Remy’s 2023 Travel Notebook

I have decided how my trip will extend past Santiago (for the most part). I will arrive in Santiago in the 20th, stay for 2 or 3 nights, then walk 4 extra days to Finisterre and Muxia (end of the world), go back to Santiago, (?) rent a car in santiago (?), drive (or bus) to Portugal, back across Spain to France and Switzerland, and hopefully tour the UK before heading back home. I have never been to England despite having second cousins there, and I would also love to visit Wales, the cliffs in Ireland, and Scotland. My hopes are to do these things and be home by October in time for my brother’s birthday.

The walk today was my first of 3 days with my dad. We walked 35km and he handled it like all the others who have been here for weeks or months. I’m proud of my old man. I hope he feels he will gain something from his camino, no matter how short it may be. I know I’m getting a lot from him being here and I feel so thankful for his effort. Thank you dad!

Today we stopped at a gift shop (pictured above) to surprise our Italian group mate Michela for her last day. We got 10 bracelets for everyone in the group and gave them to her at dinner. We also wrote her a card. It was sad saying goodbye for now. She will leave in her taxi to go back home tomorrow at 6:30 am. The entire time during the Camino she knew her timeline would put her just short of Santiago if she didn’t leave the group to walk faster. She stayed with us until today, took a bus to get her compostela certificate, and will not walk the last 40km. She could’ve walked alone to complete the whole walk but chose not to. By doing that she embodied one of the 10 beautities of the pilgrim:

“Blessed are you, pilgrim, if what concerns you most is not getting there, but getting there with others.”

And I’m too tired to write more right now but I made more personal notes that the world may see eventually. Good night, good morning, wherever you are! Buen Camino!