…well I finally made it… exactly 30 days (inluding 5.5 rest days) after my departure from Saint Jean Pied Port… with mixed feelings of course but none the less extremely joyfull to have been privilage to make such a wonderful journey in such a magnificent countryside with such heartwarming people… I thank God for this journey of a lifetime…
The past days were quiet and the pace relaxed. I had often wondered with whom I would finally walk into Santiago, having met so many on the way… but as it turned out, it was dear Myriam, a tall gentle lady from Geneva, who finally escorted me into the historical Spanish City… we of course picked up Nuria from Barcelona, and met Bastian & Tara by chance upon our arrival at the Cathedral, but basically we enjoyed the tranquility of the final stages in silent acceptance of the fact that our concecutive journies were slowly coming to an end in Santiago. The final stages are certainly not the pretiest of the Camino, but non-the-less significant and we entered SDC unspectacularly but gratefully after more than 800 kms…
“The way to Santiago is as life itself, it is this/he/she which gives us support, it is a marvellous experience.It has no end, because when you arrive you realise that you to keep on walking towards St James, towards others, towards your inner self, towards God. This will only be finished when the life that we enjoy day by day comes to an end…” (words to be found in the leaflet of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela…) cannot improve on these words, except tp say that for me the Camino gave me the defragmentation I urgently needed… ;) and it gave me faith once more in the goodness to be observed in human beings… it sucks you dry… empties all bitterness… and fills you up with power and joy… I am so grateful…
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Paulo Coelho and his wonderful web team for their generosity and interest in my journey, and their patience with my technical difficulties… I would also like to thank all of those who have followed my path with interest and especially those who have taken the trouble to make such wonderful comments, and I can assure you all, that these certainly gave me much strength… especially in my hours of pain and darkness… I love you all… Thank you… Thank you…
Love, Paul xxx
I dedicate this particular journey to my dear brother Gaz and to our dear friend Monika P… May you and your families both receive the strength you/they require… I love you both…
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
You write beautifully, Paul.
Maria Elisabeth
freue mich sehr über deinen erfolgreichen abschluss des camino.
vorallem aber dass du gesund an körper geist und seele wieder nach hause kommst.schweinsbraten und bacht warten auf dich.
komme dich bald besuchen.
viele bussi
schwiegertiger
Dear Paul,
words cannot express how deeply touched i was by your most extraordinary journey. My camino begins in 3 days (25th) at which time i will be walking the same wonderful path as you have done. Your personal account of the Camino gives me much inspiration — inspiration that i know i will find or encounter along the WAY!
Hope you are well and rested.
Best regards,
Adele
Lieber Paul!
Freuen uns riesig, dass du deinen Weg gegangen bist!
Doch noch mehr freut es uns, dass du bald wieder gesund vor uns stehst.
Liebe Grüße
Susi und Gerhard
Congratulations Paul!!!
Congratulations. I read each and every line that you wrote while on your way to Santiago… It is amazing what a person can do when wants something badly! Good luck from now on and may you forever cherrish the most precious treasure of a person in this world: your wonderful family. The words of your daughter impressed me so much! This is pure LOVE!
Best wishes!
Dear Paul
Enhorabuena as they say in Spanish. Felicidades, fantastico.
You did something important and holy for yourself and for us Paul.
Be true to your innner self. This Road was given to you by God, it doesn’t belong to the ego – and those who want a part of you or a part of the road.
I have a gift for you Paul, and I will send it to Rosa de los vientos because I don’t know how to get it to you.
Bendiciones Paul
Karen xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Dear Paul,
Congratulations! You and your journey are great inspiration.
Thank you for sharing.
Dearest Paul, once againg congratulations and since our Paulo Coelho and you speak about a … new life, we hope that you will … still remember us, ;]
LOVE,
Thelma.
Here we go!!! we learn something with your travel, I don´t know how to say…but I´m pride of you, CONGRATULATIONS, You´re a beautiful person, I´m so happy becouse you arrive to Santiago at time and just I can say Hello and wellcome to your new life that you make it better everyday.
Love and Happiness Paola
to reassure myself that I was on the right path
;o)
congratulations!
Wonderful Paul!
many congratulations!!
one might say a record time ;o))
and you look radiant.
and from a picture of ‘respose’ to the latest in ‘standing pose’…. just a glimpse of a great inner and outer journey possible for us all.
Dear Paul,
Congratulation, this is a long and hard journey and it is the beginning of a new road. I’m following you from Saint-Jean-Pied de Port and every update reminded me this difficult but marvellous adventure. People we meet on the road, people we walk with, they all make our life more complete.
