and I trust the journey gave back to you as much as you have it. I take it that you did not enter the cathedral on your knees as some do! Hope that this evenings mass brings enough completion to feel complete and enough wonder to keep on pilgrimaging (if that’s a word). Looking forward to the bonus material.
Well, I guess it’s a word now. 🙂 No, I don’t think my knees would appreciate that move. So glad to have made it this far. Thanks for all the support and encouragement.