I have decided to stop the blog during the Camino due to my thoughts becoming more and more personal. I guess after 2 weeks in you truely come to terms with some of your most inner thoughts you have not ventured into in years. I am now back in Virginia and pondering what the next day holds for me. I have decided to change this blog into people I've encountered during my walk. I have found out that this Camino could not have been done without the wonderful people I've become close with each step of this journey. I will start this new project with my last 3 days on the Camino then start back over by telling everyone the story of each person I've met from St. Jean Pied De Port to Finisterre.
Arriving at Santiago.
I have decided a day before I arrived at Santiago to walk 35 km to Monte de Gozo, which lies about 4 km prior to Santiago. This would give me a chance to walk into Santiago and on to Finisterre the following day.
After our dinner at Monte De Gozo, I was quite excited to head over to Santiago. I ended up walking by the road and over this bridge/overpass then on to the city. I had no idea that Santiago was a city. I was quite dissapointed by the city like atmosphere, construction, and the rain that would not stop. I believe I walked about 4 km's to get to the Cathedral. I was utterly dissapointed. I had hoped for more emotion or some sort of happiness or something...to tell you the truth I had no idea what I wanted. I remember fanticising about trumpets lined up playing this glorious marching theme while angels come down from the heavens to spread confetti over the blue skies...haha ok that's a bit of a stretch, but I was expecting to feel some sort of happiness walking into Santiago since I looked forward to this place since St. Jean pied de Port. Wait check that, since 3 years ago sitting in my office surfing and researching the Camino. It is called Camino de SANTIAGO...well anyways...enough complaining about Santiago.
I just grabbed my Compostella at the office then proceeded to head to Negrreira. I wanted to just get to Finisterra. 3 more days till I get there. I had aquired a map from the compostella office and the lady at the desk showed me where I needed to exit to head over to the path to the next hostel in Negreira, so I headed out of Santiago...so I thought. No matter which direction I headed I ended up back at the Cathedral at Santiago. I went north and end up at the south side of the cathedral...I go south and end up at the side of the cathedral...I go to the west and end up in the front of the cathedreal...I was starting to get pretty upset after walking for 3 hours and ending up at the same spot where I started. 3 hours!!! ughhghgh!!! I ended up just completely getting lost on some road by a hospital just right outside of town. I was completely insanely angry at this point, I threw my bag pack on the ground, kicked it down a hill, then looked up to the sky and scremed " F U Santiago!!!! efffffff YOUUUU!!!!!". Then I realised how much of a fool I am for screaming in the middle of the road like a bloody lunatic so I went and picked up my bag and just sat down...I prayed "god get me out of this situation and I promise to come back to santiago and go to the pilgrams mass..." I guess sitting and praying calmed my nerves a bit. I felt a little better and more focused to get out of Santiago and on to Negreira. I walked towards a street ahead and in the corner of the street I saw an old lady...first person I saw right after I had calmed down so I went up to her and asked her for directions.
Arriving at Santiago.
I have decided a day before I arrived at Santiago to walk 35 km to Monte de Gozo, which lies about 4 km prior to Santiago. This would give me a chance to walk into Santiago and on to Finisterre the following day.
After our dinner at Monte De Gozo, I was quite excited to head over to Santiago. I ended up walking by the road and over this bridge/overpass then on to the city. I had no idea that Santiago was a city. I was quite dissapointed by the city like atmosphere, construction, and the rain that would not stop. I believe I walked about 4 km's to get to the Cathedral. I was utterly dissapointed. I had hoped for more emotion or some sort of happiness or something...to tell you the truth I had no idea what I wanted. I remember fanticising about trumpets lined up playing this glorious marching theme while angels come down from the heavens to spread confetti over the blue skies...haha ok that's a bit of a stretch, but I was expecting to feel some sort of happiness walking into Santiago since I looked forward to this place since St. Jean pied de Port. Wait check that, since 3 years ago sitting in my office surfing and researching the Camino. It is called Camino de SANTIAGO...well anyways...enough complaining about Santiago.
I just grabbed my Compostella at the office then proceeded to head to Negrreira. I wanted to just get to Finisterra. 3 more days till I get there. I had aquired a map from the compostella office and the lady at the desk showed me where I needed to exit to head over to the path to the next hostel in Negreira, so I headed out of Santiago...so I thought. No matter which direction I headed I ended up back at the Cathedral at Santiago. I went north and end up at the south side of the cathedral...I go south and end up at the side of the cathedral...I go to the west and end up in the front of the cathedreal...I was starting to get pretty upset after walking for 3 hours and ending up at the same spot where I started. 3 hours!!! ughhghgh!!! I ended up just completely getting lost on some road by a hospital just right outside of town. I was completely insanely angry at this point, I threw my bag pack on the ground, kicked it down a hill, then looked up to the sky and scremed " F U Santiago!!!! efffffff YOUUUU!!!!!". Then I realised how much of a fool I am for screaming in the middle of the road like a bloody lunatic so I went and picked up my bag and just sat down...I prayed "god get me out of this situation and I promise to come back to santiago and go to the pilgrams mass..." I guess sitting and praying calmed my nerves a bit. I felt a little better and more focused to get out of Santiago and on to Negreira. I walked towards a street ahead and in the corner of the street I saw an old lady...first person I saw right after I had calmed down so I went up to her and asked her for directions.
"donde esta el camino de Finisterra?"
nothing....hmmmm
She just stared at me for a bit with a confused look then grabs my hand walks over to the corner of the street and just sits down, still holding my hand. I was kinda freaked out. I requested for assistance once more with panic in my voice this time.
"senora...Por favor...Donde esta el camino para Finisterra...ya know...the Camino?? para Pilgrams?"
nothing...she just held my hand and smiled...was she crazy?? I didn't feel like wasting anymore time...I was so exhusted from walking in circles for last 3 hours. She pulled my hand and just sat there...and this went on for one hour. I was officially freaked out at this situation but for some reason I had no energy to just let go of her hand. I was on the verge of just giving up and and something about a motherly hand holding mine just felt secure. So I sat there...with a strange Senora from Santiago, pondering how I am going to spend my next day looking for a bus to Finisterra.
About another 10 minutes pass by...a bus pulls up...she draggs me onto the bus...pays for my fare...gets me to sit down as she sat next to me...20 minutes goes by...bus stops...she pulls me out of the bus grabs my belongings then points to the street sign across the road that reads...
NEGREIRA!
Amazing.
I have 2 more days until Finisterra!
Amazing, funny, crazy story! Can't believe she took you on a bus, and very impressive that you just rolled with it all.
ReplyDeleteGlad to find your blog...will be back. Cheers.
Brett
http://www.stateofplace.com
Thanks brett. I will be posting the last two days soon as I'm done reviewing my journal!
ReplyDeletehello, it's nice to see that you have arrived to Santiago and that you have enjoyed the path. May I ask you again to remove my photograph from your blog? That would be very kind of you If you did it so. So, what has your family told you when you arrived home? Are they doing the road to Santiago next year? Thank you, regards. Kristina
ReplyDeleteGood story!
ReplyDelete