Today, I became a tourist. Olvieroa to Finisterre

14+ miles
Albergue: 10€
Food: 14€
Transportation: 10€
Warmer clothes: 13€

Yup, today I stopped walking. The Camino, that is. My hip never felt better today. Stretching would get me a pain-free kilometer or so, then it would hurt again. It took just under 2 hours to go 5.5 kms.  I had at least 25 mms left, and as my pace usually slows in the afternoon, I estimated another 10 painful hours. And that wouldn’t be the most prudent choice. I know sacrifices happen and suffering can be part of the Camino, but I do value the ability to walk, and didn’t want to do permanent or more serious damage than just normal soreness.

So I took a taxi. Shared it with a Belgian guy who had partied too hard in Santiago in previous days and was finally admitting to being sick. It was SO weird to be in a car again. It felt way too fast and I got a little queasy. Things disappeared so quickly. There was a rainbow over the trail as we got in the taxi and drove off. After a minute, we couldn’t see it anymore. Had we been, walking, it would have brought us 10 minutes of enjoyment. Makes me appreciate the slowness of the Camino even more.

The taxi dropped us off at the bus station in Cee, and who should appear but Marco and Alessandro! They had walked the first stage, but then Alex’s knee hurt, so the next day they took the bus to Muxia and this morning they were also heading to Finisterre. It was great to see them again, though the bus ride was also less than ideal. I pray my train on Friday does not produce the same amount of queasinesss or it will be a long night!

Petra and Jordy went to Muxia first, so I will see them again tomorrow when I get there. I recognized some faces of other pilgrims but had never talked to them, so it was nice to have familiar faces to Finisterre.

We arrived, I checked in at the Hungarian albergue, where Marco and Alex dropped off their bags, and we set off for the lighthouse at the “end of the world.” It was beautiful! And a bit rainy, but that was ok because the sun did come out sometimes. There was even a kilometer marker that said 0.00 km. Not sure if it came out in the photos, but it was amazing to see. And to spend time by the ocean again.

After we returned to town, they caught their bus back to Santiago and I officially switched to tourist mode! I ate paella, bought a new fleece, watched the sunset over the ocean, and started to get some things to bring home and think about how to pack for the train and airplane. Can’t believe I’ll be home in 3 days!

In case you can't read it, it says 0 kilometers!

And this was just the 1st course!

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