The Day After

My Compostela attesting to completion of the Camino.

Last night we celebrated a Venezuelan pilgrims's 50th birthday and completion of the Camino with a dinner at the fancy Ppusada de Los Reyes Catolicos.  I had been crossing paths with this couple for a week and a half.

They were walkig from Astorga as his birthday celebration and were joined for the last days by other Venezuelan friends.

Since i only have 2 shirts with me- we did a little shopping and found a nice top and earrings. 

 Bought a little gift and wrapped it Camino style with the materials at hand. Almost all stores are closed on Sundays so had to make so with flip flops for our 'fancy' footwear.

So the party was Pauline, me and 5 Venezuelans. We ate like kings! Told funny Camino stories. And had a really wonderful celebration. The perfect way to  end the trip.

Today has been a quiet day - sort of as return to 'regular' life. Shopped for some gifts, took an audio tour of the Cathedral. 

Ate grilled padron peppers and

Spanish style boiled dinner for lunch at a little restaurant run by a lovey older couple. The woman took me into the kitchen to show me what was for lunch. Then in the loving, bossy, Spanish way 

- told me how to put bread in my soup to eat it right

- felt the size of Pauline's wrists and arms thencommented on Pauline's need to eat meat so she could fatten up. She was very glad to know Pauline eats fish and eggs and dairy. 

- gave instruction to another customer about how he needed to quit smoking.

This kid of intimate conversation is the norm here- very human and direct and warm.

Picked up my box of clothes and shoes that I got out of my pack in Leon and sent to myself.

Finally here is how my pilgrim credential looks after the trip.

We leave early tomorrow morning.  Happy to seem family and sad to end the trip and satisfied with the whole adventure.