We went to a cafe for breakfast, checked out where to catch the bus tomorrow to get to the airport to rent the car, got money... Then Andy went back to the Pension and I spent a couple of hours shopping for the first time. Never even wanted to look before because I wasn't willing to carry anything more. Was fun....lots and lots of shops. We met at a cafe for lunch and then walked around the old part of town - somewhat half heartedly. It is a cool cloudy day...kind of dark for pictures...kind of weary of seeing old buildings and more churches. We decided to just head back to the Pension and rest our weary bodies a bit more before meeting Faith tonight.
We met Faith about 6:30 at Pilgrim House. What a great location and wonderful space. It has been a long process to get the plans and now the proper paperwork from the city to renovate so they are not up and running yet. They will have space for pilgrims to hang out and meet up with friends in a comfortable living room, a kitchen area where pilgrims can make a meal as well as do laundry, and an area for more quiet reflection and private conversations. Should be a fantastic place for ministry. At some point they also hope to have an Albergue as part of their ministry as well. Check it out....they have a great website at www.pilgrimhousesantiago.com
Faith took us to their home on a hill along the Camino. We enjoyed a relaxing and fun evening and a wonderful meal together (at 9:00 Spanish style) with Faith and Nate as well as Nate's sister and friend. Unfortunately it was time for the kids to go to bed when we arrived so we didn't get to spend much time with them. The time was filled with laughter, Camino stories, ideas for ministry, and lots of encouragement. We are so glad that we had this opportunity and plan to keep in touch and be a part of their lives into the future.
For the second night in a row we were out until 11:00 after weeks of having a 10:00 curfew and lights out policy!
Sunday morning we took a bus out to the Santiago airport to pick up a rental car. We had some difficulty getting around Santiago, but eventually enjoyed the drive up to the little town of Finisterre on the coast of Spain. Unfortunately it was pouring rain when we got there. We found a little cafe that served yummy hot wiener schnitzel and pomme frites for lunch. Then headed out to the traditional end of the world 0.0 KM marker for the Camino...again in pouring rain. Was a big disappointment for me as I had seen such wonderful pictures of this beautiful place...and it was drab grey, dark and wet.
We walked out to the light house but were advised it was too slippery on the rocks to even make it down to the shoreline. We didn't stay long. Headed up to another pretty little coastal town called Muxia. It was easy to picture blue skies, incredible shoreline and wonderful views, but that will have to wait for another visit.
We got on off the little country roads we had traveled and on to the A-6 and headed for Madrid. Stopped around 5:00 or so at a hotel out in the middle of nowhere. Must be a popular place in the summer but in mid-October we were the only ones there.
Monday morning we were back on the road to Madrid. The scenery was beautiful, the clouds were moving and changing, and we had great fun...because the road went right by several of the places we had hike the past two weeks. We could see towns, hills and paths we had hiked. We drove across many of the huge bridges we saw from a distance on the trail. We talked about what we had seen and done along those trails, who we had been with, what we had done. A good reflection time.
Somehow we picked a beautiful old town to stop and have lunch. The sun was out and it was warm enough to sit outside. Arevalo dates back to Roman times. An old castle, beautiful churches, wonderful town squares....much of it restored to its former glory. In olden days it was a political center. The brochure says, "In Arevalo, on the 7th of June in 1494 the Treaty of Tordesillas was signed, through which Spain and Portugal shared the recently discovered New World between them."
Isabela lived there in her childhood and her brother, the failed infant king Alfonso, established his royal residence. Ignacio de Loyola was educated here as a young person. Jews and Muslims also populated the town.
Late in the afternoon we arrived in a suburb of Madrid near the airport. We stayed in a very modern but very hard to find Holiday Inn Express. It was one of those "you can't get there from here" experiences. We relaxed and had a nice dinner and prepared for the trip home.
We got to the airport just fine, but the car rental area was not marked on any of the signs. We pulled into the parking lot for Terminal 1 where we needed to check in for our Delta flight. We could see the car rental places, but there was no way to get there from the parking lot. So, we parked and Andy walked to the Enterprise counter and the agent walked back with him to drive the car in...NO SIGNS along the way. Even the agent laughed and made fun of how hard it was to find.
Our flight to Atlanta was on time and pretty much a smooth flight. Andy listened to music and I watched a couple of movies. We snacked and napped our way through the flight. In Atlanta we had only about 70 minutes to get off the plane, go through customs, get our bags, recheck our bags, go through security, get to Terminal B on the train, use the restroom, call Aimee, Sarah and Mike (our ride in Milwaukee) before boarding....but we made it! That flight was pretty quick...must have had a good tailwind. Mike was at the curb waiting for us and we were home in good time.
A cold house with a counter piled high with mail greeted us. We unpacked our backpacks, turned on heat and hot water, and I was in bed by 7:00 local time. I am not sure when Andy came to bed...I was out instantly. Slept until about 2:00 and since then have opened and sorted all the mail and written this blog...
I would have to admit the last three days were a bit of a challenge for me. I seemed to be on the verge of tears much of the time, my left foot was (and is) still swollen and achy, and I was just a bit let down, maybe depressed after arriving in Santiago, the end of The Way. Re-entry to the bustling crowds, the frustrations in driving unknown territory in high traffic, saying goodbyes, leaving the quiet, beautiful countryside...it all seemed to come so abruptly. Now it is good to be home, but the to do lists are already forming in my head...calls to make, groceries to buy, laundry to do, people to see...it all comes rushing back so quickly.
I guess I need to go for a hike in the woods!
A shell on the front of the Cathedral
Kind of cool!
More sales...
Here's the outside of the Pilgrim House that Nate and Faith Walter are working so hard to open. It is great fun to picture what it will look like full of pilgrims next season!
The doors on Pilgrim House are beautiful and inviting.
The last picture I took in Spain...the only picture I took in Madrid. We will have to come back for that adventure!
1 comment:
Just catching up with the blog now, Nancy! You did such a fabulous job communicating about the journey and all the fun details that went into each day. It was an HONOR to meet you and Andy and have you over! Fun times! And - so sorry the Holiday Inn Express was so difficult to find. I admire your adventurous spirit, though - not many pilgrims try to drive to Finisterre OR Madrid right after getting off the Camino! Take care and see you again soon!
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