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Today I arrived in Santiago!!
As I approached the main piazza for the Cathedral my eyes filled with tears, I knew the end was near and I couldn't believe it. The Celtic music of Galicia welcomed new arrivals with appropriate intensity. I passed and embraced a number of familiar faces.
The cathedral dwarfed everyone near it. It had an all seeing eye that informed those in its gaze with a message personal to each arriving pilgrim. My message was clear. I had changed. I was not the same person anymore. My mind flooded with memories, a mass of memories beyond my control and too many to decipher. I looked up to the cathedral spires and the sky and thanked God.
After lying in front of the Cathederal on the piazza floor for half an hour, I made my way to the pilgrims office to receive my Compostella ie certificate of completion. My name was written in Latin on a scroll of embossed parchment, something I will treasure for the rest of my life. I did feel a sense of achievement , but tinged with a heavy heart. I wanted to carry on walking. It feels ridiculous to write, but 800km seemed like a very small distance now. I understood that the human heart and mind is capable of anything, anything at all. Most people are kind, wonderful, loving and caring and to live in the moment and find contentment in a smile is a key to happiness.
Santiago is a wonderful beautiful city, filled with artefacts left behind by thousands of years of passing pilgrims. It made a fitting resting place after a month of non stop walking.
- comments
Paula This is the entry I've been waiting for.Special thoughts. xx
Caroline Well done Adeline... What an achievement.. Thinking of you at the end of your very special journey.. Enjoy the moment... x
Ann something you will remember all your life- congratulations and enjoy it!
Denise Well done Honey! I had no doubt that you would do it! Relax and enjoy now. I've really enjoyed your blog. So wish I could've been there with you. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx
Jon What an achievement! Life-defining - well done you. :) Jon
Sarah Congratulations special lady!! I have a feeling there are more adventures ahead for you. Enjoy your success, you deserve it. xxx
Dad As I read your blog, my eyes were welling up too. I said that this was a journey of discovery and you have proven the point. If it was possible you are a better better person than you were before because of what you have discovered about yourself during the trials and the efforts you had to find by digging within yourself to overcome the obstacles of an 800 KM walk. We are proud of you. Come back soon
debb Well done Adeline. Looking forward to seeing you again xx
Terry Burton Well done Adeline, it brought it all back to me. Exactly the same emotions I felt, I didn't want it to finish. Still get emotional when I think about it. Buen Camino
John Cockerill Adders! Watched Simon Reeve on the telly last night who was doing the Camino (or part of it at least). Inspired me to look at your blog after all the grief you gave me. It's really good! I've not read it all yet but will be making every effort to do so. I've just got to you leaving the keys behind on your training walk in the Cotswolds. Clearly as you made it to Santiago and back home things must have improved.... I look forward to reading all about it! Love John C.