November 17, 2017, Day 22

Searching out a hostel that was not in a newly built building turned out to be a good idea. The windows being just untight to a perfect level made the room cool for the night. The crazy Italian power-pilgrims had an alarm at 6:50, and left the house without a word at 7:00, I slept then a good hour longer. In the morning I only had to leave the hostel at 10:00, and I wanted to update the blog, and book my visit at the santiago cathedral in advance. Not long after the last oned left at 9:00, someone rang the bell of the hostel - as I was the only one there, and noone at the reception, I opened the door - it was the postman who came to pick up the luggage for transport (yes, you can have your luggage transported and do not need to carry it yourself - it only costs €4 or 5 per day, so a perfect option for elderly people - or the lazy ones). There were two backpacks prepared for transport, and I was really hoping they were the right ones... Another 15 minutes later the hostel owner came by and was asking where the backpacks were, I told him the postman took them - he was fine with that and went home again. Another 15 minutes later another backpack-transport-guy was coming in (using his own keys) and askes if there were no backpacks to be transported. So again, I really hope I sent the right backpacks with the right transport company to the right destination - otherwise two nice Spanish women had a really bad surprise this afternoon...

After a breakfast at a bar and some shopping for a snack I started my walk for today - the second last day of my camino.

And I was torn between my feelings: on one hand I want to get to santiago (and fly back home to my family - I miss them so much), on the other hand it is clear to me that such an experience and holiday is not likely to happen again - at least not for the next few years to come.
So I walked very slow and very consciously enjoyed every step I made. The scenery is just like the days before - nice, welcoming, the weather is perfect and sunny.  (OK, in the morning I walked right into the fog).

I party understand the people who are stuck on the Camino and go back and forth on it - your days are scheduled, you go from A to B, and only have to follow the yellow signs. And one you were walking 500 kms, you get the feeling you could walk on forever.

But of course it is also an escape from "real life" - you just walk and follow the yellow signs. There are no problems, the people are nice and smiling, you can talk to anyone carrying a backpack. But I prefer my real life insted - with problems sometimes, with no yellow signs sometimes, with not so nice people sometimes.
The last 1,5 hrs I met Christiane and her friend again, we had a nice chat, but I went to a different hostel for the night - I wanted to be alone for me, maybe chat a bit with some unknown people again. What I did - I was cooking water for my tea while a Spanish guy made dinner for himself - he spoke a very little English, I only a little Italo-Spanish, but it was fun.
On the way here I saw some Fliegenpilze again - but they didn't scare me anymore. One more thing my camino tought me is not being afraid in the woods anymore.

Today I am tired - I will go to bed early so that I can leave the hostel at 7:30 according to the rules. This way I expect to be in santiago around 13:30. So I might right away try to get my compostela, before the guided tour at the cathedral starts at 5pm.
And I will be home in less than 72 hours.
But Vienna is anyway coming to get me: this poster greeted me arriving to my destination O Pedrouzo: