CAMINO DE SANTIAGO - PART 22 - PALAS DE REI TO RIBADISO TO AMENAL

These were days filled with laughter and cemented friendships that will last a lifetime. 

“If you wish to glimpse inside a human soul and get to know a man, don't bother analyzing his ways of being silent, of talking, of weeping, of seeing how much he is moved by noble ideas; you will get better results if you just watch him laugh. If he laughs well, he's a good man.” 
 ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Without a shadow of a doubt the coffee stops on the Camino are the aspect I miss the most. This one will stand out as possibly the happiest.

After just under 800km of walking, Santiago suddenly seemed to close, with markers every kilometre a constant reminder that our journey was coming to an end.

Philipp asking the "gym bunnies" for directions. For the first time since St Jean, we somehow managed to lose the arrows. These ladies were helpful but we still couldn't find the path. The response from the next lady we asked...."How can you be so stupid as to get lost on the Camino?" As I say, humbling to last step!

As I mentioned in my previous post, we were somewhat taken aback by the drastic increase in the number of pilgrims in this last stretch into Santiago. To say that we muttered a bit about the “newbies” was an under statement - it was just a completely different vibe, people on cell phones, clean trainers and clothes. Anyway, in Ribadiso, there was only one albergue so everyone who stopped there stayed in the same place. There was a big outside area where we could sit and watch people arrive. As each member of the South Korean group arrived, the members of their group who had already got there stood and cheered them in. I realised that for them, walking those 4/5 days was as much an achievement and “out of your comfort zone” experience as walking the whole thing. As with most aspects of the Camino, it was very humbling indeed. 

“The earth laughs in flowers.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Coffee stop at a "donativo" coffee shop set up in someone's back garden.

The Sisters, Kkin and Susie. The heart of the tribe. No questions asked.

The Green Bar.....

Do not be afraid to grow

Thank you for all the friends

Maybe my favourite photo of the whole journey!

“If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane.” 
 ― Robert Frost

The last photo is for Dale. I can still hear him reciting this poem. The last verse was repeated many, many times as I walked.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
By Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.   
His house is in the village though;   
He will not see me stopping here   
To watch his woods fill up with snow.   

My little horse must think it queer   
To stop without a farmhouse near   
Between the woods and frozen lake   
The darkest evening of the year.   

He gives his harness bells a shake   
To ask if there is some mistake.   
The only other sound’s the sweep   
Of easy wind and downy flake.   

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,   
But I have promises to keep,   
And miles to go before I sleep,   
And miles to go before I sleep.