A most joyous place

May 10. I arrived into Santiago de Compostela yesterday morning at 10:00. It was a relief to finally arrive. By noon, the square outside the cathedral is crowded with all sorts of pilgrims arriving from each of their own Caminos, from France, Spain, Portugal and beyond. You could watch people wandering around, and then seeing friends that they walked with, and fall into each other’s arms hugging and crying…so happy to have finished but also sad that this adventure was over. I did the same and others sought me out for that same comfort. It occurred to me that this joyous and heartfelt reunion takes place every single day. This could be the happiest place on earth!

I went to the Camino “office” to present my credentials….which are all of the stamps that I collected along the route. The interviewer asked me questions about my experience and what was the impact in my life for the time I spent on the Camino. Then she took out the last stamp I would receive and she said….”by me giving you this stamp, it indicates that this Camino of yours is officially over.” With those words, I couldn’t hold it back any longer, she had a Kleenex ready for me. And I needed it. I was a mess.

A bunch of us got together last night for a dinner. Lots of wine, and more wine and tapas later, I made it to my bed and sleep. There is a Pilgrims mass said everyday in the cathedral for the Camino walkers. A couple of us went to it today. The cathedral is huge and beautiful. It was standing room only. The mass was in Spanish, but you could follow along. The special treat that I witnessed was the swinging of the botafumeiro,…the giant incense burner. It was at the end of the service. It was very dramatic. They don’t swing it at every mass. Some people were saying that they were doing it this past week because of the election of the new pope. Not sure if that’s true of not, but it was a beautiful and graceful thing to see. I posted a video clip that I took of the botafumeria. It may or may not load, depending on your technology. If it doesn’t load, let me know and I’ll try sending it to you via email.

Friends are starting to make their plans to leave. Some are going home, others are restarting their walk and taking another 4 days to walk to Finisterre to see the shrine and Atlantic Ocean. Some are already planning their next Camino.

I think I’m going to do one more post. Sort of an epilog to this adventure of mine. Thanks for following me. It meant a lot to me that you were there, keeping an eye on me. It’s much appreciated.