LP and VQT

 Posted by VQT  The Botafumeiro (smoke expeller) largest in the world inside Cathedral.   Altar area.  Stunningly beautiful.  Photo doesn’t do it justice.  LP with the Hungarian lads.  We are always happy to see them again.   LP and VQT with our Danish friends.  They head home tomorrow.   Ropes needed to swing the Botafumerio.  Rainy day here.  We went to the noon pilgrims mass.  They didn’t swing the Botofumerio.  Mass was standing room only.   We spent time today sorting and repacking our few things for traveling over the next days.  

Posted by LP - inside the Credential del Peregrino (or pilgrim passport, we obtained from the American Pilgrims of the Camino) is states the Spirit of the Camino: Live in the moment Welcome each day - it’s pleasures and it’s challenges  Make others feel welcome Share Feel the spirit of those who have gone before you Imagine those who will follow you Appreciate those who walk with you today My sincere LOVE and THANKS to everyone who supported me to make this journey - I am still processing and learning - we went to Pilgrim’s mass at the cathedral, I am not a Catholic or a church goer, but the service did mean something to me - however, what I know for sure is: VQT and I made a great Camino team and we are proud of ourselves and each other  I have wonderful family and friends There are so many delightful human beings in this world and walking the Camino is a marvelous way to meet some of them  Here are a few photos taken since arriving in Santiago de Compostela: A green door  Etched on t

 Posted by VQT Distance certificate.  Compostela  Except for our Teva sandals and a few pins we have not bought any souvenirs.  We were not interested in carrying any extra items.  Now that we’ve arrived in Santiago we can wander the shops and maybe buy something.  Can not buy much because we will leave the transport duffle bag behind and once again everything has to go into our backpacks.   Tomorrow we take the train to Madrid.  

Posted by LP - I am writing this while resting on my bed at our lodging in Santiago…..we did it, we walked 500 miles!…..and we have our certificates to prove it - I am very proud of us both and so happy that I can rest my poor feet for a while - it feels a bit surreal, my mind has not yet caught up with the news that we reached our goal - here are photos from our 20 kilometer walk this morning I bought a Camino trinket from this entrepreneur, he set up his sales table in the wooded area, before we reached the outskirts of Santiago  We had our breakfast (tea, orange juice and a banana) at this cafe, aptly named 15 Kilometer (because it was at the 15 km marker) VQT waiting in the queue at the Pilgrims office to receive the certificate - she is showing proof (the stamped Pilgrim’s Passport) that we walked from St Jean Pied du Port (in fact we received 2 certificates each, one that we completed the pilgrimage and the other to say we walked 790 kilometers) Another of the Heroes of the Camin

 Posted by VQT  Baby magpie?  Instead of trumpets we were cheered in by this bird.  Cathedral de Santiago.  Coming into the city.   We arrived at 11:45 and saw a long line for the noon pilgrim mass.  You are not allowed to bring in your backpack so we couldn’t attend.  Then we saw B that we met in Orisson (she arrived yesterday) and she showed us to the pilgrim office so we are waiting now to get our Compostela and distance certificates.  After that we’ll drink a beer and find our hotel.  

Flowing the signs one last day.   The Camino from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela.    Day 38.  May 30th.   Posted by VQT Last night we went online and requested QR codes that are needed to schedule appointments at the Pilgrim office where we will get our Compostela and Distance certificates.  Such a modern way to end a centuries old pilgrimage. Buen Camino.   On the Way to Santiago!   

