I had many plans for this week after I reached Santiago. My first plan was to walk from Sanitago to Finisterre, but since I lengthened my walk to Sanitago, it took away time from walking to Finisterre (usually done in 3 days, but I was looking to do it in 4). After scraping that plan, I decided that I would walk from Finisterre to Muxia, another town 29 km up the coast.
I reached Sanitago, and as pleased and relieved as I was to be there, it didn’t feel like the end. Honestly, it was a little anti-climatic. We reached the outer city limits and worked our way 4 more kilometers to the Cathedral. Once we got there, it was busy with pilgrims and tourists. So busy, in fact, it was hard to maneuver through the crowd and figure out where to go and what to do. After asking for directions, we headed to the pilgrim office to receive our certificate of completion. Standing on tired feet, we waited in line for 90 minutes to have our names written in Latin on a piece of parchment paper saying we completed the Camino. My Latin name is Marcellum in case anyone wants to know. Please don’t call me that. However, the best part of the day was a long lunch afterwards and then relaxing the rest of the day. The Cathedral is a magnificent sight, to be sure, but all I wanted to do was rest. The next morning, I boarded a bus to Finisterre. After arriving, I followed a path out to the lighthouse, the point where they used to call “the end of the earth.” You know, back before they knew the world was round. Where Santiago didn’t feel like the trek was complete, Finisterre did. The area is a lot like the island where I live with my family. It felt like home -- I got the same whiff of ocean smells and walked along a landscape dotted with evergreen trees. Out at the lighthouse is a Camino marker showing “0,0 km.” I knew at that point I didn’t need to walk to Muxia. It was time to concentrate on resting and coming home. My feet have had enough walking for now. While I would like to visit Muxia someday, I don’t think this is the trip to do so. I needed a few days of relaxing by the sea in Finisterre before heading home to my family. I will continue to walk and may even do part of the Camino again. But for now, I will walk without my heavy backpack. I will walk at home through my own forests of evergreen trees and with ocean breezes to my back.
3 Comments
Ronald Weaver
9/27/2016 07:30:00 am
Good job, Marcy
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Joe
9/27/2016 02:37:54 pm
Fantastic. Get some rest. We can't wait to see you!
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Mary Stein
9/28/2016 10:47:49 am
Marcy... what an amazing journey... and you are an amazing woman.
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About Marcy I wear many hats. First, I'm a wife to an amazing husband, Joe. Second, I'm a mom to 2 incredible kids, Caitlynn and Miles. Professionally speaking, I am a chef, dietitian, and writer working as an instructor in Hospitality Management at Montana State University in Bozeman. Photos: See InstagramMarcy's other Site |