Life's a Stitch

Another day of pastoral beauty in the sunshine into the city of Sarria, which marks the beginning of the home stretch, the last 100k of the Camino de Santiago.

Along the way we met a local donkey, a gentle docile soul used to pats and treats from passing peregrinos.

We passed the cabbage variety grown in Gallecia. Instead of in heads the leaves grow up a stalk.

We entered Sarria sadly knowing that the feel of the Camino would be changing. This is the last point where you can start and still earn your Compestela. There are hoards of shiny clean pilgrims decked out with brand new gear. I saw a group of Japanese women who, after attaching their scallop shells to their day packs, applied a fresh coat of makeup.

I stopped into the clinic to have my foot checked out and was prescribed ice, anti-inflammatories and rest. Another way in which the Camino parallels life is in my difficulty in slowing down, but I knew the doctor was right.

Following an impressive 1.5k hill, which will forever change my perceptions of uphill trails back home, we checked into a nice little pension for two nights, meeting up with old Camino friends and new. The dinner table had representation from South Africa, Switzerland, the U.S., Cyprus and Canada. The night's party bordered on sacrilegious having been introduced to the local painkilling herbal fire water.

Every country has its Akvavit. Skoal!