Tag 35 - Monte de Gozo nach Santiago de Compostela

I didn't feel like writing last night and since I'm taking a day off today, I'm using it to make one post for both days.

Exactly 5 weeks. I had been on the road for 35 days until yesterday when I arrived.

We wanted to start at 8am, which of course worked out very well and we didn't have breakfast until half past nine. We then received messages from others saying that they would also be there soon and we decided to wait for them and then walk the last 4km to Santiago de Compostela together.
And so we were a group of 7 pilgrims who set off towards Santiago in the pouring rain.
Only a short time later we reached the city of Santiago. It was relatively unspectacular going through the outer districts until we reached the old town. It was getting more and more crowded there, even though it was still raining.
A first look at the left side of the cathedral. Then we went through an archway where a bagpiper greeted us with local music. Then the last few meters. Around the corner to the left and there it is. The magnificent cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. As if from one moment to the next, it stopped raining and the sun slowly fought its way through the clouds and will shine for the rest of the day.
Everyone hugs each other. Many tears roll down their cheeks. It is officially 779km from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago. On the shortest route that we almost never choose. Many emotions were experienced. Pain endured. A few days of worry about whether I would even be able to finish the walk after the injury on day 8. Lots of sore muscles. Lots of thoughts went through my head. A lot of reflection on the past and especially the last few months. Experienced highs and lows. Pushed to the limits of the body and sometimes beyond. With a backpack on my back every day. Met many wonderful people. Had many very interesting conversations. Connections between people that would never be possible in such a short time in normal life. Trust built up. Let yourself go and be who you are. Nobody knows anyone here, nobody judges, everyone accepts you as you are and that was the most important achievement on this trip. Be who you are. Be yourself and be clear about your needs. You can achieve anything and you are never alone. If you're having a weak moment, someone comes along completely unexpectedly and is exactly the right person at the right time. Because everything happens without expectations. Everything is so simple, open and natural. Setting off again every day, physically pushing yourself day in and day out. Focusing on yourself. Hearing many different perspectives on the different experiences in life. Lots of advice, lots of encouragement. Everyone believes in everyone here and there is an incredibly beautiful and intense atmosphere everywhere. The Camino creates friendships, creates a kind of familial feeling, because you can talk to people so intimately without having to be afraid.
I would just like to thank all of these wonderful people who have accompanied me on my journey up to this point. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. The encouraging and uplifting words. The intense conversations. The community that has formed here. It doesn't matter whether you only talk to someone for 5 minutes or repeatedly for a longer period of time.
I can't even mention all the names of the people I met here. Firstly, I don't know or remember all of them and secondly, I wouldn't mention at least half of them.
Yesterday and today here in Santiago. The arrival, the trip to the pilgrim office to receive the official pilgrimage certificate and the distance certificate, the certificate from a monk in the monastery.... The visit to the cathedral, where we first went to the grave of the holy apostle, then hugged the statue of the saint above the altar and then today's Pentecost mass with the bishop of Santiago and other bishops and priests from Germany, France, Uganda, Portugal, Colombia, England and so on. The procession of the holy apostle through the cathedral and at the end the blessing of the pilgrims. The many reunions and farewells in these two days. Sitting together briefly everywhere and talking, congratulating, looking back, celebrating....

It's impossible to put into words and if I were to write everything down, I would still be sitting here in two weeks. But there's no time for that. Now we're going back to the square in front of the cathedral and then another meal with all the pilgrims and a quiet night in the hotel tonight.
The journey doesn't feel like it's over yet. So my journey continues tomorrow morning, towards the coast. First to Muxia and then to Finisterre, the "end of the world". Another 120km, on the route I choose.