We had a really nice place to stay yesterday and a delicious dinner. We even had a cow parade in front of our hostel. When we were about to go to sleep a group of pilgrims arrived at 10 pm and were very loud coming up the stairs to their rooms. We knew that as we entered this last stage of the Camino and our great adventure that things would change, we just didn’t realize how much.
From Terneuzen to Le Puy en Velay we didn’t see a single pilgrim, granted it was winter. After Le Puy en Velay we encountered maybe 20 pilgrims. Once in St Jean Pied de Port the numbers grew to about 200 and the numbers increased daily but not to more than 500-700 (just a guess).
Today we left the little town of Pintin early and we were the only pilgrims on the road until Sarria. As we came into Sarria there were swarms of pilgrims, school groups, groups of friends, tour groups, single pilgrims, families…etc. Our estimate is that there were at least 1500-2000 pilgrims starting out today. We only saw three people that we have seen since SJPdP.
This is a holiday week in Spain so lots of Spanish pilgrims.
We met a lovely couple from Mexico. They said that on 6 May they will have been married a year. After visiting with them and hearing each other’s stories they gave us a small card from Mexico with a picture of Mary and on the back The Magnificat. It was such a simple and lovely gift.
All in all it was a lovely day. Not what we are used to, but still good. Still because there are so many pilgrims on the route right now and accommodation is hard to come by, we may have to shift and adjust. “Pilgrimage is a journey of thoughtful intention with an unknown outcome.”
Buen Camino! Ultreia!!
Tripping Into Grace 