How does it feel, how does it feel - To be without a home - Like a complete unknown - Like a rolling stone

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Camino postscript



I spent two days in Santiago waiting to catch my train to Madrid. I am on the train to Madrid now- July 6th - it's about a six hour train ride so here I am blogging again - I will have to throw away this iPad when I get home - this writing is addicting - I am actually enjoying it. I promise this is the last blog - I just need to take care of some unfinished business.



So where was I?



..... the Friday night I arrived in Santiago I went to the 7:30 mass - over 1,000 people were in attendance - mostly pilgrims - there are three vantage points coming away from the apse forming a T. There are about 15 priests presiding over the service - 8 will be needed to swing the Botafumeiro - huge pulley rigged incense burner.



I arrive a half hour early for the service - all seats (unforgiving wooden pews) were taken - I stand behind one of the rows of pews right angle to the Apse. All of a sudden I spot Doreen and Megan (Irish mom and daughter) not 4 rows in front of me - they wave me up and I squeeze in beside them - what luck. We chat before the service starts and low and behold the two women in the row in front of us turn around - it is the American sister-in-laws. They had recognized my voice. Of the 6 pilgrims I knew in the last few stages that could possibly arrive over the two day period I am to be in Santiago - I am sitting with four.



The service is completely in Spanish - I get the gist - they have their big finale / the money shot- the swinging of the incense - we all got what we came for. Many people are in tears - quite moving - on the other hand it could be the smoke from the incense burner.



The confessionals lining the outer walls are packed - I am tempted to line up - I always thought it would be neat to confess ones sins - I would need to get a list of the sins that qualify and make a list either by type of sin or in chronological order- and just give the list to the priest - I wouldn't want to hog the confessional - i hesitate - I wonder if us non-Catholics get absolution - I don't take the chance.



Doreen, Meagan and I decide to get a late supper. I say a final buen Camino to my American friends.



We walk and find a nice place to eat - we sit outside - we order our meals and the obligatory bottle of vino tinto - I have the caldo galega appetizer and spaghetti in a brilliant pesto sauce as my main course. As we wait for our meals Manfred runs up - hugs all around - he joins us. I have now seen 5 of the possible 6.



We order a few more bottles of vino tinto, we catch up - we tell stories and laugh - I do not go to my hostel early - no need to get up early tomorrow. We say our final goodbyes.



I wake up Saturday - spend much of the day writing my blog and wandering the old city streets - I am a better pilgrim than tourist - I hate window shopping - I hate meandering. I want to go home.



I have two identical meals Saturday (hamburger, fries and beer) and as I am walking back to my hostel around 7pm - I see Gro - we hug, catch up and I take a selfie of the two of us - we say our goodbyes - I have now seen everyone.



I wake up early Sunday morning and get a cab to the train station. The train ride into Madrid was just what the doctor ordered - nice to float by the ever changing countryside in the comfort of my seat as opposed to on my feet. The airport hotel I stay in is nice - I have a bath and a good night's sleep.



I wake up at 8pm, catch the shuttle to the airport and my plane home - I say goodbye to Spain.



I would like to sign off with my standard :



Greatest piss off while on the Camino - saying goodbye - first to Tanya - to each and every pilgrim I had the pleasure of spending some time with, to my dream of walking the entire 800km and finally to the Camino itself



Best tip I can offer up - bring a sense of humour, an open mind, a sense of wonder (let the kid inside you come out to play) and most of all a good pair of feet - I will hold extensive auditions for a new pair my next walk



Blessing of the entire walk - the camino itself



Funniest events on my walk - my props with the German customs officer, a breath mint, a talking snail, my trip back in time to a sixties commune, a miniature bathtub and our tea with 6 Irish ladies from Cork - in no particular order





Take care kind reader - til the next Camino

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Comments

[Carla and Glen]

Congratulations on making your dream come true
So glad to have you back! Not sure what we will do for entertainment now that your back. Your blog was what we waited for every day, it made us feel like we were actually with you. Welcome home and thanks for allowing us to share in your Camino.

[Ace Abercrombie]

Soory for your First Class Loss
Wonder if you can get reimbursed for your lost seating on the train... And was that really you dumping on the trail... Wow, that really takes guts!.