it is not the destination but the journey

We are still alive....barely. Currently we are in Barcelona. It has been a very dramatic finish to our past few weeks of travel along the Camino. We are still reflecting a lot on what we have accomplished and well trying to keep food in and moving forward. Viviana managed to get ill the first night we arrived in Santiago. I was still not doing so well. We were lucky enough to have met an Italian doctor who went with Viviana to get me meds, little did she know we would go back to get her some as well. Our arrival was not met with trumpets a sounding or Angels singing. No one came running up saying "wow you made it!". Instead we arrived into what I would have to describe is a "Vegas for Catholics". It was so touristy but instead of scantly clad women with rhinstones, we had rosaries, crosses, and everything imaginable to do with the church, the camino, witches (still trying to figure that one out...?). We were disappointed falls a little short of how I would describe the feeling. I would rather focus on what was positive...seeing our various travel mates, giving them a hug and the look that "we made it, we did it", usually followed by lots of tears of joy and knowledge that we have accomplished what we set out to do and each of us with our different reasons, shared one common goal for 33-36 days. The kindness and support of complete strangers, for no other reason than to be there for someone else in some shape or form. I wish I knew what it will feel like to be home again to the same old same old after all of this. Will all that love and kindness be lost forever? For 33 days we felt what it was like to share the basics of life with others with no expectations other than to walk together, perhaps share a meal, coffee, laugh, whatever.

There is more to tell but time is limited at the moment. Just wanted to let you know we are here and well, enough. We leave for Italy as it stands now on May 27. Looking forward to that part of the trip and hopefully we can eat by then.

Ciao,
K