Samos and my Million steps (Day 29)

Tomorrow, Amy and I will arrive to Sarria which means we will only have 115kms left to Santiago. More than 50% of all pilgrims that do the Camino start at Sarria. The main reason is that if you do Sarria to Santiago, the Catholic Church recognizes you as a pilgrim and allows you to get the Compostela. Therefore, many pilgrims who don’t have the time just do this section (it is also relatively flat). If any of you only have 5 days for the Camino this is the section to do.

Tomorrow, before we arrive to Sarria, Amy and I will take a detour and visit the town Samos en route. Samos is another obligatory staging post on the Pilgrim's Route to Santiago. The history of the town is closely linked to that of the monastery; San Xian de Samos, built on the banks of the river Sarriá and was the site of a community favored by the religious hierarchy and who gradually built the monastery. The monastery, which has been Benedictine since the 12th century is still active and functioning. I have been reading a lot about the Benedictines last few days as it is a fascinating fraction of the church. Amy and I are excited to visit Samos even though it ads a 6 kms to our Sarria walk tomorrow. Attaching a photo of it below. I hope I will be able to capture it with my own camera equally well tomorrow.

By the time I arrive to Sarria tomorrow, I will officially pass 1M steps on the Camino. Something unthinkable for me just 30 days ago.

Today, was another very hard day as we climbed 1500ft and descended over 3000 (which is harder on my lower body). Of course seven layer lady wanted to do every available detour that added more elevation for just a little better views. It pushed my body again to its limit. Amy had no problems! Makes me sad that she is stronger. And prettier of course.

Loved walking with Amy as we talked about exciting topics like our plans for my upcoming 50th and my future sail boat purchase. Perhaps topics were little scaled towards me then her. Which I just realized as I wrote them just now.

While the Camino was very busy, I didn’t see anybody I know until I came to the town we are staying tonight. The group is split a little bit but we will all reconnect tomorrow at Sarria. We are having dinner as a small group of 6 tonight.

Today, I rushed this blog as we arrived really late and right after I had to do a business call. A first for me in 3 months! Felt odd and out of place. Tomorrow, my new company will announce my joining. Really look forward to using the parts of my brain I haven’t used since January. But the next 5 days will be my last on the Camino and sharing it with my lady is something I look forward to. And on the 5th we will all be at Santiago finishing this 830km journey.

Kms today: 25 kms

Kms total: 689 kms

Steps total: 198.4k Amy, 936k Ahmet

Photos from the day.