The first stretch of my journey had been along the Camino de la Plata; the next and longest stage was along the Camino del Norte along the north coast of Spain from Irun on the French border westwards to Oviedo, the principal city in the province of Asturias. The third stage was on the Camino Primitivo which leads to Melide. This last short stretch leads towards the final destination: the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela

So was that the end of the story, or is this the beginning?

Arrival in Santiago meant meeting old friends, attending the Cathedral to obtain my certificate, claiming my free pilgrim breakfast at the Restaurante Dos Reis — in the vaulted cellar of the Parador de Santiago — joining with three other pilgrims to spend a few days in a rooftop apartment, taking a shower, buying a new dress, having some space to myself, and contemplating my next move.

Some friends plan to go on to Finisterre, but I did that five years ago on my bike with Giovanna, so I feel now it will soon be time to go back to England with my memories and tell my story