Day 45: Muxia - Santiago, by bus
After walking over 925 kms (575 miles), this morning I return to a more sensible form of transportation and, for the first time in over 6 weeks, I will let my feet rest and will take the bus back to Santiago.
The walking part of my pilgrimage is over, integrating the "all of all of it" has only just begun. I am so overwhelmingly grateful for the opportunity of this experience, for the amazing angels I've met along The Way, for the many miracles I've experienced on a daily basis, and for the love and support of dear friends and perfect strangers, both here on The Camino and those of you at home.
All of you who took time to be a part of this by following along were truly an invaluable part of my Camino as well. It's such an honor and privilege to receive your messages and feel your excitement and your belief in me...thank you for your love and true care!!! Cheers to all my fellow peregrinos that played leap frog with me, it was so fun to keep running into each other time and again. And a special shout out and high five to my walking partners...most especially Bryan, Marina, Julia, and Hannah. Sharing this journey with you has been an honor and a privilege I'll never forget!! BUEN CAMINO!!
Marina, Julia, and I are back in Santiago and I have decided to tag along with Julia to Porto, Portugal tomorrow for a couple of days before she flies back to the US. I am deep in the Mystery right now and unsure of what happens next...or even where I want to go from there. I'll keep you posted as it unfolds. More to be revealed.
While spending one more night in Santiago…I went in search of and found the Shadow Pilgrim. Here is the story: Every night in a corner under the baroque clock tower in the Plaza de la Quintana, a hunched pilgrim appears. He stands life sized, and wears the traditional garb of the religious pilgrim: cloak, broad-brimmed hat, and a staff top-heavy with a gourd for water and the traditional scallop shell, which is the symbol of the pilgrim.
Upon closer inspection, the pilgrim is a trick of the light - and an unintentional one. According to local legend, the pilgrim is a local priest, who had fallen in love with a nun of the convent of San Paio, across the plaza. They met every night secretly, traveling through a secret passage under the Quintana stairs that join the convent to the cathedral. The two lovers planned to elope, and he promised to meet her in the plaza dressed as a pilgrim to conceal his identity. On the appointed evening, he waited in the shadows, but she never came. Since then, every night he returns, hoping to see her.
