Journey to Santiago - Day 33, Thirty-first Stage

Day 33 - Pedrouzo to Santiago de Compostela

Distance walked today: 20 km (12.5 miles)

Total distance walked: 526.3 km (328.9 miles)

Total distance left: 0 km

Information on the stage traveled here.

He made it!  He made it to Santiago after 33 days of journey and walking!  He walked a total of 526 km, almost 329 miles, of a total 744 km (465 miles). 

He walked the last leg slowly, no pain, but slowly.  And as he was arriving in town, an old lady seated at a bench laughed at him, and told him "there's another hill left."  He laughed too, but you know inside his head he called her a bad name!  The hill was not that big of a deal, especially after all he's been through.

So he walked right to the Cathedral of Santiago, got his compostela, saw the cathedral, visited the tomb of Santiago (actually nobody knows who's bones are buried there, but they are supposed to be St. James the Apostle's), and checked into the hotel. 

He sounded exhausted but happy to finish!  His small lesions had grown a bit, but he never lost any more toenails, so he's still up to 9 toenails.  His plans?  A nice long hot bath and a looong nap!

So any final words from Adal about the completion of the journey?  Yes.  He said "This long journey has been completed.  Now to start the next journey."

How true.  No sooner we complete one journey, we embark on the next one.  Immediately.  We are constantly "walking," always on a "journey," through life or whatever else.  May you continue to have good journeys Adal, buen camino always.

N was so happy her daddy finished!  You should have heard her gasp on the phone and say "you found all the shells!"  She misses him terribly and is counting down the days till his return.

For more information on what happens once you reach Santiago, read this:

"On arrival at the Cathedral in Santiago, pilgrims take their credencial or Pilgrim Record, duly stamped along the way, to the nearby Pilgrim Office and a Compostela certificate (still written in Latin, and confirming the completion of the pilgrimage) is generally issued. Walkers and pilgrims on horseback must have completed at least  the last 100km and  cyclists the last 200 km,  in one stretch, to qualify. You will be asked your motivation: those who do not count 'spiritual' as part of their reason for making the pilgrimage can obtain another document, a certificado, to attest to their having completed it. 

For a translation of the Latin text, click here. (Another translation, by Mario Pozzati Tiepolo, appeared in the Confraternity of Saint James Bulletin, vol 113, March 2011,, pp 31-32.)

Shops nearby will laminate your Compostela in plastic for a small fee - an excellent idea, protecting what is likely to be a precious souvenir from damage in your rucksack. 

The Compostela (take a photocopy, which the hotel staff will retain) may be presented at the Hotel de los Reyes Católicos who provide 10 free pilgrim meals three times a day. Pilgrims may take such meals for up to 3 days. Don't apply at the main entrance however: pilgrims queue at the garage door, down the ramp to the left, collect their meals on trays from the kitchen, and sit in a small comedor or dining room set aside for them.
It also gives you reduced-price access to the Cathedral museum, and is supposed to give access to the refugios for those making the return journey the way they came. 

Don Jaime García Rodríguez, the canon in charge of the Pilgrims' Office at Santiago wrote to all Diocesan Officials, Priests of the Camino, Refugio Wardens and Friends of the Camino at the beginning of July 1999 reminding them of the conditions governing the granting of the Compostela and the Jubilee Indulgence.  To read his letter, click here.
 
Don Jenaro Cebrián, now canon in charge of pilgrims, in 2008 also issued reminders that only credencials recognised by the Cathedral authority would be acceptable to qualify for the 'compostela' from 2010."

Don't worry, I didn't know what a plenary indulgence was either.  I had to google it.  More information about what an indulgence is, here.  We are not religious, and that's not why he chose to walk, but what the heck, it's a cool piece of paper!  The Camino is fraught with history and culture and interesting people.

I find it hard to believe yet that it's over.  Adal's first completion of the Camino de Santiago.  It's inspired me to try something similar, and we've shared it as a family.  And through these means we've shared it with our friends.  I hope it has brought something positive to all of you.  Maybe it's just proof that when you try hard enough you can achieve that which seems impossible, as long as you take it in small steps.  That life is beautiful, and can be simple and lovely.  Or that family and love can take you very far.  I hope every one of you embark upon a similar journey, to bring perspective and beauty to your life.  There's so many lessons here I just can't sum it up.  It leaves a lot of food for thought for all involved, myself included.

Somehow I don't think this will be the only time he will do this. 

It has been a Buen Camino, my friends.  A Buen Camino indeed.