Short and sweet today...no food pictures!..we are in
SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA!!! We got up early at 5:00 this morning and were on the way by 5:30...totally in the dark! 20 kms in 4 hours.
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| Marc and Guy leading the way |
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| Follow the sign |
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| The pilgrim parade! |
After stopping for a quick breakfast of 1 3/4 French croissants each (we bought the place out!) we just kept moving to Santiago de Compostela. First order of business was Paulo getting his bus tickets to leave for Madrid tonight at 9:30 or so...very sorry to see our good friend Paulo leave! Hope to visit him some day in Brazil!
Soon we rounded the corner and there was the cathedral...we were all prepared for this being an anti-climatic moment but it was that plus...people everywhere!!!
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| Paulo |
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| My jump! |
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| Cyrille, Marc, Guy and Paulo |
We then scurried and with Paulo's assistance ONCE AGAIN!!! we found a place to stay.
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| Our Pension |
After securing the room we hightailed it to the Cathedral for the 12:00 mass. Somehow we found seats...the cathedral was packed...and somehow we were guided to the right location in the church. I did not understand the Spanish mass however understood the Botafumeiro was going to swing.
Amazing that we were going to see it...it infrequently swings. No picture can do this justice...an incredibly moving experience.
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| Botafumeiro |
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| Botafumeiro |
As mentioned I can't describe the beauty of the Botafumeiro swinging over my head in it's graceful arc. I started to think of all the steps that I took to get here...the many days I spent on the road...the sacrifices of others so I could be here...and I started to cry.
Later I received two special documents...
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| My Compostela for completing the Camino Frances |
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| My distance certificate for having walked 2,400 kms over 5 Caminos |
The certificate assumes I will complete the Finisterre way over the next few days and has a caveat in that I did not walk the 2,400 kms on consecutive days...but I will take it!
Tomorrow a day of rest and getting ready for the final push to Finisterre.