I suggest, if you still have a couple days left in your agenda, walk to Muxia and Fisterra. For me, from Le Puy-en-Velay to Santiago, Muxia was the real beginning.
ULTREIA Paul!
Merci d’avoir partagé le chemin avec nous.
Peregrino
Dear Paul
Congratulations on completing your journey and for sharing it with us along the way. I have eagerly been logging on each day to hear about your latest news, like many others.
I look forward to meeting you tonight at Christina’s Exhibition here in Santiago.
Love
Alex
Carolena Sabah,
Ultreya in its totality is the sharing of Christian life.
God bless you all !
Dearest Paul, I am so happy for you. Is a great pleasure to see you arrived, safe. Thank you once again to share your wonderful experience with us, making possible to participate in a way .You really strong, I am aware was not easy for you, with your leg problem. I really loved your reports, with your thoughts and feelings, your kind personality. You really deserved to achieve your goal, keep on going on your way, always with God. Wish all the best to your family too. Love, Alexandra
THE END IS NOT THE END, BUT THE BEGINNING.
THAT YOUR STEPS, ON THIS NEW ROAD OF LIFE, TO TAKE YOU ALWAYS ON THE ROAD OF THE LOVE.
Congratulations Paul ! !
Dear Paul,
Congratulations and God bless you!! Thanks for sharing your journey with us. I wish you to be happy and have luck on your way!
Maybe someday our paths cross again …
Love,
Maite
Dear Paul,
congratulations for your arrival in Santiago.
This is only the beginning of a new path, and I wish you this new path will the the one you’ve ever dreamt!
hope you’ll join us again, with your writings on this blog.
love
Chris
that’s my next step.
Congratulations and God bless you, my fellow peregrino! Remember to carry the Light you’ve been given into your life and the lives of others!
Well done! Your pilgrimage will be a memory for life. Welcome back Paul!
Respect!
Paul…
Did you make it already?? WOW!
I am SO proud of you! What a marvelous feeling!
I’m sorry I wasn’t meddling in your business for a while there. As you know I believe too much in solitude. But I was with you nonetheless!
Congrats and I can feel your renewed energy! how wonderful!
ps. does anybody know what Ultreya means?
Dear Paul,
Welcome to the starting point as said by Great Paulo..,
-”Every journey has not only great ending but also great beginning.”
God blesses you !
and
God bless you all !
DEAR PAUL
CONGRATULATIONS. BUT YOU KNOW: IT IS NOW THAT YOUR JOURNEY REALLY STARTS. THE ROAD WAS JUST THE TURNING POINT.
ULTREYA, MAY GOD AND SANTIAGO BLESS YOUR STEPS EVERY SINGLE MOMENT,
PAULO
Dear Paul, welcome to the life, to the new life because now you begining to walk.
And you have a fantastic family and pretty too, I see in the photo.
Good luck.
“Trenne Dich nie von Deinen Illusionen. Wenn sie verschwunden sind, wirst Du weiterexistieren, aber aufgehört haben zu leben” (Mark Twain).
Ich bin unglaublich stolz auf Dich! In Liebe immer, Karin
Maria Elisabeth
freue mich sehr über deinen erfolgreichen abschluss des camino.
vorallem aber dass du gesund an körper geist und seele wieder nach hause kommst.schweinsbraten und bacht warten auf dich.
komme dich bald besuchen.
viele bussi
schwiegertiger
hallo paul!
freue mich sehr mit dir über den
erfolg deines camino,vorallem aber dass du gesund
an körper,geist und seele nach hause kommst.
schweinsbraten und bacht warten auf dich.
komm dich bald besuchen!
bussi liesi!!
Dearest Paul, You have achieved your goal.. You have reached the.. clouds, once again. May you always succeed in your goals and fulfil all your dreams.. As our Paulo Coelho says: ‘When you really want something the Universe ‘conspires’ to have it’.
LOVE,
Thelma.
Hi Paul, I would like so much have seen you again, before caming back home… I miss you so much (and Bastian and Nuria) when i arrived at Santiago on 09/May Saturday (at the end I was able to do that, thanks a lot of people like you)Thanks for your friendship!!!
A very BIG HUG!!!!!!!
Paul, Congratulation!! You must be overwhelmed right now with what you have seen and accomplished. You are at Santiago and finished your pilgrimage!
Hi dad,
unbelievable you have achieved your aim, the aim of the most important way of your life. I’m so proud of you I can’t tell ya!
Looking forward to seeing you again =)
Bussi und komm gut heim,
haben dich ganz viiel lieb
V+K+S