Month: October 2017

October 2nd is my mother in laws 94th birthday. I hope it gave her all she wishes for in love and care.

The day was another laundry day and wandering the streets of Santiago and an irritating time getting tickets printed at the library for the train with old, slow, breaking down computer and printer in an otherwise beautiful facility. We met up with Mary, Jon and Marco, Jon’s friend who connected when we came into Santiago. We enjoyed tapas, sangria and chat. We are starting to feel our goodbyes to this city and the journey.

Di had another good day of rest in bed and chair. We brought up salads, pizza and vino blanco at the end of the day.

Jonathan sent us a photo he took at our first washing day in Ponferrada. You can see our absorption in having a strong wifi.

We are only a block from the cathedral and the portico where pilgrims walk through when they enter the courtyard of the cathedral. The portico offers perfect sound and there is constant music day and into the night. We can here it from our room as well as see the top of the cathedral out our window. The day begins with bag pipers playing and trading off throughout the day then later and afternoon other artists come one at a time to express their musical gifts, flutists, tenor, soprano, violinist, and on. It is always beautiful to me.

Chris and I went to our usual cafe for breakfast bringing Di her cafe con leche and Santiago cake. We left Di in the room to rest all day while Chris and I saw the San Francisco church, roamed the streets and bought a few trinkets for our loves back home. A big treat of the day was returning to a vegetarian/vegan cafe we saw when we returned from the bus to Finisterre. I could have ordered everything on their beautiful menu. We started with baba ghanoush with warm pita then on to chicken curry for Chris and vegetable curry for me. At the end of the day on Saturday, I said I have to find some fruit!! We had not been seeing any super Mercado’s. We turned the corner and there was a fruit store. Sunday morning I said I just want some veggies, maybe stir fry, grilled? Whatever. And then we remembered the restaurant we passed the night before. Perfecto!! Di is tired of bread, we are tired of pilgrim meals and want fresh food. I am not tired of croissants yet.

Di spent the whole day in bed. She slept all morning then read in the afternoon. She dropped a lot of fluid during the day and her left leg feels good but her right is still in pain. It is hard for her not to be out and about with us but the rest is good.

We bought vino blanco in our hotel bar, and agua grande with three glasses, bought three large salads for dinner and feasted with Di at the end of the day. Oh, yes, Chris and I found a pastry shop on the way back with salads and brought Di and us a chocolate whip cream delight.

This whole post has been about food. I am not sure what that is saying but probably that we are ready to return to our own food routines. I am wondering, however, what I will do without my empanada chocolate every morning. (Chocolate filled croissant)

A few photos: a rare depiction of Joseph dying with Jesus and Mary and an angel. after being removed from the cross, walking the town and food.

Reflection:

I am aware when I awake this morning the gradual shift internally that is happening as we are done walking the Camino and immersed in a city. It is subtle but the feeling of all pervasive love that is beyond what we call love, that I felt on the Camino, is diminishing with the activity of the city sights and sounds and energy. I noticed this pervasive love beginning in the walk, step after step, one with nature, but even as Di and I created a different Camino it stayed

present. It is said, and it is true as it is with any retreat that I have entered, the Camino really starts when you enter back into your life, creating spaces in each step for that all pervasive love to enter and be present in all relationships and activities. It is the Camino, the removal from our normal day that shows us this other reality that we long for, that fills our hearts and minds with a centered peace and love of all.

We are at the end of our ten hour touring day out to Muros, Finisterre (Latin) and Fis terra(Celtic) and Muxia, waterfalls, and more. Muxia was particularly interesting as it is called “coast del Muerte” the coast of the dead. You will see why in the photos as the church had many models of ships hanging from the ceiling. I imagine many tragic deaths in the sea for this community. One ship was from WWII. I realize it will take me some time to put the day together in word.