Learning to Walk 33

Santiago Vibes

(It starts at the end)

The bus ride from Finisterre back to Santiago went by in a flash, mainly because I was in a Microsoft Teams meeting for half the trip…the curse of constant connectivity. The bus wiggled and wound its way along the highway between the Atlantic Ocean and the Galician headlands, dropping off and picking up passengers along the way.

Finally, we came to an interstate and rushed inland towards Santiago de Compostela, arriving at the Intermodal (bus/train) Station at 6:30 pm. I was able to book a small room near the Cathedral while traveling.

On arrival, I had 30 minutes to hustle up to my room, login to the hotel’s wi-fi, and join the next Teams meeting. Cursed connectivity. Fortunately, I knew this path and blazed up to the Old Town like a local. My room check-in was online, so no time wasted there. At 6:55 pm, I joined the hotel wi-fi, and at 6:56 pm the Teams meeting. Sitting at my desk with four minutes to spare, I opened my window.

The Praza de Fonseca directly below and the Cathedral and Praza do Obradoiro a block and a half away!

I have spent more time in Santiago de Compostela than any other city in Spain, but I didn’t realize how much I enjoy it until this trip, it has the Vibe! I feel the same way about Pamplona, and possibly Coimbra, Portugal. There is just something about the energy and environment that appeals to me.

I’ll develop this thought in the future, maybe with something like, “The kingdom of God is like the Praza do Obradoiro” with Biblical concepts from Matthew 20.1-15, or Luke 14.15-24, or Luke 15.11-31, or Revelation 7.9, or Revelation 21.24-26. It’s high time we start talking about the celebration of life and diversity, and less of the sin/guilt/shame/division/fear of the religionists.

Or maybe it will be something like, “Shooting the Middle Finger at the Empires, the Greedy, the War-Mongers, and the Fear-Mongers” which really won’t be about vulgar hand gestures, but about leaning into life, hope, and hospitality!

Stay tuned.

Tuna de Derecho Santiago de Compostela nightly at the Concello building on the Praza do Obradoiro.

Architecture

Colors

Refreshments

The Fonte dos Cabalos in slo-mo.
Leaving Santiago.

For the Data People:

  • 2 more days in Santiago after Finisterre.
  • Train ride to Madrid.
  • Overnight stay near Barajas Airport.
  • Total budget: Somewhere between $980 and $47,323.
  • Flight back to the US on May 4, 2023.
  • Total steps: 1,085,823
  • Total kilometers walked: 827.09
  • Total miles walked: 513.62
  • Gallons of café americano: 26.2 (99.18 liters)
  • Number of Napolitana de Chocolates consumed: 483 (not including other Portuguese pastries, croissants, or donuts)

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