Santiago de Compostela - Day 4

Santiago de Compostela - Day 4

Partly cloudy

This is our last day in Santiago de Compostela, not counting the early departure tomorrow. We actually stayed a bit too long in Santiago, only because we didn't walk to Finisterre and have those days as free days. We took the time to relax and not doing much.

We did go to Parque Alameda to visit with the statue of the 'Two Marias'. Two sisters and his family got into political trouble with the fascists and became mentally unbalanced. Eventually they took to the park in bright-coloured clothing all the time perhaps as a sign of rebellion.

We also went to the Museum of Pilgrimage which has lots of information on St. James, the apostle, the pilgrim and the knight. It also has exhibit of pilgrimage around the world and shows the various routes to Santiago de Compostela. It is definitely worth the price particularly when it is free on Saturday afternoon. Even the regular price is just 2.4€, pilgrims half price.

Off to Madrid tomorrow to be regular tourists. Probably won't post unless there is anything particularly interesting.

It has been interesting sharing the journey with everyone who spends to time to read the blogs. Gigi and Winnie chose not to post any blogs here but they have been sharing in their own ways. I am thankful for having such wonderful walking partners. Without them, it would have been much harder.  

I know some of you have been keeping track of the blogs very closely. Perhaps some of you will even go on the Camino at some point. To you and everyone else, Buen Camino.

Santiago de Compostela - Day 3

Santiago de Compostela to Muros to Finisterre to Muxia to Santiago de Compostela

Cloudy

Today we took a bus tour to Finisterre and Muxia. We were going to take the bus to Finisterre and then walk 45 minutes to the cape, walk back and then take the bus back.  But when we learned about the bus tour offer to pilgrims for just a few Euros more, it is a no-brainer. Our enthusiasm for walking has been turned off at Santiago and it is very hard to turn it back on again. The only way would have been to continue walking right after our arrival.

The bus tour went to many more places than just us taking the bus. It went along the coast of death; one explanation being the rough weather in the area forcing ships to go too close to the coast and wrecked by the rocks before modern navigation. It was the first time we travelled in a vehicle in a month and it felt fast. We visited the lighthouse at Finisterre and the rock where the pilgrims burnt their clothing to cleanse themselves. Burning stuff is no longer allowed but we saw a couple pairs of charred sneakers. We had seafood lunch at Finisterre but I think it is not that good. The food didn't feel as fresh as it should be even the seafood market is just across from the plaza. We also went to Muxia. We didn't know but Muxia was the final destination in Martin Sheen's walk in the movie 'The Way'. 

We saw a few familiar faces today too. It is a small world. On the bus near Negreira, we saw the Japanese gentleman, who shared the room with us in Monte del Gozo, walking. And we greeted him as he walked by after we arrived at our first stop, Ponte Maceira. At Finisterre, we also saw the Scotsman who we have seen along the way for more than a week. Also during lunch at Finisterre, we saw the French Canadian father and daughter I mentioned before. They took the bus to Finisterre.

Our day started early as we had to walk from the albergue to the hotel that we will be in for the next two days to drop off our backpacks for storage. Then we have to get to the meeting point for the bus tour. Fortunately, they are all within 15-minute walking distance and we did find out where they all are yesterday.

The hotel is not spectacular but is luxurious compared to the albergues. We used shampoo the first time in over a month. We didn't have to dress before coming out of the shower stall. We can eat in our room. What luxury!

Finisterre from afar

Muros

Waterfall at Ezaro

Finisterre 

Muxia

Santiago de Compostela - Day 2

Santiago de Compostela - Day 2

Rain

We have an open day. So we tried to get ready for a complicated day tomorrow and get familiarized with the places that we will need to be. There is no more yellow arrows. We can go anywhere we want using whatever route, that is not always easy, particularly with the irregular street layout here. Yesterday I used the GPS exclusively to guide me along going back to the albergue from the Catedral. That is not usually how I work. A little better today. I will get my sense of direction back soon.

We went to revisit the Catedral again today without the crowd. There is no lineup to see the apostle or the casket. The Catedral is very impressive.  Too bad it is under renovation with scaffolding surrounding one of the towers.

We found the market in Santiago, only 5 hilly minutes from the albergue, simply because the albergue is up on the hill. Good view though. The market has 5 long aisles with fruits, vegetables, meat, seafoods, cheeses and processed meats. We took the opportunity to get grocery for lunch and dinner just ahead of the rain being forecast for today again. We had pork chops for lunch and for dinner, the most amazing clam and shrimp spaghetti, with green and white beans, that we have had the entire trip, all for 24€. We had an early dinner to avoid the dinner cooking rush at the albergue and had time to go out for dessert in the city park. Feeding the pigeons pastries caused a melee.

3.30€ lunch, not each person, all three 

Day 36 - Monte del Gozo to Santiago de Compostela

Day 36 - Monte del Gozo to Santiago de Compostela

Rain

We did it! We have completed our journey in good shape and in good spirit. It was not supposed to be easy and it wasn't. But in truth, it wasn't hard as I thought it would be. We were on a steep learning curve the first few days. There were some setbacks but we recovered. Then we got into a rhythm and it got a lot easier once we realized how do it. There were many days that I really enjoyed my walks. 

I said in the form at the Pilgrim's Office that I did it for spiritual reason. I don't know what I have gained spiritually from the trip. I did not lose myself or find myself.  I don't think I have changed that much other than being a bit more tolerant. It is quite amazing that we can have people from everywhere having the same goal, strangers sharing the same room and almost everything else while being nice to each other. It is very encouraging indeed. I did not particularly go out of my way to make friends along the way but people we met, as I said before, will be in our memories.

We took the quick 5 km trek to Santiago de Compostela this morning. It was actually very quick to reach the outskirt of Santiago but took a bit of time to get to the Catedral. Quick pictures and off to the Pilgrim's Office to get our certificates. Where is the crowd? There is no crowd either coming down the hill or at the Pilgrim's Office. There were about 10 people in the line ahead of us for the certificate. That is it. Filled out some factual information on their sheet and we got our certificates. For 3€, we all opted to also have the other certificate that stated the distance, the starting date and starting point. The basic certificate simply says the date it was completed. Dropped off the backpack at the Post Office for storage, had breakfast and attended the pilgrim's mass. I don't think I heard them read the names of the pilgrims who arrived but did catch them saying Canada several times. 

We saw a number of familiar faces in Santiago; Rene from Gatineau who seems to pop up everywhere, the crazy Brazilian, the woman with the same backpack as Gigi who we have seen everyday for the last few days, the French Canadian father and daughter team and the guy with a prosthetic hand who we haven't seen for a few days now.

We got to our last albergue that we will stay for two days. It is big with a huge kitchen and a common area that also has a small supermarket. We are going to do some cooking. The only downer is the rain. Looks like it is going to be like this the whole time we will be here. It would be nice to go to a market to get some fresh foods.

A wet start to the last day