LP and VQT

 Posted by LP We met Natalie and Graves (not sure I have the correct spelling, sorry for any errors) when we walked the (almost) 5 miles into Santiago early on Tuesday morning, before dawn - our hotel was slightly off the Camino and we were a little disoriented when we saw the headlights of Natalie and Graves - they got us back on track (and showed no signs of judgement in doing so) - we walked together until the big Santiago de Compostela city sign - last night we met them again at our favourite restaurant, The Green Door - so one of the pleasures of the evening was to recognize the lovely “connection” we made on our short walk together and bid a fond farewell  Photo - Natalie and Graves at The Green House restaurant  Photo - Graves, Natalie, LP and VQT

 Posted by VQT We have managed to cram all our souvenirs into our packs.  We have snacks for the train to Madrid.  We are ready to start our journey home.  Tonight we stay in Madrid near the airport.  It’s a hotel we’ve stayed at before and we are hopeful a small restaurant we’ve eaten at is still open.   Tina, VQT and LP at dinner last night.  We went back to The Green House.   VQT, Ashok, LP, Harsha and Tina.  Ashok and Harsha are from Calgary.  They surprised us last night by buying our dinner.   Final breakfast- cheesecake of course.  

Posted by VQT I read a book - Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter.    In the book he talks about how comfortable our lives are - we live in climate controlled houses, we sit in comfy chairs, we have access to food 24/7 and drive almost everywhere.    Easter believes we should challenge ourselves with a physical goal that we could fail at achieving.    For the past 4 years the Camino has been my challenge. We hear of and have met many people that due to injuries or some other reasons are not able to complete their Camino.    Walking hundreds and hundreds of miles on all types of surfaces in various weather conditions is HARD.    It’s both physically and mentally challenging.   The Camino has changed from when we walked in 2022.  In just 3 years there are more people, more trash on the path and stickers (What’s up with putting stickers everywhere?), e-bikes (IMO these should not be allowed on the Camino - they are too dangerous...

Posted by LP Photo - small dog on a bar stall - this is photo from a couple of weeks ago - we were in the bar of our hotel and what appeared to be a regular customer came in with his dog, he sat on a barstool and put the dog on the seat next to him, had one drink and left with his dog 🐾 I have had a wonderful (well mostly wonderful!) time on this Camino adventure - none of it would be possible without the encouragement, support and love of everyone around me….you are the very best and I appreciate you - particular thanks to GJA, the most supportive spouse in the world); VQT, the best Camino companion possible; all the friends and family who have provided encouragement by making comments on this blog, sending texts and emails, etc., it means a great deal to me -  I will be thanking all of you personally, but this is a public declaration of my love and huge appreciation! 💚 Photo - slightly tatty double green door in Santiago de Compostela 💚 Buen Camino! 💚

 Posted by VQT LP and VQT walking into the Plaza del Obradoiro.  It’s the most famous square in Santiago and serves as the final meeting place for pilgrims.   LP, VQT, Mindy & Stacie.  Mindy & Stacie greeted us at 9:15 am with a bottle of vino tinto.   Stacie, Tina, LP, VQT and Mindy toasting & drinking vino tinto.   Stacie, Patricia, Sandra, Tina, LP, VQT and Mindy.  Sandra gave us all Uruguay bracelets.   VQT and LP with the statue of the 2 Maria’s.   VQT’s Compostela.  Names are written in Latin.   VQT’s certificate of distance.  Documents I walked 713 kilometers from Pamplona to Santiago.   Dinner at The Green House.  LP, VQT, Mindy, Stacie and Tina.  More vino tinto.  

 Posted by LP Here are a few photos from this morning - we have been busy celebrating (food and wine), so I haven’t posted till now  Photo - green door on the way into Santiago - I was so happy to be completing my Camino that I almost didn’t stop to take the photo….but fortunately sense returned and I stopped at all the green doors 💚 Photo - another green door in the way into Santiago  Photo - writing on the pavement/sidewalk, “Europe was made on the pilgrim road to the Compostela” - the quote is often attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - it emphasizes the Camino’s role in a shared European identity and economic development since the Middle Ages Photo - VQT at the Compostela office, waiting in the queue/line - VQT had in her hand the Pilgrim’s Passports (we used 2) to gather stamps from everywhere we visit (hotels, restaurants, cafes, churches, etc…. we need 2 per day to show we walked through each of these towns) and the QR code to show we registered for our certi...