Day 28 - We made it!

Today was another great day for hiking. The weather was in the high 70’s, sunny, light breeze.  We were excited about finishing, so we kept walking and arrived at the cathedral square about 5:30.  The last 10 km were pretty tough. We were tired and dehydrated but really wanted to finish.

Thru the eucalyptus.

Nice shady path.

Marker getting close.

Templer pilgrim statue at edge of town.

The path was really good all of the way.  I expected to be walking thru a large urban area for many miles, but the path had us going thru wooded shade most of it.  Large forests of eucalyptus trees until just a couple miles from the city.  10 mi out we stopped for a rest and talked with Steve from Long Island, NY.  We thought he was a newbie, but it turns out he started in France like us just a couple days before we did.  He retired on Mar 30th and left the next day for the Camino.  He said he wanted some time alone to contemplate some things.  He lost a son 12 yrs ago.

While we were walking we debated at what distance we would be able to see the Catherdral spires.  I thought we would see them 8 mi out. We walked and walked and walked.

The route today was disappointing in that there was little to see related to the Camino.  There were no historical things on the way, probably because we are so close.  Everyone just wants to keep going until they reach the destination.

We finalled reached the city limits and saw no church spires.  We walked more into the city.  Still nothing. This is a big cathedral.  Walked more. Nothing.  Got into the heart ot town.  Nothing.  Entered old town. Nothing. It was getting disheartening.  Saw a sign that said 1,000 m. Still nothing.  We’re within 200 m in old town and stopped because we did not see any church.  A woman motioned us forward and around a corner, and then town a tunnel.  Then, there, finally, we had arrived.  Somehow the topography of our route into town had kept the sight from view.

Cathedral of St James.

Panoramic of the square.

Side view.

We went to the center of the huge square in front of the Cathedral, pulled off our backpacks, took off our boots, and just sat there looking at the site before us.  We were exhausted.

As we sat there two old women came up and asked if we needed a place to stay. They were renting out rooms in their homes.  We said maybe later.  Then a man with leaflets for a hotel showed us where to go to get out compostella - certificate of completion.  He warned us that it would be a 2-3 hr wait.  We decided to do it then.  We arrived at 6:35 and waited in line with 100’s of other pilgrims.  We got our certificates around 7:40. They inspect your credentials and issue the document in Latin, including your starting point and number of km completed.  According to the church we completed 799 km.

Waiting in line.  Where did all these pilgrims come from?  We didn’t see them on the trail.

The compostella.

Then we had to find a place to stay.  As we sat on a stone wall just off the Cathedral square an old woman in a small cafe said, “psst...psst...do you need a place to sleep”.  We said maybe.  She said come see my place.  Very beautiful and very clean.  She had us go behind the bar, up one step, thru a small door into a stair well.  Then up 2 flights to a great little room.  We were sold.

We dropped off our stuff and headed out door dinner - a liter of sangria and more great seafood.

Planning to sleep in tomorrow and rest up a bit, and take in the town.