Day 37 Preparing to Finish

Today we walked around 13 miles, largely uneventful. We bumped into many Pilgrims we’ve encountered over our travels, some old and some recent connections. They were quick encounters as everyone was in their own space and pace, including Carla and me. Carla and I helped an old Italian man find his hotel. He was so tired and a bit confused- felt good to help. The pictures are few as the route lacked the majesty of other days. Tomorrow is our last day and we finally reach the Cathedral of Saint James. There is a Mass scheduled for noon wherein the service includes a final blessing with a “botafumeiro”- a big incense burner that swings across the transept. It takes a crew of 6 to raise and swing it. It obviously brings in the crowds. Everybody wants to see and film the end of the Mass. Hundreds of Pilgrims will leave their last stop hours before the sun rises so they can get into the church and see the spectacle. I suspect tomorrow’s walk into Santiago will be more like the running with the bulls in Pamplona than the sacred end to a pilgrimage. Carla and I will leave earlier than usual and we’ll try to get into the church for the noon service. If it’s too crazy, we’ll pass. Reaching the Cathedral of Saint James is important to us. We will have our time there at some point. Reflection will follow. I expect we will greet tomorrow with energy and awe as we try to make it through the last day of our Pilgrimage.

Where we stayed last night- one of our favorite stays.

It’s election time in Spain. Candidates on the Camino

Canine Camino- if you look closely you can see a dog standing guard over the Camino marker