Last Day In Santiago

Gosh it is so hard to believe that tomorrow, we head home.  I am not sure how the time passes so quickly. Dennis and I had a wonderful dinner last night. We had Sole Meunière with buttered potatoes and a fresh salad of lettuce, tomato and sweet onions. The salads are so fresh here that we have nothing to compare at restaurants in the US. We sat outside and it was a beautiful night.  On the way home (oour hotel) we stopped at a bakery and bought strawberry and lemon meringues.  A few bites each and we looked like we had been in a snow storm.  They were really good though.

Dennis and I thought this man should get peregrino of the year!  And he was friendly and funny posing for the photo for me.

This is the line to get our official certificates.  AND we had already rounded a corner with about as many people.  It took us about one hour and fifteen minutes.

Look at the cute little dog that made the bicycle camino.  I wonder if he got his own certificate.

As you waited outside, when a volunteer became available, they would ring a bell and post the number on a board.  I thought it was a little like every time a bell rings, an angel gets her wings only every time a bell rings, a pilgrim gets her certification.

Above is the certification...and they write your name in Latin.  This is not my certification but the one on the door.

A most familiar sight in Santiago.  Each time I come here, I see this man playing the bagpipes  in the same place. The pipes originated in Galacia.  This was the first time that he was accompanied by a drummer.

We are all concerned now with emptying our backpack and deciding on what time to get the taxi to head back to the real world.  I will say adios with what I have felt on every hike:

Everyone learns something on the Camino and I am no different.  Wisdom comes step by step but you cannot go through life looking only at your feet. It is important to look down so you don’t trip but you also must raise your head to see the journey you are on at that precise moment in time. It is important to look back because if you don’t, you will miss some of the most beautiful vistas of all. You don’t always know how special something is until you view it in hindsight. But if you only look backwards you will eventually trip and fall. It is important to look to each side because not only is there beautiful scenery but you gain perspective. Certainly you must look ahead to see where you are going and to set your sights on your goals. But above all you must look up and thank God for all of your wonderful blessings. All you have to do is look around to see that we are indeed some of the most blessed people on earth.

Buen Camino for wherever your trail may lead you.