21 km to Santiago de Compostela
What a day!
So many emotions, so many feelings. It was hard to believe we were so close. We had planned to arrive on Thursday then on Wednesday and last night we decided to give it a go.
We left the hostel in the dark without breakfast because there was nowhere to eat. The forecast was for rain and we found everything wet and a little muddy but no rain. At dawn we met a girl. She was happy to see our Canadian flag patches on our backpacks because as she said she is from Trawna.
After an hour and 4 km we had a standard Spanish breakfast of café con leche and toast. And we found ourselves surrounded by more school groups of teens.
Shortly after noon we arrived to the Monte del Gozo (Mount of Joy). The first place from where you can see the towers of the cathedral only 4 km away. We stopped there for a rest and talked to some pilgrims we have met before: Annette from Denmark, a couple from Salamanca, and a German gentleman.
We walked alone into the city, one more hour, we wanted to go right to the cathedral and say hello to the apostle. But... the front door of the cathedral was closed. We went to the pilgrims office and we found out that pilgrims are not allowed with backpacks in the cathedral so we got our Compostela, pilgrim certificates and a special certificate for long distance pilgrims.
We stopped at the office of RENFE, the Spanish trains to get tickets for our return to Madrid. There are no tickets for this weekend all trains are full.
Then we went to look for our hotel. We had reservations for Thursday. Well, the hotel is CLOSED until Thursday. Anyway,
another hotel from the same group offered us a room for two days at the same price (this hotel is more expensive) but we had to walk another 15 minutes to the hotel.
Then we called ANSA, the bus company, they had two seats but they do not accept foreign credit cards over the phone and they would not reserve the seats so we had to leave right away and take a taxi to the bus station to get the seats. We got seats but we won't be together. It is a long trip from 9 am to 7 pm. Still, it will get us to Madrid.
We finally had a chance to get back to the hotel, have a shower, and rest half an hour before the pilgrim mass.
We arrived early at the cathedral so we had a chance to go behind the altar and hold the statue of Santiago as per pilgrim tradition. We also went to the crypt where the tomb of the apostle is and had a moment of prayer.
All the things and the people who filled this 40 days. From ash Wednesday to today, holy Tuesday filled up mind. I also learned to admire more and more my woman. She Is just amazing. Really hard to express emotions and feelings.
The church was not full for the evening pilgrim mass which is a good thing. The noon pilgrim mass is too busy and there are too many tourists that interfere with the solemnity of the celebration. I cannot describe the feelings when the priest welcomed the pilgrims and went through the list and welcomed the Canadian pilgrims that started in Roncesvalles. This mass was the culmination of the pilgrimage. This mass was very special.
So now back at the hotel, it will be very strange not to have to get up at dawn and walk for hours and hours. It has been the experience of a lifetime. And we have done it together.
Santiago apostle, we had the privilege of walking your Camino. Help us be better because of this experience. Grant us the favour we are asking from you and please pray for us. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment