Camino de Santiago: Day 37 -- Arrival!

Somehow, I didn't get a ton of photos of our walk into Santiago and the two days we spent there.  In a way, I'm glad.  The last day of the Camino was one totally spent in the moment--excited and partially astonished to have made it and sad that the end is approaching as we knock of one kilometer after the next.  We stopped at every cafe--took our time. We people watched. We enjoyed the last of the Camino sunrises and scenery.  I limped into Santiago so so grateful my feet carried me this last day without something popping loose like a wonky spring in a clock.

The cathedral was under construction inside and out, but it didn't matter.  The perfect photo backdrop didn't matter.  What felt good was to arrive with friends and to watch other pilgrims arrive throughout the weekend.  It was a lovely time sightseeing like a tourist, having meals with friends from the way and waving hi to somewhat recognizable faces.  Santiago is a beautiful city for arrivals.

We also visited the Pilgrimage Museum behind the cathedral with gave me a frame of reference for an accomplishment I still don't quite comprehend. 

Thank you for your visit.

Last Galician early morning.  We'll be sleeping in from here on out.

To prolong the day we stopped at every cafe. This is the first I saw with a gift shop though!

Winding our way into Santiago.

One view of the massive cathedral

The cathedral interior with Botofumeria.

Camino de Santiago - Days 34-36: Portomarin to Palas de Rei to Ribadiso to Pedrouzo

So many small farming towns along the Camino through Galicia.  The smell of manure is eye-watering and astringentand the weather is moody.

Peregrinos on horseback scrounging for some food.

The last 100 k makes for a very crowded camino.  It's a different experience than the first 600 kilometers and it requires an attitude adjustment.  Galicia is so beautiful in my opinion, though, it makes the shock of sharing the way a little gentler. I tend to always be trailing behind Mike.

Unpredictable weather = empty cafe chairs.

Delicious pulpo in Melide

Romanesque era Santa Maria de Melide XII Century with some Visigoth era treasure.

Misty morning leaving Ribadiso, which was tiny and quaint though I was tired and cranky the night we crashed there in my least favorite hostel of the walk run by a mad woman who adored Mike.

Is this view where I came from or where I'm headed? In retrospect I just can't tell.

Camino De Santiago: Days 31 -33 - Las Herrerias to Fonfria to Sarria to Portomarin

A beautiful but long, steep walk up to O'Cebreiro.

Beautiful Galicia

The absolute best thing to eat in the quaint town of O'Cebreiro-- a big bowl of caldo gallego and rustic bread (and caffeine of course)

The Monumento do Peregrino looks out over the sweeping Galician view on the Alto San Roque.

Descending from tiny Fonfria in the early morning reveals mountain tops emerging from clouds like islands.

Breathtaking light filters in serene valleys outside of Triacastela.

Galician guard dog. Or maybe he's just sunning himself.

Leaving Sarria with lots of new faces who have arrived to walk the last 100 kilometers to Santiago.

a mysterious misty morning

picturesque country roads on the walk to Portomarin.

The little Galician Camino mascot. He looks like a Miro inspired peregrino

the reliable yellow arrow leads the way.

The fortress and Church Igrexa de San Juan. (in the Galician dialect Igrexa = Iglesia)