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Day 35: Madrid to Raleigh

Our flight from Dublin to JFK was delayed five hours making us get in to NY at 1 in the morning.  Our flight to Raleigh was booking on a different ticket so we missed our flight.

The best option was to rent a car and drive to Raleigh, which we did.  I was wired driving.

I hope to see you each soon and I can't wait to share pictures with everyone once I have them developed!

Much love.

Madrid

Day 31: Santiago de Compostela

Tomorrow morning, Charlie and I are taking a bus to Madrid (9 hours). We will be there for a day and a half before our flight on Monday.

I reserved a hotel room for us located a few minutes from the Plaza Mayor and most of the museums, which will be very cool. We may be able to see a bull fight on Sunday night as well.

Yesterday we went to pilgrim´s mass in the cathedral which was very boring, but I appreciate the experience. The bishop preached about how the camino is analagous to life. There are times when we are tired, in pain, joyful, etc. and we always need to keep pressing on. Santiago I guess can be seen as heaven, the ultimate prize/reward. His message was the only part I actually enjoyed about mass.

Hope all is well at home. Can´t wait to see everyone.

This is the best part of the trip, the best part.... the party I really like...

Day 29: Arzúa-Santiago de Compostela

We initially planned arriving into Santiago tomorrow morning, but decided to suck it up and we walked our longest day yet, 40km. It was amazing walking into the city.

Nothing hurt, we took our boots off and tied them to our walking sticks and marched into the city like conquering heroes in sandals. When we got to the cathedral in the old district, we lay down in the plaza just staring and soaking it all in. When navegating the narrow streets looking for the end of the camino, I felt as if I was being cheered on!

Now, we sort of don´t know what to do with ourselves. The idea of not waking up at 6 am and walking for 7 hours is strange. We actually get to rest, drink coffee in some café, write in our journals, and do whatever we want.

I weighed myself in the pharmacy in town. I lost 20 pounds, weighing in at a solid 190. I am very excited about this and I feel more motivated than ever in keeping up with being fit. I haven´t weighed this less since 2000, when I graduated highschool!

So yea, we are here. We most likely will not stay in Santiago for four days (it´s not that big of a city), so we are thinking about going to Madrid, where our plane leaves on Monday, in order to visit some museums (Dalí, Picasso, etc.) and perhaps see a bull fight. I´ll keep you posted on what we decide.

Thanks for the comments. I wasn´t fishing for love :)

A Coruña

Day 28: Casanova-Arzúa

We just ventured into A Coruña, the last province in Galicia and consequently the last of the camino. Currently there are 50k left which will put us in Santiago on Thursday morning just in time for pilgrim´s mass at the cathedral.

I am convinced that I will start running from 20k away. Charlie said he will not join me. I am pretty sure that if I ran, my legs would simply fall off.

I´ll write one more of these posts when we get to Santiago. (Don´t really even know if anyone besides myself are actually reading these)

We will be there for three days before our flight home.

The Running of the Bulls

Day 24: O Cebreiro- Triscastela

Charlie and I have been fortunate enough to catch the last three days´infamous "Running of the Bulls" during our morning breakfast.

Today, a 20 something year old died. A bull gored the guy in the throat.

If we get to catch tomorrow´s running, I wonder if I will still "laugh" when I see some lunatic get trampled by bulls?

Galicia!

Day 23: Villafranca del Bierzo- O Cebreiro

Well, lately I have not written much. That is because as the days progess, I am growing more tired, and we are venturing into 15th century territories where internet is not as accesible.

Today we crossed over into the last autonomy of Spain where Santiago is located; Galicia.

I don´t have developed pictures, but just google-image the country of Ireland, and you can see where we are. Green mountains that are absolutely breathtaking.

I miss you all and look forward to seeing you shortly. We will arrive in Santiago next Thursday, the 16th I believe. I will still continue to write as much as I am able. Pray for healing of my right hamstring, as it has given me some trouble these past few days. Otherwise, everything is great for Charlie and I, just a few blisters which is to be expected.

It is weird to be so close to our final destination. Looking back on these past three weeks seems like a dream. This trip is by far one of the coolest things that I have ever done, and also has been one the hardest things that I have done.

Good night.

Sunflowers!

(Cathedral of Saint Mary, León)

Day 19: Villar de Mozarife- Astorga

(Confused with León separtist graffiti)

Today was a really nice walk. Tomorrow we start walking into the Leonese Mountains which will give us our first view into Galicia, where we hope to be by Thursday.

Sunflowers actually freak me out. I think it is because I give them human qualities as if they are always looking at me. However, I have always wanted to see a field full of them, and out of the blue we find one today. Enjoy the pictures.