Media (18)
Transitional Santiago: arrivals, farewells, and shared cooking.
July 18: day in Santiago, waiting for new regroupings.
July 18 was not a kilometers day, but a human-alignments day. In the morning I was still in Santiago in slow mode, between park and short breaks, while Catherine was already at the airport ready to return. We talked several times: that strange mix of everyday tone and separation that arrives when the Camino ends for one of you, but for the other it continues a little longer.
In parallel there was the “Santiago front”: Andrius was in his final walking hours to finally close his Compostela. We followed him almost live through messages, encouragement, and updates on remaining kilometers, until in the evening the news we were waiting for arrived: he had made it. It was one of those moments when joy is collective, because you know how much effort and difficulty were behind it.
Meanwhile, with Francesco we reorganized to sleep in the same albergue: I took his bed spot, he arrived in the evening, and we set the classic pilgrim plan for those who do not want to complicate life. Essential groceries, good but simple food, shared kitchen, light chats.
The day ended like this: no striking scene, but a full sense of belonging. People leaving, people arriving, someone returning, someone extending: the Camino kept moving, only in different forms.
The contrast between Santiago park calm and evening albergue energy: backpacks, food on the table, mixed voices, and good tiredness.
In that day’s messages I also fixed a clear balance: from SJPdP to Santiago I had taken 35 days, deliberately slowing down with long stops (León and Burgos) and short stages so as not to lose the important people I had met along the way.
There are days when you do not cover distance, but build memory: by keeping together people, different timing, and small concrete gestures.
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Day notes