Santiago! !

Monday, June 30
We made it! We are here! I have finished the Camino de Santiago walking over 500 miles in more than 50 days to get here. It has been quite an experience, one which is hard to put into words. I've certainly enjoyed the experience. I feel it has been grace filled. It has been a time of reflection and prayer, a time of meeting new people and experiencing new things, it has been a time of growing closer to God, Christ, and the church.
Today I think we were getting anxious, as we were up and on the trail by 6 am, before the sun was up, so that was nice walking through the fog and watching it get brighter and brighter as the morning moved along. Fr Paul's leg was close to normal as we made good time getting here to Santiago, on foot this time, by about 12:30, late for the noon pilgrim's Mass, but in time for Communion and the incensing with the huge swinging thurable - always exciting!
So then it was competing the pilgrim rites, unfortunately the Western facade is undergoing restoration, so is mostly covered in scaffolding, so it is not possible to touch the central pillar as you enter the cathedral, or greet master Mateo, but we still climbed up behind the altar to greet and hug St James, and then go down to the crypt to reverence his relics.
Then it was the pilgrim's office to get our 'Compostella' or certificate of completion.
Then we explored the old town, had a wonderful dinner with people we had met along the way, and are back in our room for the night.
Now the real Camino begins as we get back to the life to which Christ called us. May your Camino be always Blessed.