Camino,Life

End-of-the-Earth and End of the Camino

12 October 2017 Denise Ketcham 0 Comment

Finisterre, Muxia and the Costa de la Muerte (Coast of Death)

Tuesday we took an excursion to the Galician coast to reach the final pilgrim towns that we didn’t have time to walk to. It takes an extra 3 or 4 days to walk to Muxia (where legend says the Virgen of the Boat appeared to Santiago and convinced him to stay in Galicia) and Finisterre, the “edge of the world”. The picturesque and rocky coast with its history of deadly and catastrophic wrecks gives rise to the Costa de la Muerte title.

At the Camino 0.0 km marker on the Finisterre peninsula.

 

The rocks at Finisterre, considered the “real” end to many a camino. Pilgrims traditionally burned their clothes, now not permitted, but some pilgrim has left their shoes. Others pray or contemplate.

 

The fishing town of Finisterre.

 

A hugely welcome surprise. We found our Polish friend Yarik while we were lunching in Finisterre. He had gone days ahead of us walking and we had not hoped to ever see him again. It was a gift to be able to say goodbye.

Back Home Again

And so, after 6 weeks away we are home again. Bella, our dog, was ecstatic to see us yesterday evening. The cat Mickey is quite angry with me.

We didn’t tell Bella we went on a 500 mile walkie without her.

The Camino was an amazing experience, but it is wonderful to be back. While we were gone life kept moving and now it’s time to re-integrate. There have been changes — my job was eliminated, a colleague is very ill, a friend unexpectedly moved out of state, and an extended family member has experienced the death of someone close to them.

…But the echo of “Buen Camino” and the friends we made will always be with us.