LP and VQT

 Photo of a white peony bloom  Posted by LP - only 7 days to go till our next Camino adventure - sadly a family situation means I need to return to the UK with haste - VQT is going solo - I will miss the Camino and the people/fun/experiences/magic, but I trust there will be another opportunity - in the meantime, please support VQT - thank you 💚

 Posted by VT There’s no place like home.  A good friend (CZ) had fresh fruit and salad ingredients from Whole Foods delivered to my house - what a great welcome home gift!  Of course we got up this morning and walked with PN one of our morning walking friends.   Until next Camino best wishes to all who read our little blog. Buen Camino! Refrigerator magnets.  Added a few new ones.   Fresh fruit and salad ingredients.  A couple of sprouting onions were the only fresh food in my house so this food gift delivery was very much appreciated.   Peruvian daffodils blooming in my front yard.  

 Posted by LP (Photo of broken down green door) I had a wonderful time - I am very grateful for the opportunity to travel and see the world, and walking the Camino is an excellent way to see the world…we are all the same on the Camino, all with the goal to walk (and find sustenance and accommodation along the way) - there is no vehicle or barrier of any kind, so you feel (especially on the feet!), see, hear and smell the world! My sincere thanks to everyone who made this adventure possible, my lovely spouse GJA; my supreme Camino companion VQT; my loyal family and friends who offered support and encouragement; the new friends I met along the way and anyone who showed the slightest interest…..I appreciate you all 💚💚💚

 Posted by VT At the Madrid airport.  Had tea and a croissant and waiting to board the plane.  We had booked a return flight for May 30th and when we realized we had overestimated the time we needed for this Camino we changed our flight to today the 23rd.  Booking change resulted in seats in row 52.  Good news is it’s a 2 seat row.  The joys of travel.    Buen Camino.    Yellow painted arrow   It will take awhile to break the habit of looking for Camino arrows    LP reading on train.  

 Posted by LP and VQT Photo of a large Camino de Santiago sign We’ve stayed in 22 hotel/hostel rooms We’ve walked just shy of 300 miles We’ve done our laundry 3 times We’ve been away from Atlanta for 28 days We’ve lost zero toenails (but one of LP’s is looking dodgy!) We put on our rain jackets twice….only to take them off again 10 minutes later  We now have 3 additional certificates/Compostelas (for walking 200+ miles on the Portuguese Camino, for completing the final 100 km and therefore being considered a pilgrim, and for walking to Finisterre) - for context, apparently 428,000 were issued in 2022 We’ve created close to 100 blog posts We’ve met hikers from age 9 to 80+ We’ve enjoyed the company (and managed to communicate) with hikers from all over the world - with some of whom we will remain in contact (via WhatsApp) Photo of numerous Camino signs in close proximity  VQT taking the photo of lots of Camino signs in close proximity 

 Posted by VT Today we say goodbye to Santiago de Compostela.  Our train to Madrid leaves at 10:20.    Yesterday we shopped.   Both LP & VT are wearing new t shirts - LP’s is of course green and stylish - VT has on a souvenir tee.    Santiago de Compostela is a festive city that welcomes all pilgrims with bagpipes, cafes and restaurants, street artists, shops (both souvenir and nicer clothing & gifts), a Ferris wheel and open arms.   The number of Camino pilgrims is growing and my hope is the numbers of people do not overwhelm the city. Standing in the square of the cathedral you see the large Ferris wheel.   The circled cities are where we stayed walking the Portuguese Coastal Camino.   The circled cities are where we stayed walking to Finisterre.   Buen Camino.