Sigüeiro – SANTIAGO (17km)
Today we started our last stage to Santigo with Jonathan. Marcos needed his longer morning and we wanted to get there on time for the mass at 12 am. We met many people on the way, some of them were senior groups with small bags and a bus around the corner or school expeditions. Matsuhiko overtook us twice with a humble smile and disappeared in the distance as a speed train. The excitement of achieving Santiago was in the air, even though my walk was getting worse and worse. From Tinker Bell, who gently jumps from leaf to leaf barefoot over Quasimodo I started to fell like The Little Mermaid. Each step was like a step on the blade edge.
But we reached Santiago on time. We put our bagpacks at the post office and went to the pilgrim office. The queue had been so long that we wouldn’t get to the mass so we left. On our way to cathedral we met our beloved Chris and Clara. They were just passing and continuing towards Finesterre. It was a great surprise and pleasure to tell them goodbye once more.
The Cathedral was full of people. The mass was nice but I would prefer it in english. There were people from all around the world, so why not? They welcomed all the pilgrims comming that day (and having enough time to get to the pilgrim office before:) – but not by their names, only by a name of country. So I could know at least, there were some Czechs that day finishing their camino. It was second time in my life when I decided to go to communion in catholic church. I use to go to a protestant church and I know catholics doesn’t like it (or even do not allow?). I looked around carefully what everyone does. I succeeded to do something wrong so I was revealed. But the priest didn’t have time to call the security :)).
After getting out of the Cathedral we took a look around to find a little space among all the people to go to the office. And we stood face to face to Marcos who did his walking record to meet us after the mass. But there were so many people!!! The Three Musketeers were together again! We went to the pilgrim office. I was happy it was so. Marcos needed to continue his walk in dirrection to Finsterre and needed to do 10 more kilometres that day. The queue wan’t merciful but I was happy he could stay with us a little longer :).
So finally we all got our Compostela, say goodbye to Marcos and went for a lunch with Jonathan. We got a nice three-course pilgrim menu. It turned out that Jonathan has his birthday tomorrow so I was pleased to be the only gest on his birthday party:). And then we had to say goodbye too. Jonathan went to a museum and I needed to find any hostel. In fact I went to the one that Marcos googled for me while standing in a pilgrim office queue. One big group of pilgrims came there 20 secs before me and I got the very very last bed in that building!
After this release I went to the city, see all the culture events going on there and tryed to find the bus stop from where I should take my bus to Muxìa tomorrow. The walk was very painful and with no result. Hopefully I got a good advice in tourist office and I also met the couple from Florida.
Back in my nice hostel with a garden I relaxed and found out I have inflamation in my feet around the blister. I cut it through and went to bed in peace.
Today we started our last stage to Santigo with Jonathan. Marcos needed his longer morning and we wanted to get there on time for the mass at 12 am. We met many people on the way, some of them were senior groups with small bags and a bus around the corner or school expeditions. Matsuhiko overtook us twice with a humble smile and disappeared in the distance as a speed train. The excitement of achieving Santiago was in the air, even though my walk was getting worse and worse. From Tinker Bell, who gently jumps from leaf to leaf barefoot over Quasimodo I started to fell like The Little Mermaid. Each step was like a step on the blade edge.
But we reached Santiago on time. We put our bagpacks at the post office and went to the pilgrim office. The queue had been so long that we wouldn’t get to the mass so we left. On our way to cathedral we met our beloved Chris and Clara. They were just passing and continuing towards Finesterre. It was a great surprise and pleasure to tell them goodbye once more.
The Cathedral was full of people. The mass was nice but I would prefer it in english. There were people from all around the world, so why not? They welcomed all the pilgrims comming that day (and having enough time to get to the pilgrim office before:) – but not by their names, only by a name of country. So I could know at least, there were some Czechs that day finishing their camino. It was second time in my life when I decided to go to communion in catholic church. I use to go to a protestant church and I know catholics doesn’t like it (or even do not allow?). I looked around carefully what everyone does. I succeeded to do something wrong so I was revealed. But the priest didn’t have time to call the security :)).
After getting out of the Cathedral we took a look around to find a little space among all the people to go to the office. And we stood face to face to Marcos who did his walking record to meet us after the mass. But there were so many people!!! The Three Musketeers were together again! We went to the pilgrim office. I was happy it was so. Marcos needed to continue his walk in dirrection to Finsterre and needed to do 10 more kilometres that day. The queue wan’t merciful but I was happy he could stay with us a little longer :).
So finally we all got our Compostela, say goodbye to Marcos and went for a lunch with Jonathan. We got a nice three-course pilgrim menu. It turned out that Jonathan has his birthday tomorrow so I was pleased to be the only gest on his birthday party:). And then we had to say goodbye too. Jonathan went to a museum and I needed to find any hostel. In fact I went to the one that Marcos googled for me while standing in a pilgrim office queue. One big group of pilgrims came there 20 secs before me and I got the very very last bed in that building!
After this release I went to the city, see all the culture events going on there and tryed to find the bus stop from where I should take my bus to Muxìa tomorrow. The walk was very painful and with no result. Hopefully I got a good advice in tourist office and I also met the couple from Florida.
Back in my nice hostel with a garden I relaxed and found out I have inflamation in my feet around the blister. I cut it through and went to bed in peace.