That’s the plan

After almost five years of dodging it, COVID finally got me.

When people asked me if I was going all the way to Santiago, I would always say “that’s the plan.” (What I really wanted to say was Inshallah, if God wills it, which is where the Spanish word ojala, to hope, comes from, one of the many fascinating connections between Arabic and Spanish).

“That’s the plan” seemed like the right response because it seemed overly presumptuous - even arrogant - to say yes I’m going all the way to Santiago. Life is unpredictable.  How could I possibly say with certainty that I would walk the whole way?

Luckily we were in Leon for my birthday when I got sick - it’s the last major city before Santiago. We will stay here for a while and, once it’s safe for me to travel, will likely just take the train to Santiago (we mailed our other suitcases there so need to go pick them up). Not the way I had necessarily imagined getting to Santiago. But the weather is getting worse, hostels are starting to shut down for the season, and I don’t want to risk my or anyone else’s health, so this seems like the best way forward.

And now, it’s time to go back to sleep. Below are a few more pictures from the trail….