Santiago

The official last day.   Well, not really since I am going to the End of the World.   But for most people this is it.   It was around 22km and we wanted to get to the Cathedral before the noon Mass so I could see them swinging the giant incense burner.   It is suppose to be quite the show.   The only thing is they only swing it if someone pays.    I heard it was 300E, or they always swing it on Fridays or holidays.

So off we go at 6:20 a.m.    Kirsten had it figured  out.  We needed to leave at that time to get there at 11:30.     If the Cathedral is full they lock the doors so we thought that  if we targeted 11:30 we would be safe.

For the first couple of kilometres there was no one at all walking.   Then we came to a corner and coming down the street was  20 to 30 teen age students, and let me tell you they were loud.   I felt sorry for all the people in their homes around here with that much noise this early in the morning.   They never did catch up to us, but for awhile it was amazing how loud they were.  We were actually walking faster than them. So we left them in our dust.

Eventually there were people all over the place.   There was not a single section of the trail today when there was not some one else in sight.

Marker 15 km

Then before we knew it the Santiago sign.

And the customary pictures.

Over half of the walk was on or along roads

I was a slave driver today.  Doesn't it look like she is running?   Ya right. lol

Around 12km it was coffee and breakfast.   What a country!! Pastry with chocolate for breakfast and this is the normal thing here.   They even have cake.   It took some getting use to.

And a coating of anti inflammatory cream

Another one of the don't stop walking signs.   That is Dean, the guy with the fancy walking stick.  We saw him a lot today.

This little guy was always passing us, or we were passing him, and every time he would say Buen Camino

Monte do Gozo, the highest point of the day.  The rest of the trail is downhill to Santiago

And this is the big monument at Monte do Gozo

We didn't walk up to it but the zoom on the camera worked for me

And the first sight of Santiago

And a statue I think it was a Roman something or another

And another

To day in Santiago there was a food festival.  There were a lot of people at it and we had to walk right through it all

The first sight of the Cathedral

It was hard not to stop and get some of this stuff

As we are walking to the Cathedral Kirsten says "oh that's where I am staying".    I thought she was joking, but I think she wasn't sure herself.   It's across from the Cathedral

And here it is right at 11:30.  She figured this one right.

So this is what we came to see.    It is one big place.    If you look at the left bottom corner that orange backpack is mine.

And this is the incense burner.   I sat through 1.5 hours of church and no swinging of the thing!!  I'm going to try again tomorrow.    It is suppose to be great to see.    If you've watched the movie The Way, you know what I am talking about. 

So we head over to get our Compestella.   This is what they give you if you walk the last 100km.   If you do it for religious reason they give it in Latin.   For those like me who did it just because, they give it in Spanish. We thought "oh, the line isn't too long, only 35 people or so".

This is the sign out side.  Basically it says you made it.

Then we get to the door and realize the line goes all the way up the stairs.   That 35 just grew by quite a few.   All those noisy teens that we saw in the morning, are now in front of us.

At the front of the line there was this woman from France.   I tried to talk her into walking with me to Fisterra.   She didn't think she could make it there and get a bus back in 5 days.    If I see her again I will show her the map and guide book I picked up that shows it can be done. 

And a couple of other walkers I have been talking to for days

The main square.    I don't now if it's the front or the back of the Cathedral

Then we go looking for Kirsten's hotel.  We walked right by this place again.

Another picture of the main square.  It's so hot out there no one was there.

And another pic of the Cathedral

Small things that make you happy. Fruit.   They had cherries, they are so good here!! 

And we finally find Kirsten's hotel.   Guess what?  She was right all along, it was that place.  Except the door in is the door at the bottom left of this picture.

Then I went and found my place.  It took me 15 minutes to find it.   It sure is nice.

There is even a 42 inch TV.    Everything is in Spanish

With a sitting room

And this is my Compestella

These are my full passport

So tomorrow I am hanging around here. I might do a couple of the tours.   I want to do the one where I can go on the roof of the Cathedral.

Tonight, I think I will see what the night life has to offer.

So until tomorrow thanks for reading and thanks for all the comments.