👣 Noire Pilgrim: Santiago Two

Pilgrimage. Camino. Santiago. Fisterra. Santiago, again. Tranquility. Solitude. I arrived back in town at the bus station in the late afternoon. My accommodation at the guesthouse at Casa Diocesana Via Lucis on the grounds of the University of Santiago de Compostela was waiting for me.

I love university towns and college campuses.

Established by the church in the 16th century, the university went through many changes. One major change was its transformation into a secular institution of learning. It is one of the oldest universities in Spain. When the Jesuits were expelled from the Spanish Empire in 1767, Charles III granted their land and buildings in Santiago to the university.

The guesthouse at Casa de Diocesana is close to the student union and library. I wanted to take in the atmosphere of the schools and the students. Here people were meeting, talking, teaching, learning, and thinking. For me, that indicates hope for the world.

Solitude and tranquility at Casa de Diocesana

As soon as I stepped on the grounds, I wished I could stay longer than two days.

Imagination is our ability to see inwardly and picture there that which has not yet appeared outwardly. Imagination is God’s gift to us.

– Donald Curtis

Casa Diocesana grounds are beautifully maintained. It is truly an oasis on the busy USC campus.

A feeling of relief washed over me when I opened the door. My room was simply furnished, almost sparse. I liked it.

Back to the plaza

La Casa de Diocesana is a 15 minute walk through old town to Obradoiro Plaza and Saint James Cathedral. I walked there after settling into my room.

Pilgrims and tourists are constantly arriving on the plaza. I am glad that I entered this place with friends at the end of my pilgrimage. Yes, people are all around, but there is irony in that. A crowded plaza still may not combat the feeling of loneliness or disappointment in its midst. Reluctance to return home may even present itself. None of those feelings are shameful. Just be prepared for it.

Time spent in contemplation and meditation in my room at Casa de Diocesana eased my descent back to reality.

The scenario at Santiago de Compostela is surreal. My long journey – 1,400 kilometers or 850 miles – is slowly turning into only a slight recollection. I am forgetting a lot already.

Farewell meal in Santiago

Pulpo or grilled octopus is a classic Spanish dish. It is Galician but can be found all over the country.

I found a cafe and ordered a dish of pulpo de la brasa with potatoes cooked in paprika and olive oil. It was served with a fresh salad and basket of bread. I am not exaggerating when I say it was delicious.

Galician Almond cake

Another Galician treat I did not want to miss is the delicacy bizcocho de almendra or almond cake. Of medieval origin, the cake is also called the “Torta Real“. To mark the end of the Jacobean route, it was given to members of nobility as a gift after completing the pilgrimage way.

Although almonds are an abundant crop in Spain now, it was once only affordable by the wealthy.

The recipe is officially protected in Galicia. It is made from almond meal/flour, eggs, sugar, lemon zest, and Galician Aguardiente Liqueur. The round cake is covered with sugar icing with a stencil of the Cross of Santiago on top. It is spongy and grainy in texture and full of almond flavor that is quite tasty.

This indulgent cake is available at shops and restaurants all over Santiago… for everyone.

A funny reflection

Somehow I am getting nostalgic about my pilgrimage, Santiago, and my time in Spain. Already, I am missing everything about it. Remember the conversations I had with my fellow pilgrims and locals along the way? The funny part is I did not think I would miss the trail. It has only been a few days. Would I… could I return?

Next time:

The clock is ticking. It is almost time to return home, but first, the city of Madrid.

See you there.

Baadaye and Buen camino

Shirley J ♥️

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This and several posts this summer chronicled my pilgrimage in Spain where I walked the 1400 kilometer-long camino Mozárabe, then the Via de la Plata, and the camino Sanabres to Santiago de Compostela. Read my announcement here.

My YouTube channel – Noire Pilgrim By Shirley J – features mini videos, snippets, and shorts from my pilgrimage on the camino.