Day 32 - The day!

June 14th

Arca O Pino - Santiago de Compostela

Rainy Day, we left the albergue at 6:00 and was dark outside. In a corner of the street in Arca we meet Julian again with his flashlight. He stayed in Santa Irene and got up today at 4:00 am. We walked with him today for almost 10:00am when he stopped at a bar to have some coffee. It was raining still and kind of cold, long roads without anybody. Sometimes I felt maybe I was taking a wrong patch. So after a long time without anything but trees I arrived at Monte do Gozo and a tour bus was parked there. One lady from the bus was waiting in the corner of the street and clapping to everyone that was passing there and saying: "YOU MADE IT, CONGRATULATIONS". It was amazing to hear that, she was what I needed at the right moment. So good I felt that I decided to keep on going without stopping at Monte do Gozo, I only entered in the church, made a prayer and left. 30 more minutes we are crossing the bridge that takes us to the outside of Santiago. After many days and many things we arrived.

Cant explain with words the feeling of this moment.

The cathedral filled with people and some tents outside from the students protesting against the Spanish government. We enter in the church with backpack and rain coat, I wanted to have the same energy that I had walking with all that for the last 30+ days. After hugging Santiago and visited his bones we took a place close to the altar for the pilgrim celebration at 12:00. There we met again our Italian friend sitting in front of us, our lovely Brazilian friends Jeane and Bel, Julian from Madrid, sweet Brazilian Maria Luiza and many more.

No botafumeiro in this mass today : (

We left to have some food and shelter. We all decided to stay at Seminario Menor where later on Elza arrived too.

What an AMAZING day!

Day 31

June 13th

Melide - Arca O Pino - 33.3km

The walk today was similar to yesterday except that today is raining. We passed by Arzua where they have some wonderful cheese. I got a bocadillo with their cheese and it was very tasty. We were planning to stay in Santa Irene today but that was not really a town, the albergue is right off the main road. Better to go and stay at Arca O Pino, will be easier for tomorrow. Oh my, we are almost there and I can't believe. In Arca we met with Maria Luiza again, she is with a lot pain on her knees but we convinced her to go with us until Santiago tomorrow. Peter and Hony from Hungary are here too. We enjoyed some dinner with Maria Luiza. Her funny friend from Korea is here. A young girl that loves to dance. I cant think of anything today but getting to Santiago tomorrow. All this time waiting for that. I called my parents in Brazil to let they know we are fine and should be arriving in Santiago tomorrow.

Day 30

June 12th

Hospital de la Cruz - Melide - 28.7km

This morning we left very early and Julian was up. Most of the walk today is inside and out some forest passing by the road sometimes. When we pass by the road we can see the tour buses with people coming here to see the pilgrims. Sometimes they drop the people in one point and wait for them far ahead. Julian is going to meet his friend in Melide so he is in a hurry to get there. We are walking almost at the same pace so we are seeing each other all the time. So funny! We are staying in Melide tonight and is Sunday the city is busy. This town is famous for their octopus asJulian told me and we got try some. Humm it was delicious. Even Kevin liked it. The municipal albergue is full, so many people partying at the bedrooms. This is when you can feel that the end is coming :(. The Norwegian and French couples are staying here but in a private albergue. There is many people here that are only doing the last 100 km and they are feeling sick because they walked too far too fast. The ambulance came at night for a girl but I am not sure whats happen to her. I went to a Mass in a beautiful church in the top of a hill.

Day 29

June 11th

Barbadelo - Hospital de la Cruz - 31.3km

Today we passed by Portomarin, very interesting city located by Mino river. We bought some food, visit the church, took a time at the park looking the river and left. We norwegian and french couples were going up and we were going down back on the path. Tonight we were planning to stay in Gonzar, the Xunta albergue is located on the main road. We arrived in Gonzar around 12:50 pm, we were the first ones to get there. The lady came and open the albergue at 1:00pm and as we noticed the city is getting ready for some big party and the concert is right beside the building. She informed us about the party and we decided to leave. Maybe we are not staying here tonight, so next town is Hospital de la Cruz with only on albergue and this is right off the main road as well. Simple but organized. The Madri guy is staying here too but we don't know anybody else here. We had some lunch at El Labrador restaurant beside the albergue. The food was delicious!

Its amazing to realize that all we need in life is shelter, food and love!

Day 28

June 10th

Samos - Barbadelo - 18km

We got up early but Kenji was gone when we woke up. And my body was so sore all day. It was like I was walking on slow mode. Maybe because I dont want to leave the Camino and we are almost there. We passed by Barbadelo around 12:30pm and I couldn't go further. Decided to stay here. Soon the Hungarians and Norwegian/French arrived too. These albergues in Galicia are much more simple. They have kitchens but no silverware or pans. The bunk beds have names all over it. It makes me sad cause I can feel the camino is coming to and end. For dinner we went to a nice albergue/restaurant with the Norwegian and french couples. They are so lovely! We had a great time. Peter and Hony stayed at the albergue because she was not feeling too well. The guy from Madri Julian is staying here too.

Day 27

June 9th

O Cebreiro - Samos - 32km

It was a long walk down hill today. A lot people walking now, very busy. It don't seems as charming as before. I am not sure why. 

Too noisy, too many people..

the walk from Triacastela to Samos was long, I am not sure if we took a wrong way or what but it took forever. When I saw Samos down there I almost tossed myself down hill. My whole body was hurting. This city is enchanting, mainly because of the beautiful Benedictine Monastery where we are staying tonight. When we got in front of the albergue Maria Luiza was there, it is always so nice to see her. She was very happy to see us. Later Kenji arrived with his face hurt, I understood that he fell on his face down the hill. Maybe he had the same idea I had but he actually did it  Poor Kenji! We went on a tour inside the monastery and later assisted the Mass with the monks singing. Very pretty! For dinner we went to the restaurant across the street and 2 guys doing the camino by bike joined us. They were fun!

Day 26

June 8th

Trabadelo - O Cebreiro - 18.1 km

I took my time today to get there but maybe I am so used to walk that was 11am when we arrive in El Cebreiro. It was cold and windy. The albergue is close until 1pm and is so cold outside. We left our backpacks there in the line with the Italians and went out to have some lunch. Oh my, it was the best food of the entire camino. Traditional Pilgrim menu and I had chicken legs, they were cage free chicken. You could feel the taste. We left just on time to get back on the line that now was much bigger. 

After shower and rest I went to the famous church for some peace time and Maria Luiza was there. It was amazing to see her there. She is feeling better but her knees are not perfect still. On my way up to town early today a man took a picture of me crossing the border to Galicia and now he is sitting in front of the church begging. There are many pilgrims that don't have any many during their journey. I felt so bad for him because of the weather. 

I finally was able to confess today :).

It was cold all day and we still don't have sleeping bag, the Italians were so worry about us sleeping at night without blankets. I guess we are used to now.