Santiago, and now the real Journey of Life Begins

It is fitting that our last day before the final 5 kilometers into Santiago started as the sun rose up at Monte de Gozo (Mount Joy).  This is the spot where the first pilgrims saw the town of Santiago from this high peak and felt joy.  The two statues depict that joy and we are humbled in our sharing of it so many years later.

As I have done for the past 154 miles, i walked into town alone while the rest of the group moved ahead of me.  This gave me time to reflect a bit about the journey.  We were out earlier than most pilgrims and so it was a nice solitary walk.  There was a lot of emotion here. I did feel like Sinatra from "Pride and Passion" but I was making it alive.  Although I never thought of this as a competition, I did feel that finishing was a great accomplishment.  And also, while the finish was going to be tremendous, it was the journey that will be the most memorable.

As the morning grew later, more and more pilgrims started appearing on the road.  Much of the walk was through the city itself and pilgrims came out from their albergues and coffee shops, etc. to make it to the plaza where the cathedral stood.

Pilgrims in the Morning Making their Way

As I turned one corner, I could finally see the spire.  Soon I got a text from Peggy.  She was already there but wanted to know where I was.  She wanted to come back and walk in with me.  I never really thought about it but we had not really walked together on the Camino.  It was nice.

Walking In Together

Seeing the Spire

Biker Peregrinos at the Plaza

When we arrived, Lorenzo had been there earlier and went to the Cathedral.  We were going to be on time for the special Pilgrims' mass.  He had arranged a special VIP  seating in the crowded church for me and Peggy.  He had informed the Church that I was a Peregrino that made the journey on crutches.

I didn't know what VIP seating was. There were hundreds and hundreds of people in the chur ch.  When I arrived, Peg and I were led to seats behind a chained off area that was right in front of the altar, like twenty feet away and just below the Botafumeiro.  Wow...After the mass, the Archbishop came over, nodded at my crutches, and shook my hand with a smile.  I mean...Wow!

Yep, that's us right up front!!!

My friends seated at the Cathedral

Afterwards, I had to return to the hotel.  I was very tired.  Peg and I ran into Francesca, who was a German girl that she walked many miles with a few days before.  When she introduced me to her, she immediately knew who I was.  She had come in the final miles with my friend Bree from Ireland with whom I walked with earlier on the trail. Bree had just told her my story.  I thought how special this coincidence was.  Yes, there is 'magic' on the Camino.

My legs which served me so well for these past 154 miles finally gave out.  It wasn't just the fractured heel, or the amputated toes, or the poor blood flow to my legs.  I think it was all of this plus the effort required to keep moving that did me in.  I think my brain finally gave my legs permission to rest.

And so I do.  Thank you for joining me on this journey.  I hope to be able to take my lessons learned back into my life post-Camino.   After a good night's rest, tomorrow will come and I'll say once again, "C'mon Jake, let's go for a walk."