Rejuvenation

Day 18: Santiago del Compostela

I’m in this historic and cultural centre and although there is much to see my body and soul are calling for rest.

My little hotel room is a place of refuge and I am enjoying simple pleasures like white cotton sheets, a duvet, solitude and a bath tub.

Last night was Halloween and Samhain…and today being a holiday people were tired having been up late partying and celebrating… I thought about going out but instead stayed in and slept lol!

In had planned on going to Ourense for the thermal baths but instead decided to stay in Santiago to rest some more, for the noon mass at the Cathedral de Santiago, and to write.

There are three yoga studios nearby and I was going to attend a class but they are closed today., it being a national holiday.

Instead, I enjoyed a delicious breakfast at my hotel, Moure Hotel and returned to my room and rested. At 11:20 am got myself out of bed to go to mass.

I am not religious and hadn’t been to mass in over 30 years before the Camino but thanks to Adrienne, I began and ended the journey with a Pilgim’s mass and blessing. Although both masses were in Spanish I was able to get the gist of them.

I stood silent as prayers and Amens were recited, holding respect for those who participated while honouring my spirituality and beliefs.

The main reason I attended this mass – and even waited in line to do so – was to see the huge botafumerio, incense burner (aka botafumeiro in Galicia) soar overhead..but sadly… by the time I got into the cathedral it had already been done.

I’m still glad I attended the mass as among the hundreds of people in the cathedral I saw many pilgrims with whom I had walked or met along the way.

After mass I lunched at a little resto by the hotel. It was filled with locals, off work due to the national holiday of All Saints Day. I then walked up and down and around the cobblestone streets window shopping and taking in the sights and sounds.

I’m back at the hotel in the funky lounge writing away on my phone, completing and preparing a few blogs to publish.

Tonight I’ll eat and rest. And take a bath of course.

Tomorrow I fly to – and overnight – in Frankfurt. My hotel there has a pool which I am excited about…I’m slowly reintegrating, one luxury at a time lol!

Even though the walking is done, for this time, the Camino continues.

I’m still processing the experience, my growth, the lessons and gifts the Camino has offered me and I will begin to share about those soon.

For today, I’m really enjoying the Stillness of being in one place and having my bag unpacked 🙂

Ok bath time.

Peace Be with you.

Yours in movement and in stillness,
Ishwari