Life's a Stitch

The alarm was set for 7:00am and we woke to pelting rain. We had no choice if we wanted to collect our certificates. In reality I’m the one who wants them, C doesn’t care, but came along for me. I’ve met other couples who experience the same disparity. It is really about the journey, but the certificate is a form of tangible acknowledgment.

 

We arrived at the pilgrim office by 7:30am in the pouring rain. By 8:00 opening there were perhaps 175 umbrelled or be-ponchoed pilgrims in the queue.

We were #73/74 and it took two hours, 75% of the time in a downstairs holding area with chairs, wc’s and vending machines.

Only four people were processing Compostelas. We had some nice conversations with others while waiting (or as the word esperando also translates in Spanish, hoping). But it did strike me while lined up, what’s more painful than walking? Standing lol.

Afterwards we visited the cathedral to complete the pilgrim rituals, then ran errands in the bucketing rain. I have a list of items from Spain to take home: double caldo bouillon,  chocolata taza for chocolate con churro, coffee, spices, and Camino souvenirs.

 

The historic district in between downpours:

A second later the skies opened.

 

We had our last dinner in Santiago at our favourite reasonable restaurant, Casa Manolo. It was pilgrim reunion time as we ran into people we had met from Malta, Australia and London.

 

The evening was spent packing then calling for an early cab so we can continue our travels beyond Galicia. Our little Air B&B apartment was a great fit.

 

 

“The Rain in Spain” will be part of my next post; my thoughts on rain gear and distance hiking.