Living in the Pacific Northwest and San Francisco, enjoying my own “Camino” every where I go!
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- And Just Like That…
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Milladoiro to Santiago de Compostela (7.2 miles)
Considering what to convey our last day walking is a bit like trying to summarize the Camino experience. Besides encompassing a myriad of emotions, captivating visuals, stimulating and serenity inducing sounds, all types of people and languages, and nature’s beauty – it’s different for everyone! We cover so much ground, figuratively and literally, that a summation could never do justice. I write these travel logs to help in remembering a brief outline and even while I am living the pilgrim life, the days blur. Yet – it feels as if the “ending” is so sudden!
We walked together the ninety minutes into Praza do Obradoiro of Catedral de Santiago de Compostela. The morning air was fresh, the sun highlighting more beautiful homes and landscapes and we had one last forest to savor.
We were met by Rui and Yoli of Ultreia Y Suseia and surprised to see Mariann, who connected most of us to this group. A medical issue prevented her from joining us so it was great to see her smiling face! Surprisingly, no tears or consuming emotion overtook me (was it because we entered the square from a different angle…?)
And then we had a most special treat in the cathedral! Our group sponsored the botafumeiro, which is a HUGE incense burner that swings back and forth by ropes. It isn’t always part of the Pilgrim’s mass other than on prescribed holidays, yet groups can pay (sponsor) to have it included. In doing so we were also able to avoid the line already serpentining the cathedral and we had reserved seats!
“The Botafumeiro is suspended 20 meters from a pulley mechanism under the dome on the roof of the church. The current pulley mechanism was installed in 1604. At the top of the swing, the Botafumeiro reaches heights of 21 meters. The Botafumeiro is carried and swung by eight men in red robes, called tiraboleiros.” (Wikipedia)
Not only is it thrilling to behold this wonderful sight and smell the incense, we were sitting where I was actually afraid it might hit me in the head!! It sailed at and over me multiple times gaining velocity and height!!
Our lunch was curated at a “ published” place, “Nőmad. Francisco served us tasty and creative dishes with ingredients procured locally. We had an astounding blue cheese from a company that had won an international competition as well as a regional one.
Our hotel was only steps from Old Town and the art was mind blowing!! In fact, apparently it’s an actual art gallery, circulating pieces through for artist exposure. Most of my travel companions tucked in for naps – I went back to the tunnel adjacent to the cathedral and cheered the incoming pilgrims against the backdrop of bagpipe keening – and that’s when a flood of tears hit me – another camino in the books, another pilgrimage in finality and over. We can’t wait to give our bodies a break yet yearn to keep going. And we do – on the camino of our hearts and souls.
