Day 32 The Finish

It was only an accident that we ended the Camino on a Sunday, but what a happy accident it was. We woke up at 5 and were on the road by 6:15 am and we walked with no reserve. It was a short day of 20 km but we were at the cathedral by 10:30. We checked in at the pilgrim office, got our  compostelas and left our backpacks there so we could make it to the cathedral for the midday mass.

 We never really know what's going on in mass due to its being in Spanish but it was nice to signify the end of the Camino in reverence. They do a famous thing here where they swing a giant incense container through the cathedral. They did this originally to cover the smell of pilgrims. It was pretty cool to see. They really get it going. It swings just overhead of the people and goes on to almost hit the roof. 

After mass, we saw a band setting up in the plaza. We grabbed a beer and a coffee and sat on the steps listening to the band. It was really great because they had everyone from old men playing trumpets to ten year old girls playing a giant bass drum. They were all in sharp uniform and sounded great. 

We finally settled into a room situated above a family restaurant. After siesta we went for dinner and found Usong, our Korean buddy and set off for a Chinese restaurant he knew of. 

While walking past the 5 star hotel situated in the plaza with the cathedral, we saw two friends of ours loitering in the carriage entry of the hotel. After warm hellos and congratulations, they told us how the hotel gives ten pilgrims a free meal every night. So we joined them. The hotel manager came down and collected us, walked us through the hotel and into the back door of the kitchen, and told us to ask the chef for food and sit in a little dinin area which used torn linens for table clothes. 

The chef gave us an opened bottle of wine, bread, pea soup, and a dish with cuddlefish and potatoes. O- and a banana. 

Arwyn wanted to go to bed after dinner so we walked her out to the hotel. She let herself in and threw the keys down to me in the street and then we set off for some beers. We had to walk Usong home after two beers and we were dying with laughter. We stayed out until the other guy's albergue's closing time at midnight. It was a great day and this is how we finished our 32 day, 1,094,705 step, 500 mile Camino de Santiago. Below is a picture of the front and back of our pilgrim books. This book entitles you to stay in pilgrim refuges. They stamp it each time you stay somewhere to make sure you don't stay more than one night and in the end it is your proof that you walked. 

So today we take the first rest day since we got here and tomorrow we contine to Finisterra. It will take us three days to get there.