This morning, I went to the Iglesia de Santiago to get my credential for El Camino. The credential is this little book which says that I'm completing the Camino, and along the way I get little stamps at inns or churches or cafes in order to track my journey. When I arrive in Santiago, the powers that be will use the credential as proof that I've completed the journey, and I'll get a certificate of completion! Neat, no? I'm going to put it right next to my ASVAB scorecard and my "Most Unusual Halloween Costume" award from fifth grade.
When I went to the church this morning, the priest--who was very nice--told me that the building was constructed in the thirteenth century, and that it was the fourth-oldest standing church in Córdoba. Considering that the Mezquita was built in the eighth century, that's pretty impressive. Afterwards, I wrote my name in this huge book, one which contains the names and dates of every Santiago-bound pilgrim who has passed through Córdoba since 1992. When I expressed interest in this ledger, the priest showed me a giant cabinet of ledgers dating from the fifteenth century. He opened the oldest one and let me look at it for a little while. Reading the names of all those people, people who have been doing this for hundreds of years, made me feel really insignificant. I'm about to do this semi-crazy thing that millions of people have done before me, everyone for a different reason, and that feels so darn cool.
Today was also the first day of Semana Santa, which was unlike anything I've ever experienced. I took some photos, and though most of them are of giant crowds around religious figures, I'll sort through a few to post when I'm not so sleepy.
But the quality of my writing on this blog has been on a steep decline for the last few days due to lack of dedication and lack of concentration and general fatigue, so I will wrap things up.
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