Journeying Together

3 Nov. Santiago to Madrid Goodbye Santiago. Goodbye Camino. It will take me a lifetime to sort out all that I have learned in these 40 some days. I will be eternally grateful for this time with my father.  For the conversations we have had.  For the ways we have learned to live together.  For the difficultities we have had.  For the laughs we have shared.  For the people we have met. This has been an amazing journey and I am sad to see it come to an end.  For, whatever else I have learned, I have witnessed the best of humanity and it has restored my hope. There is an intrinsic goodness in humanity—perhaps the goodness of God that was placed in Adam and Eve at their creation. Even today, a horrible travel day that I hate so much, we were reunited with pilgrims we met earlier and a goodness was noted in the people even in line for security. This is what I hope to carry forward in my life. Buen Camino

2 Nov. Our final day in Santiago Our final full day in Santiago and what did we do?  We woke up a bit later than usual to the sound of rain.  Finally some typical Galician weather. There was nothing to do but head out, giving thanks the whole time that there was little rain on our pilgrimage.  There was a farmers market so naturally we had to check it out. The advertised opening was 8am, but customary for Spain, when we got there at 9 most vendors were just setting up.  It was a typical farmers market with produce and food vendors with the addition of several buildings dedicated to the sale of seafood. It was heartbreaking to not buy any. But, alas, I think it would be frowned upon to cook over the hairdryer in the hotel room! We consoled ourselves with coffee and pastry and the purchase of umbrellas to keep us dry.  In the midst of our exploration a downpour occurred and we sought sanctuary in the doorway of a small church only to find that morning mass was about t

1 Nov. Finesterre and Muxia We played tourist today, catching a bus with a guide and 9 other wonderful folks to visit the other endings to the Camino. Our guide was fantastic as he told us legends about rocks and giants, Madonnas and St. James.. We heard the three steps to the conclusion of the Camino- confession, worship and the burning of the clothing as they watched the sun go down on one season of their lives and rise the next morning for a new beginning. Galicia is beautiful.  One side of the bus faced a granite mountain and the other magnificent coastline. It was just gorgeous despite the clouds, wind and rain.  Long considered the Coast of Death, it earned its reputation in the Middle Ages. Our final destination was Muxia which has roots in a Celtic pilgrimage, although our guide did not mention that. It’s claim to fame on the Camino is as the site of a vision of the Virgin Mary commending St. James for the good job he had done and sending him home.  All this from a sto