Homeward bound

I'm writing this on the plane from Santiago to Madrid. A beautiful sunset outside and I'm definitely working with a sleep deficit. 

On the runway with the sun setting over Santiago. 

In the sky, thirty minutes later. 

I've had way too many late nights and early mornings, so am looking forward to sleeping over the Atlantic tomorrow. 

Yesterday, after breakfast with 200 other Hospitaleros, we took a city bus to O Miiledoiro, a town about 8km away, on the Camino Portugese. Lee from Holland and Daphne from Vancouver and I were joined by 7 or 8 others. Clearly there were more people ahead of us but we didn't see them. We should have been a group of 150-200. We managed to walk through a lovely eucalyptus forest, exchanging both Camino and Hospitalero stories. As with the Camino Francés, the concrete markers are being chased from this 

To this

And sometimes even this!

We returned to Santiago too late for the art show but in time to stuff a few tapas in before lunch. 

Really, there was food involved. 

And today we had the plenary session which was very interesting, at least that which I understood. I have found that I have no problem understanding the Spanish of those individuals for whom Spanish is a second language, but the native speakers leave me in the dust. 

I went back to pack and Lanzada made a lovely tortilla for lunch. 

As much as I'm looking forward to being home, I've thoroughly enjoyed my week in Santiago and could happily stay longer.