After All

Everyone asks me now that I'm "home"...

What would I do differently. As I look at the pictures of the other pilgrims, albeit, mostly younger, i realize that they were having waayyy more fun than i was. So my answer would have to be..

I'd have more fun. And maybe I'd skip everything between Burgos and Leon. ;-) I would wear my socks and wash them before I left town, I would not get caught up in the competetive first week but take any number of extra days to stay strong. I would not eat breakfast just because I was awake at 6am. I would definately take at least 1 walking pole. I would spray my feet and hands w/bug spray as well as the rest of me especially when too hot to sleep covered. i would have a light weight white sheet to sleep under on those hot nights. I would take even more pictures than i did. I would take more siestas. I would plan to have a friend like leena preferrably on the same time zone to help with computer, reservation, telephone kind of things that are difficult to do while walking and exhasted. and I would tell all of my friends before I leave that it is not a diet, I'm amazed at how many times people have commented on my weight. Expecting me to have wasted away, they make me think of another pilgrim that i heard talking before she arrived in santiago. She said" my girlfriends are asking if i've lost weight; and I told them "well, my head isn't as big as it used to be" does that count?"

In the end, all the planning in the world cannot prepare us for all that the world brings to us or that we put ourselves in the middle of. We just have to keep going; but I am a firm believer that it helps to know where we're going and where we've been.

Sohail, Walter and me

Parador. Hostel de Dos Reis Catholicos

this one is for Dot, who convinced me not to cancel the reservations. Im so glad to have such a nice room in such a nice hotel. The king of Spain is staying here also, and word is still out if the Pope will be here also or not. Now for a long bath in lavender and normal clothes.

with Arthur

Linda

in line. compostella

in front of. cathedral

Franck

cathedral in the background. first site

officially in city

now to Cathedral

pa

new bites, /"!#;-$!;

Santiago

in the distance

Last Ten KM

I'm writing while walking the last 10 km!

Franck is already there. The next blog will be from there. Ill snap some pics on the way in.

YEAH !

lavacola

he is just like the waiter in the funny French quickie, "dinner for one", I think its called

lavacola

I hope

Arzua

dinnertime, I have a table in the corner with electric outlet next to for charging my phone.

I said I was going to get an early start. It is so dark, there is one street light in the distance.

Winding Down and Carbo Loading at the Same Time?

I'm in a resto in one corner and Charlie Sheen on tv in the other. Ive just had dinner, and vino. The albergue closes at 11pm, late by albergue standards. I am giving myself a 10pm curfew. I have 32km to do tomorrow because there is No place to stay in between.

So while I am adjusting to the idea that I'm going to make it, I think I have about the distance for the Robie Creek run left, I have a long day tomorrow if I'm going to be in Santiago on the 23rd.

My right knee sloshes like its full of water like a water balloon. Hopefully it will be some level ground. The mountains in the pictures are me looking back where I walked from.

The food in Galicia is better. The people seem to be a little nicer. The Galician language is much different. It almost sounds like French, but not enough to understand.

Franck has made it to Madrid in spite of strike at the Paris airport. Its nice to know he's in the same country.

I have bandaged my feet to avoid more blisters, ill leave by 6am to be sure I arrive in Lavacolla before its too late. I'm ready to go, I hope my knee holds out.

I'm on my 3rd credencial/pilgrim passport. As i came closer, the "last100km" the stamps are bigger and take 2 spots. A nice woman in one of the beautiful churchs gave me a new one and some tape to add to the others.

The compostella! The diploma,certificate issued in santiago evidently is given with your name in Latin. This will be interesring because my last name, i made up.

One thing for sure, Linda is a good name to have, especially in Spain. thanks Dad..

Ive been feeling kindof alone. I was ahead of most of the people I knew, then slowed down because my knee and there is no point getting to Santiago before Franck. It was nice yesterday Sohail passed me with a hug and a promise for a drink in Santiago.

I found a spa in Palas do Rei. The girl working there convinced me to do the chocolate therapy masage and wrap. Oh my God, 1 1/2 hours of exfoliating, masage, baked in chocolate (I have pictures ), sauna Jacuzzi, and oiled for 35euro. Best spa experience since Germany. It made me feel so much more human.

In the same town a woman working in a hotel called EVERYWHERE in pedrouzo, pino, arca to help me reserve a bed anywhere, albergue, hostel, pension, hotel. Nothing. She was very kind and I wont forget her help.

Almost curfew, probably talking to myself. I appreciate the support and comments. Probably lots of pics tomorrow not much time to "tiny text".


l

Arzua

the best thing about dining alone, a full bottle of vino, included with dinner.