The Arrival At Santiago De Compostela

Dear Lord

Thank you for all the grace and blessings you have bestowed on my family friends and I
Thank you for making it possible for me to undertake this journey
Thank you for all that you have shown me along the way
Thank you for granting me safe passage
Thank you for listening to my prayers

Adejoke

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I arrived in Santiago de Compostela on April 23rd at 4pm. I was exhausted. The last 70km were quite tough. In my eagerness to reach my destination, I cycled 8 hours non stop. Not a good idea, despite the terrain being relatively easy; no monster climbs, I found it difficult to keep going. I eventually arrived at the mount Gozo just outside Santiago. I took some time to psych my self up for the entry into Santiago. I walked around the monuments on the mount gave thanks to god. I took a look at my bike and upper thigh muscles that had carried me all 800km without faltering. I was in awe of what had been achieved. I set out on the 12th of April and arrived on the 23rd of April! I gave thanks to God again and admired Santiago on the horizon.

Some guys were sitting around. They asked me where I was from. We chatted for a while. They were also pilgrims. They had decided to spend the night at Mount Gozo and would enter Santiago at dawn tomorrow. I was not waiting, I wanted to reach St. James now. They took pictures of me, lauded my bravery and wished me well on my journey. "Buen Camino para siempre".

I biked into Santiago slowly. It was now 4pm, the city was full of tourists. I felt strange as though I was in an alien land. I continued just observing the people as though I was seeing people for the first time. As I entered the old city, I crossed myself and gave thanks again. I continued into the main cathedral square. It was crammed with tourists. I felt sorry, the tourists seemed to spoil my arrival. My spirit was overcome with sadness. I then remembered this is the real world. I then decided to check into my hotel. The Parador de Santigo. A beautiful hotel. Somehow this did not lift my spirits. I seemed to be sinking.

I went to get my pilgrim certificate. As I entered the pilgrims office, I was greeted with the smell of feromons. Can you believe, this completely lifted my spirit. There were many pilgrims around all happy to have completed the journey to St. James' tomb. As I was handed my certificate, my heart leapt with joy. The sinking feeling dissipated.This was a very uplifting moment. I looked at it read it (it is in Latin) so I was just looking at the letters!

Tomorrow I will join all other pilgrims at the pilgrim mass at noon (April 24th). If you have a "Big ask" say it at 12:15. As I am in the cathedral, I will also ask on your behalf. The power of the "camino" will surely bring your ask to pass.

The Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela

I first heard about route to Santiago on a Tv ad from the Spanish Tourism office in 1990. I was intrigued but not moved. It would take another 16 years for me to find the way to Santiago. I managed to persuade a fellow Catholic to join me on the trip in 2006. He was a mountain freak who was capable of cycling 2000m altitude metres without breaking into a sweat. Time was scarce for both of us so we decided to do just over half the pilgrimage (from Leon to Santiago) in 4 days averaging 120km per day with or without hills. Our decision to do the trip was to "ask god" for something in a place millions of others had asked and apparently recieved.

I planned to have earnest conversations with my maker all along the way. The 120km hills or no hills put paid to any good intentions. My lungs were fighting to get out of my chest. A mere "Amen" would have been impossible on some of the cycling climbs which seemed to head directly to the pearly gates but then would abruptly drop perilously down. My tacometer read 80km an hour with fully engaged disc brakes on the way down one such "harikiri" drop. I was not having any conversations with my maker but I seemed to be getting close to meeting him in person.

When we finally arrived in Santiago we spent an hour in the cathedral thanking the Lord for our safe arrival and then posing our "big asks". Two big things I asked for came to pass within 6 weeks so here I am off again this time on a "thanking" trip for all the good things that have happened to me, my family and friends. This Pilgrimage will be different. Firstly, I will be going alone and there will be no time limit. I may be gone for as little as two weeks but I may be gone for much longer. There will be time for self retropsection and lots of time for conversations with my maker.

I am off on the pilgrimage to Santiago de compostela on Sunday 11th April. I shall drive down to St. Jean Pied de Port and then cycle 800km to Santiago de Compostela. The "offiicial" pilgrimage begins early on Monday 12th of April in the morning. Think of me and I will pray for you.

This blog is to allow you to share the pilgrimage with me. I promise to think about you at least once on this trip. If you have an "ask", ask your maker and I will also "ask" on your behalf, the power of faith from millions of others who have trodden the path to Santiago will surely bring your "ask" to pass.

Buen Camino

Jo Lorez-Odunsi