What makes this year different from last year.

ow did this year differ from last?

Terrain - new except for the last 100 k.  And even the last 100 k seemed new.

Different people.

Different time of year so different vegetation

Logistics were easier because we knew the drill.  Finding hotels, etc.  

Eating was different - didn’t depend on pilgrim’s dinners as much

found the good wine

Less emotional angst

more opportunity to appreciate the variety of culture in Spain

Deepened the experience.  

Day 36 June 24 leaving Spain

Thank you all for your wishes of safe return. It means a lot to feel your presence.  It rains here now . I sit and drink a coffee, have some watermelon, cheese, tomato on bread and prepare myself for the day ahead. No watermelon on the bread. Just to clarify. Listen to the voices of little children at the next table singing in Spanish, counting in English . 

I have grown accustomed. Humble empowerment. Yes. That is what I take with me.  As life rushes in. Today I hear from home. A friend has been at a friend's side as she passes, another's mother must move to a memory care unit, another friend has a best friend just diagnosed. And Connor has a birthday celebration, Natalie beams at her dance recital, and Hazel has learned to ride a pedal bike!  

We have met so many people and embraced life with them.  I recall the line from the Muppets:" strangers are friends you have not yet met."  

We have deepened our relationship with each other.  And with our own selves.  How will this manifest off the Camino?  Off the cushion? Off the yoga mat?  There are similarities here. Very much so. 

And we have come to know the country of Spain and its varied geography, people, foods, and yes : wine and hotel rooms!!

My boots and I have become old friends.

So the challenge is to keep moving and feel the stillness . 

Homeward bound!  Ahhhh. 

Day 35 June 23 Santiago to Madrid

P6 hour train ride landed us at Charmaetin Station where we caught the Metro to Barajas where we have our Hotel BarJas Best Western reserved.

The train was full of peregrinos resuming or starting lives off the Camino. Our last conversation was with a Brazilian woman who completed the Camino with her brother with the mission of helping him kick the alcohol habit. She gave him the Camino as a gift. She was encouraged. 

At the train station. 

Tomorrow we fly home. British airlines. Madrid- London-Seattle.

So excited to have Sonya and Hazel pick us up. 

What will it be like to be home? 

The raspberries are ripe! 

Day 34 June 22 Santiago

6 1/2 miles without packs

Perfect weather with sunshine but not too warm

Today we followed the Camino de St. Craig Santiago Costello that wound through two beautiful parks, the University, into the Cathedral for another viewing of the botofumiero, and past the ice cream shop back to our hotel for a siesta. 

Here are some photos of the day. 

Come out and play!

Art Musem- Galician modern artist

The cathedral overflowed today

University graffiti

Never, never any safety worries

Walking in the footsteps of so many- behind the altar - touching St. James. 

Day 33 June 21 solstice Cangas to Santiago

Train from Vigo

Hotel Mourra

Up the street from Costa Vela 

Wandering

Siesta

Wandering

Eating

Hard rain

Hotel room

Hang around

Transition time 

Day 32 June 20. Cangas- Islas Cies

IWe're tired. Our bodies are tired. Slept in this morning. Breakfast at the hotel. This is the slack time before we re-enter our lives at home .  

We are basking in a lovely Galician town on the Atlantic after a day on an island with a hike to a lighthouse on a mountain top and a jump in the ocean.  Now watching Game of Thrones. Back to Santiago tomorrow and then the tren to Madrid on Monday. Fly Tuesday. What's next?

This is so sensational. It is 10:30 PM and the streets are teeming with people. We have a video. Kids everywhere. Playing soccer, in playgrounds, in buggies, everyone strolling or eating and chatting. This will go on until midnight.  It's the culture . As for us , we ate . We strolled and now we are going to watch Gamebof Thrones via Slingbox. These two Americanos need their downtime !!

The day proved magical as we made our way via ferry to Isla Cies. The photos tell all.  This is a very enjoyable way- a treat- to the end of this Camino. 

The coastline of Cangas

On the Ferry to Isla Cies- national park

We hiked (without packs) to the lighthouse - up the mountain!

And then we swam

And one of us ate:)

We met some Irish folks last night who told us about this pizza place. We are quite tired of Spanish food at this point. 

Italian is always the go to comfort food. 

They come here for holiday all the time. They have a boat here that they stay on. There is a strong relationship historically between these cultures as evidenced in the music particularly.  The Galicians helped the Irish in their war with England. The Irish folks were quick to remark that the "German and Englush " don't come here; they go to the glamorous islands off the West coast of Spain- Majorca, etc.  One cannot escape the national identities and historical injuries that prevail here. 

It's now 11:51, just getting dark on this summer solstice weekend, and kids are still frolicking ! Let's just hope they sleep in! 

Day 31 June 19 Santiago to Vigo to Cangas

By taxi, train, and water taxi 

Today is the inauguration of the new monarch, the son of Philipe II. And the country is recovering from the big soccer loss. This newspaper was at breakfast and when I asked a gentleman about the inauguration he said, "it's a tragedy. "

We arrived in Cangas.  Roberto made the reservations for us at this small hotel. Once again, we are treated so well. This is a coastal vacation town with a lovely shoreline and islands to take a ferry to to hike around. The weather had turned cloudy but we're oh so familiar with this type of marine climate.

We walked around, ate tapas at a fantastic restaurant that we'll return to and basically reveled in not doing much.  

It's funny - people here know Seattle from the Seattle Supersonics, and Nirvana. 

We marvel at this way of traveling. We didn't even know this area existed and now we're exploring, arrangements having been made through encounters with locals and their networks and experiences. 

We've accustomed ourselves to the Spanish daily life. Siesta, strolling, eating late.