Oct 6
Skipping the final few stages by taking the train, I arrived in Santiago Sunday afternoon in ahead of my Porto Camino family, who will start to arrive this afternoon (Monday).
My Lisbon family WhatsApp group now has 41 members and most arrived a few days ago, but there are some stragglers and a few still in town.
I had a (mostly) wonderful sleep last night and despite not using earplugs or my eye mask, I slept until 7:30 – still an hour before sunrise.
My leg continues to bother me, but I can already begin to feel the benefits of not hiking long distance with a backpack on.
I ventured out around 10 am for a few errands: get appointments at a nearby tattoo parlor for Dave, Tory, Ana and me; find an ATM; find a barber for a shave and get some breakfast.
The tattoo parlor that Dave & Tory used in 2023 was two blocks from my hotel and I booked four appointments for tomorrow morning.
I found a barber shop and got an appointment for later today. It will feel wonderful to get this scruffy beard off my face.
I stopped into a bar for breakfast and ordered a tosta. I pointed my chubby little finger at the item I wanted on the menu – essentially French toast on brioche. When it arrived, I got instead the next item on the menu: brioche with cream cheese, a fried egg and salmon on top. The Camino provides you with what you need and it was reminding me that since I’m not walking 30,000+ steps, I need to start cutting back on the sweets.
After resting my leg for a bit the hotel, I ventured out to find some lunch when I heard my name called out.
It was Jen & Barney! They were having their last meal together before Barney flew to the UK to visit his mother. Jen was leaving the next morning for Muxia where she was scattering the ashes of her mother and brother. Jen is going to try to put together a dinner tonight for the Lisbon crew in town.
After leaving Jen & Barney so they could say their goodbyes, I wandered towards the cathedral to see the scene there. Having not walked into Santiago, I had a bit of imposter syndrome, but then I realized I walked further about 90% of the folks there and I felt a little better.
As I write this, I’m sitting in a bar across the plaza from the barber shop. I have 40 minutes to kill before my appointment and am playing another game of menu roulette. We’ll see what “Bandidos bravos” turns out to be. The place has a great vibe and I’m rocking out to the 70s music playing – currently China Grove by the Doobie Brothers. And it turns out to be chicken strips with a really hot dipping sauce.
After lunch, I wander across the street for a hot towel shave with a straight razor. After nearly a month of feeling the scruff on my face, it feels heavenly.
While sitting in the chair, I get messages from Ana, Tory & Dave that they are close to arriving.
I head towards the Camino trail heading towards the cathedral with the intent to intercept them, when I hear my name called out again! It’s Simon from Australia with Mie from Belgium! I join them for a beer and get caught up on all the Lisbon crew that had gone in different directions after Porto.
While chatting with them, I get a message from Ana that she has arrived and then another from Dave & Tory. I find Dave & Tory on the cathedral plaza, along with their friends Haley & Frank who started in Tui. The five of us go to the bar where Ana is waiting and have a celebratory beer.
Ana, who is a very devout Catholic is feeling great, because the day before she ran into a group from Washington and the priest leading the group offered to hear her confession. Going into Santiago immediately after her confession added special meaning for her.
To cap off the night a met up with three other Lisbon veterans Mie, Simon & Jen. We made up for the mediocre service & food with lots and lots of wine.
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