7 Jun 2023

Arzúa to O Pedrouzo

Stage: 32A

Walked: 23,98 km

Planned: 20 km

Steps: 26,895

The last stage of this wonderful journey called for a 38 km walk into Santiago de Compostela. Since I had no rush whatsoever to get to Santiago - and honestly I didn´t want this magic adventure to end, I decided to split the last stage into two 20km walks and sip it slowly. I first headed for O Pedrouzo, a town halfway between Arzúa and Santiago. I started a bit late compared to most days - 7:23. I headed out of the city and found the Catalan pilgrims along the way (Aida, Tomas, Joan and Marina). It was pouring rain but it was a beautiful walk. We stopped for coffee. The Camino Frances has a different vibe: lots of lovely cafes along the way, especially set for pilgrims; pilgrims walking with a different vibe, most of them having fun, in big groups, instead of having a solitary moment of reflection. Not right nor wrong - simply different from the Camino Del Norte I just walked. I enjoyed the differences. It made me appreciate even more the journey I was about to finish. The coffee and breakfast was great! Marina and Aida gave me a commemorative patch of this specific coffee place which was @809 km from Irun - the place where I started.  This moment shocked me.  It made me realize the endeavor, the achievement.  We arrived In Pedrouzo and had a beer and each one of us headed for our albergues. In my albergue I had my very last stamp in my credential. Mission almost accomplished - the true last stamp will be in Santiago de Compostela.  I went out in the afternoon, after my shower and did what I dreamed of doing an over the past few days: sit down with a coffee and a piece of carrot cake and just do pilgrim-watching. Their faces, their expressions, their souls walking and their bodies obeying. I wished them all the best hoping that everything in my life goes well too.  This was an afternoon I will never forget.