This was IT!!! It was the last leg of the journey to Santiago and the 4 of us set off in the morning excited to be arriving at the end of the journey. It was also somewhat going to be SAD...EMOTIONAL...and a total Spiritual Experience!

Luckily, my friend Margie from Doha was going to be meeting me there and we would have our own walk for another 30 klms on the Magical “Costa de Muerte” the “COAST OF DEATH”as they used to call it because of all the shipwrecks.

We talked a lot along the WAY and it worked out perfectly. The Youngins..(Natalie and Olivia ) walked ahead and Rhonda stayed behind with me and my sore foot. It was a lovely day till about 5klms from Santiago, the heavens decided to open up on us and it POURED!! On went the rain ponchos and rain cover on the backpacks...only the second time in the whole journey..interesting it was the FIRST and the LAST day that I got rained on....lolo. We were a distance behind the girls and finally caught up with them at a mall, where they had arrived before us and managed to stay relatively dry. Rhonda and I on the other hand felt like drowned rats as it really poured on us!

After a round of ham and cheese sandwiches...(a staple by now) and pizza for Olivia...we treked on though various beautiful landscapes to the outskirts of Santiago and opted for the best route into the city. It was sooo beautiful walking into the city and seeing all the others that were going to arrive with us from various routes they had been on, all of us culminating at the same Square and Cathedral in Santiago where St. James’s body still lies to this day. As you will see by the pics...it was a very emotional experience for me when we finally arrived!

We were done, but after some pictures and a quick trip to the office to get our certificates and a huge line up, we decided that the next morning would be best. We agreed to meet for our celebratory dinner and possible dancing after much needed showers and primping. I met my friend Margie who had arrived at our hotel and Natalie had opted for a high end night at a fancy hotel, complete with pedi and primping. We met for our celebratory dinner, but unfortunately, there was to be no dancing that night as we were all tired from our walk and Sangrias at dinner didn't help..lol We agreed to meet in the am at the office to get our certificates of completion and coffee before we went our separate ways. The feeling of sadness was upon me. I was soo grateful to have Margie there from Doha, and to keep walking....

It was amazing to be in the SQUARE of the big Cathedral and even though it was closed to the large mass they held for Pilgrims finishing their journey, it was beautiful and quite emotional for me. I even met our old friend from the walk named Mitya who we walked with from Vienna De Castello and spent a few lovely days at that magical hostal with.

I was up early the next am and at the Compostella office early to get my paperwork ...(more tears) and then they gifted me with a free special viewing that night of an area of the Cathedral that had been recently restored. I felt Sooo Blessed

Huggz and tearful good byes after coffee wth the gals left Margie and I going for some Pasta Comfort Food...ohhhh Yaaaa...Carbonara and some red wine! Yummmm!

Laundry for me and some sightseeing in town before much needed sleep and the last leg of the journey and the completion...Muxia to Finesterra. The end of the earth as they knew it! We would bus it to Muxia in the morning, spend 2 nights there and then walk the 30 klms to Finesterra with a stop for a night half way in Lires.

Let the Journey Begin and Continue!