MeAndering the Camino

A few kilometers outside Santiago, in a park called Monte do Gozo, a pilgrim sees the spires of the Cathedral for the first time. Tears well, maybe not for the first time this day but certainly not for the last. Like many other times in the last week, reflections begin to play of moments passed, people met, people we wish could be here. There are nice tributes to Saint John Paul II and pilgrims past on Monte do Gozo and many photographic opportunities. Then the last 3 kilometers begins. Thankfully, almost all downhill.

Again, I find myself thinking about what the pilgrims of the middle ages must have felt reaching this point. What elation! What joy! Today we have apps and other portable sources, not to mention the markers, to let us know the distance to go. 500-1000 years ago, pilgrims endured much more to reach this point and now, visible in front of them was the Cathedral.

When I woke up the first time this morning it was pouring rain and thundering. Not the way I wanted to walk the final 19 km. Thankfully, a couple hours later when the alarm went off, it seemed to have stopped. While I got ready, I must have looked out and checked my weather app 100 times. Clear but slight chance of more rain about 9:00. Good enough. Out the door at 7:15. Nice energy either by myself in the dark forest or with many others passing the last villages. Skies cleared and the farms turned into suburbs, and into the Monte do Gozo.

Walking through the city, is always a bit more challenging to find the markers, especially on a Saturday with shoppers and added tourists. The Frances route approaches the cathedral from the East side, the back, in a beautiful old section of the city with narrow stone streets and small cafes around plazas. The imposing Eastern facade is awe inspiring when one comes around and enters the Plaza De Obradoiro. Before I could take it all in, the sense of arrival began to set in and again, tears welled. I made it. Mission accomplished.