Day Eleven - Au revoir and not adieu to the Camino

Day Eleven – Bye Bye Bilbao – Hello Blighty!
Distance walked – 2km, distance flown - 800km, coffees drunk - 4

The makeshift campsite of the remaining student protestors.

The rain fell softly on the Bilbao pavements as I wandered out of the pension around 7.00am. I strolled down to the Teatro Arriaga where the students had put up their little tents and spent another uncomfortable night in support of their protest. I remember fondly my own generation – the late sixties - and its questioning of authority. I think a generation that does not demonstrate is not worth its salt. There is a lot to be annoyed about. One of my worries through the nineties and noughties was the conservatism of our youth who seemed more interested in 6 figure salaries than changing the world for good or bad.

Statue of Santiago in the Cathdral bearing his name.

I walked back to the hotel to see Fraser off. He took a generous amount of money out of his wallet and offered it for Haven. Considering he was raising money for Pat’s Orphanage this was doubly generous.

This was my camino moment of the day.

I hope every day has a Camino moment from here on out.

The remaining troops assembled and agreed to disperse to find presents for loved ones. We visited the Cathedral which was dedicated to Santiago. The coincidence was not lost on us. We enjoyed a light lunch in a café bar where the locals dropped in and out.

We had started out journey with a bomb scare and finished it with a volcano scare. Fortunately the good Lord smiled on us and we all made it home safe and sound.

Post Script

I opened the post this morning to find a parcel containing four copes of a beautiful book – a collection of water color paintings by Mark Hoare who walked the Camino from le Puy and brought his paints and his talent with him. Fraser had sent us each a copy of this lovely book which will bring joy and happy memories for years to come.

Credencial - will it get finished?