Day 27 in Santiago de Compostela

30 September 2023 Day 27 spent in Santiago

The plan for the day is to hang out in Santiago and attend the 5 o’clock church service where the rumor is the Butafumario will swing. Sold out… I missed it ! (there are plenty of videos on the Internet showing this phenomenon which Holger has affectionally referred to as the holy ‘Bim-Bam’) I will get there early as each service sells out by people showing up a half an hour ahead. I’ll get there an hour and a half ahead and get my place in line. Bad ankle and all, I’ll probably climb to the top of the one tower, which apparently is open for tourists. I went to the later service.

I found a cycling shop that actually has a jersey that I saw on the Camino that I thought was very cool and will go there and purchase one sometime today (Mission accomplished it’s an awesome racing jersey)

Speaking of which the city is full of tourists -actually it is packed with tourists and it was sensory overload yesterday to be in this sea of humanity.. it was quite difficult to find a quiet, bench fountain or Plaza to just reflect. (It is likely this is where I caught covid ! A sea of humanity and a lot of coughing and sneezing.

I just secured my room for the night and I’m ruminating on what to do before I fly home Wednesday. There are many options at the end of the day. I need to be near the Bilbao airport on Tuesday. (Train ride to Bilbao. 10 hours. both trains sold out. Bus ticket window closed ! I am stuck with a pricey flight.

So, after scouring the websites for ways to travel from one place to the other, I’ve settled on trying to get back Bilbao (by plane) for my last two down days. This will enable me to be a short taxi ride to the airport.

For this, Camino, I deliberately built in a couple of buffer days in case I needed to take rest days or had delays on my journey due to unsafe cycling weather. But I’ve been extremely fortunate with the weather. The cycling went exceptionally well, and in spite of an injured ankle, I managed to keep the schedule with my friend to arrive at Santiago yesterday. (Friday) Hence the 3 days at the end of my Camino

Very long line for church service but I got into the 7 pm service.

Evening goodbye to Santiago Cathedral

Thoughts of the day supplied by Ellen:

The Camino*

Highs and lows of elevation and emotion. Solitude and comradery. The ultimate equaliser (and elixir of eternal youth by the looks of things). Has it been a wild ride? No, quite the opposite. A steady, day-by-day, one-foot-infront-of-the-other march. A simple task: walk. Move forward. Reach the next destination. I've not been enlightened nor had an epiphany. But, the camino really does provide. I guess, so does life. You just have to look. Luck isn't made or earned - it is seen. People are inherently kind and patient. There is joy in the little things - a bottom bunk, a fluffy towel, a smiling familiar face. 'Bad' situations just make great stories - they spice up the plot. Plans change, but change is good. I'm writing this listening to the sound of my feet stomping along the path, morning sunlight hitting the trees, windturbines waving hello on the hills, the birds serenading the sunrise. My camino might be nearly over, but the journey never ends.

Ultreia !

*Credits to Ellen White of Manchester England, who walked all the way from San Sebastian to Santiago mega huge accomplishment:

Below: Ellen White, UK World adventurer who surprised me as I entered Cathedral square alone, she came up from behind me to give a hug.