All we have to do is walk!
Trip Start
Apr 27, 2008
1
15
27
Trip End
Jun 05, 2008
Where I stayed
Santiago de Compostela,
Spain
Thursday, May 15, 2008
60 dg. and pretty rainy
Dear family and friends,
The last steps seem difficult. But all we have to do is walk! In ages past, pilgrims not only had to walk to Santiago, but they also had to return home. This could take years! Quite a contrast to today when we see pilgrims talking on their cell phones! There aren´t many, but they are just as annoying as in any other situation and probably moreso. The book promised us just 16K left to Santiago but it seems like many more. The route today is circuitous, not direct like it has been. Dick says they have made it like the trek to Mecca where one isn´t supposed to see the city until just before entering it. In this case it is the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
Farmer Juan herds his cows to the field
. We are anxious to arrive, and we are tired.We see several memorials today, which put our journey into perspective. There is Guillermo Watt, a 69-year old who died 15 years ago, very near the end of the Camino. His bronzed shoes have been placed near the memorial plaque. Tucked into one of them is a memorial card dedicated to a young American boy with no mention of how or where he he died. Maybe his parents or sister hiked the trail and left the reminder? His smile reminds me of Taggart´s; it is beautiful. And Len told of a memorial near the beginning of the Camino, in France, of a 62-year-old Japanese man; he had hiked just 5K before he died of a heart attack. And Len even confided to us that he had no idea that he would survive the trip! It is a challenging journey. But a worthwhile one.
As we enter Santiago it pours rain, more rain than we have had on the entire trip. Where are those yellow arrows that help guide us so well? It took us an hour to get to city center from its periphery! Finally we see the Cathedral. You really have to see it to believe it. It is magnificent, opulent and holy. More on the cathedral tomorrow.
Our Hotel Rúa Villar is right next to the Cathedral, and it welcomes us--dripping wet, tired and ready for a shower. It is elegant, incredibly historic (thick granite walls, old beams), and it´s heated! Dick´s and my room looks out over the cathedral. We celebrate tonight with Spanish sparkly wine--¡Bravo todos! Before helping you understand the importance of Santiago (next entry), I have a few observations about the trail to catch you up on:
-It is very difficult for many who come along the trail to communicate
Cork trees! The only ones we saw while there
. From our observations the Germans have the hardest time. In fact one day I observed one German man using sign language and grunting, pointing to things so the Spaniard would get his message. I am not sure if he did or not! And, for Asians it is difficult, too. But for those who bother to learn just a few simple words and phrases, they are rewarded generously.-Like I said before, electricity is expensive here because of a lack of natural resources to produce it. So the Spaniards conserve A LOT. Light fixtures might have just one of two bulbs. And most lights in public places are on timers. Have you ever been in a restroom and had the light go out during a crucial moment? It happens here.
-Bread is a very important food here, as I have observed before. It is served with meals; sandwiches are made with it (described before); it is put in some soups; and it provides contact for some to the outer world. As we walked through small villages, the small bread truck would drive up and honk. Out came the housemaker to receive the bread ordered. On one occasion I saw the younger bread deliveryman hug an older lady after he listened to her tale. Bread serves a very important function in Spanish society.
Ciao, Dick and Sue
Comments
The best part
Congratulations! What an adventure! You are amazing!
Lifetime memories
Sue, it has been such fun to read your blog and remember Spain! Now, soak those 'dogs'. Drink some vino verde. Sleep in! susan
CONGRATS!
Sue, Dick, Len, & Jean,
Thank you for posting your trip - experiences, thoughts, happenings, and observations. I have enjoyed virtual-walking along with you. I think Jean had the right idea - taxi/bus from stop to stop : )
As Sue said, Bravo todos!