Sept. 10 So....Santiago???

There may be a few of you wondering what happened to Santiago de Compostela!  It's already two weeks later.

After my self pitying, it's-all-about-me rant, I was blessed with encouragement and pride from my husband and wonderful down to earth words from my Laura.  It's nobody's business how you got there; they don't know what you've been through!  These are like warm hugs.

I had one Robaxacet with me which had been calling to me for days.  I had tried everything else, give it a go, at the very least, I would get a good night's rest!  This was the case and the day began.

We were all reserved and excited at the same time.  Which always allows for Caminho moments.  Laura knocked on the door to ask, Dad, can I carry Graham today.  Yes, of course.  We had asked if she wanted to at some point but to have it come as a request is an indescribable blessing to us.  I will always treasure the silent exchange as I handed her the small package.

Then... our friends Beth and Jim back in Calgary had put together Bible verses and messages for each day on our first Camino and I had asked the favour of the same for this trip.  For this day, Psalm 23, Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.  Oh my!

Dave and Laura set off over the train tracks and I stayed back to order a taxi to a likely meeting place.  In fact, I saw them heading up a hill beside the church near the stop they had made at a café.  The taxi left me at a park near the Casa Parada de Francos a beautiful looking rural inn.  The park was a picnic area which gave me a place to sit, wait and enjoy the surroundings.  It appeared to be the edge of a small residential development as cars came and went, people walked by up to the main street and one elderly woman made her way to the fruit trees in the yard nearby, picked a good piece and munched as she made her way slowly back home.

Soon the pilgrims started to come by so there were lots of Bom Caminho's to be given out.  And then, at last, steps and voices which sound familiar and there they are with the Lithuanian couple they had met earlier.  An interesting couple surprised to learn there is a wife along!  Now they are really moved by our little family group.

We set off along the track and Laura was soon off on her own.  This is good!  Dave persevered with me until we came to the place of a possibility of a café.  It looked pretty limited on the map but turned out to be a good sized town and what should be the welcome but a taxi sitting in front of a Farmacia!  The first twinges had begun.
Google Translate got me more of the Spanish version of  Robaxacet and a caution about it making me sleepy!

The café got us a very delicious potato snack, an actual toasted sandwich, a lovely visit with two women friends, one from Derbyshire, the other from Belfast and two glasses of wine for Dave.  I was curious about how the walking was going to go for him!

Back to the Farmacia to ask about the taxi - he is at the café!  Back to the café to find the driver.  He kindly dropped me near a hotel marked on the map.  A short walk along the marked Camino was another lovely park with a spot in the shade and a view of all the approaching walkers.  It seemed to be taking longer than I had expected even though I knew from experience it takes what seems like forever to get from the outskirts of Santiago.  I am glad to learn Laura did not trudge ahead but is with her Dad and we will walk in together as I had hoped. 

In the blink of an eye, they appear and we set off up the busy street for the very last steps.  Soon it is familiar with shops, bars and music!  Up the hill on the other side of the Cathedral this time but the music of  the piper at the usual entrance greets us as well. There it is - the Praza do Obradoiro - as it is most days filled with pilgrims and visitors.

We are happy but reserved again.  Dave and I stand and contemplate.  Laura enjoys some shade and the cool of the stones.  She has done a great thing to bring her brother to this place.