 Posted by VQT.  VQT and LP at airport on April 20th.  Looking fresh and excited.  Oh, what we could tell you now… Today our Danish friend told LP, “you can show people photos and tell them about the Camino but unless they’ve been here they can not understand the journey”.    Tomorrow we walk into Santiago de Compostela so I wanted to post this before people move on with their own lives and quit reading our blog.  There will be posts tomorrow and much celebration so I do hope you continue to read about our Camino for a few more days.   I am a reader of books.     I always look at the author’s acknowledgment page at the end of the book.     I believe that most endeavors are achieved with help, support and encouragement from others.     So here’s my Camino acknowledgment: The morning walking crew.    DS, PN, CZ (alum) and of course LP.    Almost without fail we walk every morning and have for years.   The River Gang.    MAK, PH, LS, DM, RS and our loyal, happy and sometimes    obedient d

Posted by LP - unbelievably, tomorrow we have only 20 kilometers to walk into Santiago de Compostela - we have walked 500 miles in 38 days - it has been a unique experience……I loved most of it, loathed some of it - I am excited about celebrating with my Camino friends, and then I look forward to going home - I am very grateful for the opportunity, but happy it is soon to be over, I am tired and my feet hurt! - thank you to those of you who have followed our blog, sent us supportive messages, recognized the significance of our endeavor, etc. - more thoughts to follow, in the meantime, here are a few photos from today: This is the cafe we stopped for first breakfast (today we stopped about 45 minutes after we began walking, we felt we had the time and deserved a gentle pace) - they are often like this = outdoor seating, some shade provided, often interestingly decorated, run by one or two people Here are the menu boards from the first breakfast cafe = very similar to lots of other cafes

 Posted by VQT  Can’t believe that tomorrow we will walk into Santiago.  What an incredible experience.   Today we walked mainly shaded paths and were rewarded with flowers.   Foxgloves in eucalyptus trees.   Outside a cafe we stopped at.   LP called this a bottle brush.   More foxgloves in eucalyptus trees.  Sedum plant.   Fuscia  Fuscia.   Many more 100km pilgrims today.  We did see many of our friends from the past weeks.  Hope to see them tomorrow for celebration and last goodbyes.  

 Posted by VQT Hard to believe we walk 20km today and then tomorrow we walk into Santiago de Compostela.   T from Colorado.  We met her in Navarrette (Around May 2nd).  Last night after eating as we were walking back to our accommodations T spotted us and we had a great reunion.  Our arrival day in Santiago is the same so we hope to see her again.   Crosses peeping over cemetery wall.   Not a stork but a magpie perched on top of steeple.   Magic restorative fountain.  We stopped and splashed some water on our feet.   Spending tonight in Arca/O Pedrouzo.   

Posted by LP - we are resting our feet for the final couple of days….another 40 kilometers or about 25 miles to complete our goal - having a short day feels like a big treat First breakfast (about 90 minutes after we began walking) = tea, fresh squeezed orange juice and a chocolate croissant  Second breakfast at the fruit stand (just a little while after first breakfast….because we could) = smoothie for LP and (home made) coffee liqueur for VQT  Third breakfast (or early lunch) = beer and the local/Arzua cheese (very creamy - but we ate most of it before I took the photo!) VQT with coffee liqueur  Graffiti as we walked out of Melide (the snake/serpent is saying, “Call a taxi” - lots of hikers/pilgrims use local taxis, we have not yet succumbed to such a temptation) Paco, the little dog, and his human Miriam from Mexico - we have seen several pilgrim dogs today - part of the tremendous increase in hikers for the last 100 kilometers, they look and smell much cleaner than those of us who

 Posted by VQT.  P from Ukraine and his 2 dogs.   We often can’t remember the town name of where we stayed the day before or what day of the week it is or how many days we’ve walked BUT there are moments that will always stay in my memory.     We stopped this man to talk because we were curious how he was traveling the Camino with 2 dogs.    And being dog lovers we miss our dogs at home.    Plus, who can resist a dog wearing a scallop shell on its collar?   He’s from outside Kiev, Ukraine.    He’s a farmer.    He sold his car for a few hundred euros.    All he has is his backpack with fishing gear, a tent and his dogs.    He told us he’s trying to find work on a farm.    (Almost all the farmers we’ve seen are older and farms appear to be family owned.) There’s a saying, “the Camino will provide”.    I hope for P and his 2 dogs that he finds employment and a safe haven on the Camino - that it does provide.   In a Hollywood or Disneyland world I wish all the world leaders could be droppe