The End of the Beginning

We made it.  About 12:30 yesterday afternoon, Alex and I walked into the Praza do Obradoiro and admired the Cathedral we'd been thinking about for the last 500 miles.  I am very glad to be here.

To be honest, arriving in Santiago is always a bit anticlimactic.  The last day's walk is usually a crowded slog through the outskirts of Santiago, past the airport (that we'll bus to in 15 minutes early tomorrow morning), and into the outskirts of Santiago.  We were joined by herds of school children, scouts, and other groups, most of whom had megaphones to help herd their charges along.  The last day to Santiago is not generally one that lends itself well to peace and reflection.

So, when we arrived, I was mostly relieved.  Relieved we made it.  Relieved to have real clothes to change Into, relieved to be relieved of my pack, and relieved to be relieved of responsibility for 18 college kids plus three other adults.

I know this is probably disappointing to read, but I think it's OK, you see, for me, the Camino has little to do with arriving in Santiago and a lot to do with the Camino itself.  I feel a sense of accomplishment, after all, I've done something that to my knowledge has not been done before: led a group of college students on the Camino as a study abroad trip for credit, and I did it successfully (at least until course evaluations are in).  I even managed to stay more or less on top of things with my day job.  

Did I figure out what I'm supposed to do with the rest of my life?  Not a bit, but neither was that a requirement, and that will get sorted out in due course.  Perhaps this is my Camino lesson: enjoy the now.

The kids are ecstatic: some are on a bus today for Finisterre; the rest Re here, resting.  We have a 6:30am flight tomorrow and our final group dinner tonight.  There was a car show in the Praza today, so I poked around, and was astonished by the sheer amount of American cars present, the poor quality of the bodywork on the vehicles, and one very drool worthy pre-War French Blue Bugatti.

I've been to the pilgrim office, and I even obtained a special credential from the Franciscan monastery in celebration of the 800th anniversary of St. Francis' pilgrimage to Santiago.  They only give these out once a century; that was pretty cool.  I'll spend the rest of the day grading, doing a bit of office work, visiting the Cathedral and reflecting on my new Camino friends, the students, and what it all means.

As I've told my students, none of us has ever lived this day before; we're all making this up as we go along.  Or, less cynically: arriving in Santiago is merely the end of the beginning.  I'm grateful for each of you who have read and followed along.  Your support has been invaluable.  And maybe, just maybe, I've inspired you to undertake a pilgrimage of your own.  Buen Camino!