Is This The End ..... or The Beginning?.... YES!

This is it!!!

Day 34 June 16, 2019

Up and about... ready to begin the last day... 7:45.

We walked the route, is a very nice day!!! We stopped for brekky maybe 6 km in. Samo samo... same thing as always...

There were some more hills, both up and down, but no extremes. We continued to see lots of people, though I was aware of a time or two when I saw no one but my walking buds...! Kind of amazing given the number of folks.

As we saw hills and walked over the crest... we saw more valleys and green fields and rolling hills...

We continued to see folks from before on occasion as we neared Santiago, finally got to the edge of the city,  hoped to stop for one more tinto- verano, (don’t forget to roll your ‘R’s’ when saying that) but we missed the bars!  Sunday morning... not many open, we decided a celebratory drink would be a better choice.

So we are getting close to city center AKA ‘the square’ or ‘the cathedral’; feelings begin to come forth... joy, peace, a sense of accomplishment... zero sadness or melancholy... not many tears either, which was a bit of a surprise to me as my eyes leak pretty easily and often...

We have completed our Camino. I have completed my Camino, more correctly as I have come to believe, I have completed this chapter of my Camino (in case you missed an earlier post... it was explained to me that our Camino begins when we are born and continues till we depart this plane {or is it ‘plain’}, of course many people are not aware of this fact/opinion/belief, but it sure resonates with me)...

So we enjoyed a last lunch together in Elisa’s favorite Italian restaurant (after a stop for a tinto-verano).  We are in our room (minus Elisa’s as she was staying in a different place) in our hotel in Santiago!!! Jim is with me. This is a very nice place and no reason not to share it with my friend!  Jean had reserved it us (Jean and myself) and Elisa had helped arrange for an extra day prior to Jean’s arrival as I arrived a day earlier than originally planned. Took a shower and a nap and then to the train station to confirm Jim’s travel plans to France. Walking through town we happened upon a group of Camino friends so we stopped for a drink... or two.... and lots of fun conversation and goodbyes. Then a final dinner with the 3 amigos... a night’s rest and up early to search of our ‘compostela’, the official document indicating that we each had completed our Camino.

We intended to have brekky at 7:15, but the restaurant we wanted to visit was not open so we went to the official office to wait in line for 8:00 when the office was scheduled to open. There were 5 folks in front of us and eventually about 20 folks behind us by the time they opened.

Compostelas in hand, we went for our last meal together: a ‘usual ‘ brekky aka breakfast. Then we walked Jim to the train and saw him off. Elisa assisted me in clarifying which bus   to take and when and where and how much to get to the airport for Jean’s arrival (she had booked a car to the hotel, but I wanted to surprise her). So I welcomed her and we are a team united once again!

I will continue to reflect on what I have learned as a result of this experience, some I have already shared, some is still in flux!   God clearly loves me and wants me to share and show His love as opportunities arise.  He wants me to stay alert and to be listening & looking, of those things I am clear.

I will live life somewhat differently as a result of my time in Spain, but I will still be me, loving and living my life with joy daily, in some part because of the support and love I received from you folks!  So many thanks to each of you... for the part you played in that!

Next comes some time here in Spain with my Sweetheart...looking forward to that... and then back home to the rest of the family!!! (Halley a week or two later).

Halley told me that her best friends Dad died Sunday, give thanks daily and live your life as if today might be the last!  Love a lot and forgive a lot...

Thank You Lord... for such a blessed time in Spain and for all of the folks who supported me from home and for the new friends made... and for the answers to prayers along the Way... mostly small...