Our final walk into the city of Santiago was relatively short (only 21 kilometers), but a bit more strenuous than we expected.  There were a fair number of ups and downs…and the adrenaline was probably pushing us to go faster than our normal pace.  We entered into the main square to the sound of this Galician bagpiper.

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We headed to the pilgrim’s tourist office to collect our completion certificates and found ourselves in a 90-minute queue that wound around the inner courtyard.   Everyone was tired and antsy for things to move quicker, but kept a positive attitude.  Just like lines at Disney…except without the giant turkey legs or a guy dressed as Jack Sparrow.  (Although there was a dreadlocked guy from Italy who looked a lot like Jack Sparrow).  Here is a photo of our pilgrim’s passports and compostelas (in Latin).  I believe my Latin name roughly translates to “He who now sits on couch”.

 

We attended the nightly Pilgrim’s Mass at Santiago Cathedral.  It is a beautiful old church and it was crowded with “peregrinos” from all over the world.  There was beautiful music, a warm and welcoming sermon from the priest, and an older gentlemen was baptized during the service…which made it additionally special.   The traditional…and best way for us and other pilgrims to end the Camino.

 

In the Cathedral, we did see the famous Botafumeiro, but unfortunately, it was not in action.  This huge “incense burner” is 6 feet tall and requires 6 monks to work the pulley apparatus that swings the burner back and forth across the main transept of the cathedral at speeds accelerating up to 40 miles an hour, sending plumes of incense to the highest and farthest parts of the church.

This unique ritual is said to symbolize our prayers reaching closer to God.  Some historians suggest it also had the practical purpose in medieval times of counteracting the smell of hundreds of pilgrims who had not washed their clothes for weeks.  Thankfully, it is not needed for that purpose today…although it would have been nice at our Mass…due to the guy in front of me wearing a bit too much cologne.  (Polo?  Drakar Noir?  Not sure…but 3 sprays too many.)

Thanks to many of you who have passed along congratulations.  A few of you have asked how we feel now.  Certainly we felt an initial, strong combination of joy and relief at completing the trek.  We might need a few days though to sort through and articulate other feelings.  The Camino drains you physically at first and your body adjusts…then it goes to work draining you mentally…in a good “Way”.  The key for us now will be to make sure that we fill ourselves up with the right stuff.  And having a stronger daily focus on gratefulness…and thanking our great kids, parents, sisters, brothers, family and friends…is a good start.  Muchas gracias!  Merci!  Thank You.

We will have few more posts over the next week…but we may not bother you with daily updates.  Thanks for reading…