Next Steps

I am so grateful for the opportunity to walk the Camino. It was a renewal of body, mind and spirit for me. I continue to reap so many blessings from the journey.

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Thank you for reading my posts and for your prayers and support. I would love to hear your insights and thoughts. Please email me at: revgreen@sacredheartministries.org

Blessings.

Home Again

Our time in Spain flew by so quickly. It felt great to be back home in Portland. I will always carry a fondness for Spain. Laurence and I spent our honeymoon in southern Spain ten years ago. Now I have the experience of walking the Camino with my spiritual community.

We experienced so much grace on this trip. The weather is usually cool and rainy this time of year. We experienced sunny days and warm temperatures most of the time. Our hotels were wonderful and we were very well fed. Our bodies were strong and resilient as we walked the trail. Our travel was safe and easy.

Thanks so much for your prayers and love. I know that God's abundant grace pours forth into your lives. Out of your partnership, I know that you too are blessed with the newness of Christ in your lives.
Love and blessings,
Christine

Evening Splendor

The Cathedral at night is beautiful. Pilgrims and visitors wander around the courtyard and take in the majestic site. It is the heart of Compostela.

Cathedral Rooftop View

Five of us stayed in Santiago for an additional two days. It was a time to rest, shop and see more of the city.

We took a special tour of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela that gave us a rooftop view. We climbed 105 stairs to a spectacular sight of the cathedral and the city that took our breath away.

206 Tours

Javier and Tani

Rev. Marcia arranged our pilgrimage through 206 Tours. Our guide Javier did an exceptional job of taking care of us; everything from preparing us for our walk each day, explaining the sites of the Camino, to nursing our blisters and sore feet. He made sure we were fed well. (I think we are the only pilgrims that actually gained weight walking the Camino.) He was a joy and blessing to be with.

Tani was our driver and safely transported us to Sarria to begin the Camino. He made sure our luggage arrived at our hotel before we did each day. He did an excellent job maneuvering the busy city streets and country roads. We truly enjoyed his company.

Milanka was our contact at 206 Tours that made our arrangements and checked in on our progress. She was dedicated in making sure we were taken care of each day.

We were blessed with exceptional care and love. Praise God.

Finisterre

We left the hotel for a two hour drive to Finisterre which is a rock bound peninsula on the west coast of Galicia, Spain. In early times people believed it was the place for the end of the world. It certainly looks that way when you stand in front of the lighthouse and look out to the beautiful ocean.

It is a tradition for pilgrims to visit and burn their clothes or boots at the of the long journey. Several of us brought things, including someone's boots, to burn and release. It was a beautiful sunny day. We enjoyed our last tour together and then headed back to the hotel for our last meal before most of the pilgrims head home in the morning.


We said our good byes after dinner. Most of our group heads home in the morning. It is difficult to describe all the feelings. We accomplished so much. it's still hard to believe we completed our journey. Thanks for your loving prayers.

Botafumeiro

Tour of Cathedral

Claudio, a local guide gave us a tour this morning of the cathedral.

The facade of the cathedral was built in the 18th century, replacing the previous Romanesque front. The original polychrome was damaged over time and was replaced by the magnificent work of art that stands today.







There are several buildings that surround the cathedral, one of them was originally built as a town hall. Another was built as the royal hospital founded by the Catholic Monarchs is now a hotel.

After our tour we attended Catholic mass that was held especially for the pilgrims. It was a special day because the bishop of Portugal spoke to the pilgrims and celebrated the mass. It was especially exciting because they used the botafumeiro at the end of the mass. It is one of the largest incense burners in the world weighing 80 kg. The swinging censor came into existence in the 11th century when pilgrims arrived at the cathedral tired and unwashed. It takes 8 men to pull on the lower ropes that are fastened to the cable and swing the burner forming a 50-meter arc and can reach speeds up to 68km/h. It is an amazing sight to see. We were sitting right in front and had an awesome view. I was thrilled to get it on video. Click here for utube video.

After the mass we left for the Finisterre, the end of the world.