How cool is that???
I left soon after sunrise, hoping I could have a bit of time near the lighthouse to myself-ish, before the busses started arriving and disgorging their crowds of people. It worked as I had hoped - I had only a few people for company during the 3 km walk up the hill; when I arrived, I walked to the pile of rocks marking the border between the lighthouse and the sea, and sat down for a long spell, just me and the sea.
The air was cool, the sea breeze refreshing, the view indescribable. I mean, ocean, boats, yeah, all that - but knowing I looked across the water to *nothing* stilled my thoughts and quieted my soul.
To the delight of my order-loving soul, unlike the square in Santiago, there actually is a marker showing 0,000 kilometers left on the trail. Yes! A finish line!
As I was leaving the plaza, so I could get a picture of myself with the marker, I joined the line of people just arrived off the latest bus, who were waiting for their chance to take a photo with it. The person behind me was more than happy to snap the shot when I handed her my phone.
In my head, my photo with the stone meant more than theirs, because I’d EARNED that shot, dad-gum-it. But I kept that thought to myself, no need to disturb their moment and all. I know what I did. I know the price my feet paid for me to stand there for my moment in the sun. And that’s really what counts here, no?
Tomorrow, I get up early to take a taxi back to Santiago, where I will then catch the train back to Madrid.
It’s over. It’s really over. *she types with a sad sigh*
Photos: my moment with the marker; a bronze boot honoring those who have walked the trail; the sea at the end of the world
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