Thought I’d do one last post at the MAD airport.  I’ve spent all my euros, so I guess I’m ready to be home.  

I spent most of yesterday at the Prado and really enjoyed the beautiful artwork there. I managed to get a picture of this gorgeous watercolor before I was told that photos weren’t allowed.

This was done by Francisco Pradilla (1848 - 1921).  They were having a special show of his work at the Prado.

Yesterday and today, I am in Madrid.  A beautiful city and quite the change from the small towns that I have been walking through.  First, I’ve never seen a city with so many cafes and restaurants.  No problem finding something to eat here!

I toured the Royal Palace yesterday and sure wish I had some pictures to show you.  They did not allow any photos to be taken.  Suffice it to say, the word “opulent” doesn’t even come close to describing the luxury I saw here.  Everything that stood still was covered in either gold, silk, ivory, porcelain, or an 18th century tapestry.  My favorite was noticing how beautiful the wall coverings were.  Not just wallpaper, but silks and velvets, and brocades covered these walls.  My favorite favorite was the room covered in deep blue velvet.

A neighbor had mentioned thoughts had while walking on long hikes.  I met Tracy from New Orleans and we had a similar conversation.  I was anticipating having all sorts of Deep Thoughts and Epiphanies while walking, but….I didn’t. She didn’t either and we wondered if we were missing something.  Honestly, while I was walking, I was mostly thinking about my knees and singing silly songs to myself to keep going.  

Here’s an example:  Sung to the tune of the Happy Wanderer, a song I learned about 50 years ago in Girl Scouts:

As I walk in Northern Spain,
the Camino is so long.
To keep myself from going nuts,
I sing this stupid song.
Valderee, Valderaa, Valdereee,
Valderahahahah, 
Valdereee, Valderaaaa,
I sing my stupid song.

I also had plans of listening to audio books on my tablet while walking.  Well, that got nixed after the first day.  First, the tablet was just too heavy.  Second, there’s no way I could have kept my mind on a book while trying to navigate the Camino.  You’ve always got to pay attention to the path and look for the little yellow signs.

This is an easy one, but sometimes, it’s just a little yellow arrow painted on the side of a wall or a lamppost.

So no deep thoughts while walking, but I am now processing many things about the walk that will inspire me for the rest of my life.

True to form, I get lost in the city looking for the Cathedral. I follow the signs diligently, but I must have missed one, because  now I don’t see any signs or fellow pilgrims.  Once again, Google Maps to the rescue!

So I’m here at the Cathedral, where so many pilgrimages have ended.  I feel tired, but so happy to be here.  I dreamed about this, I planned this, and I did it!

Pretty snazzy, huh?

My inspiration and my strength.  My mom, Jean Hamilton.  Today (4/23) would be her 87th birthday.  

The last leg.  A combination of country, suburban and city terrain.  A nice lady from Atlanta, GA offered to take my picture at the Santiago city sign!

This was the nicest walk of the journey. I was rested and felt good most of the day.  The terrain was pretty easy.  The weather was bright and sunny.  Only 20 kilometers to walk today.

I’ve found that frequent infusions of caffeine keep the energy up.  Luckily, the route from Sarria has many cafes along the way where a weary hiker can get her caffeine fix.  

And a little touch of whimsy along the way!

Took another rest day today.  I took a cab over to my next accommodation, the Pazo Santa Maria in Arzua.  Each day when I change lodgings, it’s always a big surprise when I see what the next hotel will be like.  Well, this one was absolutely stunning.  It is in a mansion house dating back to the 1740s.  

It was truly a pleasure to spend a relaxing day here.

This was a grueling walk.  30 kilometers and plenty of rolling hills.  Saw some nice scenery, but am really starting to feel worn down.

Here’s a British family enjoying a break at one of the many cafes along the way.

Tabby cats are everywhere, and they are all sweet!

Sarria is the starting point for many pilgrimages, as 114 km is the minimum one must walk to get the Compostela (the certificate showing that the pilgrimage has been completed).  The route is very different from the Camino del Norte legs that I completed.  There are many more people and many more services to accommodate them.  It’s a lot easier to get your credential stamped and you can even get a Camino T shirt or two.

I saw many of these along the way, both on farms and in yards.  What is this?  Several of them were quite elaborate.  But all were raised from the ground.  Rather an odd shape for a tool shed and there were no stairs to allow a person to access whatever is inside.  

Here in Sarria this morning, getting ready for the next part of my pilgrimage.  I took a plane from Bilbao to Santiago, then a van from Santiago to Sarria.  The van driver was a nice man with two cell phones.  One had the Benny Hill theme song for a ringtone.  You know, the “Yakety Sax” song.  Every time it rang, it made us laugh.

​Didn’t see much of Sarria, as I suspect there isn’t much to see. So here’s another Spanish cat pic for you:

I found this one crying by a curb.  I went to pet it and it cuddled up to me so sweetly.  It was obviously a former pet that is now living on the streets near the guest house where I stayed.  He LOVED the attention and let me give him belly rubs and chin rubs.  If this had been in Santa Fe, George and I would be welcoming another member of the family.  But…when I left the guest house the next morning, I noticed that someone had placed a small saucer of cheese on the ground outside.  So I think someone is looking out for this dear one.