Day 45 O Pedrouzo - Santiago

It is a very cool, foggy morning.  The fog has swallowed up the other pilgrims and it feels like we are alone.  When we walk near the airport at Labacollo it is still too foggy to see the planes.  We can hear them but we can´t see them which disappoints Bernard.  Eventually the fog thins out and the eucalyptus trees are all around.  The scent is everywhere.  One pilgrim says it is like walking in a spa!  The sun burns away the fog and it is beautiful and clear for the remaining distance to Santiago!  When we arrive we are kind of stunned - what to do first?  We decide to line up for our "Compostela".  They only allow 3 pilgrims at a time per area so you have a private personal moment with the person taking your information and reviewing your "passpost credentiale".  Then yoour credentiale is stamped on the first page where it says "..arrived at Santiago on..." and again on the last page as the last stamp collected.  You are handed your "Compostela" with your name written in Latin and you are done!  All the pilgrims leaving the office are smiling as are we. 

After a shower and a nap we head for the Cathedral.  It is massive and totally dominates the Plaza del Obradoiro.  We did a tour - saw the Portal of Glory (through the scaffolding and rebuilding) with the Jesse tree in the center with the imprint of the hands of thousands of pilgrims.  Then we gave St. James a hug for all the pilgrims who have arrived safely and for all the pilgrims yet to come, and we visited the crypt where St. James is buried.  All the pilgrim rituals were now complete.  We had heard that the botofumeiro (the large incense burner) would be lit that night after the 7:30 mass so we selected our seats early and had a wonderful view of the whole proceedings.  It was actually swinging over the aisle right beside us!  The cathedral was full, full.  Pilgrims with backpacks and tourists with cameras all mixed together.  Afterwards we went for dinner where we met a couple from Edmonton who were watching the hockey game!  They are walking on to Finisterre but for us our walking is done although we will always be on Camino!  BUEN CAMINO!

 

Will post more pictures when we can find WIFI.