Santiago Festival

I just read on Santiago de Compostela's tourist site (santiagoturismo.com) that there's a pyrotechnic display of setting a model of the cathedral on fire, but this happens on the night of the 24th! I'll be 20km away! I like fire. . . :(
There are apparently also fireworks, so maybe I'll be able to see them from where I'll be. That would make up for missing the cathedral burning a little bit. ;)

Unexpected Supplies

I've been reading through the Camino Forums again, and someone had the brilliant idea to ask what the most unexpectedly valuable supply was that they took with them/wish they had taken. There were some ingenious ideas on there!
Some of the ones that I'll be looking to get for myself:

• a twisted clothesline - it's two thick strips of plastic that are twisted on one another, and you just stick your clothes into the little spaces. I think someone said AAA has them with suction cups so you can stick them to windows, and these require no clothespins.
• sink stopper - I have one of these. For washing clothes in the sink, for those albergues that don't have washers/have huge lines for the washers.
• reusable grocery bag - also have plenty of these. Apparently great for all sorts of things, but mostly grocery shopping - I guess most Spanish grocers expect you to bring your own sacks.
• sticky labels pre-printed with my name and email - easy and fast way to share information with wonderfully awesome people met along the way.
• knife set with corkscrew - I've been reading that a multi-purpose knife like Swiss Army or Leatherman is pretty much essential for all sorts of situations, but a couple people have said the corkscrew was their most-used utility. Super for opening a shared bottle of wine with new friends.
• spork - two, two, two utensils in one!
• needle and thread - I have a sewing kit here, so I'll just need to modify it for the trail. I've heard that polyester thread is the most useful. I'll have to look into that.
• dedicated face cloth - I'm sure we can imagine how grungy a face will get, and those that know me know I like that exfoliation feeling that just doesn't come with drying off with smooth cotton.
• diaper pins - apparently very useful for all sorts of things. Some mentioned instances - emergency clasping-together of something split, fastening wet items to the outside of my pack for last-minute, on-the-road drying.
• chamois - as swimmers know, these are fantastic little cloths for super-drying. I would think there'd be one or two at home. . .Lighter and smaller than a regular towel, and cheaper than a 'super-absorbent' travel towel.
  
• LED light - I'd originally thought about getting a headlamp, but EVERYONE gets annoyed at them, and it seems like a very newbie mistake to bring one - they are blinding to everyone else. A small handheld/lanyard LED light provides the visibility in the night to the bathrooms without the excessive brightness of the headlamp or the blinding positioning of eye level for everyone around me.
• cover-up - I have to check to see if I still have one of these. I used to for one of my old swimsuits, but I'm thinking I donated it in the last move. People use these as modesty-protectors when adding/subtracting clothes in the albergues, as a sheet on a warm night, as a ground cover, a pillowcase, flowy top or skirt in the evenings. . .

Also, I posed the question of what to do with my pack after I arrive at the albergue for the night, but want to see the town/city before bed. Everyone that responded said that they just leave their packs beside their beds and take the essentials with them - money, ID, camera! This makes me so happy. One, it means I don't have to take the huge thing around any more than necessary. Two, it shows that there's a wonderful level of trust and respect and a great sense of community. Obviously, it's not like a pack has never been stolen in the recent history of the Camino, but really, if I have what I'd need to not be trapped in a foreign country (ID and money), what can't be replaced?
I'm loving this already. I wish everyone had a chance to do something that made them as excited. I feel exceptionally lucky, and I haven't even left!

It's official!

I just booked my flights! AACK! I leave from DCA to Paris on 6/21 and arrive at IAD from Barcelona on 8/2. I managed to get these flights for less than 1100, which seems like a fairly good deal. Thank you, Kayak!
Now I just need to get flights from Columbus to Washington, but I have a free round-trip flight with United still. So that'll work.
I'm now extremely nervous.