Best dinner:  In Villafranca del Bierzo, we stayed at La Llave Guesthouse, owned and operated by former South Carolinian, Jeff.  Not only did he warmly welcome us and share his experiences on the Camino and buying and creating this relaxing space, he made us a FABULOUS dinner!  Grilled Moroccan vegetable salad with mushroom risotto!  One of the very best meals we’ve enjoyed on this adventure.  Villafranca itself boasts a river, friendly plazas, and sites aplenty – definitely a place to stay more than one night.

Most foggy morning:  In O Cebreiro, we woke to fog blanketing the mountaintop.  Both beautiful and eerie, the walk started differently than many other mornings. 

Best cheesecake:  We ate the most delicious cheesecake in Filloval!

Most amazing new life:  Out of Sarria, we noticed a cow eating something that didn’t look like grass.  It was afterbirth!  She had just given birth and was devouring the placenta.  We watched, mesmerized, as the cow cleaned up from the birth and licked the limp calf.  Finally, the calf stood and searched for its first meal. New life!

One of the most beautiful forest trails next to a river:  On our way to Sarria, we were fortunate to walk in a forest next to a flowing river surrounded by the sounds of water falling.  Perfection!

Best bed:  In Arzúa, we had the pleasure of staying at Lar da Mota, a gorgeous guesthouse with the absolutely most comfortable beds!

Most meaningful Sefirot:  While pondering how to turn this oftentimes Catholic/Christian pilgrimage into a Jewish spiritual experience, I realized that my Camino coincided with Counting the Omer.  Two of the three most holy days on the Jewish calendar are Passover, when the Israelites left bondage in Egypt, and Shavuot, when Moses received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai.  During these 49 days, Jews may reflect on their lives to improve themselves, their communities, and the world.  This year, the Omer period began just a few days before I left for the Camino and ends a couple of days after I return.  I found a wonderful document which offers a prayerful reflection for each of these 49 days.  Often with my Camino sisters, I would share each day’s prompt.  While walking, we would sometimes discuss our personal reflections based on the prayer.  Other times, we would reflect privately and hold our thoughts within ourselves.  At the beginning of the final week of Counting the Omer, I read the following excerpt, written by Rabbi Shifra Tobacman.  It spoke to me so powerfully – a summation of the Camino itself – that I stopped walking, asked my Camino sisters to join me, and read this passage to them – with tears flowing:  “When we invoke awareness of the Shekhina during the last week of counting the Omer, I like to think that we are grounding ourselves for receiving whatever wisdom or insight will make its way to us, whatever personal Torah is ours to learn. We listen to the world and to the people around us, and we listen for the still small voice within that reminds us of… something … whatever that something is for each of us, whatever that something is that we need to glean, or ask, or know – whatever it is we are needing to receive as we approach Shavuot, the pinnacle of our seven-week journey.”

Best day:  Absolutely, the best day was when we arrived in Santiago de Compostela!  I will share some of my thoughts and reflections when I get home, but I think this video, recorded by Kayla, sums up my experience and emotions.

Below are Relive videos from our final days of walking the Camino de Santiago.

Stage 26:  Ponferrada to Villafranca del Bierzo (17 miles)

Stage 27:  Villafranca del Bierzo to O Cebreiro (18 miles – two videos…tracker stopped in Las Herrerías…)

Stage 28:  O Cebreiro to Triacastela (15 miles)

Stage 29:  Triacastela to Sarria – Kayla joined us in Sarria ❤️!  (17.5 miles)

Stage 30:  Sarria to Portomarin (15.7 miles)

Stage 31:  Portomarin to Palas de Rei (16.7 miles)

Stage 32:  Palas de Rei to Arzua (19 miles)

Stage 33:  Arzua to Amenal (15 miles)

Stage 34:  Amenal to Santiago de Compostela (11 miles)