I had heard about how busy the Camino becomes out of Sarria, but I wasn't expecting a parade!
All one has to do to get a Compostela in Santiago is walk the last 100k in it's entirety....no taxis, no buses...and get one's credencials stamped twice each day. Sarria is about 112k from Santiago. More about the 100k marker later.
Since walking out of SJPdP on May 14, we have walked in solitude for hours each day with other pilgrims passing by with a friendly "Hola" and "Buen Camino". We would walk along with friendly strangers for a day or two, or just for a short time each day and then they or we would move on alone again if we wanted to walk alone.
This morning I couldn't believe what I was seeing!! The number of pilgrims quadrupled over night. There are groups walking together, laughing, talking loudly and complaining about the " steep climbs" and how tired they are. And all those brand new shoes, clean clothes and packs. Did mine ever look like that?
What I missed was the friendly "hola's" and the "Buen Camino's". The new pilgrims don't look at other pilgrims or greet each other. I tried it a few times and got mumbled, confused responses.
Then there's the 100k marker. Sharon and I were really looking forward to having our photo taken at the iconic marker even with all the graffiti... We had our photos taken at the 790k sign in Roncesvalles. What we found was a nondescript marker with 100 written in with what looked like a felt tip pen. What happened to the original one? Has the Camino been moved?
I mean, reaching the 100k point is a big thing...isn't it?
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